February 22, 2013 Minutes

Summary:  SAC discusses upcoming nominations & elections, Summer School information presented by Toby Hale, Paige Meltzer introduced the new Women’s Center to the SAC, Barbee Myers Oakes updated the SAC on the strategic plan to foster diversity and inclusion, results of a recent SAC survey of staff were presented, committee reports.

–The SAC discussed the process now underway to receive nominations for new SAC members.  The deadline to receive nominations is 5 p.m. on March 22.  Information about the nomination process is available in an email distributed to all Reynolda Campus staff on March 1.   Information also is available on the SAC website and on the Inside WFU website.

–Toby Hale, associate dean of the College, presented information on Wake Forest’s summer session and its availability to dependents of Wake Forest staff and faculty.  Information on the summer session is available at wfu.edu/summer.    Hale mentioned that he will retire in summer 2013, but Associate Dean Randy Rogan will assume responsibility for the summer session.

–Paige Meltzer, who directs the University’s new Women’s Center, made a presentation to introduce the center to SAC.  Meltzer, who joined the University in January, is meeting with staff and faculty campus-wide in various ways to listen to their observations and recommendations while giving them information about the center’s mission and initial plans.  Meltzer said launching a new Women’s Center requires:

  • Developing a clear mission and strategic plan
  • Collaborating and networking
  • Creating a culture of inclusivity
  • Providing paths for constituent involvement and leadership
  • Focusing on high-impact, manageable programs

The working mission for the Women’s Center includes, in part:

  • Exploring gender as critical to Wake Forest’s mission of holistic education and diversity and inclusion
  • Examining gender as integral to personal, academic and professional development
  • Nurturing community among students, faculty and staff that respects individual experiences
  • Initiating, collaborating on and facilitating advocacy

–Barbee Myers Oakes, assistant provost for diversity and inclusion, updated the SAC on the strategic plan to foster diversity and inclusion at Wake Forest.  Goals include:

  • Establishing a leadership framework to direct the institutional diversity agenda
  • Incorporating inclusion into faculty excellence initiatives
  • Cultivating staff equity, engagement and cultural competence
  • Fostering a culture of inclusion to position students for global leadership
  • Instituting accountability measures, evaluating progress and celebrating successes

–Results of a recent SAC survey of staff were presented.  Highlights include:

  • 85 percent responded yes when asked if they are generally feel they are able to balance their work life
  • 65 percent responded they exercise to relieve work-related stress
  • 40 percent responded they never lose PTO and 20 percent responded they rarely lose PTO.
  • 94 percent responded they have visited the Professional Development Center website, while 84 percent responded they have taken classes through PDC.

The next SAC meeting will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on March 26 in Benson University Center, Room 401 C/D.  Human Resources staff will update the SAC on benefit changes and the open enrollment/benefits fair.

Recent Posts

Archives