November 19, 2013

November 2013 APAC News Vol. 6, No. 10


Listervs Provide Variety of Information

By Neal Lorenzi

A WIDE range of UIC listservs are available (http://listserv.uic.edu/htbin/wa?HOME) for anyone interested in job openings, events, and general news about the campus, and much more information. Anyone affiliated with the University who has a NetID can subscribe. This includes staff, faculty, and students.

HUNDREDS OF lists are available; some are very active, others less so. Even for active lists, there are usually only two or three posts a week, so they usually won’t flood one’s email inbox. Anyone can start a list. Most are “opt in,” meaning one goes out to the listserv website to subscribe. Many of the lists also include a footer in each posting, which has links to subscribe or unsubscribe. Many people sign up for lists when someone forwards them an email and suggests they sign up.

“WE’VE HAD about 3,500 subscribers consistently over the past several years for the listserv PACADEMY,” said Michael Moss, associate director of budget operations and financial analysis for UIC. “It’s a free, easy way to reach a broad range of people on campus with news, events and other items of interest. It’s also easy to use. Messages are usually posted within 24 hours.”

MOST LISTS focus on a specific group. For example, PACADEMY targets Academic Professionals while FACULTY_VOICE targets faculty. Lists provide updates, news, and information that targets subscriber’s interests and concerns. Most are moderated, so messages must be approved by the list owner before they are posted, which helps eliminate junk mail.

“I’VE HELPED moderate PACADEMY, the Academic Professional list, for several years,” Moss said. “I’ve been happy to see it evolve into one of the campus’ primary job boards; we usually see two or three job postings each week. Many departments take advantage of the free publicity that targets internal staff who may be interested in taking the next step in their careers. PACADEMY also includes updates on campus events as well as news stories we think employees might value.”

TO ACCESS a specific list on the main website, simply click on the name of the list in the table. To find confidential or unlisted lists, type the list name in the search box to the right. For lists that have been configured with an HTML description, one can get more information by holding the mouse over the list name.

THE FOLLOWING information is about three of the many listservs at UIC.

Disabilities Issues Listserv
THE CHANCELLOR’S Committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities (CCSPD) maintains a listserv for the UIC community interested in disability issues. This list (CCSPD-EXT) is set up for discussion of disability topics and is open to anyone on campus who wishes to be included. Dr. Carol J. Gill, associate professor, UIC Department of Disability & Human Development, Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Disability Studies, oversees the listserv.

CCSPD-EXT POSTINGS include announcements of disability cultural events and academic presentations, reminders regarding CCSPD meeting dates and other CCSPD-sponsored events and projects, as well as information regarding access, inclusion, and other disability issues. The listserv provides information that helps advance the status of people with disabilities on campus and beyond. It includes about five postings per week.

DR. GILL said the listserv serves an important purpose. “People with disabilities compose a very large but under-represented community,” she noted. “Our committee communicates information about disability issues, disability rights, inclusion and access, campus disability resources, and disability pride and culture. Subscribing to the list helps one keep up to date on issues and resources that advance understanding of the disability experience.”

UIC IS a nationally recognized leader in disability research and academic programs, she added. The University currently offers the first Ph.D. in Disability Studies in the country, which examines the social and political dynamics of disability. Disability also is a focus of scholarship across campus, engaging faculty and student researchers.

Sustainability Listserv
DR. CYNTHIA Klein-Banai, associate chancellor for sustainability at UIC, oversees the Greenlights listserv, which helps faculty, staff, and students keep up with the latest green initiatives at UIC. By using this service, people can stay abreast of environmental, social, and economic happenings, and learn about internships, scholarships, and jobs. Greenlights is distributed once every two weeks, and once a month during summer. The list is moderated.

“POST TO recycling@uic.edu if you need equipment for recycling, a pick-up, or have a question on recycling,” Klein-Banai says. “Post to uic.edu/sustainability/about/contact.html to ask a non-recycling-related question or make a suggestion. To subscribe to the Green UIC listserve that enables discussion go to uic.edu/sustainability/community/greenuic.html.

“WE ALSO have an EcoReps listserv. EcoReps are departmental liaisons who are designated by their department head to communicate sustainability-related events, opportunities and programs back to their units. More information is available at: uic.edu/sustainability/ecoreps.html. There is also a discussion list for its members.”

