01-16-2008
Wednesday, 01/16/2008
Road to Zanzibar in Crosby
Minutes
Attended:
Attended: William Gibson, Marcia Bertholf, Georgia Dunham, Linda Grigsby, Janelle Axtell, Mary Beth Charleboix, Angela Ruff, Mike Tobin, Kim Gieber, Bill Kostelec, Connie Hickman, Brady Nielson, John Correia
1. Growth Plan Task Force Update
Marcia Bertholf is the representative, Bill Kostelec is alternate. Staff was in an information-gathering phase at the first meeting when Marcia was present. Bill attended the second, most recent meeting. Bill shared that Fr. Spitzer announced a change in the plan to 25 new students per year over four years, rather than 50. Discussion on alternative revenue streams included boosting ESL program enrollment, on-line graduate programs, modify summer school programs (may not reside in Professional Studies), renting dorms during the summer. Reactions to the question about potential for the impact of an economic recession were that the university has stable investments and that enrollments don’t tend to react to economic downturns. Debt service is guaranteed by the donor base already in place. Parking garage revenues are projected to be good. There is a list of expense impacts as a result of the change. University Relations hiring will move forward as originally intended, to be put in motion right away. Anticipated faculty and staff hiring ratio stands.
Marcia requested initiating a blackboard string of discussion to help her and Bill prepare for the next meeting. Bill suggested the survey results are good information for the Council for other issues.
2. AVP Search– Staff Interview Questions
Email from Paul Buller to community for staff interview sessions on (get dates) in the Foley Teleconference Center. Marcia requested we all recruit attendees. Some questions were submitted to Marcia, which she will post to Blackboard for reflection and discussion. We want to ask all three candidates the questions.
3. Performance Management Training for Supervisors
Sessions are taking place. Future discussion item.
4. SAEC Minutes: 12/19/07 and 1/09/08
Review and get your vote to Angela by Friday, 1/18/05 at 4pm.
5. Cares Initiative
Debbie Cerenzia and Dan Berryman came to discuss concerns expressed to the Council by staff about medical crisis situations. William shared questions that surfaced from the Council discussions: is there an alert system when someone needs help? Is there someone available to help with the paperwork maze (the employee or a family member)? Is it possible a program for donating sick leave to fellow employees could be put into place?
Debbie distributed the set of forms for a leave of absence. The training opportunities are at new employee orientation; benefits anniversary meetings, supervisor meetings, and staff meetings where HR is invited to present information. The handbook revision and related distribution is another source.
HR is informed in various ways – by the employee, by a family member, by a supervisor. A backup catch is if the timecard is submitted with absences. Payroll then alerts the Benefits office.
HR’s response is to contact the employee to initiate the leave forms and also contact the supervisor. Depending upon the situation, HR might put the person on sick leave time even before the forms come in, depending upon the bank of leave and the situation. Every situation is unique. The employee is guided on appropriate steps and invited to contact HR at any time with questions. Respect is granted to the employee as to how much interaction is welcomed by Benefits in the process. Benefits tracks the timelines required by the insurance and disability plans, and works hard to get critical information (such as documentation from a physician).
Debbie explained the benefit, and shared that pay is determined by how the form is completed by the employee and supervisor, given the bank of sick leave and individual factors. There is a 90-day processing time.
Confidentiality issues keep HR from alerting fellow employees and the community as to specific medical condition and financial needs. The person can ask for the ability to solicit recruit donated vacation time.
If the person is incapacitated, then HR would work through a person designated as approved by the employee.
HR will not distribute a request for donating vacation time if they have not spoken to the employee to confirm it’s okay.
The university thoughts and prayers system is separate from the HR services. The President’s office seeks confirmation that sending a message to the community about the situation is okay with the employee. That message doesn’t include information about need.
Dan encouraged that anyone hearing about a problem should refer the employee to the Benefits office.
FMLA provides job protection, as well as benefit protection, and all that information is attached to the leave form.
Discussion about peer advisor involvement rested on the employee in the crisis to invite that help, not for someone from the community to interject, which could breach confidentiality.
Debbie offered ideas on changing the approach to donating vacation opportunities. Currently there isn’t a way to donate vacation time without allocating it to a specific person.
Georgia shared that when the compensation committee meets with Benefits (along with the faculty) in the spring prior to renewal, they are often going out the community for input. The committee is developing a survey which includes questions about coverages and services.
Debbie collects information about people’s experience with the various providers in individual department meetings as well as the open attendance sessions for the community.
Cares Subcommittee along with members of the compensation and community service committees will get together to identify next steps on the various issues and concerns raised.
Next Meeting: Feb 6, 10-11am, Crosby Zanzibar. Anna Gonzales of Unity House will attend.
Action Items
Everyone participate in Blackboard discussion on Growth Plan Task Force
Everyone review and react to proposed AVP candidate interview questions
Everyone submit vote on minutes to Angela by Fri, 1/18
Cares Subcommittee, Compensation Committee, and Community Service Committee will meet to identify next step for the Cares Initiative.
