H.A. 2 Articles--Physical plant workers sign petition - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 26, 2006

H.A. 2 Articles--Physical plant workers sign petition

Date: May 26, 2006

According to this article, Physical Plant employees will receive a 5% pay raise when Aramark takes over operations. I have been informed by a PP employee, that the pay raise would be 3% and an additional 3% over six months. What happened to the 5% at the beginning of the contract?

If PERS counts on continued growth in the system, what will happen if the growth does not happen each year? How will State employees retirement be affected in the future?

Date: May 26, 2006

In the real world of business, most companies wind up paying about 30% more than projected cost after the third year. 50% of companies are not satisfied with the initial outside vendor in a particular function. In a ten year period about 70% of companies change outside vendors an average of 3 times for any particular outsourced function. When changing from vendor to vendor seldom is there a smooth transaction.

Of course the sizzle in outsourcing is "we can devote our attention to ------" in this case education or "we can better use our resources in ----" product development, etc. Certain functions certainly can be outsourced, e.g. automobile builders can certainly outsource tire manufacturing, but GM certainly would not outsource the vehicle painting.

Vital functions of a business(university) are seldom successful when farmed out to "put together companies".

Date: May 26, 2006

It's good to see that Faculty Senate is supporting staff interest.

(Myron) "Henry found the entire process unsatisfactory.

"I just didn't think employee input was valued, and not referring to the petition at all (in committee meetings) is an example of that," he said.

The petition expresses disappointment that Southern Miss would outsource its physical plant employees after their performance following Hurricane Katrina.

"We now feel like the university is dismissing us as members of its immediate family and telling us to go work for an outsider," the petition states. "

Date: May 26, 2006

Here's hoping that rank-and-file folks in the community will now understand that it is not only the USM faculty who have problems with the arbitrary way in which Shelby does business.

Would Shelby lose a non-confidence vote among staff if they were able to vote?

Date: May 26, 2006

Do you think there is any other university in the nation that has received as much bad press as USM has over the past four years? I can't imagine a four year period with this much negative P.R. for any public institution. The IHL Board, Aubrey K. Lucas and many others must really be embarrassed by the results of their actions. But where is the acceptance of responsibility?

Date: May 26, 2006

Bad Press wrote:

Do you think there is any other university in the nation that has received as much bad press as USM has over the past four years? I can't imagine a four year period with this much negative P.R. for any public institution. The IHL Board, Aubrey K. Lucas and many others must really be embarrassed by the results of their actions. But where is the acceptance of responsibility?

The sad thing about the bad press in this case is that it has truly been international in scope. Just about anyone to whom I mention USM at conferences knows about the "crazy president" (as one person put it) who reigns there. I hope that if and when USM gets a good successor to Shelby, the Chronicle of Higher Education will run an article about how morale is being rebuilt and quality restored after the Thames Interregnum. I also hope that a serious scholar of higher education will do a serious and detailed study of the Thames years, much in the manner of the recent book on how Elon University transformed itself as much in a positive way as Shelby has transformed USM in a negative way. Such a book would be highly instructive and should be thereafter become required reading for all college administrators.

Date: May 26, 2006

USM Sympathizer wrote:

Bad Press wrote: Do you think there is any other university in the nation that has received as much bad press as USM has over the past four years? I can't imagine a four year period with this much negative P.R. for any public institution. The IHL Board, Aubrey K. Lucas and many others must really be embarrassed by the results of their actions. But where is the acceptance of responsibility? The sad thing about the bad press in this case is that it has truly been international in scope. Just about anyone to whom I mention USM at conferences knows about the "crazy president" (as one person put it) who reigns there. I hope that if and when USM gets a good successor to Shelby, the Chronicle of Higher Education will run an article about how morale is being rebuilt and quality restored after the Thames Interregnum. I also hope that a serious scholar of higher education will do a serious and detailed study of the Thames years, much in the manner of the recent book on how Elon University transformed itself as much in a positive way as Shelby has transformed USM in a negative way. Such a book would be highly instructive and should be thereafter become required reading for all college administrators.

Could you share the title of the Elon Book?

Date: May 26, 2006

Below is info about the Elon book. The author is a distinguished scholar of American higher educaton. I e-mailed him about a year ago suggesting that he do a book on USM but did not hear back from him. Perhaps if he were contacted by others he would realize what potential there is for a "study in contast" between Elon and USM.

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

My son goes to Elon!, October 11, 2005

Reviewer:
Nicholas R. Duke "pickinnick" (Charlottesville, VA) - See all my reviews

For a parent -- whose son goes to Elon University (Class of '08) -- this is a fascinating read. It should be very interesting (required reading?) for any private college administrator, potential student/parent, or major donor (it desperately needs to build endowment). Last year there were 9,000 applicants for a Freshman class of 1,200. Elon is indeed a former "hidden gem" college that has definitely ARRIVED!

Date: May 26, 2006

Sorry! Activeboard would not let me copy-and-paste the whole amazon.com description, so I've reproduced the essentials in plain text below.

