STAFF COUNCIL

APPROVED MEETING MINUTES

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March 08, 2017 TI Auditorium 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

1. Roll Call

Present: Jamie Abrams, Thomas Allen, Caryn Berardi, Cheryl Berry, Michele Brown,

Paul Bottoni, Debbie Buckner, Lynn Butler, Joey Campain, Naomi Emmett,

Ste’ve’sha Evans, Janice Gebhard, Dennis Guten, Andrew Helgeson, Patrice

Holt, Dominic Kollasch, Bill Lacava, Charlotte Mason, Jay McAllister, Greg

Melton, Chris Milazzo, Liz Muñoz, Seanne Rackal-Childs, Summer Rangel,

Beverly Reed, Pinky Reyes, Anh Pho, David Richardson, Julie Rooney, Brian

Scott, Carrilaine Schneckner, Cynthia Seton-Rogers, Melani Sherbet, Janie

Shipman, Rebeka Stafford, Pam Stanley, Katie Terry, Chad Thomas, Shelly

Turner, Jazzmyn Wilson, Melissa Wyder

Absent: Rebecca Ballard, Frankie Branham, Mark Chavez, Selina Gu, Kelly Kaar,

Casey Lloyd, Angela Marin, and Alice Presti

Guests: Sandee Goertzen, Murray Leaf, Colleen Dutton, Marco Mendoza, Bob Fishbein,

and Peggy Attari

1. Call to Order: Meeting called to order by President Naomi Emmett at 9:00am

2. Guest Speakers:

a. Colleen Dutton – AVP of Human Resources

i. Report given by Marco Mendoza.

1. Spoke on:

a. Naturally Slim

i. Enrolling members until March 17th

b. Performance Appraisals

i. Deadline: April 7th

ii. TA Appraisals are handles by the Provost’s Office

c. Summer Camps

i. Email: jobs@utdallas.edu

d. March 1st requests for increases are still in progress.

2. Question: Is there a reason that the job reclassifications are

taking longer?

a. Please contact Ilyce Murray

3. Question: When is the next time we can apply for a

reclassification?

a. September 1st – please contact Ilyce Murray for details

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b. Bob Fishbein – Auxiliary Services

i. Spoke on:

1. Current progress of Auxiliary Operations.

2. 80% growth in retail food sites and 16% growth in vending. 20 different food

vendors on campus.

3. 6 Healthy options vending machines on campus, can be located from a drop down

search.

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15. Question: In regards to catering for Einstein’s Bagels and pizza, do they

deliver?

a. No they don’t. Currently piloting Papa John’s delivery to dorms

(Lobby only!) from 6:00-10:00pm. Also piloting order ahead for

Jason’s Deli for pick-up orders

16. Question: The Alumni Center will have a kitchen, is that a Chartwell’s

Kitchen?

a. That is a catering kitchen.

17. Question: Cars have been parking in Electric Vehicle spaces. Will there be

signs posted?

a. Signs are currently in progress. In the meantime, report the violations

and they will be ticketed.

18. Question: What’s being built next to IHOP?

a. The Blackstone Group

19. Question: What’s the name of the Auxiliary app?

a. Shop UTD

20. Point of Interest: There have been some food quality issues with catering.

a. If there are any concerns, please contact myself (Bob Fishbein), Pam

Stanley, or Carrie Chutes.

21. Point of Interest: Walmart is selling UTD clothing.

a. The have the licensing to do so.

c. Peggy Attari – OIT

i. Spoke on:

1. Update to NetID system

a. Improved self-service

b. Out-of-Hand Authorization

c. Available 24x7

d. Password changes are now instant

e. Less likely to get locked out

f. Less frequent password changes

g. No more account sponsorships needed

2. Update goes live on: 03/13/17

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3. Password resets:

a. Available 24x7

b. Now sends a code to your provided personal email

4. Question: The changes are happening next week?

a. Yes, on Monday

5. Question: Won’t students be locked out?

a. No, the updates will not affect current access.

6. Question: What about texting password change codes to

phones?

a. Is not an option currently, but hoping to enable that in the

future. Need to acquire licenses to do that.

3. Review of March 2017 Minutes

a. Motion to approve the February minutes with edits.

i. Motion made – Melissa Wyder

1. Motion 2nd –Jazzmyn Wilson

a. Minutes approved

4. Committee Reports

a. Executive Board (Naomi Emmett)

i. HOP Committee is meeting today at 11:00am

b. Attendance Report (Melissa Wyder)

i. Attendance has been good

c. Student Government (Akshitha Padigela and Joey Campain)

i. The election for Student Government is soon.

