The UNC Employee Forum had its November general meeting this past Friday where Provost Chris Clemens went over new initiatives and Christopher Dobek, the Executive Director of Transportation and Parking at UNC, provided updates on parking on campus.
The forum discussed wellness updates, concerns about campus accessibility and the inclusion of UNC staff in University communications regarding security measures.
Here's what happened:
- After Employee Forum Chair Katie Musgrove called the meeting to order, Clemens provided updates on a multitude of initiatives.
- Clemens explained plans for creating an AI studio in the UNC libraries for chatbot creation.
- Clemens also discussed the potential to expand the applied physical sciences and engineering departments to turn into more viable degree programs for UNC students.
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Dobek provided updates
- Dobek said license plate recognition cameras are currently being configured at gates to provide data needed to improve parking accessibility.
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Senior Work and Life Director Jessica Pyjas provided updates about wellness.
- Pyjas said that the Carolina Dining Service's annual healthy cooking demo will be reintroduced on Nov. 20 at 11:30 a.m.
- The emphasis of the demo will be on vegetarian and vegan cooking, she said.
- She also said the first November Wellness Wednesday will be a session about “Bedtime Routines for Adults,” followed by another session titled “Feeling Stuck? Practical Ways to Get Yourself Going Again” on Nov. 13. Later, on Dec. 4, there will be a workshop titled “10 Strategies for Improving Your Finances.”
- Pyjas said Campus Recreation will host an annual jingle bell jog on Friday, Dec. 6 at 12:15 p.m.
- “Whether you’re in a costume or not, you’re invited to come out and participate in the mile-and-a-half walk. Or if you’re up to it, the 2.7 mile run,” Pyjas said.
- Pyjas said that the Carolina Dining Service's annual healthy cooking demo will be reintroduced on Nov. 20 at 11:30 a.m.
- Renata Buchanan, the chair of the Carolina Blood Drive Committee, said that the committee's bi-annual blood drive will happen on Dec. 11, and people can sign up for appointments beginning on Nov. 11.
- Co-chair of the Leadership, Education and Career Development Committee L.E. Alexander said that professional development grants were made available Monday.
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Chair of the UNC System Staff Assembly Shayna Hill provided Staff Assembly updates.
- Hill said that the Staff Assembly full body meeting is next Thursday and Friday and is an open meeting.
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Sarah Green, co-chair for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and Sarah Smith, member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, provided context regarding the inaccessibility of buildings during the week of Oct. 7 and shared a draft of the committee’s proposed resolution.
- Smith said that the accessibility button for the Campus Y building was disabled, which posed many challenges for students and faculty.
- “We have video documentation of students being kind of stuck in spaces until someone could come and help them leave a building, because again, all the accessible buttons were turned off,” Smith said.
- Additionally, Smith said the One Card reader at the Campus Y building was not functioning properly throughout the week.
- “With the One Card, when you tap it, you could hear the button trying to work, but the click was happening and no doors were opening,” Smith said.
- The DEI committee’s resolution calls for prioritizing accessibility-related maintenance, developing a procedure for receiving and addressing accessibility concerns — including staff in communications regarding changes to the operations of campus — training for UNC police responders and ensuring One Card access at accessibility entries.
- Forum members expressed concerns over one of the proposed actions of reapportioning funding from UNC Police to mental health first responders.
- “I would recommend that when we’re ready to move this resolution forward that we just ask for money, not ask for somebody to take money from another source,” Treasurer Annetta Streater said.
- Forum members expressed concerns over one of the proposed actions of reapportioning funding from UNC Police to mental health first responders.
- Smith said that the accessibility button for the Campus Y building was disabled, which posed many challenges for students and faculty.
What's next:
- Employee forum members can read and add comments to the DEI committee resolution draft.
- The next Employee Forum Meeting will be on Dec. 6. There will be more discussion and debate regarding the resolution before a final vote.
