P&S COUNCIL NEWS
March 17, 2006

P&S Election Closes on Friday, March 24
Online voting ends at midnight on Friday, March 24, in the 2006 Election for P&S Council representatives. Thirteen of the 35 seats on the Council are up for election this year. Voting instructions and candidate profiles are online at http://www.pscouncil.iastate.edu/2006PSElection/ElectionAnnounce.html

Funding Increased for P&S Retention and Recruitment Grants
Funding for the Retention and Recruitment Grant program administered by the P&S Council has been increased by 50 percent for the coming year, ISU President Gregory Geoffroy has announced.

The university will make available $45,000 for the 2006-07 grant program. In 2005-06, the Council’s Retention and Recruitment Committee awarded $30,000 to 15 applicants for innovative programs to attract students to the University. Details of last year’s awards are online at http://www.pscouncil.iastate.edu/RandRgrants05.html

The president’s authorization for additional funding came in response to a P&S Council request based on the outstanding proposals received through the years. In notifying the Council that the request had been approved, President Geoffroy said “I want to thank the P&S Council for its excellent leadership and very successful efforts in promoting the importance of student recruitment among our P&S staff and supporting their initiatives. The $235,000 invested in these efforts through the P&S Council since 1994 has been a very good investment for the University, and I look forward to your continued good work in strengthening Iowa State's enrollment."

Council Resolutions Support Open Search Process, University Community Statement
Two resolutions addressing policies at the University were adopted by the P&S Council at its March meeting. One addressed to the Board of Regents, asked the Regents to include faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the search and selection process for University Presidents. The second expressed the Council’s Support for the Principles of Community Statement currently circulating among several University constituent groups. The resolutions are available online at http://www.pscouncil.iastate.edu/homepage.html

Professional Development Day Registration Deadline
Friday, March 17, is the last day to receive the early registration discount for Professional Development Day. The program is scheduled for Tuesday, March 28, at the Gateway Center. Television comedian Pat Hurley is the day’s keynote speaker, and Jack M. Payne, ISU’s new vice provost for extension and outreach, will speak at the luncheon. More information and a registration form are available online at http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/pid/home.html

Training and Development Task Force Report Now Available
A final report from the Task Force on Training and Development has been issued on the survey of P&S staff conducted last fall. The report to Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Provost Ben Allen was released by Carla R. Espinoza, director of human resources and chair of the task force.

The report and recommendations are available online at http://www.provost.iastate.edu/staff/development/report.html. The report includes an Executive Summary of Survey Results, Recommendations from the Findings in the Survey, and Draft Guidelines on Learning and Development. Appendices include the survey instrument used at ISU and an Administrative Efficiency Initiatives Report from University of Iowa.

Volunteers Needed for Special Olympics
Faculty and staff are encouraged to volunteer for the Special Olympics USA National Games this summer. The games will be on campus during the first week in July, and P&S staff may be eligible for released time to volunteer.

Details of the program are available online at http://www.iastate.edu/Inside/2006/0310/volunteer.shtml. More information about the games is available on the Special Olympics web site at http://www.2006nationalgames.org

P&S Representatives on Committees Recognized
Twenty-three members of the P&S Staff at ISU who serve on all-University committees as representatives of the P&S Council were honored by the Council at its March meeting. Those honored have been appointed by the Council president to represent the interests of P&S employees and to report back to the Council on committee activities. Reports are posted on the P&S Web site at http://www.pscouncil.iastate.edu/UnivCommittees.html

Certificates of appreciation were presented at the March meeting to Tonia McCarley who serves on the Athletics Council; Lynne Mumm, Child Care Committee; Kerry Dixon-Fox, Committee on Disabilities; Kerry Dixon-Fox and Debra Sanborn, Committee on Women; Kathy Box, Employee Assistance Program Advisory Committee; Dan Woodin, Faculty Senate liaison; Joyce Samuels, Jane Lohnes and Jen Peters, ISU Retirees Committee; Dru Frykberg, Library Committee; Cathy Good, Kevin Kane, and Dan Woodin, P&S Classification Review; Cathy Good, Scott Dahl, Steve Karsjen, Claire Smith-Larson, Pat Strah, Darren Jarboe, and Richard Wrage, P&S Professional Development Committee; Sara Kellogg, Substance Abuse Advisory Committee; Malisa Rader, Supervisory/Confidential Council liaison; Linda Erickson and Teri Peterson, Traffic Appeals Board; Randy Larabee, Transportation Advisory Committee; and Brenda Van Beek, University Benefits Committee.