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April 6, 2009
University Goverance Groups

By leslie king

Employee Counci
Employee Council is working with the Faculty Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) and Human Resources on the creation of a hardship fund for Emory employees. “We need to gauge staff interest before taking on a project like this,” president Matt Engelhardt said, asking members to see how many employees are interested and might be willing to contribute. Details about giving and applying to the fund are yet to be determined.

At the March 18 meeting, Provost Earl Lewis addressed the continuing economic climate. He discussed how the University is trying to work through a series of scenarios that explore a combination of reductions and revenue enhancements. These efforts include a potential set of tools for managers and supervisors to help them reduce costs.

Lewis also highlighted Human Resources’s Bright Ideas Web site (brightideas.emory.edu) and said the University will soon unveil a process to encourage the community’s involvement in the refinement of Emory’s strategic objectives given a reduced resource environment.

Engelhardt reminded council members of elections for next year’s officers.


Faculty Council
Provost Earl Lewis told attendees at the March 21 Faculty Council meeting that despite extremely conservative projections, available budget revenue for the next several years is significantly reduced. Council President Steve Culler explained that this was tied to a formula that locked in projections for three years.

While Lewis discussed particular reductions that would be made for the 2009–10 through 2011–12 budgets, he said the guiding principles of recruiting and retaining the best staff, faculty and students and following the vision of the strategic plan remained intact. He also noted that reductions alone would not suffice, and that new ways to enhance revenue would be needed.

A draft of the University-wide Promotion and Tenure Statement, which addresses guiding principles for faculty appointment, promotion and tenure, will become part of the faculty handbook, Culler said. Individual schools may institute more specific requirements for their particular circumstances in harmony with the document.

The Council continues to pursue a service initiative. “We want to evaluate service and reward faculty and staff for it,” said Culler.


University Senate
At the Feb. 24 University Senate meeting, Paul Fowler, executive director of the Career Center, announced “dramatically new changes,” President Steve Culler said. The center is making its goal to ensure that all students have a plan post-graduation, whether it’s the workforce or graduate school. Fowler told Senate members the Career Center would be stepping up contacts with alumni, parents and friends of Emory to increase internship opportunities, mentoring and awareness of opportunities in the job market.

Student Counseling’s Matt McLeod and FSAP’s Paula Gomes demonstrated steps to take when concerned about the behavior of a student or colleague and what resources are available.

Provost Earl Lewis also discussed his continuing conversations with undergraduates about their student experience at Emory.

The Senate prepared for its March elections with a call for nominations for the next secretary and president-elect.