Williams College Office of Human Resources > Staff Advisory Council

Staff Council Meeting Minutes

February 18, 2009, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Paresky 220

In attendance: Martha Tetrault, ex officio, Colleen Bethoney, Erwin Bernhart, David J. Boyer, Lisa Briggs, Gail Burda, Gisela Demant, Madeleine DeMarsico, Jenny Dewar, Maggie Driscoll, Mark Kimball, Kristan Renish, Lynn Taft

Absent: Dawn Dellea, Danielle Gonzalez, ex officio, Teresa Waryjasz

Agenda

1. FSI- relationship to Staff Council. Council terms, membership and representation
2. Middlebury email

Business

• FSI - Faculty Staff Initiative: This is a relatively newly formed group of faculty and staff who have come together to discuss various issues on campus. Wendy Raymond, Prof. of Biology and Associate Dean for Institutional Diversity, contacted Martha inviting Martha to attend a meeting with the FSI and field questions regarding Human Resources, Staff Council, etc. Danielle was also invited to the meetings and is now a member of the group.
  Some questions which were presented seemed to come from old misperceptions and erroneous information. One question is how to expand the College's many resources for information so that people can eliminate misinformation. There is a lack of awareness among the FSI as to Staff Council's role, membership, and current projects. Members of the Staff Council discussed communication on campus and how it was that people on this discussion group (FSI) we're not aware of the Staff Council's existence or mission. Again the ongoing question of how to reach people; daily messages, web sties, direct contact personally and via email, when all have been applied at different times.

• Staff Council prominence on campus: Members discussed communication on campus and the apparent need for better Staff Council public relations. It was mentioned that the merger of PAB and Admin Council was done in recent years and perhaps staff does not associate the name, Staff Council, to the new group. Members thought the Staff Council website was a good start but obviously staff needs to hear more about the group in other ways. Staff Council could be represented at the annual Wellness Fair. Thoughts of connecting an "Ask Jeeves" type website where staff could ask specific questions with the idea of getting answers/feedback from this site. Some members connect directly with their departments through emails or as Staff Council representation at department staff meetings. Members have been asked to think about how to promote information about Staff Council. What have been some notable agenda items the Staff Council or the previous two groups, PAB and Admin Council worked on in the past?

• Terms, membership, and representation of Staff Council: Members discussed various term lengths for membership on the Staff Council. It was noted that one year would not be feasible given the nature and mode of work that the council does. Three to four years terms were discussed. Some council members felt the existing four-year term worked. Staff representation on the council seemed to meet the need to be as inclusive as possible. No one group on campus appears to be heavily represented on the council. Members discussed and seemed comfortable with the membership size of the 16 members.

• Performance evaluations: HR has been working on a new program regarding performance evaluations and the evaluation form. It will not be ready for this year's evaluations but will be initiated next year.

• Telecommuting Policy: The Council confirmed support of the Telecommuting Policy. The policy will be brought forth in February to the President's Staff.

• Tabled Middlebury email: Email sent to Gail Burda and Lynn Taft from a member of the Middlebury Staff Council with questions regarding Williams Staff Council.

Next meeting

Date & Location:

• Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - Paresky, Room 220

Agenda:

1. What has Staff Council done for us lately? PR promos. What does Staff Council do?

New items to be discussed should be sent to Martha.

Reported by L. Taft