Staff Council (“SC”)
November 15, 2006
MEETING SUMMARY
Action Items
Completed…
ü
The
SC minutes of October
18, 2006 were unanimously approved and entered into record. These minutes are available
online.
Information Items
Presented…
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SC President Susan
Martin—whom the SC
would like to warmly welcome back after her recent medical leave—reported the
following:
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The SC Executive
Committee would like to thank long-time member, chair, and web coordinator
§
SC officers learned of
another departure after the meeting and would like to thank long-time member,
chair, and 2nd Vice President Delana Gifford for her invaluable
contribution to the SC. Among her accomplishments are the
reinvention and revitalization of SC Awareness Month as well as dozens of
vacancies filled. Time constraints and
family commitments require that Gifford take a break from the Council. She
will be missed!
§
The
SC Executive Committee would also like to recognize Representative Heather Kemp for her
outstanding work on behalf of the Staff Affairs Committee. Kemp has compiled a valuable knowledge base of
issues explored by the committee in recent years and was also responsible for
organizing constituent
feedback on campus food services into a concise, informative report.
§
Welcome to Representative Jennifer
Fleming,
who attended her first meeting in November.
§
Please urge your colleagues to share their good news: the SC
“Applause Page” is
always seeking announcements regarding staff members’ professional transitions
within the university or community awards or honors. Contact the SC Office for details.
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SC Committee Chairs then made the following reports:
- Communication Committee Co-Chair
Michelle Hurst reported that she and Co-Chair Troy Barnes met
October 24th to further strategize about venues for SC
publicity. They also recently reviewed the holiday program flyer for the
Special Events Committee and established an OnCourse
virtual meeting site for their own committee.
- Membership Committee Chair
Delana Gifford could not attend, but Molly Martin made an
announced in her stead. Two vacancies have arisen
on the SC: a sixth representative for the
Academic Support RC (through
June 2008) and a Member-at-Large of the SC Executive
Committee (through June
2007). Interested staff
members or current SC members (current
SC membership is required to run for Member-at-Large) should e-mail
the SC office. After the
meeting, the SC office also learned that the position of
2nd Vice President & Membership
Chair (through June 2007) is now
vacant, as well. Please notify
the SC office if you are interested.
- Rewards & Recognition
Co-Chair Lorna Griffin reported that her Co-Chair Mike Oakley is still
active in the committee but that shifts in his workplace
responsibilities have precluded his attendance of recent SC meetings.
- Staff Affairs Co-Chair Becky
Thacker reported that her committee continues to receive and
address concerns, especially about pedestrian
safety. One of the
committee members is exploring
- Special Events Committee Chair Karen
Best reported
that the
December SC meeting and annual holiday program will be held
on
December 6th at 3:00pm at the Center for Young Children. The afternoon will feature
an abbreviate SC business meeting followed by holiday music, snacks, and
door prizes. The committee
continues to collect donations for the event. Please RSVP for this special meeting. Many
thanks to the Special Events Committee for their hard work!
- Campus Center Director Dan
Maxwell briefed the SC on the opening schedule, mission, and features of
the new
- Chartwell’s Senior Director of
Dining Services Jim Clemons, introduced himself, Retail Director Steve Serr, and Chartwell’s Regional Nutritionist Laura Conway. Assistant Vice Chancellor for Auxiliary Services John Short was also present. Clemons, who started at IUPUI in June,
explained his fundamental management principles for campus dining: customer service and quality products. He understands that some of Chartwell’s
past practices, not well-regarded by customers, will require renewed
commitment and increased community outreach. He urged staff
to contact him personally at 4.7735 when concerns arise. He also urged staff to stop by the comment
table at
Prior
to the meeting, the SC shared feedback, negative and positive, on food service
on campus via a
report compiled by the Staff Affairs Committee. Clemons noted that he had carefully read the feedback
and promised a written response to the comments in December 2006. He did respond, however, to some initial questions posed
by the Council:
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Q: Are the catering
services, processes, and terms set?
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A: No, they will be up
for review in the coming months and are subject to change.
§
Q: Once the
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A: The food courts in
the
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Q: What is the nature of Chartwell’s contract with the
campus?
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A: A new contract is
being drafted and will soon be signed.
The term is for seven years with an option to renew and, as recent
contracts with Chartwell’s, was developed in the interest of necessary
investments for the
§
Q: Does the talk of possibly outsourcing IU Bookstores
have any connection or bear any similarities to negotiations with Chartwell’s
(re: the need for investment on campus)?
§
A: No. President Herbert has mentioned the possibility
of exploring bookstore outsourcing; unlike dining, it would be a university—as
opposed to campus—decision.
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Q: What is the status of vending (Canteen and Coca-Cola)
contracts on campus?
§
A: Canteen is managed
by Chartwell’s and is, therefore, governed by its contract. The contract with Coca-Cola was negotiated at
the university—not campus—level and has recently been renewed.
In closing, the SC thanked Clemons
for his time and he thanked the Council for engaging in these important
conversations. Staff Affairs Co-Chair Becky Thacker reminded
Clemons that staff spend a great deal of time on campus and that nutrition,
access (including class and workday-friendly hours), and affordability
must be among Chartwell’s chief priorities as they move forward. Representative Leslie Kidwell closed by noting
that, while she appreciates Clemons’ time, the extension of Chartwell’s
contract may be initially viewed with skepticism, as many staff view
Chartwell’s past performance as inconsistent.