Faculty Listserv
Dr. Philip Patston, of the executive committee of the UIC Senate, and associate professor of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences in the College of Dentistry, oversees faculty_voice@uic.edu, which allows the UIC Senate to share items of interest with faculty. It includes reports of important Senate or faculty events and meetings; summaries of news items and announcements of meetings, and events of interest to faculty. The list is moderated, so only postings of legitimate importance are accepted. It receives one orf two postings per week.

The UIC Senate primarily focuses on academic programs such as reviewing courses, admissions policies, requirements for degrees, and the academic calendar. It has no involvement with salary negotiation or employment issues. “There is a difference in what we [faculty Senators] are empowered to do and what a union would do,” Dr. Patston said. “The Senate doesn’t have decision or negotiation power regarding employment issues, but since it has a wide membership of faculty from all of UIC, of students and academic professionals, it has considerable expertise as an oversight and consultative body.” Despite some limitations, Dr. Patston said, the Senate “has been the only voice through which faculty could raise issues of concern, and there are AP Senators who raise issues as well. We point people in the right direction.”

Fall Forum A Success

President Robert Easter speaking at the Fall Forum.

A good-sized crowd attended the Fall Forum.

UIC UNITED, the UIC chapter of SUAA, the State Universities Annuitants Association, along with APAC, presented a Fall Forum, Illinois Politics and the Public University, Oct. 14. The panel featured Robert Easter, President, University of Illinois; Christopher Mooney, Director, Institute of Government and Public Affairs, University of Illinois; and Dick Simpson, Professor of Political Science, UIC. The moderator was Mitchell Vogel, Trustee, State Universities Retirement System (SURS). For a video of the Fall Forum, see http://www.ustream.tv/channel/UIC-UNITED.

IGPA Fiscal Futures Project

THE UNIVERSITY’S Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) on October 28A presented the Fiscal Futures Project at the IGPA State Summit 2013: Illinois' Fiscal Cliff.

AS PART of this presentation, the Fiscal Futures Project released a new analysis focusing on the 2011 income tax increases, their 2015 sunset, and the state's long-term fiscal health.

YOU CAN access these papers (PDFs) at the links below:



APAC to Host Seminar on Persuasion

A TWO-PART seminar, the Art of Persuasion:  Strategies for Enhancing Your Influence, will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 4, and Thursday, Jan. 16, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. both dates.

LEARN TO communicate clearly; enhance your ability to influence others during face to face interactions; develop a set of techniques that can be employed to build consensus; and, enhance your ability to influence a desired outcome and achieve results.

THIS EVENT will be held at the College of Medicine Research Building (COMRB), 909 S. Wolcott Ave., on the Medical Center Campus. Attendance is limited. To register, log on to https://uofi.uic.edu/fb/sec/3071740 or contact, Uma Sriram at (312) 355-4935 (usriram@uic.edu), or Donald Kamm  at (312) 996-6424 (donn@uic.edu).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION will be sent after registration. When you register, you are registering for both dates.

APAC Meetings Scheduled

ALL APs are invited to the monthly APAC meeting at 12:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month. Meetings are held either in Room 5175 of the College of Medicine Research Building, 909 S. Wolcott, or Room 2750 of University Hall on the East Campus. Next meeting is December 11 in Room 5175 of the College of Medicine Research Building. For information, call (312) 996-0306.

AP RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

More diversity at UIC is a goal of the Chancellor’s Committees.
Chancellor’s Committees Serve as Resource
AS PART of the University’s efforts to promote and support its diverse community, UIC established the Chancellor's Status Committees, which are administered by UIC's Office of Diversity. Every year, Academic Professionals, other staff, faculty, and students are nominated by existing committee members and appointed by Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares.

INVOLVEMENT IN Status Committee meetings and events is open to the entire UIC community and supported by the Chancellor, and thereby considered approved for employee participation. The Chancellor encourages members of the UIC community to call upon the Status Committees to seek their assistance or take part in their efforts in the areas described below. You can also consult their websites for greater detail on activities, events, and subcommittees.

Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Asian Americans (CCSAA)
Chair 2013-2014:
Jessica Canlas, jessicac@uic.edu, (312) 996-3853
CCSAA is dedicated to promoting the academic, social, cultural, and professional welfare of UIC's Asian American faculty, staff, and students. CCSAA addresses and makes recommendations to the Chancellor regarding issues related to employment practices, climate, representation, recruitment, and retention issues that are of concern to the Asian American campus community. The committee is dedicated to working collaboratively with diverse communities on campus and building relationships with off campus Asian American community organizations.

Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Blacks (CCSB)
Chair 2013-2014:
Johara Hassan, joharah@uic.edu, (312) 996-8767
CCSB serves as an advisory body on matters pertaining to the academic, professional, and social aspects of African and African American life at UIC. CCSB addresses issues relating to campus governance, employment practices, public relations, student affairs, and other issues that affect the well-being of Blacks on campus. The committee works collaboratively with UIC's diverse community.

Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Latinos (CCSL)
Co-chairs 2013-2014:
Aixa Alfonso, aalfonso@uic.edu, (312) 355-0318; Lorena Garcia, lorena@uic.edu, (312) 413-3759
CCSL was established to promote the development of educational, professional, and career opportunities among UIC Latinos. The committee addresses issues of general concern to Latinos at UIC.

Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer People and Allies (CCSLGBTQPA)
Co-chairs 2013-2014:
Patricia O'Brien, pbobrien@uic.edu, (312) 996-7885; Philip Vasquez, philipva@uic.edu, (312) 996-3100
The mission of CCSLGBTQPA is to provide leadership on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer people and allies issues in the UIC community. This includes addressing needs of faculty, staff, students, and alumni of diverse sexual orientations. The goal is to enhance a supportive environment, which will foster full participation by all members of the University's communities in teaching, public service, and research.

Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities (CCSPD)
Co-chairs 2013-2014:
Carol Gill, cg16@uic.edu, (312) 355-0550; Mark Goedert, mgoedert@uic.edu, (312) 413-9787
The mission of CCSPD is to promote empowerment and inclusion of faculty, staff, and students with disabilities at UIC. CCSPD recognizes that people with disabilities are a diverse group, including individuals with visible and non-visible disabilities. This mission is motivated by our goal to integrate all members of this diverse community into every aspect of campus life.

Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women (CCSW)
Co-chairs 2013-2014:
Juanita McCary, jmccary@uic.edu, (312) 996-9251; Karen Peters, kpeters@uic.edu, (312) 413-4944
CCSW works to improve the status of women at UIC with a primary objective to advise and make recommendations to the Chancellor regarding attitudes, policies, and procedures that affect women staff, faculty, and students. The committee will undertake projects and will also recommend changes in campus structures, policies and programs as appropriate.

WEBSITES TO KNOW

CHANCELLLOR PAULA Allen-Meares' website is at http://www.uic.edu/index.html/Chancellor/.

THE ILLINOIS  Department of Central Management Services (CMS) has issued a guide on the forthcoming State-sponsored health insurance plans, which become effective on February 1, 2014.  The URL is http://www2.illinois.gov/cms/Employees/benefits/trail/state/Documents/State_Guide.pdf .

THE CONTINUING CRISIS

The University has begun a reorganization of medical governance.
Editor’s Note: “The Continuing Crisis” is a section of APAC News which links to news pertinent to the State budget crisis and other financial matters as they affect the University and Academic Professionals. These news outlets are not affiliated with or endorsed by APAC.
ILLINOIS SENATE President John Cullterton said the State’s pension debt is not a crisis, but an issue being pushed by business-backed groups seeking lower income taxes at the expense of retiree benefits. See Oct. 21 Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-cullerton-pension-debt-not-a-crisis-but-about-lowering-taxes-20131020,0,4245590.story.\

UNIVERSITY CONSIDERING supplemental retirement benefit for employees hired since 2011. Under pension reforms approved in 2010, employees hired after Jan. 1, 2011, receive lower retirement benefits than those hired before that date. See Oct. 29 News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-10-29/ui-considers-supplemental-retirement-benefit-new-hires.html.

FEWER TOP executive officers at University? See Nov. 10 News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com/print/1221129.

CHANCELLOR PAULA Allen-Meares’ contract extended for one year. See Nov. 14 Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-uic-chancellors-contract-extended-for-a-year-20131114,0,1121526.story.

HOSPITAL, CLINICS, health sciences Colleges to return to UIC governance. See Nov. 14 Associated Press article, http://www.bnd.com/2013/11/14/2903696/u-of-illinois-starts-medical-reorganization.html.

Vol. 6, No. 10, November 2013

ISSN 1946-1860
Editor: William S. Bike
Staff: Neal Lorenzi, Gail Mansfield, Susan S. Stevens, Monica M. Walk
Vice Chair: Ahlam Al-Kodmany
Chair: Michael Moss
Secretary: Mary Berta
Treasurer: Agnes Kawalec
Web Chair: Jeff Alcantar