Shared Governance Council to offer two open forums on proposed benefit changes

The University of Iowa Shared Governance Council will present two open forums on the proposed UI benefits changes from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, June 6, in C20 Pomerantz Center, and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, in 1110A Medical Education Research Facility.

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Martha Greer moves Staff Council forward

Martha Greer knows The University of Iowa. Her parents each received degrees here—her father from the College of Engineering, while her mother earned a master’s in geology—and she completed her undergraduate and graduate-level studies here. She’s worked as a professional advisor at the Academic Advising Center, and now serves as the International Studies coordinator in UI International Programs.

	Martha Greer, Staff Council president. Photo by Tom Jorgensen.

Greer also knows Iowa City: she attended school in the Iowa City district until her senior year of high school, and has been living here since her days as a UI student. That’s not to say she hasn’t seen the world—Greer has lived in cities such as San Diego, Houston, Denver, and London, and she loves domestic and international travel.

It was this perspective that Greer wanted to bring to UI Staff Council, which she holds in the highest regard. She was recently elected vice president/president-elect for the council, and found herself moving into the presidency nearly a year ahead of schedule with the recent resignation of president Duncan Stewart.

Greer sat down with fyi to discuss what she sees as primary issues affecting UI staff, what sorts of challenges she faces in her new role, and what she likes to do when she has a moment of free time.

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fyi seeks advice from UI employees for UI employees

What sort of advice would you give to an incoming University of Iowa faculty or staff member? This could pertain to any aspect of University life—no piece of advice is without value (we think). Say to yourself, "If I knew then what I know now...," and then share that advice with readers of fyi. We'll publish a selection of your submissions in a future issue. And who knows? Maybe we'll all learn a trick or two...

Your two cents' worth, please...

News in brief

AROUND CAMPUS…

• Faculty and staff honored with 2008 Audrey Qualls Diversity Awards
• International Programs awards summer research fellowships to UI faculty
• International Studies honors three UI professors
• Eight UI faculty awarded Global and Faculty Scholarships
• Nominate administrator, staff member for undergraduate student advocacy award
• See which Learning and Development courses are right for you

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DISCOVERIES…

• Mental and addictive disorders high among offenders entering state prisons
• Researcher finds good management, stock buy-backs, deter takeover attempts
• Turning on cell-cell communication wipes out staph biofilms

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TRANSITIONS…

• Reisinger steps down as dean of UI International Programs
• UIMA director Collinson resigns; White named interim director
• Recent deaths

(Full details)

 

Photo feature: Signs of spring

Bitter cold. Endless precipitation. Roaring furnaces. And that was just April. After a particularly brutal winter, fyi photographer Tom Jorgensen thought it best to roam around campus to bring you signs of spring—get out there and enjoy!

See the photos...