ANNUAL SAC RETREAT
LA PALOMA RESORT
& SPA
FACILITATOR: Nancy Huber, Ph.D.
PRESENT: Anna
Abraham, Dolores Aguirre-Johnston, Rolf Averill, Emily Boyd, Peg Davis, John
Doherty, Noel Dreher, Melissa Fritz,
ABSENT: Denyce Berg, Patricia Bub, Christina Duddleston, Carolyn Eaton, Judy Greil, Elyse Hannah, Alice Keith, Anne Lopez, Candace Maynard, Patty Piontek, Ruth Szabo
A continental breakfast was served at
OPENING:
Former Staff Advisory Council (SAC), Administrative Vice
President, Karen Stanley, provided an introduction to the annual SAC Retreat. President
Dr. Huber teaches leadership to students at the
We reviewed the vision statements that were made at the last retreat concerning the Staff Advisory Council as well as the council’s vision for the University. Additionally, members were given a sheet listing suggestions from last year’s retreat on how SAC would move towards their vision for a better University community. Members discussed which items had been accomplished and which items were still top priorities. It was apparent that due to the unforeseen events of the last year (budget cuts, etc.) SAC had not followed the direction it had hoped to.
We broke from the session with an activity in which we had a sheet with twenty-four squares filled with personal descriptions (i.e., Has had a “letter to the editor” published, Has received an award for service to the community, Has been at the University for more than 10 years, etc.). We then circulated the room and asked members to autograph the question that pertained to them. This exercise illustrated the assets that we as a community possess.
After regrouping each table was asked to list what they felt SAC had accomplished (from last years goals), list items that each person would still like to see accomplished, and record any changes to the University that may have influenced our efforts.
§ SAC improved communications by use of e-mail, Town Halls, payroll stuffers, Newsletters, Lo Que Pasa, and the state legislature.
§ Increased scholarships and employee recognition awards given
§ Participated in the re-grading program and the Millennium II project
§ Advocated to suspend merit raises for across the board raise
§ Demanded consistency in Tri-University positions
§ Increased SAC visibility on University committees
§ Change sick days to mental health/personal days
§ Fact finding of HR advancement problems
§ Flextime for each department
§ More bike parking areas
§ Outside consultants to review parking
§ “Stress Free” kit from SAC
§ Work on consistency of job titles and pay
§ Work towards incentives for alternative transportation
Changes to The University
§ Budget Cuts
§ Healthcare
§ Raises
§ Construction
§ Layoffs – more work with less people
§ Reduced Services
§ Removal of University functions off campus
§ Campus Morale down
§ Parking “Disappearances”
§ Opening of the Mall
§ Computer System/Technology improved
The afternoon break included an exercise that mapped our individual assets and gifts within the Staff Advisory Council. We individually identified four different groups of which we were a member and/or affiliate. Then we identified the major reason for the affiliation, the gift or talent we contributed and the gift or talent we possessed but do not contribute. The twenty-one participants in the room represent the following:
The talents/gifts the group provides are as follows
We were reminded that there are a lot of talents we are not sharing with our community and that we should make an effort to do so.
We then worked on building the “New” Agenda. What were SAC’s priorities going to be for the next year and what was our plan of action. In brainstorming goals the following items were discussed:
§ Create Energy Awareness
§ Inform Legislature of UA needs
§ Parking: address cost and security issues
§ “Talk to” morale of staff
§ Restructure SAC
§ Change sick leave to personal time
§ Better Communication for off campus community
§ Influence healthcare decisions
§ Collaborate with Tri-University Board
§ Create job-share/flex time to compensate for layoffs
§ Get staff representation with ABOR
§ Explore/Compare staff opportunities at peer institutions
§ Work on layoff hire back process
It was agreed upon to take three of the most important issues and concentrate our efforts on them. The issues chosen were:
§ Inform Legislature of UA needs
§ Improving morale of staff
§ Restructure SAC
Groups were formed to explore these issues further. We were asked to fill out a Collaborative Action Plan which included the following: a vision of the future, purpose of the collaborative effort, mission, results sought, and the actions SAC will take to bring the plan to reality.
The name of this effort became “Stop Failing
The issues of concern were building renewal, healthcare, funding for raises and funding of critical programs. The purpose of this effort will be to gather issues and educate state legislators about the needs of the University. We would like to see the University become a competitive marketplace, with concern for the loss of valuable employees due to layoffs and outside opportunities.
Results sought are the recognition from legislators that they are listening, pro-University voting of applicable bills, follow through with promises such as pay increases and a budget that allows building renewal. SAC will take an active role in educating staff of important issues and who the pro-education legislators are. We will work closely with the Government Relations office and encourage staff to do the same by writing letters, editorials and making phone calls. We hope to gain the aid of a former legislator.
The “Smile Your on Campus” effort is concerned with unhappy and/or discouraged employees. Their vision is to provide a positive work environment. The results sought are uniform break policies and staff education concerning benefits. SAC will explore benefits offered by other universities, publish fliers about available benefits, get more involved with decision-making and work to improve the orientation program. Additionally, they will implement staff activities such as Staff Shirt Day.
The SWOV (Speak With One Voice) effort hopes to create a greater cohesiveness between SAC, the University college councils and the Tri-Board. The mission is to unify classified staff and enhance the power base by increasing the number of voices. To accomplish this task they plan to update/complete the contact list for college councils, invite the councils to SAC meetings, and convey to the campus the advantage of unity.
Dr Huber then asked that we list on a card the one thing each of us planned to do to help the effort we worked on, and one thing we will do to help one of the other efforts. We then lined up by height and one-by-one read our promises out loud.
We finished the afternoon with a “Magic Carpet Ride” into the future and a brief review of the day. Dr Huber generously offered her services to the group should they need assistance. It was a great session and now we are ready to work!
Candidate forums for the Arizona State Legislature are August 27th and 28th
The next general meeting will be
Respectfully submitted by Kathi Hart.