2004-2005 Annual Report

August 31, 2005

President Molly Corbett Broad

The University of North Carolina

Office of the President

PO Box 2688

Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688

RE: Staff Councils Annual Report

Dear President Broad:

UNC Asheville found itself faced with many changes in the 2004-2005 year. The University’s reorganization of two major divisions, Student Affairs & Academic Affairs, and changes in top administrators created a ripple affect that touched all of campus, and is still reverberating.

After six positive years, we were faced with saying good-bye to Chancellor James Mullen, the man who opened more doors for the SPA & EPA-NT staff than any previous UNCA chancellor!

Shortly thereafter, our Vice Chancellor of Administration & Financial Affairs, Wayne McDevitt, told us of his departure to the Office of the President. Vice Chancellor McDevitt’s help with

funding for staff initiatives was much appreciated over the years, and was critical to the success of many of our endeavors. He is missed!

UNCA formed a Chancellor Search Committee, of which I was honored to represent the Staff.

After endless hours perusing vitas and interviewing many applicants, the Committee was able to forward our recommendations to the Office of the President for consideration. In the end, the

Board of Governors approved Dr. Anne Ponder as our new chancellor, effective October 1, 2005.

The Chancellor-elect & I, as CSAC Chair, have already had one meeting, and we are encouraged

that she will continue the respect for and appreciation of the UNCA Staff.

Throughout the 2004-2005 year, the UNCA Staff continued to "go to the head of the class" by participating in Bulldog Day, a community workday for all incoming Freshman; volunteering

for Student Move-in, assisting students and their parents by mule-training students’ belongings to their assigned rooms; donating, large or small, to SECC in record numbers; and bringing "Good Cheer" by adopting families, seniors, and children over the holidays. Particular attention needs to be given to the Facilities Management, Housing, and Campus Police staff who pulled together to keep the campus community safe, secure and bearable during the hurricanes, Francis & Ivan.

The Chancellor’s Staff Advisory Committee is pleased to announce that the Community College

Pilot Program is now an established program, enabling UNCA Staff to further establish themselves in their technical positions by taking skilled training courses, as well as certification classes. Since the conception of this program, we have been able to assist approximately 15

staff by covering the costs of an approved 3-hour course.

Also, a proud moment needs to be mentioned about our drawing ever closer to endowing our CSAC Scholarship Program. In fundraisers, from baking Valentine cookies to

sponsoring yard sales, we have earned over $2800 to add to this endeavor. Over the ’04-’05 school year, CSAC was able to assist six students in subsidizing some of their fees, depending

on their needs.

During the campus’ annual Halloween Blood Draw, and in conjunction with our process to become classified as a Well Workplace, CSAC was able to subsidize staff fees for the Draw by 50%, plus offer a "free" Health Risk Assessment completed by the Buncombe County Health Department. Approximately 120 staff participated in the assessment.

In our efforts to persuade the Legislature to take a look at the University Healthcare Pilot Program, to provide our staff with no less than a living wage, to make the State Health Plan

affordable to employees’ families, the Chancellor’s Staff Advisory Committee conducted

a very successful Postcard Campaign. The Committee provided 800 stamped, addressed postcards for every Senate/House representatives to every county in which our staff lives.

This brought a smile to the faces of each employee picking up their cards to personally

complete and mail to their representatives.

Along with our sister universities, we also participated in an eleventh-hour email campaign to our legislators, and phone calls to the Governor’s office, requesting them to pass the $1000 raise for State Employees vs. the $850. Although this initiative failed, at least we, once again, spoke and were heard….sometimes, that’s all it takes.

In 2004, we elected Co-Distinguished Staff Members of the Year. Both finalists have had

a huge effect on the UNCA campus by going above & beyond the call of duty. As well,

their volunteer profiles, campus and surrounding community, were impeccable. The interviews held by DSM Committee with coworkers and supervisors were above reproach.

The UNCA Staff were proud to have Melissa Acker, Landscape Director, and Steve Honeycutt,

University Budget Officer, represent us in the Commencement Walk. Making this even a more special occasion was having Chancellor Mullen introduce Melissa and Steve during the

Commencement exercises, which was an all-time first!

A few months before Chancellor Mullen’s departure from UNCA, in our desire to show our

appreciation for his opening doors and the respect he showed for us, the UNCA Staff designed, sought funds, constructed and dedicated Mullen Park, a place for solitude, introspection, classroom discussions, Outdoor Ed events, and other activities. Chancellor Mullen seemed

very touched by this gesture, and we were very proud of what we’d done.

One of our heartfelt concerns is regarding the Career Banding, mandated by OSP. Staff often questions why people in the University System and across the State, doing our same jobs, make

more than we do at UNC Asheville in WNC. Now, we are finally going to have an across-the- board market value, yet we can’t find the money pot to implement these bandings. How can

OSP command something to be done without appropriations?

UNC Asheville Staff feels the blows coming from all directions. If it’s not the low wages, it’s the insurmountable insurance costs coming from downstate. At home, it’s the lack of communication filtering down from Administration to bring a sense of purpose and security to the troops; it’s often the lack of respect between constituencies which is often demeaning; it’s the unbalanced ratio of SPA/EPA-NT employees to increased enrollments and ever-growing square footage, which drains our energy and exhausts our ability to respond to others in the way we want.

The UNC Asheville Staff believe in our university, and in what we do! We will continue to work hard to create a positive learning environment that is diverse and welcoming to students. We will continue to work hard to efficiently perform duties at desks, counters, lawn mowers, telephones, computer workstations, mops & brooms, paintbrushes, screwdrivers, library shelves, scrub brushes and more across campus. We’ll proudly perform all those duties with the expectation of respect, job security, and a living wage.

I, personally, want to thank my colleagues of the Chancellor’s Staff Advisory Committee for

their efforts in the production of this annual report. As representative of the UNC Asheville Staff, with great admiration and appreciation for all that they do to make UNCA a shining star, I

respectfully sign this document,

Connie Schaller

Chair, Chancellor’s Staff Advisory Committee

/cls

Attachment

cc: Leslie J. Winner (w/attachment)

Dr. Anne Ponder (w/attachment)

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