November 2017 Board Minutes
Members Present: Pat Crews, Jim Griesen, Earl Hawkey, Julie Johnson, Doug Jose, Rita Kean, Jeff Keown, Vi Schroeder, Don Weeks, Doug Zatechka. Guests: Amy Goodburn, Justin Brown
President Julie Johnson called the meeting to order at 1:30pm.
1. Proposed Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the University (Community). The board has been discussing the possibility of recognizing members for their volunteer work with the university and/or in the greater Lincoln Community. Past President Jim Griesen presented a draft policy document proposing a new award(s). Discussion of the policies and award(s) followed with action deferred until the Awards Committee portion of the agenda.
2. First Gen. President Johnson introduced Amy Goodburn, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate Education, who explained the “First Gen” initiative for students and faculty/staff. “First Gen” activities are for those students (identified on application to the university) and faculty/staff (self-identified) who are the first generation in their families to attend college. Gatherings provide speakers, discussions, and interaction of first generation students with first generation faculty/staff to help with the transition to college life. Amy will provide information about gatherings for association members who also are first generation and interested in participating. First Gen will be discussed further at the December board retreat.
3. Student Micro Grants. President Johnson introduced Justin Brown, Director, Scholarships and Financial Aid, who explained the concept of student micro grants. Students sometimes drop out of school or have holds placed on their records because of unexpected expenses that they cannot pay. Scholarships and Financial Aid attempts to identify students at risk and, where appropriate, offer students small grants from unrestricted funds and/or unawarded scholarship funds. These grants allow students to move forward with their programs of study rather than leaving school. As the association looks at ways to support the university and its students, micro grants might be a way to donate to UNL Student Support Fund to help students. Micro grants will be discussed further at the December board retreat.
4. Memory Moments.
- Daniel L. Dilla, Event Staff
- Joseph Neal Luther, Architecture
- Roberta E. “Bobbie” Sward, Extension
- Dorothy Joan Day, Student Health Center
- Stan Matzke, Agriculture
- Bruce Horswill, Athletics
- Ardyce B.Welch, Virology
5. Treasurer’s Report/Budget. Treasurer Earl Hawkey distributed the treasurer’s report and pronounced the association solvent. He distributed budget request forms. Budget for 2018 will be developed at the December executive board meeting. Doug Zatechka asked about the possibility of a petty cash fund for repayment of member expenses under a certain amount.
6. Awards. Pat Crews led a discussion about types of awards that might be offered by the association. The association has award money available from the spendable balance of the Wisherd Fund and the UNL Emeriti and Retirees Fund at the Foundation.
- Awards for Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity. Pat Crews moved, Doug Jose seconded that the board move forward with the awarding of Wisherd Awards for Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity as proposed by the Awards Committee in April 2017. All dues paying members of the association are eligible. Applications for awards should be accompanied by three (3) letters of recommendation from colleagues, including a letter of support from the chair of the faculty member's academic department or unit supervisor for non-faculty members. Eligibility, criteria, nomination and recognition process, number of awards granted and dollar amount awarded to be determined. Discussion followed. Motion passed by a vote of 6-2 with one abstention.
- Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the University and the Community. Pat Crews moved, Rita Kean seconded that the board approve two new association awards: Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the University and Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the Community to publicly thank and reward individuals for volunteer work and call attention to the large amount of volunteer work that retired faculty and staff members provide the university and the community. Awardees would receive an inscribed plaque and identify a not-for-profit organization to which the association would make a donation in the awardees' names. Eligibility, criteria, nomination, number of awards and dollar amount awarded to be determined. Discussion followed. An amendment to the motion was made by Doug Jose changing the inscribed plaque to a certificate and the donation given to an unrestricted fund in the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid for the purpose of awarding micro-grants to current students with emergency financial need. Motion passed as amended.
7. Benefits. Doug Zatechka reported he has completed verifying three categories of benefits:
- Benefits for emeriti faculty as described by Board of Regents Bylaws
- Benefits for both emeriti faculty and retirees
- Benefits offered from campus departments
The complete listing of benefits will be provided for discussion at the board retreat in December. Johnson suggested the section covering benefits for emeriti and retirees be moved to the beginning. How benefits should be accessed on the web also will be discussed.
8. Upcoming Programs.
- November16—John Woollam, Why Would a Professor Start a Business?
- January 18—Donde Plowman, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer
Jeff Keown announced he has contacted Kim Hachiya to speak at the February meeting. Her topic is the Nisei students at the University during World War II. Plans are also being made for the March and April meetings.
9. Other Events. A 2018 schedule of events was distributed. Upcoming events include:
- December 5, 2017, 2pm, Executive Board Meeting, Braeda
- December 12, 2017, 11am, Board of Directors Retreat, East Campus Union
- December 14, 2017, 9:30am, Holiday coffee at Jeff and Gail Keown’s home, 9340 Whispering Wind Road
10. Committee Reports.
- Member Relations—A tour of University Housing, arranged by Kay Rockwell and Doug Zatechka, will be conducted over spring break.
- Coffee House Chats—Coffees will continue on the second Wednesday of the month.
- January 10, Coffee at The Mill at Innovation Campus
- February 14, Valentine’s Day Party, Don and Rita Weeks’ home
- April 11, Coffee, location TBA
- May 9, Coffee, location TBA
11. Program of Work. The program of work is nearing completion after productive year. Remaining items:
- Revision of benefits (to be presented at the retreat)
- Establish awards (accomplished at this meeting)
- Implement November luncheon
12. Other Business. President Johnson was contacted by Charlyne Berans about the possibility of association members taking an OLLI class about the history of the university by paying only the class fee without joining OLLI. President Johnson will ask Charlyne for a formal proposal.
13. December Retreat. A draft agenda for the December board retreat was distributed. Other items were added to the agenda during the meeting, and board members were encouraged to determine additional topics. The retreat is scheduled for December 12, 11am-2pm, East Campus Union.
Meeting adjourned at 2:45pm.