Staff at Carleton

September 14, 2006 – 1:30 p.m. – Sayles-Hill Lounge

Present: Co-chairs Melissa Thomas and Jennifer Cox-Johnson, Kristen Askeland, Vicki Burgess, Cynthia Diessner, Jeanne Estrem, Cindy Grisim, Carol Horan, Stephanie Huston, Linda Irrthum, Martha Jirovec, Julie Kimber, Christine Krejci, Nina Mangelsen, Patty Olson, Noel Ponder, Sandra Saari, Carolyn Soule, Lorie Tuma, and Jennifer Whitson.

The meeting was called to order by co-chairs Melissa Thomas and Jennifer Cox-Johnson. Minutes of the March 9 and May 16, 2006, meetings were approved as written.

Melissa introduced Jamie Monson as SAC’s new faculty representative. Melinda Russell will serve as back-up if Jamie cannot attend a meeting. Jamie briefly reported four priorities identified at the Faculty Retreat:

· Reaccreditation process

· Curricular review

· New arts building

· Diversity in hiring

Members introduced themselves to Jamie and the co-chairs briefed Jamie about SAC.

Updates from SAC College Representatives:

Benefits Committee

· No report.

Budget Committee and College Council

· No report.

New Business:

By-Laws Committee (Christine Krejci):

· Nothing current to report. The Committee is looking for additional members.

Motor Vehicle Policy (Christine Krejci):

· Nothing current to report.

Nominations and Elections (Nina Mangelsen):

· Nothing to report.

Publications:

· No report.

Salary and Benefits:

· No report.

Special Projects (Noel Ponder):

· Will be coordinating Carleton’s Meals on Wheels program spring 2007.

· As a SAC volunteer project, suggested restocking the shelves at CAC after the Holidays.

Staff Development (Christine Krejci):

· The committee is looking for two additional members.

· Last year the theme of the Staff Development Committee was “computing.” This year, with the purchase of the middle school and its renovation as an arts center, and the current comprehensive campaign, the Committee has developed a theme focusing on the “Arts.” To support this theme, the following activities have been suggested:

· Tour the middle school

· Tour Music Hall, Concert Hall, Boliou

· Tour off-campus facilities such as St. Olaf arts building and/or Northfield Arts Guild

· Briefly discussed adding a Web page related to staff development

· Discussed timing of SAC events as to whether events should be held during the lunch hour, during the work day, or after work. Events after work might not be a convenient option.

· Discussed whether SAC will share an event with the Forum—possibly a tunnel tour and social hour at the Cave afterwards.

· A spring event with the Forum possibly held at Nutting House which President Oden has indicated a willingness to host.

Web site development (Carolyn Soule):

Carolyn reported that all SAC photos are now posted to the Web site.

“Expert Access” Web page: If you would like to share your expertise in some particular skill or application with a computer program or project, please email Carolyn to add your name to the Web page.

Archives (Cindy Grisim):

The committee has not recently met, although they are still filing. They would like to meet with Eric Hilleman to develop a policy of what information to keep. It would be a tremendous help to the Committee if all SAC materials that are to be archived would be dated and to be selective in what we would like to archive.

All Staff Retreat (Cynthia Diessner):

The all staff retreat will be held at the LDC on December 7, 2006, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.. We will be able to register on-line although the Web page is not yet available. The retreat will be a working, problem-solving gathering. Knowledge will be gained and skills developed related to creativity, brainstorming/consultation/group-think, and changing behaviors.

Bosses’ Day Luncheon (Noel Ponder):

The buffet luncheon will be held on October 17, 2006, in Great Hall. Lunch will be the same meal as the students’ lunch menu that day. Cost of the meal is $10.00 ($6.50 for the meal and the remaining $3.50 will be donated to Northfield United Way). SAC co-chairs will ask Human Resources to defray some of the set-up fees for the luncheon.

Co-chair Jennifer Cox-Johnson passed around a sign-up sheet so that members could volunteer to serve on various SAC committees needing additional help.

Co-chair Melissa Thomas briefed us on three committees that are looking for members:

1. Reaccreditation Committee

2. Dean of the College is looking for a SAC representative to join faculty and

staff to serve on a sub-committee, “Engagement in Service.”

3. Space Planning Committee is looking for a SAC sub-committee to provide

input as to what we see as important space issues, additional space needs, etc.

Old Business

Committee on Committees (Linda Irrthum):

Linda reported that the list of committees on the Vice President’s Web site is a work in progress. As vacancies occur on College committees, Elise Eslinger will send out an e-mail asking for volunteers to serve on the committees. Those who volunteer will hear either way whether they are or are not selected to serve on a committee, which is a change from the way it was handled in the past.

Announcements

Meeting dates have been set for the year and were handed out at the meeting. Please refer to the SAC Web site for dates.

News and Views will be held every third Thursday. See Web site for dates and location. The purpose of this event is for all SAC members to be able to get together informally with their brown-bag lunches to socialize and exchange news and views. The first meeting on September 21 will be for members to bring to the group suggestions for staff/professional development. If you have attended a conference or workshop that you think would be beneficial to other staff, please bring your suggestions to the meeting.

The spring luncheon will be coordinated by Leighton Hall.

The quarterly staff meeting will be held at Concert Hall at 10 a.m. on November 6 and the Reception for New Staff will be held at 4 p.m. that afternoon (for both SAC and Forum members). Jennifer Cox-Johnson sent an email to HR to see if they would host the reception.

A proposed Ombudsperson position at Carleton will be introduced/discussed at a future News and Views meeting. Dean John Ramsay met with Melissa Thomas to brief her on this proposal which is being discussed on campus. This proposed position would be a new hire who would be an independent, confidential resource for faculty and staff who are confronting issues of concern related to the workplace. There are other colleges that have such a position in place.

Melissa introduced the SAC theme for the year, “Above and Beyond.”

The next meeting will be October 10 from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. to attend St. Olaf College’s Touring Feast to tour the college’s conference venues.