UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD
STAFF ASSOCIATION MEETING MINUTES
April 9, 2014 – Gengras Student Union 345– 1:00 PM
Present: Jessica Abbott, Anne Marie Cirullo, Alexandra Coury, Evelyne
Haldimann, Anita Marchant, Cheryl MacMath, Catherine Rose, Bonnie Taylor,
Connie Yoczik.
Before addressing the planned agenda, the Chair led the group present in a
discussion over a written suggestion received from a member who had not been
present at the March meeting, in which there was a request for a change of the
verbiage in one paragraph of the March minutes. Members present at this (April)
at-large meeting agreed the minutes should stand as written, since they were a
reflection of the actual discussion that occurred at that meeting.
Discussion/Approval of Minutes of the March 12 2014: Jessica Abbott moved
approval and Bonnie Taylor seconded. The minutes were approved as presented.
I. University Committee Reports
Budget Advisory Team: No report
Wellness Committee – HRD (Evelyne Haldimann for Lindsay McKeegan)):
the proposed CSA has now had 12 members officially enrolled, with a few more
promised, so it will definitely take place this summer. The deadline for
enrollment is Friday, 11 April.
Wellness exercise classes continue to be well enrolled, as does the Weight
Watchers class.
Benefits Task Force (Evelyne Haldimann for Chris DuPuis): The Benefits
Task Force Committee is continuing discussion of the potential impact that the
Healthcare Benefits Act might have on the University, should it be left in the
position of providing healthcare to employees when other companies used by
their spouses or family members drop healthcare. This meeting was used to
review the discussion of the previous meeting and further enlarge upon the wide
range of options that need to be considered. Health care represents the single
biggest line item for the University.
1
Sustainability Committee: No report.
II. Staff Association Reports
Web Advisory Committee: No report.
Faculty Senate : No report.
Treasurer (Jessica Abbott): There has been no change in the balance since
the previous meeting: $2,303.56.
Membership Director Report (Anne Marie Cirullo): A new member has
brought the total Staff Association membership to 157.
Chair – Annual Report (Evelyne Haldimann):
The Chair presented an annual report of the preceding year’s activities:
 Total membership has increased by one to one hundred fifty seven.
 While most employees received no raises, there were merit increases
for those whose annual salary is under $40,000.
 Foundation for the Future implementations are continuing. ePAFs
have begun to be phased in. An implementation team which
included members from HRD, Budget, Payroll and ITS has so far held
focus group meetings, followed by pilot groups, and then by training
and full implementation for part-time hourly paid employees. The
process will pursue a gradual inclusion of staff members.
 The Staff Association has a regular spot to fill on the quarterly UH
101 all-day meeting which is held to introduce new employees to the
University and its opportunities. A representative is needed to take
on the responsibility of describing the Staff Association and
extending an invitation to join. The Chair will continue to fill in if no
one volunteers.
 A quarterly meeting of the E-Board with Senior Administrators was
reported at the October meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to
2
bring issues and/or questions on behalf of the University’s staff to
the attention of Senior Administrators. The E Board met with
President Harrison, Provost Vasquez, Vice President for Finance
Jayawickrema, and Human Resource Development Chair Belanger.
Issues discussed concerned insufficiencies in the University’s
hierarchy reporting structure, rewards for staff members’
performance growth, the new EmPower website which lists training
opportunities, and clarification of the job posting procedures and
government mandates that aim to ensure fairness as well as a
diverse workforce.
 The Thanksgiving Luncheon, held at the 1877 Club Restaurant, more
than met its contracted goal of 100 attendees, and was deemed a big
success. A total of 140 pounds of canned and packaged food was
collected to be donated to Hands on Hartford.
IV. WELFund Presentation: (Alexandra [Alex] Coury, Program Manager, Women’s
Education and Leadership Fund, has provided the following synopsis of her
presentation at the Staff Association meeting.)
The Women’s Education and Leadership Fund (WELFund) was established as a
legacy program of Hartford College for Women. All programming is aimed at…
 Enhancing the education of women
 Empowering women to lead
 Enriching the university community and beyond
The following are some of the programs being sponsored by WELFund:
 Student Leadership Programming
o WELCorps Leaders Program (four year programming that
requires application- last year had 151 applications for 25
spots)
http://www.hartford.edu/welfund/programs/welcorps.aspx
3
o WELFund Campus Wide Programming (events and outings
open to all students)
http://www.hartford.edu/welfund/programs/campuswideiniti
atives/default.aspx
Next upcoming event: April 15 at 5:30 PM: LinkedIn Seminar :
An informational program about what is quickly becoming the
number one way in which employers are searching for new
employees, rather than through paper resumes. Joseph
Catrino will be the speaker, discussing such ideas as how to
include key words to attract the notice of potential employers.
The event is free for students, $10 for faculty, staff and alumni.
Professional headshots will be taken and emailed to
participants the following week.
 Female Faculty and Staff Leadership Programming
o Laura Johnson Initiative for Women Leaders (Applications are
now open. Priority deadline is Friday, May 30. Program will
start October 2014 and go through May 2015)
http://www.hartford.edu/welfund/programs/ljohnson/default
.aspx
o Women’s Wednesdays (Brown bag lunchtime meetings open
to all female staff and faculty, to hear and discuss matters of
interest). Next session is April 16 on the art of self-promotion
(email Gooch@hartford.edu if interested in attending)
 Support for Student and Faculty/Staff Projects
o Some of the projects recently funded include the Summer
Bridge program, co- sponsored by Hillyer’s Dean Goldenberg,
for entering U of H first year students, Mad about Science
STEM Camp as a portion of Summer Place, the CETA
Ambassadors Program, and Women and Art in Afria. For more
4
information about funded projects visit here…
http://www.hartford.edu/welfund/studentfacultyprojects/def
ault.aspx
 Scholarship Programs
o Dorothy Goodwin Scholars Program (students work intensely
on research projects of their choice with stipend support and a
faculty/staff mentor)
http://www.hartford.edu/welfund/scholarships/dorothygood
win/default.aspx
Conference Scholarships (WELFund provides opportunities for students to attend
leadership conferences through a scholarship program). Recent scholarships have
been given to women to attend the Bay Path College Women’s Leadership
Conference and the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders
V. Old Business
Fund Raising Committee: Sue Landolina has volunteered to head a Fund
Raising Committee and will be assisted by Evelyne Haldimann. Any others who
are interested in joining to help in the effort are encouraged to do so. Volunteers
should contact any of the E-Board members.
VI. New Business:
Spring Fling: The University’s annual Spring Fling will start on 10 April at
noon. Only those with an identifying wrist band will be able to get to the
residential side of campus and they should also be prepared to show a University
of Hartford ID. The entrance at the traffic light on Bloomfield Avenue will be the
only entrance open through the weekend. Students will be held responsible for
their guests and should not be separated from them.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Anita Marchant
Secretary
5