RSC 6/42015
RIT STAFF COUNCIL
Thursday, June 4, 2015
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
1829 Room, SAU
DRAFT MINUTES
PRESENT:
Barilla, Black, Clarke, de la Sota, Gasbarre, Kompalla-Porter, Lamark, Laver (AS), Milliken,
Oldziej, Prosceo, Quartieri, Rex, Schewe, Schreier Rudgers, Shields, Smarsh, Spencer, Thind,
Thompson, Wheeler, Whitmore, Zachmeyer
EXCUSED:
Babcock, Bagley, Bhalla, Blake, Ester, Haldeman, Hughes, Purcell, Shaffer, Woodhams
MEETING called to order by L. Shields at 2:00 p.m.
MINUTES of 5/14/15 approved.
WELCOME
Welcome to the newly-elected Staff Council representatives, whose terms start with today’s meeting:
BLOCK 1:
Elizabeth Lamark, RIT Production Services
Rupa Thind, Simone Center for Student Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Sandra Whitmore, Office for Diversity & Inclusion
BLOCK 2:
Renee Milliken, Office of Student Financial Services
BLOCK 3:
Marcia Barilla, FMS Administrative Services
Mark Haldeman, ITS Application Development
JoEllen Shaffer, ITS Application Development
Monica Thompson, FMS Administrative Services
BLOCK 4:
Mindy Blake, Office of Co-op & Career Services
BLOCK 5:
Andrew Schewe, NTID Student Life
Cathy Clarke, NTID Communications, Marketing & Multimedia Services
Jen Prosceo, NTID Access Services
CHAIR’S REPORT
Thank you to everyone who worked on the picnic. The Events committee did an amazing job – thank you all!
And thanks to all members who pitched in the day of. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s
efforts.
2015/16 LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS
Congratulations to the new RSC leadership, elected to one-year terms:
Chair: Lauren Shields, GCCIS Office of the Dean
Vice Chair: Raman Bhalla, RIT Production Services
Communications Officer: Jen Prosceo, NTID Access Services
Events Officer: Anne Zachmeyer, CAST Service Systems
Executive Committee At-Large
Donna Black, Housing Operations
Kathleen Schreier Rudgers, GCCIS Advising
Paul Smarsh, Dining Services
David Woodhams, Facilities Management Services
University (Institute) Council Representatives (in addition to the Executive Committee):
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RSC 6/42015
Sharon Kompalla-Porter, Residence Life
Elizabeth Lamark, RIT Production Services
Gail Quartieri, CAST Dean’s Office
University Council Alternate Representatives
Karen Ester, KGCOE Dean’s Office
Renee Milliken, Office of Student Financial Services
Sandra Whitmore, Office for Diversity & Inclusion
OLD / NEW BUSINESS
1. Executive Committee discussed the feedback we received from a number of people about the difficulties
they encountered trying to leave campus at 4:00 on the day of the Chase Corporate Challenge. We will be
communicating this to PATS and the RIT Chase Corporate Challenge co-chairs.
 The road closures seemed to start much earlier than necessary
 The dismissal time is set by RIT administration
 This impacted the set-up for the picnic as well, as vendors had a hard time entering/leaving campus. It
has not been a problem in past years when the Chase Corporate Challenge occurred after the picnic.
2. The SC office received this question from a constituent:
What can staff members do if their manager bullies and intimidates them? The manager communicates in a
verbally abusive and insensitive manner and makes accusations that are untrue. This impacts employee
morale and makes it difficult to do a good job. What recourse do staff members have when they feel there
will be repercussions from coming forward?
Judy Bender, AVP of Human Resources, replied with the following suggestions:
1. Try to talk to your supervisor about their actions
2. Address the issue with your manger's supervisor
3. Talk to your HRSM (find your HRSM at: https://www.rit.edu/fa/humanresources/content/hr-services
4. Contact the Ombuds office for mediation services (lee.twyman@rit.edu)
5. Make a complaint through the ethics hotline (http://www.rit.edu/fa/svp/ethics/)
Discussion:
 Policy E30.0 Staff Grievance Procedure (http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/policiesmanual/e300) could
also be helpful in this situation. It offers informal and formal complaint resolution options.
 A person can file a complaint under C6.0 Policy on Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment
(http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/policiesmanual/c060) – if the behavior is due to your group, class or
category; otherwise report a conflict or concern under C6.1- Resolution of Conflict among RIT
Employees (http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/policiesmanual/c061). Your HRSM can help you
determine if/which is appropriate
 Q – If someone goes to their HRSM, will the HRSM report it?
A – The HRSM has to investigate the situation. All staff should be aware that federal law
protects them from any sort of retaliation. A person is their own best advocate. If they don’t
speak up, RIT cannot fix the situation. If they still don’t want to speak up, they can go to the
Ombudsperson or EAP (www.guidanceresources.com) for a confidential discussion.
3. There are a few hard copies of the Ombuds year-end report available for anyone interested in seeing it. It
will also be posted in the DML with the May, 2015 Institute Council minutes – look for them in the fall.
MEETING adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret S. Meyers
Staff Council Coordinator
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