Central Washington University’s
Employee Council of Civil Service Employees
Minutes of the Meeting
May 20, 2004
The basic purpose of the Employee Council shall be to provide civil service employees with a forum for sharing timely information and facilitating employee recognition. The Employee Council does not perform any function of organized labor and is not intended in any way to supplant collective negotiations or employee organizations provided for in WAC Chapter 251-14. http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/minutes/purpose.doc
AGENDA
1. Call to order
2. Approval of the Agenda/Minutes
3. Selection of Employee of the Month for May
4. Parking Advisory Committee
5. Campus Community Building Program
6. For the Good of the Order/New Business
7. Adjournment/Next Meeting
8. HR Announcements
The Employee Council of Civil Service Employees meeting in Barge Hall, room 412, was called to order at 2:19 p.m., on May 20, 2004.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA/MINUTES
The May minutes were approved as written. To view current and previous minutes, please visit: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/minutes/index.html.
Selection of EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR MAY
Noella Wyatt, Career Services, was named employee of the month for May. Noella provides secretarial support for eight full-time exempt/civil service staff. She maintains the Career Reference Center and has taken on a number of marketing duties, including editor of the quarterly newsletter. Noella is the chair for the development and production of the Major’s Fair, held every autumn. Noella also works on our Web pages when the need arises. Noella has worked at Central for 27 years. She is the corporate memory of our department. We rely on her knowledge and abilities – everything from budgets to forms to procedures to events to grant writing. Professionally, she is the best. Personally, her humor and love for humankind moves us forward each day. As a graduate of CWU, she understands procedures from a student and staff perspective. We could not run these offices efficiently without her flexibility and willingness to get the job done effectively. Noella volunteers as a celebrity server with dining services at every opportunity. She participates on the Native American Commission and Indian Country Commission. Noella’s been actively involved in the Western Art Association for the past 16 years. She is an avid member of Toastmasters International and has won numerous awards with Toastmasters. In all of her activities, she always serves as a genuinely proud member of the CWU community. Congratulations, Noella!
Civil Service Employee of the Month Nomination Forms can be found at the Human Resources website: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/EOTMnominate.doc. You can also call Human Resources at 1202 to obtain a nomination form. Anyone may nominate a civil service employee that has worked for Central Washington University for at least two years.
Parking Advisory Committee
The next Parking Advisory Committee Meeting has been tentatively scheduled for October.
To view the current and previous Meeting Minutes please visit: www.cwu.edu/~parking/minutes.html
For information on parking, please view their website at: http://www.cwu.edu/~parking/
Campus Community Building Program
“The purpose of the program is to give members of the university community who are concerned about improving the university’s climate a positive way to direct their energy and an opportunity to connect with other university members who also want to take action to improve their community.” http://www.cwu.edu/~ccbp/
The winter quarter winner of the Employee Council’s CCBP project, the Extra Special Over The Top Team of The Term Award will be presented to Public Safety and Police Services on June 9. Please join us in congratulating them on a job well done. We appreciate all you do for the campus community!
The Employee Council encourages everyone to participate in this valuable program. If you are interested in joining or if you have any questions about the Campus Community Building Program, please contact Linda Garcia at garcial@cwu.edu.
For the good of the order/new business
Election of new representatives and alternates:
Employees shown below will become the new representatives and alternates for their areas this coming September and serve through August 2006.
Dining Services: Representative Cheryl Winston; Alternate Karol Barker
Instructional Support/Unit A: Representative Lisa Stowe, Chemistry; Alternate Kariann Taylor, Foreign Languages
Instructional Support/Unit B: Representative Shirley Hood, Economics; Alternate Lynn Borngrebe, IT & AM
Library Services and Academic Computing: Representative Leona Lindvig, Library-Cataloging; Alternate Obie O’Brien, Multimedia Technology and Instructional Support
University Relations & President’s area: Representative Rob Lowery, University Relations; Alternate Karrie Hansberry, Foundation
Other changes include:
Information Technology Services: Sandy Sperline will fill the vacated alternate position. Sandy and current representative Crystal Whitaker will serve through August 2005.
