Boulder Campus Staff Council takes stock of year’s accomplishments

Each committee of Boulder Campus Staff Council was asked to submit an annual summary of activity and accomplishments to the full council for review to assess how effectively the committees worked to further the council's mission: “Staff Council represents, informs and educates staff employees by serving as a liaison between employees and Boulder campus, university system and state administration. We also recommend proposals to the administration that are designed to improve morale and advocate for the rights of staff employees.”

Awards & Staff Recognition (ASR):

• 
  Hosted the Years of Service/Recent Retiree Recognition Event for the 38th consecutive year. Some 109 staff members were recognized for their 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service with a gift certificate, a CU pin designating their years of service and an invitation (plus three) to this event. Past calendar year retirees with 20+ years of service were also invited. A total of 140 staff and guests attended.
• Worked with the chancellor’s office and the athletics department to add an additional recognition event for this year’s five Chancellor’s Employees of the Year. Athletics provided 10 court-side seats and a halftime ceremony during the Women’s Basketball Pac-12 opener in January. Improved logistics are planned for next year. ASR also nominated the awardees for recognition by the Governor’s Office for Public Employee Recognition Week. Honorees were given certificates signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper thanking them for their outstanding service.
• ASR created a third banner this year highlighting staff recognized by the University of Colorado Staff Council for their service to the community and university since 2001.
• ASR wrote three articles for CU-Boulder Today and CU Connections highlighting staff achievements.
• 
  ASR worked on two staff recognition submissions and a diversity grant for a recognition event targeting shift staff who cannot attend other outreach events.

Blood Drive:

• Hosted five blood drives that collected 1,008 units of blood representing 3,024 transfusions during 18 days.

Communications:

• Coordinated brown-bag lunch meetings within the eight geographic areas that staff council members represent. The goal of the meetings was to improve two-way communication between staff and their representatives. Although attendance was lower than expected, the results were positive.
• Updated the staff survey, created a Spanish translation version, ran the survey using both digital and print versions for staff that do not have ready access to a computer and analyzed the results.

Elections:

• Updated staff council’s elections code.
• Recruited staff to run for office and promoted the election, which resulted in more multi-candidate races.
• Supervised the 2014 Officer and Area Representative Elections, which also had more multi-candidate races than in past years.
• Currently, the council is updating the elections code to be more in line with the digital age.
• Working on redistricting to regain proximity and proportionality within areas of about 800 staff, as departments have moved to new locations around campus as new buildings are brought online.

Outreach & Events:

• 
  Hosted the Fall Ice Cream Social in the C4C courtyard on Sept. 5, the 137th anniversary of CU’s first semester. Invited more than 15 vendors and five campus departments promoting staff benefits and approximately 350 staff attended.
• Hosted the December Staff Appreciation Breakfast. Several senior campus administrators assisted in serving 735 staff.
• Hosted the Spring Luncheon, selling out the 500-person capacity of Glenn Miller Ballroom.

Payroll, Benefits, Legislation & Retirement (PBRL):

• Tuition benefits have been an ongoing issue since at least 1962, per staff council minutes. This year, PBRL formed an ad hoc committee of staff and faculty directly involved in the tuition benefit issue. This committee thoroughly researched the cost, registration logistics and sustainability of the available tuition benefit options. It brought its final recommendations to the Boulder Faculty Assembly and to Staff Council for approval before sending them to Senior Vice Chancellor Kelly Fox for review.
• Ongoing monitoring of the classified-to-university staff personnel transition taking place across campus. Working with Human Resources as needed.
• Worked on staff council response options to the University Benefits Advisory Board dissolution by President Benson. Reviewed new oversight role by UCSC to determine if it was adequate. Upon review, the council decided against any action.
• Reviewed the new university policy regarding the rehiring of staff retirees. Worked with the system’s policy staff to present to the full Boulder Staff Council so that feedback would be received in time to be considered within the final policy version.
• Coordinated Boulder Staff Council Day at the state capitol. Worked with the CU Government Relations Team to plan educational presentations by representatives and see the legislative process in action.

Other Full Council Activity:

• Hosted the following presenters at our monthly meetings: Chancellor Phil DiStefano (twice); Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Kelly Fox; Vice Chancellor for Administration Steve Thweatt; Assistant Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Candice Bowen, and Lead HR Project Consultant Mike Murray; Vice President of Government Relations Tanya Kelly-Bowry; Office of Policy & Efficiency Director Dan Montez; and Organizational & Employee Development Director Brett Rodgers.
• Supported the ongoing effort to promote a healthy workplace by the ad hoc Respectful Workplace Committee by providing three delegates and limited budgetary assistance. Special thanks to Merlyn Holmes from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for taking over the chairperson role.
• Staffed 10 ongoing delegate roles for the following standing committees: Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet, Chancellor’s Accessibility Committee, Boulder Campus Planning Commission, Campus Use of University Facilities, Parking Management Advisory Committee, Parking & Transportation Rate Review Committee, University of Colorado Staff Council, Statewide Liaison Council, Boulder Faculty Assembly and Be Colorado.

Not all of the goals were met, but many were. The council's primary goal is to represent all staff on Boulder campus and the best way to accomplish that goal is to stay in touch with you. If you would like to contact the council, and you do not know your representative, call 303-492-5473 or email scouncil@colorado.edu. Program assistant Lori Jackson will forward your message to your representative.

You do not have to be a member of staff council to serve on any of many committees. For more information or to contact us, visit www.colorado.edu/staffcouncil

Submitted by Boulder Campus Staff Council