January 2001
STAFF ADVISORY COUNCIL
Thursday, January 11, 2001
Notre Dame Room, LaFortune Student Center
Present::Dona Coggins, Norma Frost, Kay Herrity, Pam Jobin, Wanda Lansford,
Bobbi McMahon, Norma Mezykowski, Lou Parks, Terron Phillips, Maria Pozzi, Marv Pruett,
Samantha Qualls, Valerie Schroeder,Marcy Simons, Kathy Stopczynski, Leona Strickland,
and Melodie Wise.
Absent: Debra Bennett, Deb Fox, Connie Gard, Steve Gibson, Rita Grontkowski,
Beverly Harbor, Nancy Mitchell, Sue Penrod, Fred Sonneborn, and Cindi Sykes.
HR Liaisons: Sarah Misener and Pam Zarazee.
Melodie Wise, Chair called the meeting to order at 1:01p.m.
I. Approval of the Thursday, November 16, 2000 Council minutes & Thursday,
December 14, 2000 Council minutes.
Bobbi McMahon made a motion to accept the Thursday, November 16, 2000 minutes.
Pam Jobin seconded this motion. A vote was taken and all present Council members
were in favor of this motion. Samantha Qualls made a motion to accept the Thursday,
December 14, 2000 Council minutes. Wanda Lansford seconded the motion. A vote was
taken and all present Council members were in favor of this motion.
II Committee Reports
- Executive Committee
Melodie Wise, Chair stated that the committee is working on the Council's year-end report.
The Executive Committee will send a draft to Council members for their input and review in
the coming weeks. Melodie also stated that she is in the process of collecting quotes from
printing companies to get the year end report printed to send out to all nonexempt staff.
- Elections Committee
Maria Pozzi, Secretary/Treasurer stated that she had received an email from Deb Bennett
stating that the committee would be working on the elections for the odd numbered districts
next week. Pam Zarazee shared with the Council that the Elections Committee had been given
the labels for the election mailing.
- Promotion Committee
Nothing to report at this time.
- Parking Committee
Nothing to report at this time.
- Parking Appeals Committee
Samantha Qualls stated that this committee continues to meet on a regular basis to handle
regular business and at the present time there is nothing to report to the Council.
- Ad-Hoc Committee on Women's Issues
Marcy Simons, Vice-Chair shared with the Council that the Women's Fair will be held
Wednesday, March 14th in the of the LaFortune Student Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Marcy also shared with the Council that the Ad-Hoc Committee on Women's Issues will be
sponsoring a contest to honor a "Woman of Courage" during the month of March. This will
allow exempt and nonexempt staff to nominate a nonexempt female that they feel should be
honored as a true "Woman of Courage." Details of this contest will be shared in the
February edition of the StaffNews.
Marcy informed the Council that the topics for future lunch & learn sessions will include
"Caring for the Elderly" in January, "Healthy Eating" in February, and a follow-up on
"Money Matters" in March. More specific information will be sent via campus mail.
The last item Marcy communicated to the Council was that the third part of the lecture
series including notable women within the University will be held on
Thursday, February 15th in the Monogram Room of the Joyce Center. The featured speaker is
Jennifer Younger, Director, University Libraries. Flyers will be distributed to staff in
the next week.
- Ad-Hoc Committee on Drug Testing
Leona Strickland shared with the Council that this committee met this week. Each
sub-committee turned in their reports. Leona stated that this committee is in the process
of making recommendations. Leona asked the Council to provide her any feedback or
suggestions with regard to staff taking pre-employment, for cause, or random testing.
She also asked the Council for any input they may have in the area of for cause testing
and random testing for faculty. Leona asked the Council to send her or any of the other
members of this committee, which include Deb Bennett and Rita Grontkowski their comments.
Terron Phillips explained to the Council that he could no longer serve on this committee.
The Council discussed and decided that at this point in time, Terron would not be replaced
on the committee.
- Ad-Hoc Redistricting Committee
Melodie Wise tabled this item until later in the meeting.
- Web Page Update
Samantha Qualls reported that she is continuously updating the web site.
The Council discussed improving the Council photo on the web site.
Samantha recommended adding a current event feature to the web page.
The Council felt that a current event feature would be a positive addition to the web page.
- StaffNews Article
Nothing to report at the present time.
