Employee Advisory Committee Minutes
Wednesday, May 2, 1:00 p.m.
Library Conference Room
Present: Christina Updike, co-chair, Jacqueline Ciccone, co-chair, Ralph Alberico, Norma Burkholder, Brian Charette, Alfred Francfort, Robert Hanson, Linda Holman, Irma Housden, Candace Kluesner, Lorie Miller, Ted Pelikan, Janet Smith, Sandra Terry, and Camilla Washington.
Absent: Hugh Brown, Carole Paulett, Brooke Ross, Kathy Shuler, and Tammy Woods.
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I. Approval of minutes from March 28 meeting: minutes were approved as written.
II. President’s Address – final plans: The address has been successfully rescheduled to Friday May 11 when the academic schedule is lighter. The announcement was posted on the web and in media releases on campus. Brian Charette’s help in speeding up the employee emails was appreciated since the process usually takes 8 to 9 days, and we did not have much time to get the news out. David Taylor will capture the audio of Dr. Rose’s address, and may possibly videotape the event as well; Jackie will follow up with David on the status of the videotaping. Some feedback came in from faculty with concerns on whether they can attend the address and whether Dr. Rose would address faculty issues. Tina will respond to them that the address is sponsored by the EAC and while faculty are welcome to attend the event, the issues were submitted by classified employees and relate to their concerns. EAC and EAD members should arrive in Wilson Auditorium by 9:30 a.m. to sit up front and be recognized during the address.
III. Employee Appreciation Day Report: Kathy Shuler submitted an update on Employee Appreciation Day scheduled for Thursday, May 17. Registration went well, although some people did not get their first choices of workshops. Plans for the Convocation Center rain location have been finalized. Leila Longcor and Tracy Morris will co-chair next year’s EAD Steering Committee.
IV. Employee Service Awards Task Force: Kathy Shuler suggested that Employee Appreciation Day be mentioned in the Task Force’s report to Dr. Rose, even though the event would remain scheduled in May instead of during the proposed special week of recognition in April. Since the report has already been submitted to the President, the committee felt the best way to address Kathy’s concern is to emphasize in our annual report the importance of EADay as a continuing recognition activity for all employees, which is best held in May. Also, the EAC should express our support for the new initiatives proposed by the Task Force. Tina will keep the EAC updated on the progress of the Task Force’s proposal.
V. Staff Recognition Committee: Jackie reported that Diane Miller has submitted a formal proposal to Mr. King on behalf of the Special Committee to establish the staff recognition program. News on the status of the request should be forthcoming from Diane Miller.
VI. Other Business:
· EAC annual report for 2000-01: Tina and Jackie have been working on the annual report and distributed a first draft to the committee. This report will be discussed at our final meeting in early June and sent to the President’s Office, along with the final report from the Employee Appreciation Day steering committee.
· EAC 2001-02 Co-chair and membership: Camilla Washington has agreed to serve as co-chair with Jackie for next year. Names are being recommended to Geoff Polglase to replace four members of the EAC who are stepping down after this year. Forty-one staff nominations were submitted by the March deadline for service on University committees and commissions for the 2001-02 academic year.
· Discussion about next year’s activities included conducting a staff morale survey similar to the faculty morale survey, which was just completed by the Faculty Senate. Brian suggested that the timing for a large-scale staff survey might be reconsidered, since the coming year will be the first year for the new compensation program with new forms and procedures. A staff morale survey might be more appropriate to conduct in the 2002-2003 academic year.
· Brian mentioned that he received word from DHRM announcing Virginia Public Service Week. He made the decision to announce the event to all employees closer to the actual recognition week, beginning May 14, and to not solicit award nominations for the state awards this year, due to the late notification from DHRM at the end of the semester. He will report to DHRM that JMU is recognizing employees at EADay and at other events throughout the year.
VII. Next meeting date: a final meeting for the year was set for Wednesday, June 6, at 1:00 p.m. in the Library Conference Room.
Agenda items: review the final report from the EAD steering committee; discuss and approve the final draft of the EAC annual report.
The meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted,
Jackie Ciccone and Christina Updike, Co-Chairs