MINUTES
Employee Assembly Meeting
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
12:15 - 1:30 p.m.
316 Day Hall

I. Call to Order

T. Grove called the meeting to order at 12:20 p.m.

Present: J. Boodley Buchanan, B. Cristelli, L. Croll Howell, B. Esty, K. Fahey, C. Ferguson, T. Grove, M. Kitchen, G. Osborne, L. Sayam. B. Schaffner,

Absent:, D. Brooks, L. Meyerhoff, L. Morris, J. Seymour, G. Stewart

Also Present: A. Epstein, A. O’Donnell, E. Lee, R. Blanco

II. Call for Late Additions to the Agenda

T. Grove added a brief discussion about M. Opperman and D. Skorton attending next meeting. She removed the Communications Committee report since L. Morris was unable to attend this meeting.

IV. Report from the Chair

a. Breakfast

B. Schaffner said it was great to have the one-on-one time with the Truestes. She said she felt they were really listening to the members concerns. A. O’Donnell suggested they try to ask for 1 table next year instead of several. T. Grove said they were especially interested in the Employee Survey. B. McKinney sent them the info after the breakfast.

T. Grove said she was able to sit in on part of the BoT meeting. She said they discussed the NYC Tech campus quite a bit. She said she also heard the President of the SA and the GPSA give their reports. C. Ferguson asked if there will be a rep on the EA for the NYC Tech campus. T. Grove said it could happen, but nothing has been decided yet. They could bring this up at the next EA meeting when Mary and David are there.

V. Committee Reports

a. Personnel Policy

Linda Croll Howell asked what the next steps are for policy change. T. Grove said Lauren Jacoby could do a review of the bereavement policy.

VI. New Business

a. Elections

To date, there are two candidates that have submitted paperwork to run in the EA election. There is an Info session next Tuesday, 3/28 at 12:15. T. Grove said she would follow up with the two guests from last meeting.

b. Notice and Respond for Staff

T. Grove said there is lots of support for students who are struggling and not as much for faculty and staff. To do a video for staff it is quite expensive, so she asked if the EA would like to push the issue. The members agreed they would like to, since it is more complicated and challenging to notice these behaviors in one’s colleagues and friends versus in students. M. Kitchen asked if there were other less costly ways to help staff. They will bring this issue up with Mary and David also at the next EA meeting.

c. Onboarding

L. Croll Howell explained about the new “Onboarding” program for new employees. If we provide them info about the EA, people will know about it as soon as they arrive instead of stumbling onto it by accident, or only when they are in need. She has included the EA on two sheets. C. Ferguson asked if we could provide them with our brochures also. We can, so A. O’Donnell will look into the supply that is left. We may invite Julie Small to an EA meeting to hear more at a later date.

d. Discussion on MGO & DJS attending

T. Grove said they are looking for topics to discuss w/ Mary and David at next meeting. NYC Tech campus rep, Notice and Respond for staff, what else? G. Stewart suggested each member bring a guest so there is a more robust discussion. Other topics that were brought up were SIP and the Employee Survey. L. Croll Howell said the two big issues from the survey were personal finance and job loss. K. Fahey asked about diversity plans across campus.

VII. Old Business

a. Geneva Meeting

B. Schaffner says it makes sense to go to Geneva in June when the new members can join. The last meeting of the year in May could be the “Kudos” lunch. All were in agreement. A. O’Donnell said she would look into the Statler for the “Kudos” lunch.

b. East Hill Parking

T. Grove said she has forwarded this issue to Sean Murphy from the UA for the Campus Infrastructure Committee to discuss. The issue is complicated and there is only 1 free lot (A-lot) so not everyone can have a space there, and it is sometimes closed for campus activities.

c. CRC follow up

T. Grove had heard from Cheryl McGraw. Basically, they would like to have the EA buy the pizza for their upcoming recruiting event. There was a long discussion on the expense of it, as well as if it will be seen as setting a precedent for future “asks” from other groups. There is no comparable group such as the SAFC for students where employee groups can go to ask for money, and that is unfortunate. It was decided they would help promote the event in all the ways the EA has to promote it. There was also a quick brainstorming session on ways to cross-promote the EA & the CRC.

VIII. Open Forum

There was a discussion on EA members term-limits and how to change them. A. Epstein said they can be changed without going through the president for approval. The members discussed how they felt a year was not very long and if the leadership was good and doing well, then they would like to change the limit. B. Schaffner said she will put it on the agenda for next meeting, and possible a resolution to make it official.

IX. Adjournment

B. Schaffner made a motion, and the meeting was adjourned at 1:33 p.m.