EMPLOYEE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER – February 17, 2000

TOPICS DISCUSSED

-COUNCIL MINUTES
-WEB PAGES/PICTURES
-EMPLOYEE OF MONTH
-TIME LINE FOR THE NEW PRESIDENT
-BEREAVEMENT LEAVE
-EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO STATE EMPLOYEES, WHY NOT?
-ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING
COUNCIL MINUTES
Minutes were approved as read. The newsletter is being distributed on GroupWise. Paper copies are still being sent to departments without general e-mail access. To access the minutes via the web page, go to the CWU home page; click on Administration, then on VP Business and Financial Affairs, then on Meeting Minutes. From here you will see a list, click on Employee Council Meeting Minutes. (Past and present minutes are listed.) http://www.cwu.edu/~bfa/bfa_minutes.html

WEB PAGES/PICTURES
Lisa Miller (Development & Alumni Relations), has volunteered to help with the web page and attended the meeting to discuss the page layout, arrangements for Employee of the Month photos, and links to other sites. We plan to use the candid photos taken when the presentation is made on the current web page. Formal portraits are also taken and have been displayed in a case at the entrance to Bouillon Hall. These photos will be used on the "past years" web page. All winners will be given a release form to sign, and have the option to decline having their picture displayed.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Judy Paul, formerly of Accounting and Payroll, and now back in Student Financial Services, was selected as Employee of the Month for January. Congratulations, Judy. She is described as "calm, kind, and keeps everyone positive. She has put in long hours. She never complains. She has pulled off a miracle, with grace. Judy treats students and staff calmly and kindly. She is a treasure!"

The form for nominating a coworker as employee of the month is available at: www.cwu.edu/~hr. Scroll down to "Employee of the Month" and click on the icon. Be patient if you do not hear news right away, applications are kept "in the hat" for consideration each month for the entire year. The "award year" is April-March. Next month we will select an employee for February, and then there will be one more award before the Employee of the Year selection.

TIME LINE FOR THE NEW PRESIDENT
Marilyn Thompson reported on the selection of Dr. Jerilyn McIntyre as the new President of CWU. Dr. McIntyre is currently teaching at the University of Utah and will finish the school year before joining us in July. She has visited campus and expects to be back again before July. Marilyn gave us a detailed description of the selection process, the time and deliberations that occurred. The Presidential Selection Committee met with the Board of Trustees and gave presentations elaborating the strengths and weakness of each candidate. They made no direct recommendation. The Board of Trustees (BOT) took this information and after an extended closed meeting arrived at the selection of Dr. McIntrye. The entire process was very thorough. Members of the selection committee visited each candidate’s campus. Linda Beath, Morris Uebelacker, and Roger Fouts were the group who visited the University of Utah. Marilyn again complimented the current BOT, whom she described as very energetic, engaged, and interested in CWU. Marilyn received a well deserved round of "thank yous" from the Council for the job she did representing us on the Presidential Search Committee, and for all the effort that she put into keeping us abreast of the process.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE
Ona Youmans, Director of Human Resources, clarified the use of bereavement leave. The new leave slips list both "bereavement" and "bereavement/sick" leave. Bereavement leave (code 240) is a special leave, which allows paid leave of up to three days because of the death of an immediate family member. One day can be granted by the supervisor for the death of an employee’s family or household member, and is generally used by the employee to attend the funeral. (Individuals considered to be members of the family are mother, father, sister, brother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, husband, wife, grandparent, grandchild, son, daughter, stepchild, a child in the custody of and residing in the home of an employee. Household members are defined as persons who reside in the same home, who have reciprocal duties to and do provide financial support for one another. This shall include foster children and legal wards, or "significant others". It does not include persons sharing the same general house when the living style is primarily that of a dormitory or commune.) Bereavement leave can be extended by Human Resources for up to three days total if needed for travel or for attending to details of the death. Requests for these extra days should state the relation of the deceased to the employee and the date of death and/or date and place of funeral. Use of the special Bereavement Leave is not charged against the employee’s vacation or sick leave accruals and is granted for each death of a family member. If more time is needed to make funeral arrangements, the employee may use his/her accrued Sick Leave, marking the leave slip "Bereavement/Sick Leave" (code 180). And, Annual Leave (code 170) can always be used when extra time is needed, either to attend to legal details and arrangements or for travel. Bereavement/Sick Leave (code 180) may be granted by the employee’s supervisor for condolence or bereavement--for instance to attend local funerals of neighbors or close friends. Use of Bereavement/Sick Leave is charged against the employee’s sick leave balance.

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO STATE EMPLOYEES, WHY NOT?
Most of us know that we are eligible to take classes without tuition, on a space available basis. There is a $15/quarter registration fee. However, currently only 26 employees are doing so. Why?

General discussion lead to several points. Just the process for enrollment is discouraging, requiring that you fill out the paper work first, then often the classes are filled, and the employee is denied access. More importantly, there seems to be shortages of many high interest classes; accounting and computer classes are especially hard to get into. Would it be possible to offer more sections of high demand courses in these areas? Many employees need to have afternoon or evening classes. Could there be more offered in these time slots? More graduate classes are desired. There was an interest in artistic or personal enrichment classes. Many community colleges offer classes of this sort to the general public, and they are well received. These courses would be another avenue to strengthen the relationship between the Ellensburg community and Central, as well as bring additional students to campus.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for March 16th, at 2:00 p.m. in SUB 209. All representatives need to attend; alternates are always welcome.

Present:
Kim Thomas, Business & Admin Support: Unit A
Paula Moffatt, Business & Admin Support: Unit B
Karol Barker, Dining Services
Marilyn Thompson, Housing & Residential Services
Kariann Taylor, Instructional Support: Unit A; Chairperson
Gene Wilson, Instructional Support: Unit A
Leona Johnson, Library Services; Secretary
Ann Arango, Library Services
Dorothy Tenney, Plant & Facilities; Vice-Chair
Shirley Hood, Enrollment Management & Marketing
Carola Alden, Student Services & SUB

Absent:
Karen Simmons, Instructional Support: Unit B
Debbie Nethery, Instructional Support: Unit B
Jeri Francisco-Porter, Plant & Facilities
Pat Devlin, Plant & Facilities

Also present:
Lisa Miller
Ona Youmans