MINUTES – STAFF OPEN FORUM
November 30, 2006
Ms. Giselle Williams, chair of the Staff Advisory Council, opened with a welcome to all attendees. Keith Ray led the invocation. After the invocation, Ms. Williams introduced the members of the Staff Advisory Committee.
Tom Hay introduced the members of the panel for today’s program. They were: Dr. Linda Bartlett, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs, Mr. James Wilkins, Environmental and Sustainability Intern, Dr. Brad Bechtold, Director of Continuing Education, Dr. Idella Glenn, Director of Multicultural Affairs, Mr. John Roberts, Director of Internal and Electronic Communications.
Dr. Bartlett spoke first and she reviewed the progress with the changes in the calendar and the new curriculum scheduled to be implemented during the 2008-2009 academic year.
Dr. Bechtold discussed the variety of programs available to staff for professional development and leisure learning. Included in the slate of new courses available to staff for professional development include: Business Etiquette, Understanding This Generation of College Students, Time Management, Work-Life Balance, Memory Fitness. These classes are funded through Human Resources with no cost to the employee. Dr. Bechtold encouraged everyone to consider enrolling in some or all of the classes offered for staff professional development.
Mr. Wilkins reported on Furman’s Year of the Environment Initiatives. The sustainability program is designed to strengthen and broaden what Furman University is doing environmentally. Some of the initiatives include: create and maintain a new sustainability website, create an organic garden and harvest the produce to be sold on campus, make the lake healthier through the Lake Restoration Project, continue to educate students, faculty, and staff about energy conservation, continue and expand recycling efforts around campus.
Mr. John Roberts reported on the development of a new staff online directory that will include photos of each staff person. The directory is scheduled to be online sometime in 2007.
Dr. Glenn reviewed her work with diversity relations here on campus. She described the diversity workshop, National Coalition Building Institute, that she and her staff conduct and she gave a short presentation including a section for audience participation. She encouraged all staff to sign up for the workshops being offered in 2007. She is committed to changing our hearts and minds about diversity.
There then followed the question and answer session. The questions and answers are paraphrased for brevity.
Q: How is the new calendar going to affect the staff Christmas break?
A: The staff break is a separate decision from the student break and is yet to be determined.
Q: Under the new calendar, will there be a paid holiday for Memorial Day?
A: No decision has been made yet. The Administration will discuss this issue in the coming months.
Q: Does Furman University qualify for a medical savings plan with a rollover feature?
A: Furman University does qualify for the plan, but after review this type of plan does not benefit the employee at this time. Furman will be moving toward a consumer-oriented program in the future.
Q: Is there a list from Cigna of Open Access Providers?
A: Open Access Providers will be available on the Cigna website in December. If anyone has questions, please contact Human Resources.
Q: Will there be another Staff Laughs event?
A: Staff Laughs has been scheduled for February 27th. The Staff Advisory Committee will put out announcements in Staff Notices and Public Announcements.
Q: Will there be an increase tuition benefit for dependents attending public colleges and universities?
A: The Administration will be reviewing the possibility of an increase in the tuition benefit for dependents attending public colleges and universities.
Q: Will the sick leave policy be changed to include sick leave to care for grandchildren or in-laws?
A: The Administration will look at expanding the sick leave policy one more degree to include in-laws and grandchildren. If a staff person has a special request, Human Resources will be glad to work with an individual with a special need.
Q: What are the purple bags?
A: The purple bags are bags given to each supervisor at the beginning of each calendar year. The bag contains items that can be given to an employee for excellent performance during the year. Contents of the bag include: movie passes, 1-hour time off cards, Shi Dollars. Human Resources have been making an extra effort to get the word out to supervisors about the purple bags.
Q: Is there a reimbursement plan for enrolling in graduate programs?
A: After a class is complete, the staff person may be reimbursed up to $500 per year.
Q: Is there anything a staff person can do to reduce their consumption of energy?
A: Mr. Wilkins listed a variety of ways that a staff person could reduce their energy consumption at their job, and some ideas include: challenge staff groups to a competition to lower the energy consumption within their building, the Staff Advisory Committee will host another newspaper recycling drive in the spring, there are now electronic recycling bins in the basement of the University Center, staff are encouraged to turn their computers off at the end of the day. Staff should continue to check Public Announcements and Staff Notices for more information on energy conservation and other sustainability efforts.
Ms. Williams thanked everyone for coming.
The forum ended at 10:30 am.