A&F Notes enhancing our culture by sharing information
No. 12: Spring ,2001 (without graphics)
Paul's Page: A
message from the VC of A&F
Community, Diversity, & Social Justice
Meet... the people who manage and plan space
- PeopleSoft Update
Paul's
Page: A message from the VC of A&F
This
issue of A&F Notes contains an update by a dedicated group of A&F
employees who are playing a crucial role in the development of Community,
Diversity and Social Justice (CDSJ) ideals that we hope will be woven into the
fabric of all we do in our Executive Area. I hope that by the concerted effort
across all areas of the campus in addition to A&F, we can move forward in a
coordinated fashion to make this institution a better place to live and work. I
am committed to this goal and need the understanding, support and dedication of
all to make it a reality.
CDSJ
concepts can be very difficult for many of us to truly understand and embrace.
In its most fundamental sense, community involves learning about ourselves and
others to create a more effective workplace. In my mind it envisions coming
together in a mutually supportive fashion and melding our diverse backgrounds
and perspectives to achieve a more effective outcome to our efforts.
Diversity
involves recognition that we all bring varying cultural and social identities
and backgrounds to our everyday experiences that need to be understood,
accepted and integral in how we deal with one another.
Achieving
social justice requires that we create an environment that ensures that
barriers to full and equal participation are removed. Individual achievement
should be fulfilled based upon merit, untainted by extraneous or inappropriate
consideration on the part of others or the system within which we work.
It
is important that we fully engage ourselves to embrace these concepts and make
them fundamental to our organization. We do things through processes that are
designed, controlled and overseen by people. The human dimension of A&F
cannot be underestimated. We need to create an environment that nurtures and optimizes
our most important asset, our employees.
Community,
Diversity & Social Justice
a message
from the A&F CDSJ Team
Vice Chancellor Paul Page commissioned A&F’s EXAT-CDSJ (Executive Area Team for Community, Diversity and Social Justice) team on September 20, 2000, emphasizing his personal commitment to this initiative by stating clearly that "it is the right thing to do." The committee is composed of fourteen people (see photo) drawn from all levels of the organization and is representative of our diverse community. Ramos and Associates, a consulting firm hired by the University, will provide technical and support services to the CDSJ-EXAT. Members of the team were selected because they articulate and hold a personal interest in removing barriers and acting as change agents.
What We Have
Done...
The Team began its work during
a two-day retreat (Nov. 9, 10) held at the Holiday Inn. During these two
intense and long days, we engaged in many activities designed to build working
relationships based on mutual trust and respect. The retreat served as the
springboard for helping the Team to realize a sense of itself and to create an
atmosphere of support, openness and challenge.
In addition, it provided the opportunity to learn how CDSJ issues typically manifest themselves in the workplace and to develop an understanding of the reasons for possible resistance to change efforts. Our study also included an examination of the best practices of diversity initiatives at other comparable universities across the country.
Finally, the team grappled with creating a shared definition of community, diversity and social justice, clarifying our purpose, and formulating the structure of the team including meeting schedules, sub-committee composition and membership expectations. At the end of the retreat, the Team identified its next step as the articulation of the business case for the A&F CDSJ initiative.
Since the November retreat, we have met regularly to work on these tasks and to continue to grow in our understanding of the complexity of CDSJ efforts. We have focused on identifying the powerful rationales and gifts that CDSJ work has to offer A&F.
Where We Are
Going...
The future work of
the team includes an assessment of A&F with respect to community, diversity
and social justice issues. It is our hope that in conducting this assessment,
we can begin to uncover those systems, policies and procedures that work to
promote CDSJ and effective working environments and those that are in need of
change. Based on the assessment, we will make recommendations for change to the
A&F Council.
We see communication as another vital part of the task to be undertaken in the coming months. This article is our first attempt to make public our efforts, hopes and dreams for CDSJ. We also envision a series of meetings, presentations and forums designed to hear from you, the employees of A&F, about your experiences and hopes as a member of this organization. We are glad to have this opportunity to introduce our team and work and look forward to speaking with you in person.
Ultimately, the goal of this team is to foster and support the vision of A&F "...to provide high quality and responsive service through a knowledgeable, innovative, customer-focused staff who honor diversity and who are part of an organization that is recognized as a rewarding place to work." Through these efforts we hope to strengthen an already strong A&F.
Team
Offers Four Business Reasons to Advance a MultiCultural Community
• By supporting the recruitment, development and retention of
creative, talented and diverse staff, we reduce the costs associated
with expensive searches, repetitious training of new employees, and the effects
of working with staff vacancies.
• By improving satisfaction of
our diverse clientele, we seek to maintain and grow a loyal customer base.
• By hiring, training,
supervising and mentoring a diverse student workforce that can effectively
service a multicultural community, we will assist the University in its efforts
to prepare our students to enter a diverse and multicultural world.
