Santa Clara University

Staff Senate Winter 2009 Newsletter

• President's Corner

  
  
  

  The end of the academic year is near and it’s a good time for the Staff Senate to look back to see what we have accomplished and look forward to the coming year.  
  

  Our goals at the beginning of the year included:
  

  • Events such as the Staff Faire, Health and Wellness Faire, a repeat of last year’s successful Spring Fling social event,  a theme dinner at the Adobe Lodge and lunchtime forums on subjects of interest to the staff.
  • Sponsoring one or more community service projects.
  • Addressing staff related issues such as the recent Benefits Committee proposal on retiree health care benefits as well as a proposal to encourage employees to bike to work.
  • Improved communication between the Senate and the staff
  • This newsletter itself

  How did we do?  
  

  The year started very well. The Staff Faire just before the opening of school was a resounding success.  
  

  Then there was the economic crisis—yes, that demon again.  The much ballyhooed retiree health care benefits initiative, raises, the Staff Recognition Dinner, the Spring Fling all fell victim to a shrinking budget.  But unlike with many other employers, we still have our jobs.  We will also have a scaled back staff recognition event in June.  
  

  Perhaps the only thing we didn’t get around to sponsoring was the theme dinner but the Adobe Lodge adopted our suggestion
  

  Improved Communications
  

  We hopefully have improved the flow of communication between the Senate representatives and their constituents. This newsletter and a list of staff representatives  on our web site are a part of that effort.
  

  The Senate also sponsored two, well-attended Staff Assembly meetings related to the budget and the economic crises.  We also welcomed our new president Fr. Engh and heard his views on the value of staff to the university.  
  

  Finally, our quarterly newsletter has been well received.  
  

  Community Service
  

  The staff commitment to community service has been successful far beyond expectations.  A team of SCU staff now cooks breakfast not one but two mornings a month at the Julian Street Inn for the mentally ill homeless of Silicon Valley.
  

  Just this past month, the Senate also sponsored a Saturday morning volunteer crew at the San Jose Guadalupe Gardens.  More on that elsewhere in this newsletter.
  

  After the impact of the economic crisis, the Staff Senate recognized the need to be of service to our own community.  We passed a resolution recommending the cancelation of the Spring Fling and the curtailing of the annual recognition event.  The resolution urged that the savings be passed on to financial aid for students who otherwise might have to drop out of school.  The entire staff was commended by Fr. Engh for this generous gesture.  
  

  Finally, I have been approached by a staff member concerned that some of our fellow employees may be among the “working poor”.  This staff member made me aware that some of our colleagues may be having trouble paying the rent or feeding their families.  A discussion of this concern and what can and should be done about it will be placed on the next Staff Senate agenda.  
  

  Promoting cycling
  

  A special committee has worked with Campus Safety this year to promote the use of bicycles for commuting to work.  While we haven’t quite yet reached our goal of providing a limited number of free parking passes to those who routinely bike to work, we feel that we are much closer to some accommodation than we were at the beginning of the year.
  

  What’s to Come
  

  With 5 brand new representatives on the Senate, we can look for fresh ideas next year.  One area in which the Senate needs those fresh ideas is in promoting interest in serving on the Senate.  While some of our Assembly groups had highly contested elections, others had only one or no candidates.  I look at serving on the Senate as both a privilege and an obligation as well as an additional demand on the representative’s time and I look forward to promoting more interest in serving on the Senate in the coming year.  
  

  All in all, despite the economic crisis, I feel it was a very good year with better to come.
  

  As always, if you have concerns, comments, questions, or suggestions, please contact your representative or send a message to Staff Senate online.
  

  Jim Rowan
  President, Staff Senate

• Staff Senate Election Results

  
  

  Thank you for participating in the annual Staff Senate election process.  Staff Senate would like to congratulate the staff members recently elected to serve on Senate for the 2009-2010 academic year!  Five staff members are newly elected to serve: Julia Wong -- Arts & Sciences, Danielle Granieri -- Institutes, Nancy Diaz -- Law School, Victoria Garcia -- Student Administration, Margarita Malagon -- Auxiliary Services.  In addition, three staff members were re-elected to serve on Senate: Diane Cranor -- Information Services, Marquita Coe -- Student Administration, Arcelia Rodriguez -- Student Services.
  

  Click here for the complete list of 2009-2010 Staff Senate representatives
  

• Responding to Staff Concerns: Tuition Remission

  
  

  Many staff members have expressed their concern after Bob Warren announced at the February Staff Assembly meeting that changes to the tuition remission policy were being considered.   Staff Senate president, Jim Rowan, has been in communication ever since with the Benefits Committee, Human Resources, Bob Warren and Fr. Engh with respect to this issue. 
  

  First, and foremost, Jim spoke directly with Fr. Engh on May 4 and as of that date no changes to the tuition remission policy have been made.  This confirms prior statements on the subject from Bob Warren and HR. 
  

  Secondly, last week the Staff Senate made the following recommendations to Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, Molly McDonald, for presentation to Fr. Engh’s staff:
  

  The Staff Senate first recommended that there be no changes to the current policy.  However, the Senate recognized that there is a perception in the administration that there are certain “abuses” of the policy.  These perceived abuses consist of people applying to work at Santa Clara for the sole purpose of obtaining tuition remission for the Law School or Graduate Business Program and then leaving the university immediately upon graduation.  The administration feels that this scenario is not in keeping with the original purpose of the tuition remission program for employees and that some steps might be needed to bring more benefit to the university from those attending graduate school.  As a result, a change extending the waiting period for employees to obtain graduate school tuition remission from one to three years is being considered. 
  

