I am happy to report there is someone listening. In fact there is a whole group of individuals listening. We are the elected/selected staff members of the Emory Employee Council.
There really are 55 additional people in the picture with me today. That's how many representatives are slated for the Emory Employee Council. Your council. Your voice.
The past year has been busy for us. We have wrangled with issues ranging from parking availability to concerns related to the Columbia HCA merger discussions. We were involved in the selection process for a new University president. We hotly debated a recommendation for the extension of benefits and requested clarification of credit union lending policies.
Current issues before the Council include criminal background checks of prospective employees, increased representation on the University Senate and Grady campus staff members concern over recent developments at Grady Memorial Hospital.
This year has also brought some confusion or miscommunication about the Employee Council's role and function. Perhaps an examination of its purpose and scope will be of benefit.
The Emory Employee Council was established in 1970 by then President Sanford Atwood to facilitate communication between the employees and University administration. Fifty-six Council representatives are either elected or appointed from the following areas: Division of Arts and Sciences/Academic Affairs, University Management, Institutional Advancement, Division of Finance and Accounting, Division of Campus Life, Woodruff Health Sciences Center and the Candler School of Theology.
Each area is allotted a specific number of Council members to ensure equal representation across the University. Additionally, Grady Hospital, Crawford Long Hospital, and Oxford College, as well as the Carter Center, all have representatives on the Council.
The Employee Council exists to represent the perspectives of employees, facilitate communication between staff and administration, and promote a congenial working relationship with University officials. Although we vote on issues, it is a vote on what recommendations will be made. We do not have the power to decide or set policy. That power is reserved for the University president and the board of trustees.
The Emory University Senate is mandated to review proposed changes in existing policies and review new policy submissions. The Senate's decision on a given policy must then be approved by the University president. (The board of trustees or its executive committee also have the option of reviewing any policy revisions or submissions.) Should the president disagree with the Senate recommendation, the Senate position is presented to the board of trustees for final resolution.
This is a very simplified version of how you are represented on campus, how policy making works on campus, and who really has the influence to affect policy.
I have reviewed what we are doing for you. Now it's time to lay out what you can do for yourself.
First, find out who represents your department or work area. On page 194 of the 1994-95 Emory University Campus Directory is a partial list of current Emory Employee Council members. If you do not see a representative for your specific area, call one of the officers or committee chairs. We will help you get in touch with your Council member.
Second, read the Emory Report and Together at Emory. These publications have space periodically dedicated for Employee Council and University Senate news. This is the best and fastest way to stay abreast of our ongoing activities and recommendations.
Third, make known your concerns and questions. Call your representative or write to the council at P.O. Box 22555, Emory Campus. We are unable to address your concerns effectively if you do not make those concerns known to us. We must have your input to make our recommendations as fair and representative of staff perspectives as possible.
We strive to be the voice of the employee. Should we fail in this mission, then we no longer serve our fellow employees but become a platform for individual agendas. We want to hear from you. Please help us represent you.
With more than 20,000 phones on our collective campuses, find one close by and give us a call. Stop wishing for a better campus and start voicing your concerns and ideas.
Joy C. Burnette is chair of the Communications Committee of Employee Council and a nurse at Emory Hospital.