• By building a community in
which all people and their contributions are acknowledged and valued we will
increase job satisfaction, our ability to respond to diverse customer needs and
concerns, and our ability to creatively solve problems. In so doing, we
contribute to building a University that has a reputation for being a welcoming
and exciting place for a diverse group of people to work, learn, teach and grow.
A&F’s CDSJ Team Picture
Included: Paul Page, Vice Chancellor, A&F; Shara Denson,
Physical Plant; Nico Vonstein, Auxiliary Services; Pat Daly,
Physical Plant; Ann Morrissette, Human Resources; Annie Mara, Human
Resources; and Pat Crutchfield, Auxiliary Services, Maureen Smith, Physical
Plant; Linda Marchesani, Human Resources; and Cindy Hamel,
Office,VC for A&F,, Michael Brennan, Campus Services; Rachelle
Allen, Auxiliary Services; and Charlotte Coates, Auxiliary Services.
Missing from the picture was Mary McEneany, Environmental Health
& Safety
SPOT AWARDS
Auxiliary Services: Petko
Bogoev, Nicole Bourguignon, Jon Brown, Tammy Bundy, Craig Carriere, Danny Demers,
Matt Du Pont, Nicole Faro, Daniel Frazier, Brian Gifford, Becka Gilman, John
Jernigan, Janet Kiely, Randy Krutzler, Shannon Lee, Rosa Marques, Christopher
Martin, Nancy Mitchell, Arthur Monteiro, Michelle Moran, Marla Rubin, Annie
Stella, Peter Snape, Elaine Szwajkowski, Xiaoyang Tang, Amy Twohig, Sarah
Whorisky, Cathleen Winship, and Elizabeth Winship
Bursar’s Office: Arlene Lawson
Campus Distribution
Services: Jim Deroy, Jeremiah Kermensky, Kip
Stahelek, Sean Tobin, and Lori Wiles
Controller’s Office: Sue Fulton, From Civil &
Environmental Engineering
Facilities Planning: Shah
Alam, Cynthia Arbour, Thomas Bassett, Wanda Dion, Bruce Dufresne, Bruce Hunter,
Peg Jakutowicz, Bethany Jenest, Gail Kenney, Stephen Lobik, Colleen Olszewski,
Ludmilla Pavlova, Karen Ross, and Peter Volpe
Human Resources: Margaret
Arsenault, Richard Ford, Linda Marchesani, Ann-Marie Mara, Linda McDonald,
Rosemarie Pinette, and Sue Warner
Physical Plant: James
Baj, Keith Boisvert, Peter Boothroyd, Robert Cortright, Ronald Gerlip, Arthur
Girard, Susan Gregoire, Donald MacLeod, John Malloy, Mayda Perez, Wallace
Recore, Kathy Rossi, and Jon Zapka
Printing Services: Dave Nichols
DEPARTMENTAL
AWARDS
Auxiliary Services
Small Group Award
Christopher Bechta, Pam
Boudreau, Kathy Boze, Inson Chagnon, Cindy Coner, Brett Felix, Melanie Ford,
Judy Guyette, Victoria Hart, Jill Howland, Bob Jones, Jeannine Labossiere, Hao
Le, Charles Lehane, Ada Lafland, Thomas Niedzwiecki, Michelle Nolan, Sue
Overstreet, Laura Perry, Jonathan Peters, Tracey Poole, Gene Serafin, Jesse
Shauffer, Kristin Sidmore, Richard Strycharz, Patrick Sullivan, Robert
Suprenant, Lawrence Vanasse, and Karen Wittshirk
Pride and Customer Service
Edwin Anderson (2), Crissy
Ansara, Steve Cumberbatch, Melanie Ford, Lee Forsythe, Alan Holzhauer, Victor
Keedy, Lester Kopinto, Edmund Kuschka (2), Charles Lehane, Rosa Marques, Martha
Monaghan (2), Marc Morrissette, Thomas Niedzwiecki, Dora Ramos, Agnes Ting, and
Jane Williams
Employee of the Period:
Edwin Anderson and Thomas
Niedzwiecki
Team of the Period
Staff of UStore/Textbook Annex
and Staff of Hampshire DC
Environmental Health and
Safety
Safety Award
EPA Inspection: Jim Field, Jim
Fox, Allen Juskiewicz, Scott Labonte, Yung Morgan
Facilities Planning
Pride and Customer Service
Mark Pocsik and Colleen
Olszewski
Small Group Recognition
Suzanne Hatch
Finance and Budget
Employee of the Quarter
Robert Kazalski – 2nd Quarter
Cathy Shaw – 4th Quarter
Employee Pride & Customer Service
Elizabeth Chapin, Deborah Gould,
Maxine Greenblatt, Robert Kazalski, Sam Killings, Kenneth Rewa, Susan Robinson,
Lisa Sbrocca, Eileen Sullivan, Elizabeth Tedford, and Lloyd Thomas
Human Resources
Team of the Quarter
Thea Costine, Housing, was inadveretantly omitted from the HR’s
Team of the Period in the last Newsletter
For more information about ACE awards or how to nominate someone in your division for an ACE Award, please ask your supervisor.
