November 2007

11.07.07
Subject -Purchasing training

Is there some sort of start to finish training through the accounting department on how to pay for something. For instance, our office is going to hold a staff meeting. What are the steps we need to take? Do we fill out a purchase req, then a check request? This type of training would be very beneficial to anyone who has recently started in a position that needs to plan events/purchases.

Forwarded to -Paul Schell, Purchasing Manager, Anna Ficher, Accounts Payable Supervisor

Response - The Purchasing, Accounts Payable, and Travel offices provide regular training sessions every year. These offices just completed two training sessions in October for university employees. The next general campus training sessions are scheduled for January. Staff are highly encouraged to attend these training sessions. In addition, Purchasing, Accounts Payable, and Travel offices will provide "one on one" or special department training upon request. To make arrangement for this special one on one or department training, please contact the Purchasing office at extension 1006 and the Accounts Payable/Travel office at extension 2621.

Staff are encouraged to review the university's polices and procedure located on the department websites.
The Purchasing website is http://www.cwu.edu/~purchase/index.html.
The Accounts Payable website is http://www.cwu.edu/~acctng/payable.html.

For help with purchase requisitions and CWU purchasing regulations, please contact the Purchasing front desk ext 1001 or email at purchasing_office@cwu.edu. In addition, there is an educational document called the "Purchasing 101 training guide", which I highly recommend. It is located on the Purchasing website at: http://www.cwu.edu/~purchase/. For help with Accounts Payable/Travel regulations (invoice payments, invoice forms, check requests etc), please contact Anna Fischer, Accounts Payable Supervisor, at ext 2621, or email at fischera@cwu.edu.

Also, you may want to contact the Human Resources - Training & Development department for other training opportunities. Their website is located at: http://www.cwu.edu/~training/index.html

11.07.06
Subject -CWU Suggestion Box

the website claims you update these on the 10th of each month--are you really claiming that no suggestions have been submitted since the 10th of November? I beg to differ, especially considering the fact that I know I have submitted a suggestion and would like to see a response.

Forwarded to -Bruce Porter, Director, Business Services and Contracts

Response - We attempt to post the submission and response by the 10th of the following month as you can see from the sentence on the website: Your suggestions are submitted anonymously, so please check back after the 10th day of the following month to view our response. Statements directed at specific personnel or departments may not be posted publicly, but forwarded to the appropriate individual.

Occasionally the person responding will take longer than the 10th of the following month if the submission comes in at the end of a month so the response may not be posted until the next month.

BP

11.07.05
Subject -CWU Suggestion Box

I posted a suggestion some time ago and have yet to view a response....are the suggestions/questions posted on here chosen on a case by case basis?

Forwarded to -Bruce Porter, Director, Business Services and Contracts


Response - Submission to the Suggestion Box are sent to the person at the University that is responsible for the area relating to the submission. There are several attempts made to ask the responsible person to respond. If they choose not to respond, the submission is not posted. This does not happen very often throughout the year but occasionally the responsible person will not respond to a submission. Please resubmit your submission and we will attempt to get a response.

BP

11.07.04
Subject -Benefit summary

As an employee, I would really appreciate it if on my benefits summary (Wildcat connection-employee link-self service) included the cost of each benefit. It currently only shows the type of benefit, plan description, and coverage. Would it be possible to add a column showing the cost per paycheck? Or is this information available somewhere else on the site?

Forwarded to -Sherer Holter, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources

Response - The way PeopleSoft is configured, the benefits summary under employee self service links to the name of benefit plans for which each employee is enrolled. Some benefits have a flat rate cost. However most have different costs, depending on age, salary, dependants, and plan choice. Those exact amounts are calculated on the pay check. Employees can view their paycheck in self service to see the current cost for each of their benefits.

11.07.03
Subject -Language and Literature building

While I understand that Central has upgraded its campus greatly in the last 10 years, when will the Language and Literature building be replaced? If you look out of the northeast window on the second floor you can see major cracks in the brick wall. It seems terribly unsafe. The building also seems to have too many departments crammed into the same space. What are the plans for growth?

Forwarded to -Doug Ryder, Academic Facilities Planning Officer, and Bill Yarwood, Director, Facilities Planning and Construction

Response - With respect to the space issue, the CAH Dean submitted a major capital request last biennium to address this. I'm working with Marji Morgan to update the prospectus for this and it will be resubmitted and hopefully the request will work it's way up the list.

Doug

FMD had a structural engineering firm, Putnam Collins Scott Associates, prepare an in-depth structural evaluation of this building along with other campus buildings back in 1999. In 2002, the report was updated. Basically, the report states that the building is in very good structural shape, with no significant signs of structural distress or deterioration. Some cracking in exterior brick veneer was referenced, not as a structural concern, but as something to be monitored.

If you require any additional information, please give me a call.

Sincerely,

Bill Yarwood
Director, Facilities Planning and Construction
Facilities Management Department
Jongeward Facilities Administration Building Office 101
400 East University Way
Ellensburg, Washington 98926-7523
Tel: 509.963.1120

11.07.02
Subject -MRSA

I understand that an individual in an administrative office has been diagnosed with MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). This infection has a significant morbidity and mortality rate. Why haven't staff working in the same building been notified?

Forwarded to -Bruce Porter, Director, Business Services and Contracts


Response - A persons medical condition is considered private information and as such is not an issue that would typically be discussed with other employees. As with any medical issue that could affect employees, the University will follow the direction provided by the Kittitas County Health Department and Kittitas Valley Community Hospital. The Student Health, Counseling and Wellness Services department and the Environmental Health and Safety department work closely with these agencies to follow their recommendations. Both departments are readily available to discuss general health questions.

11.07.01
Subject -Building Monitors

Is there a list of building monitors? It would be nice to have that available somewhere. For instance, if I scheduled a meeting in another building, I would know who to call to make sure that the room will be unlocked when we arrive for our meeting.

Forwarded to -Margo Winegar, Facilities Management Department


Response - Locking and unlocking rooms on campus is handled by the Scheduling Center. Building Monitors are not responsible for locking and unlocking. They do not necessarily have a key to all the rooms in their building.