October 1, 2003
1 p.m., Mary Maples Dunn Conference Room (Approved November 5, 2003)
Attending: Adrianne Andrews, Adrian
Beaulieu, Nancy Brady, Chris Carr Hill, Janice Cole, Karen Hebert,
Marti Hobbes, Merrilyn Lewis, Janice Mason, Janice McDowell, Linda
Rainville, Laura Rauscher, Tara Zidonik
Excused: Cristen Abrams, Kim Allen, Serena Harris, Susan Hollingsworth,
Linda LaFlam, Karen LeHouiller, Laura Matta, Dianne Mikucki, Steve
Montiero, Angela Musiak, Janine Nye, Patricia Swan, Mike Washut
Guests: Stacey Anasazi, Carla Cooke, Mimi Lempart, Georgia Yuan,
Mary Lou Bouley, Sandy Bycenski, Sabrina Marsh
I. After considering edits made by Chris Carr Hill, the
minutes to Sept. 3 Staff Council Meeting were approved.
II. Invited guest Georgia Yuan, Smith's new college counsel,
introduced herself (handing out an overview of her position) and
described some of the responsibilities involved in this new position
at Smith.
She came to Smith from the University of Idaho, where much of her
legal work focused on the athletic program (U of I is ranked in
Division IA), sorority and fraternity issues, and alcohol-related
incidents. She's looking forward to working on a broader range of
legal issues now that she's at a small private liberal arts college.
And as the college's first "in-house" legal counsel, she
looks forward to defining the job and "creating a culture"
relating to the position of college counsel.
Her short-term goals include establishing seminars to aid staff
who field legal contracts, advising managers and others who are
responsible for hiring and establishing some kind of Web presence.
Georgia said she is enjoying settling in at Smith and that everything
that comes her way is a story -- and they are mostly very interesting.
III. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Nominations & Elections met Sept. 19 and
submitted report by e-mail. They announced nomination of Michelle
Finley and Ann Finley to the Committee for Sustainability and Patricia
Swan, Jan Cole and Carrie Hemenway to the Committee on Community
Policy.
B. Personnel Policy
has not met since last Staff Council meeting.
Mary Lou Bouley presented the New-Staff Orientation Checklist (a
draft of which was sent by e-mail to Staff Council reps. prior to
today's meeting) which resulted from a 9-month staff review of Human
Resources' orientation program for new employees. The finalized
document is intended to ensure uniform orientation for all employees
both in their position and within the college.
Another goal of the checklist is to insure that both supervisors
and new employees are aware of what they should be providing and
receiving in the way of orientation.
Laura Rauscher questioned whether HR's orientation adequately reviews
grievance procedures and other employment policies with new staff.
It's her understanding that the orientation for faculty involves
a specific review of policies.
Georgia Yuan commented that HR is legally obligated to cover legal
policies, but staff are expected to read benefits information at
their leisure.
Janice McDowell of HR, who's involved in scheduling new employees
for orientations, commented that although HR makes an effort to
be sure new employees attend an orientation session, often new employees
skip the orientation. Merrilyn suggested that Personnel Policy might
discuss this issue.
Tara suggested that staff, in addition to hiring supervisors, have
access to the New-Staff Orientation Checklist. It was suggested
that when the Staff Council secretaries distribute the approved
minutes for this meeting to Staff Council reps., they include a
copy of the checklist for reps.
C. Communications met Sept. 11 to discuss final
details of Sept. 24 community forum.
Marti asked if any Staff Council reps would be willing to help coordinate
the next Lunch 'n Learn event. Laura Rauscher volunteered and agreed
to follow up with Communication Committee member Cyndee Button.
Sabrina Marsh, co-editor of COUNCIL CHRONICLE, said the publication
of the Chronicle has been delayed again because the other co-editor
Navae Homstead needed to resign. Consequently, there's no one to
"Page-Make" the document. Merrilyn offered to get a co-worker
to lay it out.
Merrilyn has asked the committee to update and re-design the Staff
Council brochure. Suggestions included making it easier to read,
shorter and with a bulleted front page.
D. Activities has not had a meeting since the last
Staff Council meeting.
Merrilyn asked Staff Council reps to help out with the Staff Council
information booth at the Nov. 4 benefits fair, for which she circulated
a sign-up sheet.
E. Ad Hod Diversity Merrilyn reported that she
had talked to Steve Montiero who is still committed to leading the
committee with plans to begin working on it soon.
F. Study Circles are "in the works,"
according to Merrilyn Lewis, who has been in touch with the consultant.
G. Treasurer's Report
Chris Carr Hill still has not gotten a report from Controller. Janice
Cole who works in Controller's office said this is probably because
there hasn't been any activity in the account. Jan said she would
get a report for Chris.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
Staff Visions
Mimi Lempart, chair of this year's Staff Visions committee, asked
Staff Council reps to remind their constituents that the deadline
for registering artwork or writing is October 10.
Mimi asked if Staff Council would authorize funds to pay for refreshments
at the opening reception this year. (In the past, RADS donated food,
but this year, because of budget cuts, they're not.) Someone suggested
to Mimi that she contact Susan Hollingsworth of the Activities committee
to see if they might organize a potluck for it.
Mimi also asked if any Staff Council reps knew of staff musicians
who might be interested in playing during the reception.
Someone suggested to Mimi that in the future, staff might consider
exhibiting artwork at the Campus Center gallery.
V. OTHER ITEMS
A. Parade Float
Merrilyn was asked by President Christ whether Staff Council would
like to oversee the creation of a float for the June 2004 parade
celebrating the 350th anniversary of Northampton. Funding is available
for this project from Human Resources and College Relations. Merrilyn
asked Staff Council reps to consider whether they think this is
something Staff Council should do and if so whether someone would
volunteer heading an ad hoc committee for it. She said we would
revisit the issue in November.
B. Sub-Committee Assignments
Merrilyn reminded Staff Council reps that they are expected to serve
on a Staff Council sub-committee. Nominations & Elections committee
member Kim Allen asked that reps let her know which committee(s)
he/she is serving on.
C. Parking
Ginny Mason remarked that the college is again losing parking spaces.Recently
19 spaces next to Bell Hall have been eliminated.
Submitted by Marti Hobbes, co-secretary
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