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2021-2022 Annual Report of the Employee Forum

 

By

2021-2022 Annual Report of the Employee Forum 

 

 

2021-2022 Officers/Staff

 

Chair Katie Musgrove
Vice Chair Keith Hines
Secretary Tiffany Carver
Treasurer Tracy Wetherby-Williams
Parliamentarian Kevin Robinson/Jacob Womack
Program Manager/Recording Secretary Matthew Banks
UNC System Staff Assembly Delegates Katie Musgrove (1-year appointment), James Holman (2-year appointment), Keith Hines (3-year appointment), Laura Pratt (alternate)

 

Executive Summary

  • The Employee Forum’s 67 delegates represent the over 9,000 SHRA and EHRA non-faculty staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill)
  • In 2021-2022, the Forum helped UNC-Chapel Hill administration and staff navigate the “new normal” created by the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
    • Participating in the Mental Health Summit and the Future of Work Design Team;
    • Addressing recruitment and retention challenges, including leading the effort to eliminate the “20 percent rule;” and
    • Advocating for additional pay and safety protocols for frontline staff who, by nature of their work, are not able to work remotely
  • Other notable achievements during 2021-2022 include:
    • Collaborating with the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to advocate for and roll out a new Alternative Holiday Policy; and
    • Working with UNC-Chapel Hill, Red Cross, and community partners to hold two well-attended blood drives, netting a total of 830 lifesaving units of blood
  • As we move into 2022-2023, the Employee Forum is focused on several new goals, including:
    • working with campus administration on more robust career development opportunities for staff;
    • collaborating with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion on staff equity initiatives; and
    • greater Forum involvement in the transition to the new classification and compensation system

 

 

Mission

The UNC-Chapel Hill Employee Forum is an organization of SHRA and EHRA non-faculty employees (“staff”) elected by their peers.  The Forum’s mission is to advocate for and constructively address the challenges, needs, and opportunities of UNC-Chapel Hill staff. The Forum:

 

  • Seeks out the issues, interests, ideas, and participation of UNC-Chapel Hill staff;
  • Develops and presents proactive, progressive recommendations to the UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor and their designee(s) advising them on how to respond to issues impacting UNC-Chapel Hill staff;
  • Actively advocates for the UNC-Chapel Hill administration to implement the Forum’s recommendations;
  • Communicates effectively with all levels of UNC-Chapel Hill staff and administration;
  • Fosters an open and positive environment throughout the UNC-Chapel Hill community; and
  • Supports UNC-Chapel Hill’s mission of teaching, research, and public service

Vision

The Employee Forum seeks to continually improve the quality of life of UNC-Chapel Hill  staff through mutual understanding, recognition of employee contributions, and respect for the worth of the individual.

 

Monthly Meeting Date/Time

Employee Forum full body meetings are typically held the first Wednesday of the month (unless a holiday falls on that week) via Zoom from 9:15-11:30 am. Employee Forum Executive Committee meetings are typically held on the third Tuesday of the month via Zoom from 11:30 am-1:30 pm.

 

List of 21-22 Employee Forum Delegates:

See Appendix I

 

