2008 Woodie Awards
STAFF COUNCIL MEETING
Provost visits for Q&A
Derek Simmons
Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
In an effort to better coordinate communication between UMKC staff, faculty, and students, Provost Bruce Bubacz was present for a Q&A session at the regular Staff Council Governing Board's monthly meeting last Wednesday morning.
Bubacz first told the council of his enthusiasm for the joint staff, faculty, and students' awards ceremony on Convocation day. The theme for this year's Convocation is "Student Success." He emphasized the role the staff has in student success.
The provost then offered to answer questions about staff concerns in general, and opened the session by saying, "I'm waiting for the p-word." He added, "I don't do woodwork or parking."
Asked whether the parking spaces in front of the Administrative Center, effectively UMKC's welcome mat for future customers, will become a payment-only area, the provost said, "This is news to me. I heard six months ago of a plan for some sort of hanging tag for visitors."
"It's a very fine line," Bubacz said. "On the one hand there are components of a somewhat under-funded business operation, and on the other hand a very human university. I am pretty sure arrangements are being made."
The Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching (FaCET) coordinator and council member Bob Schubert wondered why he had only learned of Athletic Director Bob Thomas's resignation by reading the local newspaper, and asked if there wasn't a better way to inform staff, faculty and students of these matters.
Provost Bubacz said that in the next couple of weeks a university newsletter called "U-Matters" will be up and running.
"We don't communicate very well internally," Bubacz said. "U-Matters" is designed to solve this by discussing personnel issues. It will come out every other month.
There is also a new link on the Provost's Office web site called "Critical Issues," for important information as it unfolds. He strongly recommended reading about the Spelling Commission's report on higher education, which he said is similar in scope to the "No Child Left Behind" policy.
Bubacz first told the council of his enthusiasm for the joint staff, faculty, and students' awards ceremony on Convocation day. The theme for this year's Convocation is "Student Success." He emphasized the role the staff has in student success.
The provost then offered to answer questions about staff concerns in general, and opened the session by saying, "I'm waiting for the p-word." He added, "I don't do woodwork or parking."
Asked whether the parking spaces in front of the Administrative Center, effectively UMKC's welcome mat for future customers, will become a payment-only area, the provost said, "This is news to me. I heard six months ago of a plan for some sort of hanging tag for visitors."
"It's a very fine line," Bubacz said. "On the one hand there are components of a somewhat under-funded business operation, and on the other hand a very human university. I am pretty sure arrangements are being made."
The Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching (FaCET) coordinator and council member Bob Schubert wondered why he had only learned of Athletic Director Bob Thomas's resignation by reading the local newspaper, and asked if there wasn't a better way to inform staff, faculty and students of these matters.
Provost Bubacz said that in the next couple of weeks a university newsletter called "U-Matters" will be up and running.
"We don't communicate very well internally," Bubacz said. "U-Matters" is designed to solve this by discussing personnel issues. It will come out every other month.
There is also a new link on the Provost's Office web site called "Critical Issues," for important information as it unfolds. He strongly recommended reading about the Spelling Commission's report on higher education, which he said is similar in scope to the "No Child Left Behind" policy.
Be the first to comment on this story