ii. Student Memorial

1. Dr. Benson has approved

2. The rocks for the reflection pools will start next month.

3. Question: Is there a memorial for Staff / Faculty as well?

a. Not currently

d. Benefits Committee (Chad Thomas)

i. Scholarships

1. 26 Applicants received this time

2. Currently working on updating the scholarship criteria for clarity

and updating the PDF

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3. Would like to discuss the monetary award with Dr. Benson

e. Communications Committee (Katie Terry)

i. The Spring Sun newsletter

1. Will be out in May

2. Currently trying to rebrand Staff Council with new artwork

a. Will send out instructions with the Solar Flare

b. Top 3 choices will be brought to Staff Council for a vote

f. Fundraising Committee (Jazzmyn Wilson)

i. Valentine’s Sale

1. Profit of $313.58

ii. Upcoming

1. April

a. Cost-share event with Chipotle on April 20th

b. Promo Sales

c. Car wash

d. Will also be looking at Graduation Bears

g. Staff Development Committee (Lynn Butler)

i. Staff Appreciation

1. Main Campus Appreciation

a. May 19th – Volunteers needed please!

b. Planning on having burgers from Sonny Bryans

c. There will be a karaoke machine

d. Tables

i. Each department will have a table set up (with

games and giveaways)

1. Will have padfolios as giveaways as well

h. Secretary and Treasurer’s Report (Jamie Abrams)

i. Staff Council Operating Account

ii. Staff Council Fundraising Account

iii. Staff Council Endowed Scholarship

No Activity

Ending Balance Feb 28, 2017 $ 1,978.22

Bus for Staff Appreciation $ -555.75

Ending Balance Feb 28, 2017 $ 3,694.85

Printer Cartridge recycling revenue $ 240.82

Teddy bears for Valentines $ -279.90

Ending Balance Feb 28, 2017 $ 5,681.08

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Endowment Market Value ( 02/28/2017): $ TBD

iv. Jody Nelsen Scholarship

No Activity

Ending Balance Feb 28, 2017 $ 1,103.63

Endowment Market Value ( 02/28/2017): $ TBD

v. Staff Scholarship

No Activity

Ending Balance Feb 28, 2017 $ 2,927.97

i. Faculty Senate (Dr. Murray Leaf)

i. One Card

1. SciQuest is difficult to customize, but we will still be using it

a. Will cut-out secondary approvals

b. Using Box.Com as a receipt repository

ii. Very Important for all Staff

1. Please watch the video ‘Starving the Beast – Defunding Higher

Education’

2. This situation is currently happening!

3. McDermott Library has the video online for viewing

a. About 90min long

j. Retiree Association (Sandee Goertzen)

i. Nothing to report

University Committees

a. Parking and Transportation ( Dee Lambert and Melissa Wyder)

i. No reports made

b. Campus Facilities (Patrice Holt)

i. No reports made

b. University Safety and Security (Chad Thomas)

i. Regarding pedestrian safety with bicycles and skateboards

i. Faculty have been receiving complaints

ii. Would the like the Staff Council to work with the Student

Government to make policies.

c. Women’s Center (Melissa Wyder, Jane Shipman, and Becky Wiser)

i. No reports made

d. IR Security, Planning, and Policy (Dennis Guten)

i. Security portion of committee has been removed. OIT to handle that.

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e. Auxiliary Services Advisory (David Richardson)

i. Met, and Bob covered the same info earlier.

f. HOP Committee (Naomi Emmett)

i. No reports made

g. Student Fee Advisory Committee (David Richardson and Jazzmyn Wilson)

i. Has wrapped up

h. Committee for Support of Diversity and Equity (Letitia Andrews, Yolande Evans,

Jane Shipman, Carrilaine Schneckner, Daniel Hernandez, Jazzmyn Wilson, and

Selina Gu)

i. No reports made

i. Intellectual Property Advisory Committee (Jay Silber)

i. Has not met yet.

i. Policies have been sent in for consideration, and should be meeting

soon.

j. Academic Calendar Committee (Megan Gray and Sheila Rollerson)

i. No reports made

k. Information Security Advisory Committee (Chris Milazzo)

i. No reports made

l. University Sustainability Committee (Craig Lewis)

i. No reports made

m. Wellness Committee (Pinky Reyes, Georgetta Oliver, Taylor Tran)

i. Comet Cab has a lunch shuttle to the SPN Wellness Center. Look for the

cabs with a yellow flag.

i. Operation hours and stops are listed online

(www.utdallas.edu/wellness/download/Comet_Cab_SPN_Route.p

df)

5. Continuing Business

b. Proposals

i. 2014-004p: Executive Board is looking into an ombudsman for employees

1. In process

ii. 2017-002p: Centralized room reservation process. (Staff Development)

1. No updates yet

iii. 2017-006p: Paper towel dispensers/Letter to facilities (Benefits)

1. In process

iv. 2017-008p: Art contests for Staff/Faculty (Communications)

1. In process

b. New Suggestions

a. 2017-005s: I was wondering if the parking issue (orange students/employee

only costs) has been addressed? Just curious if the new President

understands this is a huge issue with staff. I would guess if you asked 100

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staff members on the lower end of the pay spectrum (most affected by costs)

98 would say parking a reason for low morale. Personally it is greedy to

make money off of employees! There are work around to the state

requirement of employees paying for parking: Another state university in

Texas supplements their employees with a one time bonus to cover yearly

cost of parking....This same state university cost for employee only is

covered parking is around $260.00 a year. For an assigned space is

actually less than our purple. This is in an area where cost of parking

around that university is scarce and high dollar. Another suggestion would

be to give a credit for cost of parking to everyone who fall under the new

non exempt change. There are single parents who used their lunch hour to

run errands (stores are so convenient) or Dr appts. and now we can't leave

campus and be assured to find a space when we return and therefore are

driving around (longest for me was 35 minutes) waiting for someone to

leave a space and I can race to get to it first! So it has changed quality of

life for families after work.... (Anon)

a. Per Melissa Wyder – Motion made to forward this to Dr.