  However, the Senate recommended that prior to implementing such a change, a study is needed to determine whether the perception of this type of abuse is based in fact or upon anecdotal cases. 
  

  Also, in light of the perception that the “abuses” occurred mainly in the Law School and Graduate Business Programs, the Senate recommended a separate study to determine whether an extension of the waiting period for graduate school tuition remission should apply across the board to all graduate programs. 
  

  The question of “vesting” also arose.  By vesting we mean the entitlement to benefits of those who are already qualified for benefits but have not yet begun to use them.  For example, tuition remission for an employee/student with between one and three years of service who has not yet started, or not completed, graduate school.

  The Senate’s position on this issue is that there should be no change whatsoever for those whose benefits are vested.
  

  Finally, and aside from the consideration of changes to the waiting period for employees, an idea was proposed to consider changing the method of providing tuition assistance to employees.  This proposal was that assistance would be provide in the form of a loan to the employee/student that was not payable until after graduation.   The loan would be evidenced by a promissory note.  The note would then be forgiven according to a schedule based upon years of employment at the university after graduation.  If the employee left the university before the note was completely forgiven, the employee would owe the balance on the note.  It is clear that much study of such a proposal would be necessary but this is similar in concept to the current faculty housing program.  Such an assistance program would have the benefit of allowing a shorter waiting period to start school while discouraging individuals from applying for employment mainly to obtain free tuition. 
  

  In conclusion, while changes are being considered, no official decisions have been made to implement any change.  If you would like to contact Staff Senate about Tuition Remission, please send an email to your representative or send Staff Senate a message online.
  
  

• Staff Volunteer Service Award

  
  

  The Staff Senate is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the Santa Clara University Outstanding Staff Volunteer Service Award.  The award will be presented to:
  
  

  The staff member who takes initiative above and beyond to promote and enhance our Community both SCU and Civic through individual volunteer service and personal responsibility outside of their job at Santa Clara University.
  
  

  The Staff Senate believes that an award recognizing volunteer service to the community is consistent with the University’s Guiding Principle “to promote through the University a culture of service that fosters the development of personal responsibility.”  The award will be presented by the Staff Senate at the Staff Recognition Awards Event in June, and will consist of a plaque and a letter of appreciation and congratulations signed by the Staff Senate members.
  
  

  The criterion for this award is:
  
  

  Individual volunteer service at or outside Santa Clara University, such as committee work, charitable work, or volunteer activities in the community that are not part of their job duties at SCU.  Past awardees have worked with the homeless in securing housing, and other necessities, worked with multiple organizations collecting usable clothing for distribution, and worked with troubled teens at the Bill Wilson Center teaching computer skills.
  
  

  To nominate an individual, please complete and sign the nomination form.  Any faculty member, staff member, manager, supervisor, or student may submit nominations.  The nominations should be sent to Diane Cranor, Information Technology, by Friday May 21, 2009.   All nominations will be forwarded to the Staff Senate, which will review the nominations and select a recipient.
  
  

  Nomination Form
  

• Community Service Update

  
  

  Staff Senate is committed to encouraging community service and has worked to provide opportunities for staff to volunteer together.  Twice monthly volunteers from SCU purchase, cook, and serve breakfast at Julian Street Inn.  Additionally, a group of staff recently participated in a one-day park clean up.
  

  Volunteers from SCU purchase, cook, and serve breakfast at Julian Street Inn twice a month.  On the first and second Sunday of each month six-member teams provide the service.   This program began with one monthly Sunday service and is now seven months young.  It has been so successful that another team was created in March to service the second Sunday of each month.  We currently have a base of over 20 volunteers that participate in this program.  This is but one of the collaborative efforts initiated by staff at SCU to encourage greater involvement in community service.
  

  A number of staff expressed an interest in being able to participate in volunteer opportunities that require only a one day commitment.  In response, Staff Senate members organized a “Let’s Go Play Outside” project that allowed SCU staff to volunteer at San Jose’s Guadalupe River Park & Gardens.  About 20 staff and family members participated in this one-day event which included activities like spreading mulch and fertilizer, tending to the rose garden, and pulling weeds. 
  

  Volunteer staff member, Martha Giannini shared that she “was cheered at the turnout of volunteers - all ages and genders.  I like folks who don't mind getting their hands dirty!  With everyone assigned a task, we worked quickly and efficiently.”    Another volunteer staff member, Jenny Stoddard said, “It was a fun way to connect with others within the university community and meet people that I would not have had the chance to otherwise. To be able to do something good for the community at the same time made it even better!”  One of the great things about this particular event was the ability for staff to bring their families.  The group was able to enjoy a beautiful Saturday morning in the park, filled with sunshine and laughter.  It was so enjoyed that it seemed more like children and adults at play rather than work!
  

  The Staff Senate is excited to explore and bring other quarterly volunteer opportunities to the SCU community in the near future.  These will include other short duration volunteer events and ones in which families can participate.  In addition to the above programs, some of the other activities we are exploring include:   
  

  • Ulistac Natural Area Restoration & Education Project
  • Summer Beach Clean-up
  • Second Harvest Food Bank’s, “Share your Lunch” summer program
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Guadalupe River Park Rose Pruning
  • Pack a backpack Fall Event
  • Giving Tree Holiday Event
  • Read Santa Clara Adult Literacy Program

  If you would like to suggest other staff community service opportunities, please contact Kari Craighead (kcraighead@scu.edu) or Marquita Coe (mcoe@scu.edu).