For its most recent meeting, Feb. 19, Employee Council journeyed to Oxford College, where Dean and CEO Dana Greene greeted the group, and Associate Dean for Campus Life Joe Moon gave a brief history of the campus since 1919, the year Emory College moved to Atlanta.

Moon’s comments were related to his soon-to-be-released history of Oxford, An Uncommon Place: Oxford College of Emory University, 1919–2000.

Also addressing the council were Kathy McKee, training specialist in Human Resources, who told the council about “Reading Readiness,” a new HR program designed to help employees improve their reading skills. The pilot program is seeking staff volunteers to be reading tutors for two hours a week over 18 weeks. Volunteers would be trained prior to the start of tutoring. McKee said the program is slated to begin May 3.

Also speaking was HR Recruiting Specialist Carolyn Yanes, who updated the council on the plans for Staff Fest, which will take place from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on the Quadrangle, May 16. Yanes stressed that Staff Fest is geared toward employees, not their families, friends, children or pets. In previous years, she said, the proliferation of guests has weakened the meaning of the celebration, which is intended to foster camaraderie among Emory employees.

In other business, communications chair Susie Lackey confirmed that the council’s spring information fair would take place April 29 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at the VA Hospital. This is the first time the fair has gone to the hospital.

Finally, council President Cheryl Bowie gave an update on the status of the motion—backed by the council—to rescind Emory’s pre-employment drug-testing policy.

Bowie said the issue had been tabled at the January meeting of University Senate and that it would be revisited in February. Council members assembled a packet containing articles, minutes and research related to the issue and delivered it to Senate members. Bowie told the council she hoped to have the packet distributed prior to the senate meeting, which took place Feb. 25 (see story).

The next Employee Council meeting will take place March 19 from 2–4 p.m. at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center.

If you have a question or comment for Employee Council, e-mail Cheryl Bowie at cheryl@radonc.emory.org.