III. Redistricting Discussion
Melodie Wise began the discussion by summarizing the issues discussed at the December
meeting. The Council had a lengthy discussion on how redistricting should occur.
It was decided that the redistricting committee will meet to discuss all of the points
suggested and bring some recommendations back to a future meeting of the Council.
Samantha Qualls made a motion to have the odd numbered districts elections continue as
normal. Valerie Schroeder seconded this motion. A vote was taken and all present
Council members were in favor of this motion.
IV. Communication within Districts
The Council had a lengthy discussion about various communication vehicles utilized by
the Council in communicating with their districts. Melodie Wise tabled this discussion
until the next meeting.
V. Meal Plan Presentation
Melodie Wise welcomed Dave Prentkowski, Director, Food Services to the Council meeting.
Dave started his presentation by explaining to the Council that Food Services is
considered an auxiliary enterprise within the University. An auxiliary enterprise is
one that is self-funded. Meaning that the University relies on the revenues of these
enterprises to allow the operation to continue each year. Dave also added that each
eating facility on campus has a different focus. That focus ranges from the residential
life for the students to convenience for staff, faculty, and students. Dave stated that
the dining halls are open to the public, but certainly the primary focus is students.
Dave stated that each eating facility across campus might have specials to provide
discounts to staff. For example, the Huddle, located in the LaFortune Student Center
may run a special for employees during break weeks. Also, Café de Grasta, located in
Grace Hall may run a special targeting staff and faculty. Dave distributed information
pertaining to the options available to employees on campus for meal plans and a guide to
dining at the University. Some options discussed included employee's having the option
to prepay for a meal plan that has a discount built into it. An employee can purchase
10 meals in a dining hall for $71 or 20 meals $140 the present time. He also shared
with the Council that employee's can purchase Domer Dollars and use these dollars to
purchase food across campus. Dave stated that Domer Dollars do not expire, as long as
you have an active i.d. card for the University. Domer Dollars can be purchased and
stored on your i.d. card to enable an employee the convenience of not having to carry
cash around on campus. Domer Dollars can also be used at the Bookstore. In addition,
the use of Domer Dollars will be expanded during the years to come. Domer Dollars can
be purchased in the cashier's office at the Main Building or the lower level of the
South Dining Hall. The guide to dining booklets that Dave handed out can be obtained by
contacting Patricia Dillman at 631-7253. One Council member asked if Food Services is
considering having any locations closer to the Laundry or the Mason Services Center.
Dave stated that they have just started really making a push for marketing their boxed
lunch service, which includes delivery. This service is provided by Catering by Design
and can be done within an hour of a request. Dave encouraged interested staff to contact
Catering by Design at 631-7859. Other suggestions made by the Council included expanding
the food service opportunities for third shift staff, and consider lowering prices.
Dave stated that Food Services continues to seek input from staff via surveys, etc. to
improve the overall quality of food and service. Dave strongly encouraged Council members
to send any comments, suggestions, or ideas to him regarding food services on campus.
He really emphasized the need to get more employees' interested in learning more about
the meal plans offered on campus. The Council stated that the StaffNews might be a mode
of communication for Food Services to consider. Dave thanked the Council for allowing him
to come and discuss meal plan opportunities for staff at the University.
VI. Agenda for Thursday, February 22, 2001 Council Meeting
I. Approve the minutes from January 11, 2001 meeting
II. Committee Reports
- Elections Committee
- Executive Committee
- Promotion Committee
- Parking Committee
- Parking Appeals Committee
- Ad-Hoc Committee on Women's Issues
- Ad-Hoc Committee on Drug Testing
- Ad-Hoc Redistricting Committee
- Web Page Update
- StaffNews Article
III. Communication within Districts
IV. Set the agenda for the March 8, 2001 meeting
Sarah Misener shared with the Council that the Department of Human Resources has received
the first proof of the updated Staff Employee Guidebook. Sarah stated that the intent is
to start distribution prior to the next regularly scheduled Council meeting.
A Council member shared the concern over the Advantage Health Plan's prescription drug
benefit. Sarah stated that the Department of Human Resources shares the concern and has
diligently worked with Advantage Health Plan to get the necessary information.
Pam Jobin made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 2:55 p.m. Terron Phillips seconded
this motion. A vote was taken and all present Council members were in favor of this motion.
Sincerely,
Promotion Committee