More information on campus
dining is available online.
- Vice Chancellor for
Administration & Finance Bob Martin briefed the
SC on the following:
§
The
§
The
§
The
addition to
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Research III, among the most expensive single
building projects in IU history, is slated to begin construction in 2008.
§
A
January 2007 opening
is planned for the Medical Information Sciences Building at the
head of the Canal. Representative
Chris Walthers raised concerns about the lack of on-site parking and the reliability
of the PeopleMover for staff at the new building; the Staff Affairs
Committee will follow-up to express their concerns in more depth.
§
Increased classroom
space on campus
will likely become the chief priority in the 2009-2011 budget year.
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Research IV is also likely to be proposed in
the near future.
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The
university has submitted its budget request.
The request will now undergo review by the Commission on Higher Education and Governor,
respectively, who will then issue their recommendations. The upcoming legislative session is a “long
session,” meaning the budget is being set for the biennium. Among the
highlights of the proposed budget:
maintenance dollars and funding for the Life Science Initiative. When asked by Representative Lester Cook about
possible reductions
in force in said budget proposal, Martin noted that reductions are
not planned and will be avoided if possible, but reminded the SC
that state appropriations continue to diminish, meaning that the university is
more reliant on revenue with each passing year.
Amidst social concerns about raising tuition, it can be tricky to strike
a balance.
§
When
asked by Representative
Alicia Gahimer if Counseling & Psychological Services (“CAPS”)
would move, if not to the
§
Martin
responded to questions about campus expansion by theorizing that “North Campus”
(the area by
§
In
response to questions about the potential future use of the Board of Health
Building and LaRue Carter Hospital, Martin noted that eventual demolition
was planned when the properties were reacquired from the state but that the
funding to pursue demolition (nearly $10 million) was not available at this
time.
- Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human
Resources (“HRA”) Ellen Poffenberger briefed the SC on the following:
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Thank
you to Chartwell’s for attending today’s meeting and recognizing that quality
of life issues such as food services do affect productivity.
§
She
is currently serving on Dean Sukhatme’s Academic Plan’s Process Review Team, a committee
that will explore ways to review and streamline day-to-day business processes
(billing, HR-related tasks, etc.). She
encouraged SC members to offer their feedback:
"How
can we do things better?"
§
Thank
you for all of the support and assistance provided by staff as the campus has
transitioned to a tobacco-free environment. As weather turns colder, she notes, non-compliance
may spike. Information cards explaining
the campus policy and available resources for smoking cessation are available
from HRA. If you are approaching a
smoker for the first time, please simply explain the policy and politely ask
that the person to extinguish their cigarette.
If you notice someone with a pattern of non-compliance, it is perfectly
acceptable to ask for their name and contact their unit of employment or--in
the case of a student you see daily but who may not provide a name—to alert the
Dean of Students Office.
As always, information
and registration forms for professional and personal development workshops
can be found online at http://www.hra.iupui.edu/signup.asp.
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Academic Designee Paul Galanti could not attend but,
as always, updates on the activities of the IUPUI Faculty Council are
available by clicking here.
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SC President Martin led the SC through Campus Committee
Reports and items of New Business:
- Secretary Amy Jones reported that the IUPUI Office for Women
is currently identifying goals for an effort to engage more women at
IUPUI in professional development opportunities.
- Parliamentarian Avis Frieson reported that a committee
to review the campus mission for diversity, convened in early
Fall, has met twice so far. The
task force will meet twice more to identify the salient messages of
IUPUI’s mission and clarify goals and practices for campus diversity
initiatives. The community has
reviewed campus mission statements and explored the history of the IUPUI
campus (one largely tied culturally and geographically to largely
African American neighborhoods in and around which the campus was built)
in preparation for its work. Jones
also represents staff on the committee.
- The SC then discussed recent
concerns raised about inequitable treatment and racism on
campus. The Black
Student Initiative, a collective of representatives of campus
organizations and some individual African American students, whose
report “Through Our Eyes” raised said concerns has since held an open
town hall meeting and requested a formal university response. Secretary Amy Jones, present at a number
of meetings on the subject, urged that staff remember that respect
and civility are due to all community members, noting that
she and others were disappointed and disturbed by the testimonials of
mistreatment given by some students of color.
SC members were also urged to learn more about recent
events from documents available on the Diversity website and
via student testimonials, which the SC Office will try to obtain per the
request of some SC members. Media coverage on recent events has
not, some SC members noted, been entirely even-handed and may not
accurately represent the concerns raised by students. Other SC members expressed an interest
in learning more so as to “see what they’re not seeing” as those who
have, perhaps, not witnessed these incidences of inequitable treatment
on campus.
Representative
Gary Curto suggested
that the SC explore proactive steps it can take in response to
concerns, including, perhaps, diversity and sensitivity training. Meeting
guest Dan Maxwell urged SC members to engage students and colleagues on this issue as
open discourse will be vital to moving forward. President Susan Martin noted that this is a
critically important issue that will require further discussion by the Council.
The SC is also exploring the option of connecting on a monthly basis with
fellow staff organizations like the Black Faculty & Staff Council, which
has some overlapping membership with the SC and IUPUI Faculty Council. Feedback
and comments should be submitted via the “Hot Topics” form on the SC website.
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SC President Martin adjourned the meeting at 5:05pm.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE STAFF COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 6, 2006 FROM
3:00-5:00pm @ THE