USAC December 2014

In Attendance: Chris Bethel, Pam Bowers, Misty Cox, D.R. Fannin, Jonathan Jackson, Audwin Jones, Teresa Pack, Jared Shank, Aaron Skira, Sommer Todd, Amanda Watkins, Jeff Wehmeyer, Danielle Booth, Drew Corbett, Abby Daniel, Bev Parkison, Carol Rader

Absent: Jerry Hensley, Tonya Davis, Leigh Deuter, Mark Hibner, Steven Johnson, Sheila Nahrgang, Candace Phlipot, Laura Rapoch, Jacqueline Robinson, Vickie Slone, Cindy Vanzant

Call meeting to order 9:01 AM

Approval of minutes from November 13, 2014

New Business

• Advocacy Updates and New Initiatives from the Women's Center - Amber Vlasnik & Cindy Vanzant
  • Founded 1993, same as Women’s Studies
  • Changes & Initiatives
    • Expanded mission & put it in writing (attached)
    • 5 Main Areas (on the sheet)
      • Community
      • Leadership Development
      • Programming
      • Resources
      • Advocacy
    • Advocacy focused talk       
      • The Women’s Center is for Faculty, Staff & Students
      • Working on Institutional Advocacy – want to transform WSU to be the best place possible for us to work
      • Volunteer opportunities – committees, networking events see website: http://www.wright.edu/administration/womensctr/
      • Women’s Leadership Opportunities
        • HERS
        • WILD Women in Leadership Development
          • In Cincinnati
          • Mid-Career Women to pursue leadership roles in Higher Ed
          • Of 29, 2 WSU – Cindy Vanzant & Brenda Kraner
          • Balance of faculty and staff
        • Women’s Leadership Collaboration
          • Goal – leverage leadership skills of women and get women in leadership in government, business, and education
          • Coaching for allies – men included to be coached and coaching in promoting women
          • WSU home base for these initiatives
        • Crochet / Knit Group
        • Lactation Rooms
• Chair Elect – Vote – Misty Cox elected
• Open Forum
  • Better than the previous forums
  • Parking follow-up – Lake shares parking fees with local Y and they determine their own parking fee
  • Seemed to be many questions and concerns about the compensation study
• OSHE - voting member
  • To be a voting member of OSHE, you need to be a voting member of USAC or CSAC
  • Please let Sommer know if you are interested in joining this committee
• New Hires
  • CIO – Craig Woolley
  • Lake Dean – We haven’t heard any feedback
• Fall Break Survey
  • More to come from Ryan Rushing

Ongoing Business

• Support Letter – Dr. Sweeny clarified questions from the USAC letter of support
• Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night
  • 941 tickets retrieved & another 43 purchased
  • Still need volunteers for the night of – Let Sommer know
  • Sending donations to Shannon Norton
• Committee Updates
  • USAC subcommittees
    • Bylaws and Charter
    • Community Service
      • Raidersgiving – went well for 2014, we are already talking about next year and how to accommodate an estimated 1,000 attendees
    • Compensation, Benefits, and Equity
    • Communications and Marketing
    • Nominations / Fundraising
      • Start soon – elections in April
  • University committees
    • Athletic Council
      • Social media discussions recently – students are engaged in monitoring and making social media policies
    • Dining Services
      • Restructuring with Clint’s departure
      • Focus Group 1 ½ Hours –
        • 5 people – very vocal
        • Corporate administrator was defensive but then realized there are issues
        • Cost issues – why are faculty and staff not participating
        • Discussed differences in cashiers charging differing amounts – need to train staff
        • Customer service issues
        • Hours – close at 2PM not accessible to on campus students or staff trying to avoid a crowd
        • Come up with a sampler plan for faculty / staff
        • Swipes – confusing – looking at for $40 you get $50 worth of food
        • Grill – recommend changing up the sandwich combo
        • Rewards cards
        • Faculty / Staff dining area with different hours
      • Comments:
        • Should reinstate secret shopper program for Chartwells – Ask Gheretta Harris, Executive Director Campus Auxiliary
        • Working with Chartwells has been an issue with the Boston Stoker opening
    • Parking Services
    • Sustainability
      • No meetings since Hunt Brown, Director of Sustainability retired – not sure of plans to fill his position
    • University Diversity Advisory Council
    • Wellness and Recreation
      • New wellness plan to roll out in January
      • Incentive payout will be in last payroll in December
    • WSU Bookstore Committee
    • Staff Council Human Resources Committee
    • OSCHE (Ohio Staff Council of Higher Education)

Schedule reminders:

• Staff Council – Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., 267 University Hall
• USAC Meeting – Thursday, January 8, 2015, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m., 156 SU (Endeavour B&C)

Adjourn meeting at 10:32 AM

USAC:  The purpose of the Unclassified Staff Advisory Council(USAC) is to represent its members to the university by: promoting their general welfare; advocating for unclassified staff through active participation in university governance structure; reviewing, initiating and making recommendation on relevant university policies and procedures; encouraging and facilitating communication among members; and encouraging professional development opportunities. One of the prime responsibilities of this council is to serve the educational community by creating and maintaining an environment conducive to the teaching, learning, research, and service functions of higher education. The recommendations of the council are submitted to the university president.