Jamison and Cris Aquino

i. Cynthia Seton-Rogers: 2nd the motion

1. Suggestion will be forwarded

b. 2017-006s: I am writing to see how might be best to approach the issue of

improving restroom provisions, specifically paper towels and soap. Paper

towels may be seen as wasteful, but they are a part of maintaining good

hygiene and a clean campus.

The cleaning crew does a good job; however, the air dryers are not only

disturbingly loud (even heard in nearby offices and classrooms) but also

inadequate. Water is dripped on the floor, blown across clothes and air

dryers cannot be used to wipe up spills on the floor or counters. (If

someone spills coffee or something in the hall or in a classroom, we don't

have a way to wipe it up unless we carry our own paper towels with us.)

Importantly, air dryers do not necessarily promote cleanliness. The CDC

website has the following statement about air drying: "a prolonged drying

period (30-45 seconds rubbing hands while rotating under warm air) is

required to achieve complete drying." Using two towels, 10 seconds each,

is recommended for paper drying. Also on the website is this statement:

"wet hands have been known to transfer pathogens much more readily than

dry hands or hands not washed at all."

There is one towel dispenser (thankfully) in the 2nd floor women's restroom

in Founders; however, it is not all that functional. Sometimes it is out of

towels; sometimes one reaches for a towel and a large clump drops out.

I would like to recommend the installation of devices something like

pictured in the attachment. I think this would go a long way toward

improving cleanliness on campus, as would more soap dispensers. On

February 17, there was one soap dispenser in the FO 2nd floor restroom.

(Anon)

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a. Per Akshitha Padegala – It depends on the Dean of the

building.

a. Pinky Reyes – Suggests the issue is passed on to

Facilities and ask that they send out a concise email as

to who is responsible for what.

i. Naomi Emmett - Would like to adopt this

suggestion and send a formal letter to Facilities

ii. Lynn Butler – Suggests asking George Eicke

from Facilities to come speak to Staff Council,

1. Melissa Wyder – Motions to take the

suggestion on and send a letter to

Facilities

2. Katie Terry – 2nd the motion

a. Accepted and assigned to the

Benefits Committee.

c. 2017-007s: It would be wonderful to explore the possibility of an on-site

daycare for children, at the very least for nursing infants up to a year old.

We have a walkable campus that would conveniently allow mothers to visit

their infants for feeding sessions. This would encourage breastfeeding,

which in turn can promote healthy immune systems and prevent or shorten

illnesses in a baby's first year. It also allows for an easier transition back

to work for a mother. I have no doubt it would cause retention rates and

productivity to increase.

a. This has been discussed on a Faculty level, and is a

question of location and liability.

b. Per Melissa Wyder – Staffing such a facility is also an

issue. Would like to hear the thoughts from the EAC about

this.

c. Per Sandee Goertzen – This has been discussed with the

Women’s Center in the past.

d. Per Patrice Holt – This has always been an issue. Speak

with Jackie Long about it. There are nearby places that

offer discounts.

i. Per Dominic Kollasch – People would want

something on-site. It’s more about proximity vs

price.

ii. Per Michele Brown – Nearby places have waiting

lists up to 2 years long.

iii. Per Pinky Reyes – Can we ask Facilities to look at

Daycares?

1. Per Pam Stanley – It has been discussed.

However it was stalled due to issues of cost,

liability, and location.

a. Motion made to reject

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i. Paul Bottoni – 2nd motion

ii. Rejected

d. 2017-008s: I've received questions about having contests for staff members

(art, photography, etc.) that could also serve as displays/exhibits. I believe

this would be a good way to engage with the campus community as well as

promote Staff Council. Such events could also be pitched for inclusion in

InterCom or a story in News Center. Example:

http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/center-times/year-

2013/october/on-my-own-time.html

a. Per Cynthia Seton-Rogers – Would like to use the Staff

Council rebranding contest as a pilot run, to gauge interest.

i. Per Paul Bottoni - Agreed; Motions to adopt and

put to a committee.

1. Summer Rangel – 2nds the Amended

motion of a pilot run

a. Accepted and assigned to the

Communications Committee

6. Old Business

a. N/A

7. New Business

a. Coffee with the President

i. Went very well and was very informative

8. Reminders

a. Staff Council Scholarships

i. Deadline: February 15, 2017

b. CARE Awards

i. Deadline: March 31, 2017

9. Misc

10. Upcoming Guest Speakers:

b. April: Dr. Calvin Jamison

i. Will update on Northside

11. Adjournment

a. Motion to Adjourn

b. Meeting Adjourned at: 10:47am

Respectfully submitted,

Jamie Abrams

Staff Council Secretary/Treasurer