Staff Council Executive Committee Meeting with President Coleman

Monday, December 17, 2001, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

101    JH  Conference Room

 

Present:  Pat Arkema, Ella Born, Cathy Colony Bunnell, Pat Kenner, Dave Martin,

    Bonnie McIntosh, Janice Simmons-Welburn, Xian Wu

Absent:   Pat Kenner

Administrative Liaison:  Sue Buckley, Interim Associate Vice President of Human Resources

 

1.  President Coleman’s Comments.

a.       Personnel issues.  Interim appointments will be announced today to fill the roles for which Dr. Richard Nelson had been responsible.  The search committee for a new CEO of UIHC will be meeting before the end of this week.  The committee for the search of a new dean for the College of Medicine has been formed:  Some members of this committee include Dr. Francois Abboud as chair, Kitty Buckwalter as vice-chair, and former Staff Councilor, Barb Spence.

b.      Old Capitol dome.  An architect for the reconstruction of the dome will be selected this week.  Good news is that detailed plans from the 1920s are available for use.  Legislative leaders seem willing to support the reconstruction.  It is hoped the exterior of the dome will be constructed by the fall.  The extent of the interior water damage will probably not be known until some time in January.

c.       Annual legislative meeting.  This meeting with local legislators will be tomorrow evening.

 

2.  Staff Council President’s Comments.

Pat Arkema said that she, Dave Martin, and Michael Wichman have been invited to and will attend a reception with the local legislators tomorrow evening.  This will probably take place just prior to the legislators’ regular meeting.

 

3.  Updates and discussion topics.

  1. Dave Martin reported on the recent CIC teleconference.  Groundwork was laid for forming committees and/or interest groups, such as groups revolving around compensation/benefits and grievance procedures.  There was consideration of a mission statement.  The next meeting most likely will be in June 2002 and probably at the CIC office in Chicago.
  2. Bonnie McIntosh mentioned that the Board of Regents meeting next month will be taking place at the same time that Staff Council sponsors the Martin Luther King Celebration Kick Off.  We were wondering if President Coleman has any suggestions for who we might ask to introduce our speakers.  President Coleman suggested that Dr. Skorton might be a good person to ask.  Dave Martin wondered if Lola Lopez might also be a possibility, and President Coleman agreed that she might be.

c.       We also discussed that the agenda will be full for January's BOR meeting since they did not meet in December.  In essence, they will have two month's work to complete.  Sue Buckley is not sure if she will be able to attend the MLK celebration.  It depends on when she needs to be present at the BOR meeting for discussion of a couple of issues.

d.      Dave Martin began discussion of Staff Council's Governmental Relations committee.  The committee is struggling for definition and purpose.  Members of the committee are considering working together with the Faculty Council Governmental Relations committee.  President Coleman thought this would be a good idea.  Dave also mentioned a letter that Downing Thomas, chair of the faculty's committee, has drafted with the intent of mailing electronically to all faculty.  The letter would ask for participation in efforts to improve communication between the University of Iowa, its constituencies, and State legislators.  Staff Council's Governmental Relations committee is wondering whether staff could be included in the mailing.  President Coleman didn’t see anything wrong with sending it to staff.  Sue Buckley said that she would like to see a copy of the letter and to discuss it with Kevin Ward.  Pat Arkema also wondered whether, if the letter did go to staff as well as faculty, should it go to all staff or just those staff members whom Staff Council represents?

e.       Cathy Colony Bunnell initiated some discussion of Holiday celebrations.  It seems that we are able to celebrate very little, if at all, any more.  President Coleman said that the University uses the Supreme Court's definitions of what is considered “public spaces”.  President Coleman also said that one could consider one's desk one's own space, but should also be considerate of those around them.  Sue Buckley mentioned that it is very important to say something encouraging, use good judgment, and be sensitive to colleagues.  It is very important to not indicate any kind of institutional endorsement of any particular religious celebration.  This also is a very good time to consider celebration of diversity.

 

4.  Comments by Sue Buckley:

Sue said that she presented most information she has at the Staff Council meeting just last week.  However, she did lead some discussion of the staff benefits programs.

 

 

 

 

 

Future Executive Committee Meetings:

Future Meetings with President Coleman:

Friday, January 18, 2002

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

Friday, February 15, 2002

Tuesday, February 19, 2002

Friday, March 22, 2002

Monday, March 25, 2002

 

Tuesday, April 30, 2002

 

Tuesday, May 21, 2002

 

Tuesday, June 18, 2002

 

  *All SC Executive Committee meetings are 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

**All meetings with President Coleman are 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Ella Born, Staff Council Secretary