APSAC, CSSAC discuss common goals at joint meeting

Members of APSAC and CSSAC at their annual joint meeting on Oct. 14 shared updates on common interests established at last year's meeting between the two groups.

The committee also heard reports from Gina DelSanto, chief of staff for President Mitch Daniels, and Luis Lewin, vice president for human resources. Bill Sullivan, treasurer and chief financial officer, also talked to the two groups.

The committees' common interests revolved around the topics of University benefits, communications to colleagues, staff compensation, professional development and staff relations.

Benefits

* APSAC's goal was to establish a professional exchange program for employees to visit and learn from other units and organizations on campus. The group is working on a proposal to present to the full committee.

* CSSAC's goal was to begin a voucher program for employees who wish to join fitness clubs outside of the University. After researching fitness clubs in several counties, the committee determined there was not enough interest or resources to establish such a program now.

Communication

* APSAC wanted to improve its newsletters and websites to spread the word about each subcommittee's activities. The communications subcommittee redesigned the Sentinel, rolled out a new website and created a submission form for new communications.

* CSSAC wanted to further implement its bimonthly newsletter and the committee's websites and to spread the word about each subcommittee's activities, using Purdue Today. The committee said it has completed work on the bimonthly newsletter and the website and has placed articles in Purdue Today.

Compensation

* APSAC said benchmarking employees' pay rates across the University is in progress.

* CSSAC's goal was to expand and encourage consistency in the University's performance review system. This was accomplished through working with HR's director of leadership and organizational development.

Professional development

* APSAC's goal was to have funding for APSAC and CSSAC grant programs increased. That effort is ongoing, the committee said.

* CSSAC's goal was to establish a campus-wide center for professional development. The committee said it has written a proposal requesting paid time for professional development for staff.

Staff relations

* APSAC's initiative was to create an awareness program. The committee said it has taken several steps toward this. Third-year APSAC members have been encouraged to invite guests to full meetings, with the hope that those people would later apply for open positions on the committee. The group also began sending out welcome letters and gifts to new hires across the West Lafayette campus so they are aware of APSAC from the start of their career at Purdue. The committee also created and added to its volunteer organization database for the Community Spirit Award, resulting in more nominations than before.

* CSSAC wanted to establish an email list for its members and colleagues. The committee said that through work with Human Resources, email lists are now updated on a monthly basis.