Business Support: Jan Roan will fill the vacated representative position and Mike Posada the vacated alternate position. Jan, Mike, and current representative Lori Wheeler and alternate Monica Wallace will serve through August 2005.
University Centers: Melanie Palm, current alternate, will fill the vacated representative position. The alternate position will be filled by Susan Adolfi. Melanie and Susan will serve through August 2005.
Employee Council Officer Elections:
Employee Council officer election will be held at the June 17 meeting. For election information, go to: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/minutes/purpose.doc. Those elected will take office in September.
CWU Accreditation Report:
Civil service staff are asked to review the Employee Council’s comments on the 1999 NASC Recommendation and 2001 NASC Commendation Regarding Administration, Governance, and Communication.Employees wishing to add other comments are asked to send them to Libby Street at streetl@cwu.edu with a copy to Crystal Whitaker, the Employee Council secretary, at crystal@cwu.edu or mail stop 7436 by June 16.
Report on the discussion of 1999 NASC Recommendation and 2001 NASC Commendation Regarding Administration, Governance, and Communication
Drs. Libby Street and Linda Beath attended the regular meeting of the Employee Council on March 18 to discuss the upcoming NWCCU (formerly NASC) five-year interim report and visit. The specific topic of discussion was the 1999 NASC recommendation and 2001 NASC commendation regarding Administration, Governance, and Communication. Employee Council members who were present at that meeting received a copy of the 1999 recommendation and the 2001 commendation. They commented on the university’s progress on these matters since 1999. One or more of those present:
Commendations
Complimented the administration and the BOT for ensuring that classified staff have a seat at the table for meetings of the BOT and PAC.
Praised the administration for reducing the number of interim appointments for executive and administrative positions. This has given a greater sense of permanence to university function.
Applauded the work that has been done to standardize and streamline CWU’s web presence. Although people praised the more professional look, some expressed the sentiment that it was easier to find things on the “old” version stating that the current web page is not very friendly.
Praised improvements in CWU’s implementation of PeopleSoft and the student information module. Particularly noted was the successful implementation of and communication about SAFARI. There was a sense that the university had learned from its mistakes during the implementation of FRS and HR.
Were pleasedthat the campus is kept apprised of planned changes to the campus including building, remodeling, and grounds work.
Complimented the president’s engaging and friendly style, particularly that she knows people by name, makes eye contact with them, and says hello.
Expressed optimism about the implementation of Resource 25 are hopeful it will solve long-standing calendaring and scheduling problems that particularly affect classified staff.
Praised the heightened inclusion of civil service staff on campus committees.
Expressed appreciation about the number and quality of memos from President McIntyre and other cabinet members, keeping employees informed about important initiatives on campus. They also liked VP Corona’s quarterly newsletter that praises individual contributions of staff.
Questioned the process for changing the name of units and suggested that whatever benefit the name change may achieve often is offset by the disruption it causes.
Pointed outthat climate has improved under President McIntyre’s leadership and attitude and that students also appreciate her attitude.
Clarified that the emotional climate has improved since 1999. People feel more acknowledged than before. One person said, “I don’t hear complaints about working here like I used to. I do, however, hear comments about wages and benefits.”
Appreciated letters from administration including President McIntyre and Rich Corona. In addition, voiced appreciation for Vice President Corona's quarterly newsletter with highlights about the division and stories about what individuals are doing.
Appreciated the opportunity to provide input into the accreditation report process.
Concerns
Expressed concern about the policy manual, its availability, and its utility. There was a sense that we have written a large number of policies, but many administrators and other employees who are new to the university are unaware of them. They suggested that a lot of people don’t know how to access the electronic copy of the policy manual and that those who do have trouble finding particular policies. There was general agreement that a search engine for the policy manual would be particularly helpful. The specific instance that was mentioned was the recent weather crisis in which there was a fairly substantial misunderstanding of existing policy and breakdown in communication. Suggested that new employees should be trained in how to find the policies.
