Approved
NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Special Formal Session
of
A special formal session of the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University was held on Thursday, October 3, 2024, via Zoom video conference. The meeting was convened at 1:00 p.m. by Chair Stephen E. Young.
Trustees present included:
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Mr. Stephen E. Young, Chair |
Ms. Brigitte R. LaPointe-Dunham |
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Ms. Lisa I. Fittante |
Mr. Steven W. Lindberg |
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Ms. Alexis M. Hart, Vice Chair |
Mr. Gregory J. Seppanen |
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Ms. Melissa A. Holmquist |
Dr. Brock F. Tessman, ex officio |
Trustees absent included:
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Mr. Greg M. Toutant |
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Senior Staff and Counsel present included:
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Ms. Cathy A. Andrew, Secretary of the Board of Trustees |
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Ms. Deanna K. Hemmila, Executive Director – Board/Government Relations |
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Mr. R. Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer of the Board of Trustees |
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Mr. Carrick Craig, Legal Counsel |
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Ms. Ashley Higginson, Legal Counsel |
The meeting was live-streamed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@NMUAV
ROLL CALL
Secretary Andrew took roll call of the Trustees and noted that a quorum was met with seven (7) Trustees present.
ONE-TIME PAYMENTS
President Tessman provided an overview of proposed one-time payments to over 700 NMU employees, noting this would not be possible without the good work and communication amongst a group of union leaders who have been meeting with the President to discuss the state of work life at NMU. These discussions resulted in open lines of communication and an opportunity to work together collaboratively. He thanked the following members of the union leadership stating they deserve special credit for today’s discussion: Tyler Thompson, Don Sibilsky, Steve Terres, Dave Wiegand, Andy Hill, Randy Klitzke, Tim Forslund, and Rick Mengyan. President Tessman also thanked the Board of Trustees noting they have been active and earnest with their communications with NMU employees across campus and with community members, and Vice President Gavin Leach and his team, as well as other NMU administrators, who have helped bring this proposal forward.
President Tessman made the following comments related to the proposed one-time payments:
· Northern is in a strong place at the present time with noteworthy achievements in the classroom with students, faculty research and creative scholarship, great instances of community and regional service, none of which would be possible without NMU’s employees, which is recognized in the new vision statement.
o Like the lake that inspires us, Northern Michigan University will be known as Superior – in the ways we support our people, partner with our place, and further our potential as a leader in higher education
· This starts with supporting NMU’s people noting this is evidenced by the MOU that was signed in the spring with the AAUP union and the new POAM union which resulted in pay increases for those groups.
· Administration has also heard from other employee groups on campus who also play crucial roles in supporting the success NMU students and the campus as a whole. A lot of that outreach and communication expressed very significant challenges those employees face, in particular financial challenges. Those types of challenges would typically be addressed in contract negotiations; however, contracts for AFSCME, TOP, AP, NMUFA don’t come up until 2025, 2026, and 2027.
· Proposal in front of the Trustees is for one-time payments that would be implemented this fall. The specific timing for the payments is still being finalized.
· The payments represent a significant investment in the people who make the success of NMU possible.
· Total amount is $2.4 million, broken up as follows:
o $3,500 to TOP
o $3,000 to AFSCME, AP, and NMUFA members, as well as non-represented employees earning <$100,000/year
o $300 to graduate assistants given their unique role on campus
· These one-time payments represent a significant increase ranging from more than 10% of average annual pay for TOP members to over 5% to the AP union members
· These are on top of the contractual increases already in place
· Significant reflection to support NMU’s people and a reflection of the path forward – increased collaboration, growing trust, and more success for NMU students and the University.
The following action was taken:
It was moved by Trustee Hart and seconded by Trustee Seppanen that the Board of Trustees approve the following one-time payments to the following employee groups:
· $3,500 to TOP members
· $3,000 to AP, AFSCME, and NMUFA members
· $3,000 to non-represented employees earning <$100,000/year
· $300 to graduate assistants
Discussion followed:
Trustee Hart made the following comments in support of her motion:
· Thanked President Tessman for bringing the proposal to the Board for consideration
· It signals a true investment in NMU’s people
· Have had some wonderful success in enrollment and retention which is not only a result of bricks and mortar, but because of the people that run the institution and touch the students every day
· Appreciates the robustness of the payments – not only is the NMU’s union employees but the non-represented employees and graduate assistants who all play a critical role – she appreciates the inclusivity of that decision
· Percentages are impactful as an overall compensation for employees for one year
· Recognize the extraordinary circumstances that have occurred in the past few years – this is not only deserved it is needed
Trustee Seppanen made the following comments related to the motion:
· Membership for the different unions should be proud of the leadership for working during this past year to make the Board and administration very aware of the role all their members play in making Northern the success it is today. They worked very hard, were creative, respectful and made a great case. The motion in front of the Board is an indication of the great job they did.
Chair Young made the following comments:
· The motion is a continuation of the Board’s good faith effort to invest in Northern’s people – one of the Board’s key strategies moving forward.
· The process started with the MOU with AAUP.
· For the Board to grow NMU into the future and attract students and ultimately what is being done is all about the students.
o Not only are top facilities needs to attract the students, the infrastructure and top-level faculty and staff are also needed to support those students.
· This action is part of the commitment to do those things to make sure the University can grow into the future.
· Pleased the Board is able to focus in those two areas – people and place.
· Thanked the Trustees as the Board set a goal and is trying to attain that goal – this action is part of the process of attaining NMU as a world class place for people to come.
· Thanked the union partners, non-reps, and grad assistant for all they do. Hoping this action is an indication of the Board’s part of its belief in their importance to this system.
· Thanked President Tessman and his team for helping the Board through this process as this is the result of many discussions over many months, noting the amount of background and information Vice President Leach provided as the Board worked through the process.
Being no further discussion, Chair Young called the question
On a roll-call vote, the Board voted as follows:
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Aye |
Nay |
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Stephen E. Young |
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Alexis M. Hart |
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Lisa I. Fittante |
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Gregory J. Seppanen |
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Melissa A. Holmquist |
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Brigitte R. LaPointe-Dunham |
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Steven W. Lindberg |
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Motion carried.
Chair Young thanked everyone for and adjourned the meeting at 1:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/signed/Cathy A. Andrew
Secretary of the Board of Trustees