Budget

See Appendix II

Report of 21-22 Activities

  • Return to Campus Report
    • The Employee Forum produced a report gauging staff perspectives at Carolina surrounding the July, 2021 Return to Campus plans. The report summarized those findings into key themes along with recommendations for the administration to consider. This report allowed staff voices across campus, all with varying perspectives on the return to campus, to be heard and recognized in the spirit of shared governance.
  • Future of Work Design Team
    • Facilitated by Operational Excellence, the Future of Work Design Team was convened in Fall 2021 to take the Flexible Work Pilot Program developed during the pandemic and expand it to establish a more permanent flexible work policy for Carolina moving forward. The Chair of the Employee Forum served on this design team and helped to produce the Flexible Work Playbook for supervisors across campus to utilize when making decisions about the flexibility of positions in their departments. The new flexible work policy at UNC-Chapel Hill will enable Carolina to remain competitive in the daunting job market we currently face, while still fulfilling the business needs of the department and serving students responsibly within a largely residential campus.
  • Campus Searches in which Employee Forum was Involved
    • Provost
    • Chief of Police
    • Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
  • Board of Trustees/University Day Remarks
    • The Chair of the Employee Forum was invited twice in the 21-22 academic year (in January and May) to provide remarks to the Board of Trustees University Affairs Committee. The Chair also delivered remarks on behalf of the staff at the annual University Day celebration in October. Remarks in these settings highlighted the many staff contributions at Carolina, while also underscoring the lingering struggles staff face as the pandemic continues to impact UNC-Chapel Hill, along with significant staff vacancy issues that are prevalent in departments across campus.
  • Mental Health Summit
    • Held in November 2021 in response to several tragic student deaths by suicide, the Mental Health Summit was held to provide a space to reflect on the national mental health crisis Carolina is grappling with. Staff are not immune to the effects of this mental health crisis, with many staff across campus facing significant mental health concerns resulting from the pandemic and widespread burnout from sustained crisis management. The Chair of the Employee Forum served as a panel speaker at one of the summit’s sessions, talking about the campus culture for faculty and staff mental health. Staff attendance at the Mental Health Summit was staggering, with over 500 of the 700+ attendees being staff, speaking to how important a topic mental health is for UNC-Chapel Hill employees.
  • Community Meeting- Staff Wellbeing & Resilience
    • With the University dealing with a global pandemic, “The Great Resignation,” a racial reckoning, and a mental health crisis, The Employee Forum placed heavy emphasis on staff wellbeing. The result of that focus was Staff Wellbeing and Resilience Community Meeting hosted on March 25, 2022. With 217 community members in attendance, the event opened with a greeting from Employee Forum chair, Katie Musgrove, and was followed by remarks from Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz. The heart of the meeting included Avery Cook, LCSW (Language Surrounding Mental Health) Dr. Shimul Melwani (Emotions at Work and Positive Deviance and Resilience), Dr. Kevin McClure (How to Build Better Organizations that Support the Wellbeing of Employees) and Alison Reid presenting on the Heels Care Network. The event was concluded with “Postcards from the Pandemic” facilitated by Arts Everywhere.
  • Staff Assembly Advocacy
    • This past year saw an increase in collaboration between the UNC-Chapel Hill Employee Forum and the UNC System Staff Assembly.  Employee Forum Resolution 21-04 Calling for the Elimination of the “20 Percent Rule” was presented to the UNC System Staff Assembly Campus Chairs and was eventually adopted by the Full Body of the Staff Assembly (with slight alterations).  Adrienne Gibilisco also presented Employee Forum Resolution 21-05 Regarding Acknowledgment and Coding of Inclusive Religious and Reflective Holidays to the Campus Chairs as well as an Inclusive Holiday Calendar.
  • Vice Chancellor’s Representative Meetings
    • Every other month the Employee Forum hosted a meeting with Vice Chancellors or their representatives (VC Reps). The VC Reps meetings were a way for Forum delegates to raise questions and issues directly with University Administration. Questions were required to be submitted prior to the meeting in order to give the appropriate vice chancellor the opportunity gather the needed information in order to adequately answer the question. The platform also allowed a space for University Administration to seek the help of the Employee Forum with various initiatives and projects.
  • Campus Leadership Collaboration
    • The Campus and Community Advisory Committee (CCAC) developed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way for the administration to speak with a collective of all of Carolina’s constituencies (students, staff, faculty, and community leaders), was a gateway for a more robust collaboration between the leaders of each campus constituency. Those leaders include the Faculty Council Chair, Undergraduate Student Body President, Graduate and Professional Student Government President, as well as the Employee Forum Chair. Collaborations between these campus leaders increased significantly in the past year, leading to a more connected and cooperative spirit of shared governance.
  • Institutionalizing Chancellor & Provost Roundtables
    • The Roundtable with the Chancellor and Provost implemented in the previous year became a standard agenda item, allowing Employee Forum delegates a consistent opportunity to interact with both the Chancellor and the Provost (giving us similar access to these leaders on par with the Faculty Council).

