Meeting Minutes
Called Meeting of the CVCC Professional Staff Association
September 17, 2004
East Campus 1012

Present: Ari Sigal, Sallie Neville-Merritt, Marian Baer, Mark Poarch, Doug Allen, LaDonna Goodson, Ashley King, Sue Asp and Anne Williams.

Anne Williams, PSA President, called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM.

WIlliams reported that from the facts available, it appears that professional staff received about 6.5% increase in State salary, faculty received approximately 9.5% increase. Incorrect early reports on September 16 from professional staff of 3.8% and 4.2% increases used the wrong base for their initial computations. Ari Sigal indicated that from facts available to him, it appeared that support staff received the greater of 4.5% or $1,000. Sigal further reported that faculty with doctoral degrees were compensated for that degree, pushing their increase above 9.5%. It was reported that Dr. Karen Less, on professional staff, did not receive additional compensation for holding a doctoral degree.

Members discussed possible scenarios that CVCC administration had to work within. One possible situation was that the Instructional "pot" of funds was large enough to accommodate 9.5% raises for faculty and that the Administrative "pot" would accommodate 6.5% maximum raises for professional staff. Instructional funds cannot be transferred and used for Administrative purposes.

Williams reminded the group of the NC Legislature's push to raise salaries of faculty and professional staff to the national average, as incorporated in Section 8.3 of the 2004-05 State budget. In addition, Williams had requested and received a copy of the minutes of the August 25, 2004 CVCC Board of Trustees meeting. In that meeting, the Board had approved salary increases awarded at a minimum as recommended by the State Board and the General Assembly and a maximum of the 9.5% average based on the recommendations of Administration.

Discussion followed about a continued push for compensation equity with faculty. If the group's supposition of the local situation is correct, it was discussed that the push needs to be made at the state level, including the NC Legislature.

Members present asked Williams to write letters of unconditional thanks for the salary increases to President Dunbar, Dr. Lane and Charles Snipes, Chair of the Board of Trustees. PSA will also ask to be on the Board of Trustees November meeting agenda to give our thanks for the increase to the full Board.

Williams was also asked, at a later date, to confirm the supposition of the local situation.

There being no further business, the called meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Anne R. Williams

PSA President