Voiced displeasure over the HR 2005 implementation, although everyone recognizes that this is a state-level not a university-level problem. They particularly cited the cost burden on employees and the impact on department budgets. In fact, there was a sense that our own HR department is doing a great job of keeping CWU staff apprised of the state’s activities. From the staff perspective that was voiced at the meeting, HR Reform 2005 appears to be nothing more than rewriting civil service laws to take things away.
Voiced concern over increased fees: parking, insurance, larger share of benefits coming out of paychecks. Civil service staff has not only not gotten raises, they’ve taken a pay cut. Felt they were asked to do more with less.
Voiced concern that there are very few pats on the back for work well done.
Expressed concern about the breakdown in communication from the level of the cabinet to the level of the” bourgeoisie.” They contend they eventually hear things, but it’s somewhat like the game “Gossip.” By the time information gets to them, it has changed significantly.
Expressed a concern that they never get reports from Ann Anderson about happenings in Olympia.
Expressed frustration about university scheduling and calendaring, specifically with too many separate components scheduling without talking to one another.
Indicated that the climate was somewhat worse than it had been in previous years primarily because of title changes and raises for administrators, the increased number of administrative positions, and the ballooning of middle management positions at the same time that classified salaries are topped out.
Voiced concern that the manner in which the early retirement program was communicated was dishonest and deceptive. It was not clear that this was a budget-cutting strategy where positions would not be filled.
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Adjournment/NEXT MEETING
The Employee Council meeting was adjourned at 3:46 p.m. The next Employee Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 17, 2004, in Barge 412.
Present
Lori Wheeler, Business Support
Laury Berner, Facilities Management, EC Chair
Jeff Goede, Facilities Management, Parking Committee Representative
Kelly Minor, Financial Services
Anna Fischer, Financial Services
Crystal Whitaker, Information Technology Services, Employee Council Secretary
Lisa Stowe, Instructional Support: Unit A
Obie O’Brien, Multimedia Technologies and Instructional Support
Peggy Eaton, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
Melanie Palm, University Centers
Rob Lowery, University Relations & President, EC Publicity Coordinator
Absent
Monica Wallace, Business Support
Judy McNeil, Dining Services
Laurie Stehle, Instructional Support: Unit B
Also Present
Ona Youmans, Human Resources
If you have any questions regarding Employee Council or the Employee of the Month program, please contact your Employee Council Representative (http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/ec/delegates.html), or Human Resources at 1205.
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HR Announcements
HR 2005
Still confused about what the Personnel System Reform Act (PRSA; HR 2005; Civil Service Reform) is all about? Now you can get your questions answered “straight from the horse’s mouth!”
The Department of Personnel in Olympia has set up a series of Q&As for state employees to access from the agency’s web site at http://hr.dop.wa.gov/hrreform/FAQs.htm. Topics include: General Questions; Classification & Compensation; Recruitment & Selection; Reduction in Force (Layoff); Performance Management; and Appeal Rights.
To learn more about civil service reform, collective bargaining, and competitive contracting (“contracting out”), go to DOP’s Washington Works web site at http://washingtonworks.wa.gov/. Here you can learn about the latest changes to DOP proposals; get updates on bargaining; and submit feedback to the Department of Personnel.
The Department of Personnel has posted a number of additions to the Civil Service Reform web site:
* Draft rules available for comment through June 9 cover the following subjects: General Provisions, Internship, Public Records, Personnel Files, Training & Development, and Director's Review.
* The most recent bundle of draft job specifications includes Administrative Assistants. The comment period runs through June 14.
* A new overview summarizes all of the key changes that will result from Civil Service Reform.
All of this information is available at http://hr.dop.wa.gov/hrreform
Training & Development
E-learning: Convenient, accessible, and flexible, for only $125 per year, you can take over 1000 career-skills courses. To find out more about e-learning go to http://www.cwu.edu/~training/elearning.shtml.
Department of Personnel (Olympia): Take a look at DOP Training & Development Services at http://hr.dop.wa.gov/training/ for a variety of affordable, professionally presented workshops.
CWU Training & Development web pages: Provide information about campus workshops, links to training resources, and a library catalog at http://www.cwu.edu/~training.
If you have questions or need assistance, please call Lynn Hutchins at x2288 or email hutchinl@cwu.edu