 

List of 21-22 Resolutions/Proclamations Passed

Employee Forum Committees

 

Executive Committee: This committee is comprised of the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Secretary, the Treasurer, UNC System Staff Assembly Delegates, the chair of each Employee Forum committee and one Delegate from each electoral Division of the Forum. It makes representative decisions for the Forum in emergency situations, develops monthly agendas for the entire Forum, annually reviews the Forum Guidelines and budgets, and recommends motions to the Forum. This committee will handle planning for the Forum’s community meetings. The officer elections for the Employee Forum are held in June each year, with the wider Executive Committee (division representatives and committee chairs) selected at the Annual Retreat.

Community Service Committee: The Employee Forum’s Community Service Committee works to strengthen and transform our campus through public service by finding, advertising, and creating volunteer opportunities in the hopes of fostering an engaged and active commitment to our university and wider community. Subcommittees include the Carolina Community Garden and Carolina Blood Drive.

Communications and Public Relations Committee: This committee publishes InTouch, the Employee Forum’s monthly newsletter, and maintains the Employee Forum’s website and social media accounts. The committee also works to increase staff engagement and comradery through the annual Scavenger Hunt and Employee Forum Book Club.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee:  The Employee Forum Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strives to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion matters of all employees— particularly those in marginalized communities— are addressed and at the forefront of the work of the Employee Forum. We operate under the principle that equity means leveling the playing field by providing resources and opportunities for underrepresented groups, with the understanding that creating equity allows everyone an opportunity to have a seat at the table, which promotes inclusion.

Education and Career Development Committee: This committee is responsible for administering the Professional Development Grants and the Carolina Family Scholarship. The committee also develops recommendations about programs for university-wide employee training and development.

Membership & Assignments Committee: This committee handles solicitation of employees to run for office as Forum delegates, Forum elections, the orientation of newly elected delegates, and the periodic review of representation and electoral divisions to ensure equitable allocation of Delegates.  The committee also solicits employees to serve on various University committees. The committee creates one large database to serve these different functions in cooperation with the Forum Assistant. The committee’s chair will be the Secretary of the Employee Forum. Subcommittees include the Event Planning Committee.

Personnel Issues Committee: This committee conducts research and frames policy alternatives related to compensation and benefits, University and departmental policies and practices as they relate to individual employees and groups of employees, and campus-wide organizational development activities such as Carolina Service.

Recognition and Awards Committee: This committee is responsible for overseeing the annual Peer Recognition Awards. Committee members work closely with the Forum’s Program Manager for all aspects of the award process including the call for nomination, nomination form, recipient selection, and the distribution of the recipient stipends. Award recipients are announced during the June general meeting.  This committee is also responsible for the selection of the Rebecca Clark Staff Award for Moral Courage which is awarded annual during the University Day celebration.

University Committee Representation

  • Staff Advisory Committee to the Chancellor (STACC)- Katie Musgrove
  • Campus & Community Advisory Committee (CCAC)- Katie Musgrove
  • Carolina Next Advisory Committee- Katie Musgrove
  • Carolina Next: Enable Career Development Strategic Objective Lead- Katie Musgrove
  • Carolina Next: Serve to Benefit Society Unit Representative Group- Katie Musgrove
  • University Day/Commencement Committee- Katie Musgrove
  • EOC Policy Advisory Group- Katie Musgrove
  • Building & Grounds Committee- James Stamey
  • University DEI Council- Janet Steele
  • Tuition & Fee Advisory Taskforce (TFAT) & Student Fee Advisory Subcommittee (SFAS)- Tracy Wetherby-Williams (Amber Mead proxy)
  • Policy Review Committee (PRC)- Jen DeNeal & Evan Marsh
  • Advisory Committee for Transportation & Parking (ACT)- Shane Brogan
  • Parking Appeals- Chrissie Greenberg, Tiffany Carver
  • Student Stores- Evan Marsh, David Bragg
  • Carolina Peer Support Committee (CPSC)- Natiaya Neal, Joseph Nsonwu-Farley

