Welcome-Rachel Fedewa, President
An Information Sheet on the new Fitness & Wellness Center was shared from Jennifer Bailey, Fitness and Wellness Director.
Fair Labor Standards Act Update
As members may recall, Support staff have been asking for clearer communication and proper channels in communicating with President’s staff. Committee members were reached out to by a member of the President’s Staff and asked if we would like to meet with one of them on a regular basis. Support Staff Committee members met with Provost Mickey McDonald and Human Resources Director Renee Boelcke on September 28. Mickey and Renee gave an update on the FLSA progress and the review with the benefits consultant. (Mickey has offered to attend every other meeting with the Committee members in the future to facilitate open communication and to be our liaison with the President’s staff).
Per Mickey and Renee, to be in compliance with the new FLSA overtime rule changes that go into effect on December 1, 2016, one of two things was done for the affected 38 Administrative Staff employees: 1) They were moved up to the minimum threshold of $47,476/year or 2) They were reclassified as overtime eligible & will keep the benefits that they had.
Benefits Review Update
Renee and Mickey informed us that the benefits consultant review and timeline was extended. The consultant is looking at local areas, job descriptions, and other GLCA schools with a report expected in January 2017 along with an implementation plan. The Committee members asked if the Support Staff Recommendations and Feedback Non-Medical Benefits document and survey had been shared with the consultants. It had not so we asked if it could be and Renee has since then forwarded it to consultants. It was stated by Mickey and Renee that the HLC infractions, as far as the disparity in the benefits, was not a driving force, that the student experience is looked at more. The Committee encouraged Mickey and Renee to, not only look at the comparable benefits, but to see the human side of it and be leaders in practicing what we advertise, namely, being socially just, which is our mission. A large sector of employees feel this way and it would be appreciated if this is addressed.
Support staff asked the Committee to share with Mickey that our benefits be compared with WMU benefits. All Support staff were encouraged to talk to faculty and supervisors about the differences in our benefits.The more people that we can educate and reach the upper level of voices, the more people will back our effort and our voices will have another way of being heard. Many Support staff feel that faculty have no idea about these differences. Please keep the conversation going and on the radar.
Other News
Community Council has new representatives—Laura Livingstone-McNelis committed to a three year term and Jennifer Clarke-Kinsey to a two year term. There are a lot of new faces on the council and there seems to be good energy. President Gonzalez is receptive, involved and interested in knowing what’s occurring on campus.
Speaker Input
Please let us know what speakers you would be interested in hearing from. On our current list is:
- Arcus Center of Social Justice Leadership
- Center for Career and Professional Development
- Kate Worster-branding and logos
- Brian Dietz-student government
- Margaret Wiedenhoeft, CIP Acting Director-Study Abroad
- Tim Young, Director of Security – Shots Fired training video
- Professional Development opportunities (such as they recently did for students on MS Excel).
Please email or contact us with any other ideas you may have for speakers.
Homecoming
Homecoming is this weekend and there are many events to attend. There is also a 5K on Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. starting at Hoben Hall, looping around the neighborhood, watch for the giant clock!
The next meeting will be held on Friday, November 11 at 9:00 a.m. in Olmsted.
MEETING ADJOURNED.