Minutes
September 18,
2003
The meeting was held in Room E163 Student Union. USAC
Chair, Donna Totten called the meeting to order at 2:39.
Attendees
included:
Joyce Howes, College of Science and Math
Judi Engle, School of Medicine
Jen Rice, Admissions
Marianne Shreck, Research and Sponsored Programs
Donna, Totten, Business and Fiscal Affairs
Susan Wehmeyer, University Libraries
Rick Zech, Budget Planning
WELCOME
New USAC members were welcomed and introduced.
APPROVAL of MINUTES
The minutes of the USAC meeting of May 22, 2003
were approved as posted on the website.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
There were no committee meetings this month. The USAC
executive committee will select new representatives for the Parking
Services, Athletics and Wellness from among letters submitted by
interested volunteers.
NEW BUSINESS
Election of Officers
Online nominations were solicited before the meeting as well as from
the members during the meeting. Joyce Howes was voted the
Chair-Elect and Susan Wehmeyer Secretary for the 2003/4 year.
Elections for 2004/5 will be held in May so that the executive committee
can work on planning over the summer.
Holiday Work Schedule
The University Administration asked USAC for an opinion about
whether the Christmas Eve holiday should be moved to Friday, the day
after Christmas this year. Representatives polled their constituents informally and
reported the results to Donna. More than half of the unclassified
staff were in favor of moving the holiday but those who were not felt
very strongly about it. It was suggested that most students and
other business contacts would be more likely to expect the University to
be open on Friday than Wednesday. Donna will report the findings
to Dr. Hopkins and will inquire whether the holiday might be left as
originally scheduled but the Friday after Christmas designated an
administrative leave day because the amount of business expected that
day would be offset by energy savings if we did not open.
Judi Engle
Judi presented her thoughts on the development of a program to
benefit both staff and students. She would like USAC to consider
sponsoring this idea to the faculty and administration.
As part of their course work, students in
appropriate classes would be assigned to work with a staff member to
complete a project. The staff member would give a brief evaluation of
the work that would become part of the student's grade. This could
improve the retention rates by giving students one on
one time with university personnel, increase the "hands on" experiences
that help students select career paths, and possibly even provide
low-cost help to important projects across campus.
For example, Judi works in public relations. A student from Mass
Communications might have a project assigned as part of a class to work
with her. Perhaps the student would be responsible for researching and
writing news releases or plan a press conference. Students in
computer science could help a department design their web pages or
develop a database. Students in marketing might design a
survey instrument. English majors could be asked to edit a book or to
develop an editorial plan for a new publication.
Donna reported that something similar is already
being done in Business and Fiscal Affairs. She and Judi will meet
with Carol Vuckovich to discuss how this was accomplished and bring
information back to USAC.
OLD BUSINESS
Survey of Unclassified
Staff
Survey results have been posted to the USAC website http://www.wright.edu/hr/survey/uresults.htm
Results will be used to
plan goals for the coming year. In addition USAC has been asked to
prepare goals which support the university strategic plan. Members
should review the survey results before the next USAC meeting and email
comments and ideas to Donna Totten who will be serving on the Strategic
Planning Committee this year.
Members discussed some
survey results which seemed to clearly call for further consideration by
USAC:
- Cooperative fee
remissions. Some private colleges are known to have such
agreements. It was suggested that we investigate these before
bringing forth a proposal.
- Advancement
opportunities. This seems to be a concern.
- Training issues.
USAC will ask Human Resources to show how many of the respondents were
part time staff. A suggestion was made to invite Robert Sweeney
to a USAC meeting to discuss professional development opportunities
which are already available or would be desirable at the Kettering
Center.
Donna received numerous
responses from staff who expressed appreciation to USAC for soliciting
the survey information.
Handbook
A final draft of the
handbook was expected March 11th. Pending discussion of vacation
and sick leave accrual and the 4 hour rule has caused the delay.
Donna will meet with Alan Boggs the new V.P of Human Resources to see
what can be done to get the handbook to print if these issues cannot be
settled in the near future.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
NEXT MEETING
The
next meeting of USAC will be held Thursday, October 16, 2003, 2:30 p.m.
-- Room 158 University Hall..
Minutes submitted by Susan Wehmeyer, USAC Secretary,
9/19//03
Minutes corrected 9/24/03 |