 

Challenges from 2021-2022

  • Staff departures/lingering vacancies (‘The Great Resignation’)
  • UNC-Chapel Hill not seen as an employer of choice anymore (applicant pools are very small)
  • Imbalance between level of responsibility and pay
  • Failure to offload additional duties given due to vacancies (those duties linger if you did them well while assigned them)
  • Lingering mental health/burnout issues
  • Cost of living/inflation
  • Blurred lines of personal/professional boundaries with hybrid and remote roles
  • Lack of resources for staff (hiring, onboarding, training, support within role, promotion opportunities, etc.)
  • Continuing challenges from COVID-19
  • Inconsistent support of work-life balance & flexibility
  • Issues with cross-campus system rollouts
  • Lack of clear, across-the-board understanding of role of Employee Forum across campus
  • Inconsistent recognition of Employee Forum’s value to campus administration in identifying areas of concern
  • Lack of substantial/timely answers to questions submitted in advance for our Vice Chancellor meetings
  • Lack of follow through from university leadership on Employee Forum resolutions
  • Infrequent one-on-one meetings between Chancellor Guskiewicz and the Employee Forum Chair
  • Cuts to the Employee Forum’s operating budget

Goals/Projects for 2022-2023

As we move into 2022-2023, the Employee Forum is focused on several new goals, including:

  • Increased involvement of staff in UNC-Chapel Hill’s strategic planning efforts; and
  • Supporting administration efforts to address UNC-Chapel Hill’s “Top Five Enterprise Risk Management Institutional Risks” for 2022-2023 as presented at the May 2022 BoT meeting.
    • The Employee Forum is particularly focused on collaborating with the administration to address the following three risks:
      • Talent Management
      • Attention to Well-Being and Mental Health
      • Decision Support

Talent Management

  • Greater Employee Forum involvement in the transition from career banding to the new classification and compensation system.
  • Redefining the “new normal” for the University’s workforce (incorporating the flexible work policy implemented during the pandemic).
  • Career Development Initiatives
    • Partner with the Office of Human Resources to create, implement, and evaluate financial and non-monetary incentives designed to retain and develop a talented workforce and make Carolina an employer of choice in a competitive job market.
    • Empower staff to reach their full potential by expanding mentoring programs and career progression ladders for staff.
    • Allow an employee’s dependents/spouse to use the tuition waiver benefit if the employee doesn’t use theirs.
    • Allow employees to use the Tuition Waiver benefit to pay for classes in Receipt Supported Programs.
  • Research pay equity issues at Carolina; create, implement, and evaluate an action plan to address inequities found (across genders, races, and other protected classes). Report any inequities found and progress addressing those inequities at the end of 2022-2023.

 

Attention to Well-Being and Mental Health

  • Reinstate Years of Service Gifts & Banquets to honor the hard work and dedication shown by university staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
  • Advocate for a greater supply of affordable housing near the University campus so employees can afford to live close to where they work.
    • Hold a community meeting about affordable housing with partners from UNC-Chapel Hill, the Town of Chapel Hill, and other key stakeholders.
  • Incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into the employee experience by partnering with the University’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion.
    • Bolste tangible DEI initiatives, which will have trickle-down effects for mental health, career development, work/life balance, flexibility, etc.

