Although the ADA requirements that apply to Emory as a private institution are not as stringent as those that apply to some public institutions, Watkins said that Emory has demonstrated a desire to do more than the minimum required by law in making the campus accessible. "We must make sure that employees have access to the facilities and programs on campus," Watkins said.
The installation of additional accessible curb cuts, some of which are on county streets, is a significant step toward improvement of physical access. ODSC, however, deals with a range of other disability issues, including providing electronic communications services for the hearing impaired, Braille texts for the visually impaired, and alternative classroom and work environments for those with learning disabilities.
"We try to anticipate what Emory's needs are going to be," said Watkins. Some of those needs include special parking arrangements and interpreters for major special events, such as the Economic Summit with President Bill Clinton last March. Watkins said that at her request, Facilities Management staff constructed a ramp for the summit stage in Cannon Chapel less than 24 hours before the event started.
Watkins encouraged the Council and all community members to call 727-1070 when they become aware of any potential accessibility barriers for disabled people on campus.
In other business, members of the Council's Special Issues Committee discussed concerns over staff salary compression, payroll deduction for taxes levied on Tuition Reimbursement benefits, and a proposal to allow staff to pay P.E. Center fees by payroll deduction rather than in one lump sum.
*Erik Oliver of The Carter Center said a number of employees there have expressed concern to him over salary compression, largely as a result of the Compensation Management Project (CMP). According to Oliver, the issue centers on employees whose salaries were below the minimum of their new pay grade under CMP, which took effect Sept. 1 along with annual pay raises. Oliver said that employees who received a salary increase of 3.75 percent or more in order to raise them to the minimum of their new CMP pay grade received no annual salary increase. Oliver said that he and many Carter Center employees feel that it would have been more fair if the University had increased staff salaries to the new CMP pay grade minimums, and then given annual 3.75 percent increases based on the new salaries.
The issue of salary compression, Oliver said, arises because longer-term employees at the bottom of their new CMP pay grades are now earning roughly the same as new employees hired at similar salary levels.
Special Issues Chair Joy Burnette said she will bring the issue to the attention of Human Resources staff.
*Burnette also reported that payroll deduction for staff P.E. Center fees should be available by January. Barbara Mann of Woodruff Library asked the committee to address the issue of whether prorated reimbursements will be made to staff who paid the 1995-96 P.E. Center fee, but may not be able to use the facility for two months during the Olympics.
*The committee also plans to consult with staff in the Payroll Department on whether income tax levied on Tuition Reimbursement benefits can be paid through payroll deduction over a period of time, rather than in a lump sum.
The Council elected new representatives to the University Senate's Fringe Benefits and Traffic and Parking committees, as well as to the new President's Commission on Equity announced by President Bill Chace last spring.
The Council's next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m.
--Dan Treadaway