Staff Council holds its final meeting of the 2002-03 academic year

Staff Council members heard a report regarding the Student Recreation Center, learned about the proposed holiday schedule for 2003-04 and discussed ways to improve communication with staff members during the group's final meeting of the academic year May 7.

Sue Delmark, director of recreational sports, presented the council with information about the recreation center, slated to open in time for the beginning of the Fall 2003 semester. She talked about the building's floor plan, available amenities and services and the history of the project.

Delmark told the council a "soft opening" for faculty and staff is tentatively planned for Aug. 13-15. The soft opening would allow faculty and staff to use the facility and see what the center has to offer before students begin using the building. She also said rates for faculty and staff have not yet been determined but should be finalized soon.

Steve Miller, assistant vice president of human resources, spoke to the council about the proposed holiday schedule for next year but was careful to note that the schedule has not yet been approved by the UNT System Board of Regents. He said the proposed schedule includes 14 paid holidays, which would be Thanksgiving Day and the following day, Dec. 24-31 for winter break, Jan. 1 for New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and four days in March for spring break.

Miller said the university will likely close on Jan. 2, which is a Friday, to keep from using utilities on the last day of that week, and a fifth day in March to finish the week of spring break, but staff members would be required to use vacation or compensation time to be paid for those two days off.

Staff members discussed continuing problems and challenges they face in the process of communicating with their constituents. Many said they know of co-workers who have never been contacted by their representatives and whose names do not appear on any of the Staff Council representative lists.

The council also discussed the added challenge faced by representatives of employees who do not have daily access to e-mail. A motion was made to turn the matter over to the Staff Council Executive Committee to examine the problems and determine possible solutions.

The Human Resources Committee reported on the progress of several ideas to boost morale among staff members, including the Star Performer program, which would allow supervisors to nominate employees who exhibit exemplary performance for additional paid leave; drawings for prizes to promote participation in the annual staff convocation; flex time; and child care resolutions.

The Staff Council will meet again at 2 p.m. Sept. 3 in Marquis Hall, Room 118.

BY MICHELLE HALE mhale@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Regents approve senior vice president appointment
• Medical geographer researches spread of infectious diseases like SARS
• UNT parking permits for 2003-04 now for sale through intercampus mail
• Two UNT programs ranked high this year by U.S. News and World Report
• Elm Fork Education Center to conduct summer camps
• Staff awards presented at President's Staff Sack Lunch
• Tips to help control mosquitoes

homepage