 

Decision Support

  • Parking 5 Year Plan Advocacy (equity considering flexible work policy)
  • Restructuring STACC

 

Other Employee Forum goals include improving Employee Forum internal governance, branding, and collaboration with the larger staff community. Specific initiatives include:

  • Employee Forum Election Streamlining
  • Employee Forum Budget Reinstatement to pre-pandemic levels
  • Employee Forum Website/Branding Refresh
  • 30th Anniversary Recognition
  • BOT Ex-Officio Status for Faculty Council/ Employee Forum Chairs
  • EF Coffee Hours (Ways to boost engagement w/ our constituencies)

 

Appendix I

Division Breakdown

 

Division Number of Employees Percent of Population Seats on Forum (Rounded) Seats Occupied Seats to be Elected Seats Occupied w/Newly Elected (Post Election) Vacant Seats Appointed Delegates Beyond Allocation All Seats Occupied (Post Election)
1 EHRA Non-Faculty 1878 21% 12 3 9 7 2 N/A 10
2 SHRA Service /Maintenance 646 7% 4 1 3 2 1 N/A 3
3 SHRA Skilled Craft 441 5% 3 1 2 3 N/A 1 4
4 SHRA Administrative Academic Affairs (AA)*** 221 2% 1 2 1 3 N/A 4 5
5 SHRA Administrative Health Affairs (HA) 406 4% 3 1 2 4 N/A 2 5
6 SHRA Administrative Other than AA & HA 466 5% 3 2 1 5 N/A 4 7
7 SHRA Technical 2342 26% 16 4 12 5 7 N/A 9
8 SHRA Professional 1798 20% 12 7 5 16 N/A 11 23
9 Exec. Administration Managerial 831 9% 6 0 6 2 4 N/A 2
Totals 9029 100% 60 21 41 48 14 22 67
***all divisions elect at least one delegate per year

 

 

 

List of Delegates

 

Division 1 EHRA Non-Faculty
Name Department Term Ends
Randall Borror Cardiology 2023
Michael Case Carolina Population Center 2023
Evan Marsh School of Medicine IT 2022
Manisha Mittal School of Nursing 2023
Robert Smith III Neurology 2022
Jake Stallard Kenan-Flagler School of Business 2023
Alice Whiteside University Libraries 2023
Division 2 SHRA Service/Maintenance
Name Department Term Ends
Timothy Carville Housekeeping 2023
James Holman Housekeeping 2022
James Stamey Housekeeping 2023
Tyrone Williams Housekeeping 2022
Division 3 SHRA Skilled Craft
Name Department Term Ends
Rich Brandenburg HVAC 2022
Todd Hux HVAC 2022
Anthony Lindsey Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center 2023
Danielle Wingler Facilities 2023
Division 4 SHRA Administrative Support (Academic Affairs)
Name Department Term Ends
L.E. Alexander Classics 2022
Tiffany Carver School of Social Work 2022
Mandy Melton Chemistry 2023
Laura Pratt The Graduate School 2023
Jacob Womack School of Government 2022
Division 5 SHRA Administrative Support (Health Affairs)
Name Department Term Ends
Stephanie Forman Health Policy & Management 2022
Mary King Lineberger Cancer Center 2022
Sara Pettaway Eshelman School of Pharmacy 2023
Kelly Scurlock-Cross Obstetrics/Gynecology 2022
Division 6 SHRA Administrative Support (Other)
Name Department Term Ends
Jessye Bongiovanni Student Affairs 2022
Leah Hefner University Libraries 2022
Keith Hines Carolina Union Administration 2022
Arlene Medder Auxiliary Services 2022
Sarah Smith Campus Y 2023
Matthew Teal Office of Ethics & Policy 2022
Karen Webster University Mail Services 2023
Division 7 SHRA Technical
Name Department Term Ends
David Bragg Information Technology Services 2023
Alicia Brandt Genetics 2022
Elizabeth Dubose School of Medicine 2023
Brigitte Ironside Service Center of Excellence — Finance 2023
Amber Meads School of Medicine 2023
Joseph Nsonwu-Farley Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center 2023
Ayla Ocasio Statistics & Operations Research 2022
Sarah Wackerhagen FPG Child Development Institute 2022
Division 8 SHRA Professional
Name Department Term Ends
Vanessa Blake Division of Comparative Medicine 2022
Shane Brogan Physics & Astronomy 2022
Emma Dehne Provost’s Office 2023
Shayla Evans-Hollingsworth College of Arts & Sciences 2023
Jaci Field Athletics 2022
Adrianne Gibilisco Diversity & Inclusion 2023
Christine Greenberg Study Abroad 2022
Jessi Hill Craniofacial & Surgical Care 2022
Shayna Hill Statistics & Operations Research 2023
Quintara Jernigan Digital and Lifelong Learning 2022
Kira Jones Sociology 2022
Katie Musgrove School of Law 2023
Joe Ormond Anesthesiology 2022
Theresa Silsby ITS – User Support, Experience & Engagement 2022
Janice Singletary Campus Health 2022
Janet Steele Division of Comparative Medicine 2022
Michael Williams Information Technology Services 2022
Tracy Wetherby Williams Information Technology, School of Medicine 2022
Tracey Wiley School of Education 2022
Division 9

