Listed below are the comments/concerns submitted via the Staff Council website over the past 12 months and the action taken by the Staff Council Executive Committee:

Date Received: 12/6/2005 9:14:59 AM

Comment #1: From richard-saunders@uiowa.edu
Subject RE: Adoption leave policy
Date Tue, December 6, 2005 8:24
To "stacy freeburg" <sfreebur@uhl.uiowa.edu>

----------------------------------------

The Staff Council and the Family Issues Committee are looking at various
options currently, not sure if it includes expanding adoption leave. It
is a slow process to change things like this, but if you are interested
in offering your opinion, I would suggest you contact one of these two
groups.

Here are their web sites:

http://www.uiowa.edu/~staff/

http://www.uiowa.edu/president/charter_committees/Family_Issues.html

Richard G. Saunders
Director of Benefits and Payroll

-----Original Message-----
From: stacy freeburg [mailto:sfreebur@uhl.uiowa.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 7:49 AM
To: Saunders, Richard G
Subject: Adoption leave policy

I am currently in the process of adopting a little girl and noticed
that the federal government allows the use of unlimited sick leave (if
I am reading this correctly). Has the University considered modifying
their currently policy to expand the use of sick leave beyond the
current allowed 5 days? I realize that I can use unpaid FMLA, but due
to the cost of the adoption, I don't think I will be able to use this
option.

thanks

Stacy Freeburg

http://www.opm.gov/wrkfam/html/adoption.asp
Comment #2:Rather than type in my concern again, I just copied the e-mail. Basically, I would like the University to consider allowing me (and others of course) to use my sick leave when I bring my child home rather than using vacation and/or FMLA.
Comment #3:

Name: Stacy Freeburg
Campus Phone: 3193354385
e-mail: sfreebur@uhl.uiowa.edu

STAFF COUNCIL ACTION: Forwarded to Staff Council Human Resources Committee for consideration.

********************************************************************************************************************

Date Received: 1/19/2006 9:32:10 AM

Comment #1: Dear Staff Council,
Please accept this note of thanks from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Staff Recognition Committee. We were recently awarded a Staff Appreciation Grant, which is funded in part by Staff Council. We will use our grant to help underwrite our annual Staff Recognition Reception where we will acknowledge staff who have received special awards throughout the year as well as the the hard work and dedication of all of our staff members.
Comment #2:
Comment #3:

Name: nancy fick
Campus Phone: 335-0016
e-mail: nancy-fick@uiowa.edu

STAFF COUNCIL ACTION: Placed on Staff Council website.

********************************************************************************************************************

Date Received: 1/19/2006 2:02:49 PM

Comment #1: I would like the Council to consider the idea of having a leave code on our Employee Time Records that would reflect the outreach that staff does for the benefit of the University. For example: I am the Chairperson for the Council on the Status of Latinos, and I spend a lot of time attending meetings, serving on committees, going on recruitment trips and events, etc. It would be nice if I could use a code for the time I spend on those events, to help my DEO know how much of my time is going to those activities. This will help my DEO to show that she is being supportive of diversity efforts, and also to have hard data to show the administration. Having a time code that could be used for outreach activities of staff might also be incentive for administrators to allow staff to participate in diversity outreach.
Comment #2:
Comment #3:

Name: Evelyn Acosta-Weirich
Campus Phone: 5-1779
e-mail: evelyn-weirich@uiowa.edu

STAFF COUNCIL ACTION: Forwarded to Staff Council Human Resources Committee for consideration.

********************************************************************************************************************

Date Received: 1/23/2006 2:13:21 PM
Remote IP: 128.255.43.19

Comment #1: Diversity and service outreach among faculty and staff continues to be a top priority for the UI. Fostering understanding of diversity and participation in service and outreach among staff begins with institutional support. I propose that our institution be proactive in encouraging faculty and staff to participate in diversity and service activities through the creation of a Diversity and Service Credit Program.

This program would provide P&S and, I hope, Merit staff with 5-10 hours of paid leave each year to be used to attend diversity/service outreach events which are held on campus. This leave would be considered a function of their employment and would not affect vacation time. HR could keep track of the credit through the current vacation/sick leave system.
In addition, there are many faculty and staff members who participate, without extra compensation, and outside of their job description, in outreach and service activities on behalf The University of Iowa. This program could also document the number of hours donated by these faculty and staff members to our institution.

How would this benefit The University of Iowa?

Institutionalizing the importance of diversity and service outreach for staff will promote wider participation in and greater awareness of diversity issues, service and outreach among members of our University community.
This program could help to make our campus and community more welcoming to diverse faculty, staff and students, thereby encouraging them to come and remain in Iowa City.
Greater understanding among diverse groups on campus should lead to greater job satisfaction, fewer grievances, and less turnover among staff and faculty.
Many campus events, such as blood drives, allow staff opportunities to serve the community. Being able to take time out from the day to participate and serve give staff the message that service is valued by the University.
The UI would have concrete data to offer the Board of Regents and Governor to support the outreach work done by UI faculty and staff, and which benefits the state.
Comment #2:
Comment #3:

Name: Diane Hauser
Campus Phone: 353-5700
e-mail: diane-hauser@uiowa.edu

STAFF COUNCIL ACTION: Forwarded to Staff Council Human Resources Committee for consideration.