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THE RAINBOW NATION NATURE CENTER INC.
By Rose Charnley
Take
a ride to 101 Teawaddle Hill Road in Leverett and you will come upon a rather
unique addition to the area: The Rainbow Nation Nature Center, Inc. This
non-profit nature center is the passion of Shari and Paul Kuzmeski who are in
the process of creating a residence for wolves, bison, and birds of prey.
The
Kuzmeskis, along with their daughter and son, include among their
"family" Thor and Lupine, 2 grey wolves they have raised from puppies
and several Canadian geese. In their winter pelage (coat), Thor and Lupine are
thoroughly enjoying the snow and cold temperatures and are educating visitors
about their social life. Their interactions with humans helps lay to rest many
fears concerning these fascinating beings.
Paul
and Shari have received the necessary permits to add two bison to the Center
and take in and rehabilitate birds of prey. These beings play important roles
in Native American spiritual and cultural life and the Kuzmeskis are intent on
introducing visitors, young and younger, to their beauty and power.
Shari
and Paul’s cultural background as Native Americans provides a focus for their
work at the Center. Shari is a talented artist whose works of art in jewelry,
painting, and photography are available at their shop on Teawaddle Hill Road
and at New England powwows. The shop also holds an impressive collection of
books and resources for those interested in learning more about Native American
life. Shari and Paul seek to make connections of all kinds and have already
hosted many children’s groups. The Center is named Rainbow Nation to welcome
and include people of all races and beliefs, an important idea in Native life.
Please phone the Kuzmeskis at 413-548-9589 to let them know when you’ll arrive.
There is no charge to enter but donations are welcome.
Submissions of 150 words or less to OUT &
ABOUT are subject to editing with the author's approval. Depending on space and
other factors, not all submissions will be printed. Include your name so that
the editorial staff can reach you. The opinions in this article to do
not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Massachusetts.
Meet... the people who manage and plan space
A picture of The Campus
Planning and Space Management Staff included Roxanne Verdi, Terri Hall,
Joanne Jaszek, Charles Kuklewicz, Brigitte
Parot, Judy Steinkamp, Carrie Isles, Beth Anderson, and Ruth
Levine
Campus Planning and Space
Management joined A&F
in 1999. As one of the newest members of the A&F organization, it provides
the following services:
Campus Planning
This office looks at the
"macro-level" of the campus and coordinates the process of master
planning that forms the future physical development of the campus. This process
results in the "Campus Physical Master Plan," first produced in 1993,
which is continually reviewed. Four components unify the Plan: 1)
Transportation, Circulation, and Parking; 2) Campus Land Use and
Infrastructure; 3) Campus Open Space and Recreation; 4) Economic Development
and Community Planning. The Campus Planning office is involved in a wide-range
of planning projects which connects it to many local, regional, and even
national levels. Some current initiatives are: Athletics/Recreation Master
Plan, Housing Master Plan, Transportation/Parking and Traffic Management Master
Plan, Redevelopment Master Plan,and Hotel/Conference Center.
Space Management
Comprehensive Space Management
- Work with campus units
to manage the space resources, assist with solutions to space problems, develop
space reuse plans and pre-design programs for new facilities.
Space Inventory - Maintain campus space inventory, current
CAD floorplans, and reports for internal and external use.
Utilization - Provide reports for space utilization
studies and space planning services to assist departments with reuse or
utilization.
Needs Assessments - Develop computerized space needs
assessments and specialized space program reports to assist campus departments
in articulating current and future needs.
Policies and Procedures - Work with campus administration to develop
space standards and guidelines, space policies, space request procedures and
documentation of space agreements/changes for the campus.
PEOPLESOFT UPDATE
Last spring,
the decision was made to move from a campus-based implementation of PeopleSoft
to a university-wide effort. PeopleSoft is an integrated suite of software
applications, which includes human resources and financial management
functions, as well as student administration. PeopleSoft will replace the HRMS
and FRS systems. Project e*mpac (Enterprise Management and Performance
though Administrative Systems) is the collaborative
University-wide project to develop new human resources and financial systems,
based on the PeopleSoft application. The current timeline projects a go-live
date of January 2002 for the Human Resource modules and July 2002 for Finance.
Implementation
team members from Amherst have been meeting two to four days a week in Worcester
with their colleagues from the other campuses, the President’s Office and
Accenture, (formerly Andersen Consulting).The campus based liaison group
continues to meet on a regular basis to learn about features of the PeopleSoft
system and assess its impact on their departments. The implementation teams are
working on the following activities:
Financial
Systems
Financial team
members are currently involved with the detail design of the system. Testing
phase will begin in September.
Human
Resources
The
implementation teams have completed the detail design and are focusing their
attention on the build and test phase of the project. Team members will design
panel modifications, build report and batch programs and test all components of
the Human Resources System.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR No letters this edition. Letters to the Editor must be
signed (name will be withheld upon request). All letters are subject to editing
with the author's approval. Depending on space and other factors, not all
letters will be printed.