Executive/Managerial
Name Department Term Ends
Sharron Bouquin ITS — Enterprise Applications 2023
Jen DeNeal Ethics & Policy 2023
Honorary Lifelong Delegates
Name Affiliation Year Honored
Paul Hardin Former Chancellor (Deceased) 1995
Elson S. Floyd Former Executive Vice Chancellor (Deceased) 1998
Kay Wijnberg Hovious Former Employee Forum Chair (Retired) 2003
Rachel Windham Former Employee Forum Chair (Retired) 2004
Tommy Griffin Former Employee Forum Chair (Deceased) 2005
John Heuer Former Employee Forum Chair (Deceased) 2007
Paula Schubert Founding Member of Employee Forum (Retired) 2012
Holden Thorp Former Chancellor 2013
Jackie Overton Former Employee Forum Chair (Deceased) 2013
Karol Kain Gray Former Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration (Retired) 2013
Brenda Malone Former Vice Chancellor for Human Resources 2014
Brenda Denzler Former Employee Forum Vice Chair (Retired) 2015
Charles Streeter Former Employee Forum Chair 2017
Gena Carter Employee Forum Human Resources Representative (Retired) 2017
Wayne Blair Former University Ombuds Director (Retired) 2018
Carol Folt Former Chancellor 2019
James Holman Current Employee Forum Delegate 2019
Laurie Mesibov University Ombuds (Deceased) 2020
Shayna Hill Former Employee Forum Chair 2021

 

Appendix II

2021 Employee Forum Budget Overview

 

Forum Budget

State Funds $ 9,784.35
Staff Development $ 19,000.00
Blood Drive Support $ 2,550.00
Total Funds Available (Based on last year’s allocation) $ 31,334.35
Communications & Public Relations
Book Club Catering ($150 x 10) $ 0.00
Employee Apprec Fair Candy/Scavenger Hunt $ 0.00
Community Service
Community Garden Support $ 2,500.00
Blood Drive Support (Winter & Summer) $ 2,550.00
Event Specific/Food/PR/Prizes $ 0.00
Education & Career Development
Professional Development Grants $ 10,000.00
Higher Ed Panel Mini-Conference $ 2,000.00
Executive Committee
XC Lunches $ 0.00
Forum Office $ 5,000.00
Membership & Assignments
Forum Socials ($150 x 4) $ 0.00
Stone Center 20% for Forum Socials $ 0.00
December Pot-Luck Costs (Paperless Post, etc.) $ 0.00
Orientation Catering $ 0.00
July ’20 Retreat Expenses $ 0.00
Community Meeting Expenses (Rental, Catering) $ 0.00
Personnel Issues
Programming $ 0.00
Recognition & Awards
2021 Peer Recognition Banquet Catering $ 0.00
2021 Peer Recognition Stipends $ 1,500.00
3-Legged Stool Creation, Engraving $ 75.00
Hovious Award Plaques $ 225.00
Delegate, Peer Recognition Certificates $ 75.00
Total $ 23,925.00