Employee Council Minutes
March 15, 2001

TOPICS DISCUSSED
· COUNCIL MINUTES
· PARKING RATE INCREASE UPDATE
· SYNTHESIZING COMMITTEE UPDATE
· EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
· SHARED LEAVE
· TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
· OTHER BUSINESS

COUNCIL MINUTES
The minutes of the February 15, 2001, meeting were read and amended. Ray Cedeno, who is a campus Police Officer, was selected Employee of the Month for January, not February as stated in the minutes.   Minutes were approved as amended.
 

PARKING RATE INCREASE UPDATE
CWU Police Chief Steve Ritteriser and CWU Police Lieutenant Kevin Higgins explained the need for an increase in the cost of parking permits.  The new price for a calendar year permit for faculty and staff will be $90 beginning in September 2001 and $100 beginning September 2002.  This money is used for parking lot improvements and maintenance (including plowing and sanding in the Winter) as well as salaries for parking employees.  The state does not provide funds for maintaining parking lots.  Increased costs in parking lot maintenance have forced this increase in fees.  For example, the university is now required to use an environment-friendly paint when painting parking strips.  The paint is more expensive and doesn’t last as long.  All staff is encouraged to attend Parking forums, which will be held March 29 and 30.
 

SYNTHESIZING COMMITTEE UPDATES
Libby Street, Special Assistant to the President, spoke to the Employee Council about the findings of the Synthesizing Committee.  After all of their hard work and numerous meetings, they came up with six areas of emphasis, now referred to as goals for the university.  The Employee Council was asked to review the committee’s report and determine if there is anything that we disagree with or if we feel there is anything missing from the report.  Our comments should be directed to Nancy Bradshaw by April 2.  If you have not read the report you should take the time to do so.  Please ask your Employee Council delegate to pass on any comments you have.
 

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Sharon Parker, Office Assistant Lead in Student Employment, was chosen as Employee of the Month for February.  Here are some of the comments made about her.  “Sharon is a true team member who is always willing to go the extra mile on behalf of students.” “Sharon has always been very understanding and generous when it comes to the students of this university.  If she can help, she will, without hesitation.” Congratulations to Sharon Parker as our February Employee of the Month.

If you work with a staff member who is doing an outstanding job, you should take the time to nominate this person as Employee of the Month.  Employee of the Month nomination forms are available at: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/hrforms.html#Other.  Soon it will be time to select the Employee of the Year, so get your Employee of the Month nominations in now!
 

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), Colleen Hall (Facilities Management) and Charles Schlund (Facilities Management).

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: www.cwu.edu/~hr/hrforms.html#Other.  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 s/he 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
CWU has a variety of software workshops available to employees.  Most of these workshops are at no charge.  (MS “Office” software may have a $30 fee, depending on the type of workshop.) Software topics include HTML, maintaining your CWU web pages, “Communicator Composer”, “PowerPoint”, web forms, “Blackboard”, “Photoshop”, graphics, how to use the network, “Access”, “Excel”, “Word”, etc.  You will find “GroupWise” instruction, too.  To find more information about software training, go to http://www.cwu.edu/softwaretraining/, and select an instructor in your area of interest.  On-line instructions for a number of GroupWise topics, including archiving, can also be found on the CWU Computer Support Services web pages at http://www.cwu.edu/~css/master.html.

Washington State Governor’s Interagency Committee of State Employed Women (ICSEW) will be having its 2001 Biennial Training Conference on June 4, 5 and 6, at the Yakima Convention Center.  Cost of $195 per delegate includes meals, conference costs and materials.  Created to focus on issues and training relating to women in state government, over the years, the conference vision has developed into a full program of enrichment, providing informative and useful tools to state employees in both their professional and personal lives.

For more information on this and other ICSEW sponsored events, please visit the ICSEW site at www.wa.gov/icsew.
 

OTHER BUSINESS
Council members discussed the settlement of the unfair labor practice charges filed by the Washington Federation of State Employees union at the state level several years ago.  Union officials will work with management to determine a resolution to issues that were raised regarding Employee Council.
 

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

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for April 19, 2001, in BARGE 201. If you are a delegate and cannot make the meeting, be sure to notify Colleen Rose and to let your alternate know so that s/he will attend.
 

PRESENT:
Kim Thomas, Business and Administrative Support: Unit A
Nancy Bradshaw, Business and Administrative Support: Unit A
Paula Moffatt, Business and Administrative Support: Unit B
Karol Barker, Dining Services
Marilyn Thompson, Dining Services
Shelly Voshall, Housing & Residential Services
Pedro Garcia, Housing & Residential Services
Kari Taylor, Instructional Support: Unit A, Chairperson
Gene Wilson, Instructional Support: Unit A
Leona Lindvig, Library Services
Dorothy Tenney, Plant and Facilities
Ginger Linnell, Enrollment Management, Secretary
Celia Johnson, Student Services and SUB: Unit B
 

ABSENT:
Debbie Nethery, Instructional Support: Unit B
Karen Simmons, Instructional Support: Unit B
Al Edler, Plant and Facilities
 

ALSO PRESENT:
Ona Youmans
Steve Ritteriser
Kevin Higgins
Libby Street