April 2002 Newsletter
Communications Report:
The committee continues to work with the SAC Visibility committee to enhance awareness of SAC among both new and continuing employees. We are now receiving weekly updates from Human Resources as to names and contact information for new employees. The names are being associated with the person's CWRUnet e-mail address, and will be distributed to the appropriate SAC representative for addition to their communication list. A joint effort between Communications and Elections committees will identify discrepancies in the apportionment of CWRU employees to management centers. We will establish a unified database and use this for both SAC representative elections and assignment of constituents to representatives. Communications Committee will meet Tuesday, April 9, at 12 noon in 352 Adelbert Hall.
Community Services Report:
The committee will research campus efforts and publicize them on the committee's website and through the SAC e-mail system. The Office of Student Community Service's is sponsoring a new program entitled "Getting on the Six," a program that allows staff, students, and faculty to volunteer as little or as much as they like by riding the RTA bus 6 to a variety of volunteer sites. The committee will be working on a special project establishing the Perry Children's Memorial Trust Fund. The money will be placed in a trust fund for the children of a recently hired staff member who met with an untimely death. Community Service Committee will meet Wednesday, April 9, at 12 noon in Tomlinson Food Court.
Elections Report:
The committee has sent out officer election ballots after the candidates spoke at the April 4 Council meeting. Ad hoc nominating committees for the next general SAC elections are being formed from the following areas: Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Law, Management, and Medicine. The committee is working with Communications to update apportionment lists with the partnership of HR and AIS. Elections Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 16, at 10:30 a.m. in 604 Crawford Hall.
Fringe Benefits Report:
The committee has divided into three subcommittees--Adoption leave, Paid time off (PTO), and Staff retiree health insurance. The adoption leave subcommittee brought forward a resolution in support of adoptive parent's leave and financial assistance to help defray costs. The Council passed a motion for a rewording of the resolution to be equitable with other parenting leave benefits. The PTO committee has completed an overview of our sister schools and competitive employers leave policies. Currently, Carnegie Mellon offers PTO. Rochester and Duke have PTO for hospital affiliated employees, only. UH and the Cleveland Clinic have PTO policies. PTO is typically used in work environments that have a need for 24-hour coverage (i.e., hospitals). The staff retiree health committee is still in the process of gathering information. Fringe Benefits Committee will meet Monday, April 15, at 12:00 noon in Adelbert Hall, Room 1.
Staff Policy Report:
The committee continues to discuss the issue of untimely evaluations and included Lorraine Watson from HR in the last meeting. Suggestions included streamlining the process by requiring fewer signatures on the evaluation, and send automated email reminders to supervisors on employee anniversaries. Discussion of the merits and shortfalls of a possible paid time off policy (this was discussed in parallel with Fringe Benefits). Other issues discussed were new employee orientation (this was discussed in parallel with the Training and Development) and more detailed sharing of information about campus services. Staff Policy Committee will meet Wednesday, April 24, at 10:30 a.m. in 352 Adelbert Hall.
Staff Recognition Report:
The committee has received 12 nominations for the President's Award for Distinguished Service and is in the process of rating the 36 recommendation letters based on three criteria: citizenship, service, and commitment to the University community. The recipients will receive a $500 cash gift, a certificate of recognition from Interim President Wagner on June 4 at the Staff Service Awards Luncheon, and their names will be engraved on a plaque currently hung in the Tomlinson gallery. The Staff Recognition Committee will meet Tuesday, April 16, at 12 noon in 352 Adelbert Hall.
Staff Training and Development Report:
The Staff Training and Development Committee has been focusing their energy on the Employee Resource Partnering Program, that will serve as an information channel for new employees as they make the transition to the campus community. A pilot program has been developed and will be starting in mid-April. The Video on Wheels series continues through June. The next video, "The Art of Investing," will be shown at 12 noon on Thursday, April 11, in 209 Crawford Hall. It promises to be most worthwhile as prominent experts share their insights about investment strategies, retirement plans, and mutual funds. Staff Training and Development will meet Wednesday, April 10, at 12 noon in 1 Adelbert Hall.
|