********************************************************************************************************************

Date Received: 2/13/2006 8:12:00 AM
Remote IP: 128.255.126.39

Comment #1: Dear Staff Council: Thank you so much for helping to fund our Staff Recognition Grant (through Learning & Development). Our department's Staff Council organizes staff recognition events and this year will be hosting an Italian feast funded in part by these funds. This event will recognize nearly 75 staff members at Student Health. The funds are most sincerely appreciated. Thank you.
Comment #2:
Comment #3:

Name: Nancy Davin
Campus Phone: 5-8219
e-mail: nancy-davin@uiowa.edu

STAFF COUNCIL ACTION: Placed on Staff Council website.

********************************************************************************************************************

Date Received: 3/7/2006 11:14:29 AM
Remote IP: 128.255.163.123

Comment #1: I would like to see the University fitness facilities be available for age-appropriate family activity. For example, I have teen children involved in swimming and I would like to work with them in an off-season weight program. They are able to participate in these activities through the high school during the school year, but currently Rec services does not allow access, even supervised access, to anyone under the age of 18. My daughter (age 11) is involved in dance and takes Pilates through the dance department, but is not eligible to do so through Rec services for the same reason. These seem to be unreasonable restrictions given the obvious health benefits of fitness participation.
Comment #2:
Comment #3:

Name: Tim VanFosson
Campus Phone: 5-5252
e-mail: timothy-vanfosson@uiowa.edu

STAFF COUNCIL ACTION: Executive Committee Review 5/17/2006

********************************************************************************************************************

Date Received: 5/5/2006 4:18:54 PM
Remote IP: 128.255.243.115

Comment #1: After reading David Johnson's editorial in the DI today, it made me think about my own concerns regarding Staff Council. Being a former member and knowing how many central and departmental human resources representative are on Staff Council, I have often wondered if those particular councilors listen and vote as representatives of their departments or as representatives of their constituents. I think a recording of votes would go a long way in answering that question or at least bringing this concern to light.
Comment #2:
Comment #3:

Name:
Campus Phone:
e-mail:

STAFF COUNCIL ACTION: Executive Committee Review 5/17/2006

********************************************************************************************************************

Date Received: 5/24/2006 1:00:28 PM
Remote IP: 128.255.101.139

Council Members,

For many years, I have been concerned with the disparity between flex credits for those who are married and those who are not. Those who are not married receive considerably less flex credits than those that are married. This is not fair. Why are credits awarded this way? Besides affecting the large number of single people who work as hard as those that are married and do not receive those same benefits, what about a divorced father or mother who is allotted less flex credits because of her/his marital status. In addition, because of the increasing cost of health care, I had to downgrade my insurance plan in order to receive the benefits I had in the past. That leaves me with a limited number of flex credits at my disposal. I am not suggesting the amount of flex credits awarded to married couples should be cut, but rather that the single person might benefit as much. It seems unfair one is penalized based upon the fact that they are single. I hope you might consider reviewing this policy. Thank you.

STAFF COUNCIL ACTION: Forwarded to Staff Council Human Resources Committee for consideration.

********************************************************************************************************************

6/13/2006 3:41:00 PM
Remote IP: 128.255.5.6

I've received several suggestions from ITS staff members that I'd like to submit to Staff Council for consideration:

1) Could Staff Council look into the possibility of allowing eligible faculty and staff the option of using flexible benefits towards University of Iowa Tuition. This would be another form of Tuition Assistance that the University might take advantage of. This idea is similar to allowing staff to use unused flex credit to be put in a health care spending account, why not create a similar Tuition Assistance spending account. Ideally the tuition could be for employees and sons and daughters too.

2) Following the same theme as above, could flex credits also be considered to be usef ro Rec activities at the Field House?

Lastly, I would like to suggest that the funeral leave policy be reviewed. We recently had a staff member who lost their husband quite tragically. This invidual has two small children. The funeral policy only allows for 3 days of funeral leave (from sick leave). I was informed that any other time she needed to take off would have to be taken as vacation (some vacation, huh?)

Karen Shemanski
5-5091
karen-shemanski@uiowa.edu

STAFF COUNCIL ACTION:
#1 and #2: Forwarded to Richard Saunders, Director, University Benefits:

Fri 6/23/2006 7:57 AM

Sorry but this program is regulated by the Federal Government and they do not permit the use of these funds for tuition or for recreational services. It is not our decision. If you want to pursue this, it would require a change in the law at the congressional level.

Richard G. Saunders
Director of Benefits and Payroll
University of Iowa
120 University Services Building
Iowa City, IA 52242-1911
319-335-2673
877-830-4001
319-335-2776 FAX
richard-saunders@uiowa.edu

#3: Forwarded to Staff Council Human Resources Committee for consideration.