Williams College Office of Human Resources > Staff Advisory Council

Staff Council Meeting Minutes

Nov. 19, 2008, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Paresky 220

In attendance: Martha Tetrault and Danielle Gonzalez ex officios; Erwin Bernhart, Colleen Bethoney, David J. Boyer, Lisa Briggs, Gail Burda, Gisela Demant, Jenny Dewar, Madeleine Demarsico, Maggie Driscoll, Mark Kimball, Kristan Renish, Lynn Taft, Teresa Waryjasz

Absent: Dawn Dellea

Agenda

1. Feedback on all-staff meeting
2. Daily Messages and link to HR website as means of communicating council information
3. Response to inquiries from campus to members for the Council?
4. Mountain day communication
5. Composition of the staff council
6. Thoughts for upcoming Claiming Williams initiative
7. Dress at the College; dress code or departmental code?
8. Community holiday party; student initiative
9. Search protocol - how and when does the College search for open positions?

Staff Council Membership: Combining the PAB and Admin Council resulted in a Staff Council of 16 members serving 4 year terms. Martha Tetrault and Danielle Gonzalez are ex officio members. The commitment is that membership be inclusive of departments across campus and that there be an equal number of support and administrative staff. Membership was discussed and it was decided that it is not necessary to continue with 16 members. This year the membership is 14.

Business

• All Staff Meeting feedback: The general response from campus was positive. There was a discussion regarding communication and how to continue the conversation and address questions. The former brown bag lunches hosted by Steve Klass and Martha were not well attended. Options for further communications might be: President's Administrative Group who in turn share information at their respective departmental meetings, another all staff meeting or as Morty and Steve both invited, questions could be posed directly to them via email.

• Martha suggested the possibility of preparing a series of frequently asked questions with answers and posting them on the staff council and HR website. She asked what kinds of questions the members would like to have answered. Ideas ranged from the more personal such as summer student hiring to policy questions related to insurance rates, salary setting, the hiring freeze, etc. Martha requested that members think about questions they think are important and forward them to her for inclusion.

• Comments on staff hiring freeze: There may be increased anxiety as others realize more work will fall onto them. There could also be a possibility of keeping a bad hire for fear of losing that position. An important approach will be identifying opportunities to rethink how work is currently being done to make greater efficiencies. Rethinking and realigning could lead the entrepreneurial spirit on campus to creative changes, thinking outside the box.

• Effectiveness of Daily Messages as a communication tool: Is this an effective vehicle for campus communications? HR would like to use it more regularly for non-personal communications to the campus. This was mentioned in the open enrollment memo sent electronically and Martha would appreciate the group's feedback. Most members agreed that it is and the message gets out into the community. It is up to staff to read it. Those who do not regularly see the Daily Messages are usually notified by their department heads or even Staff Council members. Human Resources and OIT are working with dining staff one-on-one to get them a user name and password and have them use the computers in the departments for self-service options and daily messages at a minimum.

• Mountain Day communication tabled for future meeting. Issue is the communication that implies it is for everyone as members of the community, when most staff work during the day.

• Dress code or departmental code: Safety and hygiene are always a concern but dress is a departmental issue. The college does not have a universal dress code. Different departments work under different circumstances depending upon need, relationship to students, and professional presentation to their constituency.

• Community holiday party: Martha will speak with Rashid and convey the Council's support of this effort.

• Claiming Williams: Tabled for future meeting

Next meeting

Date & Location:

• Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - Paresky, Room 220

Agenda:

1. Claiming Williams
2. New items for discussion should be sent to Martha.

Reported by L. Taft