Employee Council Minutes
December 21, 2000

TOPICS DISCUSSED

- COUNCIL MINUTES
- EMPLOYEES TAKING CLASSES
- FOLLOW-UP OF REORGANIZATION
- MENTORING PROGRAM FOR FRESHMEN
- EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
- ELECTRONIC TRANSFER OF FUNDS
- SHARED LEAVE
- TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
- ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING

COUNCIL MINUTES
The minutes of the November 9 meeting were read and approved as distributed.

EMPLOYEES TAKING CLASSES
A copy of the policy number 2-2.15 from the CWU policy manual was distributed. This section explains the educational benefits for CWU staff, State Classified Employees, and Members of the Washington National Guard. http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/EOTM/EmplEdPolicy.html Employees may take up to six credits per quarter for $15 under the tuition waiver program. The policy requires that the completed form be turned in at least 15 working days before the start of the quarter. The form is being updated by the Registrar’s Office to read the same as the policy. Questions regarding the classes and number of credits that can be taken under the tuition waiver program should be directed to Carolyn Wells in the Registrar’s Office. Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to Human Resources or, for faculty members, to the appropriate dean’s office.

FOLLOW-UP OF REORGANIZATION
A follow-up discussion of the reorganization of campus and the resulting reorganization of employee council delegates occurred. The intent of the reorganization is to have one delegate for approximately every 50 classified staff employees. The proposed units are as follows with the approximate number of employees per unit:
 
Unit Number of Staff  Number of EC delegates
Business Support 68 2
Student Affairs and EM 73 2
Instructional Support A 72 2
University Relations & President 32 1
Dining Services 37 1
Financial Services 27 1
Computer and Telecommunication 43 1
Instructional Support B 49 1
Facilities 153 3
Library 30  1

Employee Council agreed there should be an off-campus employee representative. The units will officially be set up when an accurate count of staff members in each group is determined.

MENTORING PROGRAM FOR FRESHMEN
Mike Riley, Director of Admissions, explained to Employee Council about a mentoring program for freshmen that have been identified as academically at-risk. The program was started last spring quarter by a few administrators and faculty. The goal was to try to help these freshmen on academic probation "connect" to someone at the university. Mike said that approximately 250 new freshmen go on academic warning after fall quarter each year. A discussion followed about whether staff employees could be involved in this program. Some faculty have expressed concern that staff might be placed in the position of giving academic advising to these freshmen. Employee Council will continue discussion regarding the mentoring program with faculty and appropriate administrators to determine how classified staff could become involved in the mentoring program.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
The winner of the Employee of the Month award for November 2000 will not be made public until the end of January. We will post the winner and comments in the January 2001 Employee Council Minutes.

ELECTRONIC TRANSFER OF FUNDS
Several people have had questions about whether or not CWU will make it mandatory for employees to have electronic transfer of funds (automatic deposit). Ona Youmans said the issue was under discussion now. Regular, continuing employees may be given a choice between EFT (having their paycheck sent directly to a bank or credit union) or having the paycheck mailed to the employee’s home. The paycheck advice (stub) will probably be mailed (in sealed envelopes) to the employee’s department. Mr. Joe Antonich, Director of Financial Services, will be invited to speak about the issue to the Employee Council at their January meeting.

SHARED LEAVE
CWU employees may donate leave to a fellow employee who is severely ill or injured or has a family member who is severely ill or injured. "Severely" is defined as serious or extreme and/or life threatening. Recipients must be off work and have used all their paid leave to be eligible. Employees who wish to receive shared leave must notify Human Resources and submit a doctor's certificate.

The following individuals are in need of shared leave: Larry Charles (Facilities Management), and Shirley Speer (Teacher Education).

Individuals interested in donating leave should request a Shared Leave donation form from Human Resources. Copies may also be downloaded from the HR Forms section of the Human Resources home page. Requests must be approved by your supervisor before forwarding the form to Human Resources. Donated leave is also subject to approval by your department head, and Human Resources. Annual leave may be donated in eight-hour blocks. Employees who wish to donate annual leave must retain at least ten days (80 hours) of vacation leave and cannot donate excess leave (that over 30 days or 240 hours) that he/she would otherwise lose at the beginning of the leave anniversary month. Sick leave may also be donated in eight-hour blocks. The donating employee must retain a minimum of 480 hours sick leave balance after the transfer. No more than six days of sick leave may be transferred during any twelve-month period. An employee’s personal holiday may also be donated. Please call Human Resources (963-1202), if you need a shared leave donation form.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
If you are looking for low cost training solutions, try the Training and Development library, located in Bouillon 104. We have videos, audiocassettes, and books, on such topics as communication, career development, efficiency, human relations, management and supervision, leadership, public speaking, and more. While CWU employees are always encouraged to check out materials for personal use, we want to remind managers and supervisors that we have a number of training sets which are intended to be viewed in groups.

Video review: "Dealing With Conflict & Confrontation", a three part video series, produced by "CareerTrack". These videos will teach you a system of psychologically sound conflict solutions, which result in better work relationships, lowered stress, and a greater sense of control. You will be introduced to the idea that conflict has the potential to benefit everyone, if handled correctly. The ultimate goal of this series is to turn the destructive force of conflict into a tool for positive change.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., January 18, 2001, in SUB 209. If you are a delegate and cannot make the meeting be sure to notify Colleen Rose and to let your alternate know so that he/she will attend.

PRESENT:
Paula Moffatt, Business and Administrative Support: Unit B
Karol Barker, Dining Services
Shelly Voshall, Housing & Residential Services
Kari Taylor, Instructional Support: Unit A, Chairperson
Gene Wilson, Instructional Support: Unit A
Leona Lindvig, Library Services
Kerry Slaughter, Library Services
Dorothy Tenney Plant and Facilities
Ginger Linnell, Enrollment Management, Secretary

ABSENT:
Kim Thomas, Business and Administrative Support: Unit A
Debbie Nethery, Instructional Support: Unit B
Karen Simmons, Instructional Support: Unit B
Rick Gilson, Plant and Facilities
Al Edler, Plant and Facilities
Celia Johnson, Student Services and SUB: Unit B

ALSO PRESENT:
Colleen Rose
Ona Youmans