Staff Council gets campus development report

The Staff Council heard a report during a specially called meeting April 2 from Richard Rafes, senior vice president for administration, regarding current and pending construction on the UNT campus.

Rafes listed a new science building, a new residence hall — recently named Traditions Hall — and the soon-to-be-completed Student Recreation Center as new construction projects, and also spoke about renovations to the UNT Research Park facility.

Rafes' report also included plans for development of the Eagle Point Campus, formerly the Eagle Point Golf Course property. His report recapped much of the report he presented to the Faculty Senate on March 12. An article about that report appeared in the April 4 issue of InHouse.

Rafes said a plan is in place to begin meeting parking challenges on campus. The plan includes expansion of parking spaces on and around campus, a tiered parking system in which parking costs diminish the further a parking lot is from the center of campus, a transportation system including shuttles, and tentative plans for construction of a new parking garage if funds become available.

Rafes also talked about the work of the Campus Beautification Committee and recommendations regarding commons areas, transportation, campus boundaries, amenities, environmental issues and landscaping.

In light of current world events and security concerns, Rafes touched on UNT's emergency preparedness plan and asked council members to visit www.unt.edu and click on the UNT Emergency Preparedness Information link to learn more about the guidelines explained there.

Finally, Rafes highlighted the effects of the current state budget cuts on UNT, such as the hiring freeze that went into effect in January, cuts to travel, a reduction in operating expenses, the unlikelihood of salary increases this fiscal cycle and changes to benefits. He provided a list of suggestions that departments could use to help ease stress caused by the budget reductions, including flextime, physical activity, use of the Employee Assistance Program for various free counseling services, training opportunities available on campus, effective communication strategies, effective leadership and programs designed to boost morale.

In other business, the council discussed the nominations that had been made for the Staff Council election later this month.

BY MICHELLE HALE mhale@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Judy Shepard speaks about violence
• Ireland's former head of state to speak at UNT
• Hurleys honored at UNT Alumni Awards Banquet
• State cuts force May 1 benefit changes
• Spring means keeping an eye on the sky
• UNT leads Texas in number of Goldwater scholarship winners
• New voice mail system to provide users with new and improved services
• UNT expert explains when, how parents should talk to their children about war

homepage