I wrote to the author (a distinguished scholar of American academe) a year ago, suggesting that he do a "contrast" study of USM in which he would show how, just as at Elon a set of administrators had moved the school in a positive direction, so at USM the opposite had occurred. He never responded to my message (if he received it); perhaps if he hears from others he will realize what a valuable case study USM presents. Certainly the "USM story" is a cautionary tale from which adminstrators and faculty everywhere can benefit.

================================

Transforming a College : The Story of a Little-Known College's Strategic Climb to National Distinction (Hardcover)

by George Keller

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List Price: $26.95

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Review

"Keller's study sheds light on the competitive nature of higher education today, and may provide inspiration and guidance for other colleges and universities currently facing similar challenges." -- Book News

Book Description

Forty years ago, North Carolina's Elon College was struggling to attract students and remain solvent. Today Elon enrolls students from 46 states and 40 foreign countries. Since 1988, it has erected a new library, student center, football stadium, fitness center, and science facilities on its 500-acre campus. The number of applications has risen 40 percent since 1995, and SAT scores of incoming students have improved by 98 points. Elon has emerged as one of America's most desirable colleges.

How did this transformation happen? What can other colleges and universities learn from Elon's remarkable turnaround? Taking a new approach to the study of higher education, George Keller examines the decisions made by Elon's administration, trustees, and faculty to transform a school with a limited endowment into a top regional university. Using Elon as a case study, Keller sheds light on high-stakes competition among America's colleges and universities -- where losers face contraction or closure and winners gain money, talented students, and top faculty.

See all Editorial Reviews

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Product Details

Hardcover: 136 pages

Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (October 1, 2004)

Language: English

ISBN: 0801879892

Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches

Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces. (View shipping rates and policies)

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

My son goes to Elon!, October 11, 2005

Reviewer: Nicholas R. Duke "pickinnick" (Charlottesville, VA) - See all my reviews

For a parent -- whose son goes to Elon University (Class of '08) -- this is a fascinating read. It should be very interesting (required reading?) for any private college administrator, potential student/parent, or major donor (it desperately needs to build endowment). Last year there were 9,000 applicants for a Freshman class of 1,200. Elon is indeed a former "hidden gem" college that has definitely ARRIVED!

Date: May 26, 2006

Thanks USM Sympathizer!

Date: May 26, 2006

If the staff members of Southern Miss were permitted to vote on a "No Confidence" issue on Dr. Thames, I think you would find that staff would vote "No Confidence." I have spoken with a member of AAUP in the past about the possibility of staff being allowed to vote. As you know, staff would have to hold a separate vote which would permit individuals to view who took part in the vote.

I have been on campus a number of years and have been outspoken in the past. One of the previous administrations understood when staff spoke up and seemed to listen. Unfortunately with this administration, I have kept my fist in my mouth because I need my job like everyone else.

Like faculty, I view the "Thames Timer" on a regular basis.

Date: May 26, 2006

Mitchell Berman is the current AAUP chapter president, I believe. A staff representative or delegation might approach him about the possibility of AAUP conducting a confidential staff no-confidence vote. (The chapter has some expertise here; faculty will recall the "sound governance" surveys that were conducted at least twice.)

An alternative would be for staff to invite unions such as the Service Employees International in for discussions. Aramark may rethink "taking over" a workforce prepared to consider organizing for collective bargaining.

Date: May 26, 2006

Since the University is on the business of education and not repair, they are outsourcing PP. Would the technology department be next?

Date: May 26, 2006

wondering aloud wrote:

Since the University is on the business of education and not repair, they are outsourcing PP. Would the technology department be next?

Given the way our email works I think it is a foregone conclusion. Of course the way the BB team is going, maybe we should outsource it...

Date: May 26, 2006

As regards an earlier posting in this thread -- I recently ran across one of our past grads who was up for a job at a university on the east coast (one above the fourth tier). At the interview he said that he received more questions about USM and its demise under its dubious regime than about his own qualifications. Sadly our travails are known far and wide -- another reason why the folks at IHL and those with power (AKL) who have kept their mouths shut for so long over this should be ashamed.

Date: May 26, 2006

Ripper, your post is being heard by far more people than those who visit this message board. Thanks for the post.

Date: May 27, 2006

wondering aloud wrote:

...Would the technology department be next?

If you mean iTech, then probably yes. A good number of their employees are already from a contractor. When they need a new person, instead of going through the 6+ month process of hiring an employee at USM (which one of the biggest problems is just getting approval from the dome), they just call their outsourcing company and have a qualified person there the next day. Now this costs USM much more money (due to the fees to the company, not salary), but they get the personnel that they need when they need it (e.g. a replacement is needed because a tech quits with little or no notice).

Date: May 27, 2006

Emma,

Thanks for the response, but I am not quite sure what you mean.

Date: May 27, 2006

Ripper,

I continue to hear about USM far and wide. I can not believe the number of people (mostly at large gatherings of educators) who come up to me at various conferences and want to discuss the Southern Miss Mess. The saga continues for all of us, I'm afraid.