STAFF COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes 10/19/2022
Attending: Kurt Florez, Kevin Bruce, Chris Flight, Lisa Ross, Melissa Holland, Mike Peters, Claudia Cochrane, Renee Arnold, Samantha Heyn, Sarah Hughes.
COMMITTEE UPDATES
CUSS – Frostburg State University hosted the last meeting and Kevin Bruce attended in person. Introduction was done by the FSU. Professional Development Week (PD) was announced for Oct 17-21. The Board of Regent Staff Awards was released. We (UMCES) can request a package for non-exempt employees. Deniz Erman Erman derman@towson.edu (Buyer/ merchandiser Specialist- University Store) can show up at any of the campus Staff Councils to talk about the Board of Regents’ Awards. Lisa Ross recommended that, if there will be presentations on past awards, UMCES should wrap up its nominations by the second week of December.
Kevin Bruce also informed that, in his CUSS Staff Resources and Special Projects Committee breakout meeting, a couple of issues were discussed:
Human Resources – Lisa Ross reminded everyone hat Project Development Week is currently going on. There are approximately 10 UMCES employees participating. The TIAA financial seminar did not have any UMCES participants. Open enrollment for benefits ends on Nov 4th at 5pm. Lisa also brought up the upcoming November 4.5% COLA and informed that there will likely be another 2% COLA in July 2023.
The search for UMCES Vice-Administration is currently going on. It is a critically important position (second in command at the institution) and there may be a void if Lynn Rehn leaves and there is no replacement. Lisa encouraged everyone to spread the word so that we increase the chance of getting a strong pool of candidates. A recruitment committee has been formed and is currently active.
Executive – Melissa Holland informed that the next Executive Council meeting will be on Nov 14. She had nothing to report on the previous one.
LAB UPDATES AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Human Resources - Workaday is still scheduled to launch on July 1 2023. They are planning on training for special users in February 2023 and a generalized training in April 2023. New features include the fact that faculty and exempt staff will not have to submit timesheets bi-weekly, only when they have to request leave and leave will have to be requested in advance. This will require a change in UMCES policy, which currently requires that employees submit timesheets bi-weekly. The Workaday Benefits and the new Workaday will work separately and will not be integrated with each other.
Central Administration – CA is currently recruiting for an assistant for the Vice President for Advancement.
HPL – Mike Roman is stepping down to take a faculty position at the Lab. Michael Sieracki is taking over as new Lab Director on Nov 14th. HPL held their open house last Saturday with the highest ever attendance.
MDSG – There are several positions being announced (Assistant Director for Communications and Engagement, Aquaculture and coastal resilience science communicator as well as a proposal and reporting coordinator). Please spread she word.
IMET - They have several new students this semester and are having an orientation week on administrative processes, and are also going over their 5 year plan. A position has open for a sponsored programs coordinator.
CBL – They have a “Science for Community” seminar series starting. Here is a link with the schedule and ways to register: https://www.umces.edu/cbl/s4c. In addition, CBL has installed several car charging stations for electric car drivers.
AL – The lab celebrated the lab’s 60th birthday during watershed moments, with Professor Emeritus Ray Morgan presenting on the history of the lab. We are going to bury a time capsule as a follow up to the birthday party. AL successfully converted to voice over internet phone system (VOIP). And we are in the planning stages of our end of year/holiday gathering in December.
Staff Appreciation Day: Staff Council members informed that the celebrations were nice but there were problems about being able to hear the speakers over zoom. Kurt is proposing to have 2 meetings per year, one being the regular Staff Appreciation Day with Dr. Goodwin and labs via zoom, and another meeting with rotating labs hosting each meeting. It would be aimed at giving the opportunity for other lab employees to get to know specific features of the hosting lab (like Oyster Hatchery, etc). This also gives the opportunity to whomever missed the Staff Appreciation in September to attend the lab visits. Kurt plans to circulate a questionnaire after the Christmas Holidays to inquire about employee interest in these lab visits.
Next Meeting: DECEMBER 14, 2022 - 10am