July 30, 2014
AP Leaders from Three Campuses
Meet with President Easter
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Standing, left to right:
Colleen Piersen (Chicago APAC Treasurer), Marilyn Marshall (Assistant Vice
President for Academic Affairs), Michael Moss (Chicago APAC Chair), Melissa
Madsen (UIUC AP representative), Mary Berta (Chicago APAC Secretary), Todd Spinner
(UIUC AP representative), Teresa Szabo (UIS APAC), Laura Alexander (UIS Sr.
Director Human Resources), and Katie Ross (UA Director, Human Resources
Administration). Seated, left to right: Elyne Cole (Associate Provost for Human
Resources), UI President Robert Easter, Ahlam Al-Kodmany (Chicago APAC
Vice-Chair), and Maureen Parks (UA Executive Director & Associate Vice
President for Human Resources).
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BERTA COMMENTED, “It was great to meet colleagues from
Urbana and Springfield in person and to discuss our shared concerns. President
Easter provided an overview of the large machinery that UI really is and it
gave me a better perspective on how complex an operation University of Illinois
really is.” Al-Kodmany added, “Meeting with our UPPAC [University Professional Personnel Advisory Committee] colleagues from Urbana and
Springfield is an annual highpoint.”
CHICAGO REPRESENTATIVES shared a number of concerns related
to Job Analysis—the delayed timeline, lengthy gaps in communication for those
undergoing the process, and concerns related to unintended consequences for APs
who have not yet undergone Job Analysis. They also commented that these
concerns are likely to be exacerbated in the coming weeks as the largest and
most complex college, the College of Medicine, progresses through Job Analysis.
AL-KODMANY NOTED, “This year UPPAC had a very
productive discussion around the Job Analysis process at UIC in comparison to
the Job Analysis and audit results in Urbana and Springfield. One notable take-away
from the meeting is learning that the University’s Board of Trustees and
President are actively engaged in addressing the profound impact the audit and
conversion process is having on the campuses and employees. If action is to be
taken regarding a resolution of the audit findings and pending conversions in
Urbana, the question remains, ‘will there be retroactive redress of conversions
in Chicago based upon the actions taken in Urbana?’”
Court Ruling May Foreshadow Overturning
of Pension Reform Law
 |
The Illinois Supreme
Court ruled strongly in favor of protection of pension benefits.
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RETIREES BEGAN paying a health insurance premium
last year, and the Kanerva suit
sought to restore the earlier situation of retirees not having to pay health
insurance costs.
THE COURT wrote, “It is clear that if something
qualifies as a benefit of the enforceable contractual relationship resulting
from membership in one of the State’s pension or retirement systems, it cannot
be diminished or impaired.” That protection extends to health insurance
promised to retirees, the court ruled.
“WE ARE obliged to resolve that doubt in
favor of the members of the State’s public retirement systems,” the court also
wrote.
WHILE THE immediate result is that making retirees pay
for part of their pension was ruled unconstitutional, the ruling has larger
implications. Since the court ruled that health benefits were protected, if it
follows its own precedent it also is likely to rule the State’s pension reform
legislation, signed into law in December, unconstitutional as well. That law
would reduce retirees’ cost-of-living adjustments, increase the retirement age
for some employees, and cap pensionable earnings..
A SANGAMON County judge had postponed the
pension reform law taking effect until courts make a final ruling on legal
challenges to it.
THE STATE Universities Annuitants Association
(SUAA) and the other plaintiffs believe that "Kanerva is a huge win in the battle for pension rights and a strong
indication that pension rights will in the end be vindicated,” wrote Linda L. Brookhart, Executive Director,
SUAA
UIC NEWS on July 8 wrote that the ruling “may
foreshadow the success of challenges to pension legislation.”
“I THINK it’s very likely that the [pension
reform] law is going to be massively overturned by the court,” said David Merriman, Professor of Economics
and Public Administration, in that UIC
News article.
“I BELIEVE this bodes very well for overturning
most of the new pension law because this health insurance ruling will be used
to argue in favor of not cutting the benefits,” said Brenda Russell, President of the UIC SUAA, in that UIC News article.
THE ARTICLE went on to note that Merriman said the
recent ruling signals that the Supreme Court is unlikely to accept the State’s
argument that changing the pension system is necessary because of financial
emergency.
THE CHICAGO TEACHERS Union blog of July 3 said, “The law in
Illinois is now crystal clear: Politicians cannot break the promises
made…concerning retirement benefits,” and that legislators “cannot fix the past
failures of politicians to fund adequately our retirement benefits by cutting
those benefits…”
Presidential Search Speeded Up
Because of Chancellor Search
 |
President Robert Easter
and Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares meet with faculty.
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SELECTION
OF a new University
President has sped up, with hopes that President Robert Easter’s
successor will be chosen before Thanksgiving. The administration wants the next
President to participate in the search for a new UIC Chancellor to succeed Dr.
Paula Allen-Meares, who plans on leaving her post in January of 2015.
UNIVERSITY TRUSTEE Pam Strobel, who co-chairs the University of
Illinois Presidential Search Committee, told the News-Gazette of Springfield, IL, on July 12 that the University
Board of Trustees decided the President’s search should be “on a parallel path”
so the President can be involved with picking the Chancellor.
URBANA PHYSICS Professor Doug Beck is the other Co-Chair. Kostas Yfantis, Manager of Teaching and Learning Services with
Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services at the Urbana campus,
is the Academic Professional on the committee.
THE NEWS-GAZETTE article
also reported that President Easter said that the growth of UIC will be a major
factor for the next President, and he mentioned a possible move to make UIC a
member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
THE PRESIDENTIAL search committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Aug. 20, and
Wednesday, Sept. 17.
THE PRESIDENTIAL search informational website is at http://www.bot.uillinois.edu/presidentialsearch.
It provides links to the position announcement, information on job duties and
qualifications, background on the 19-member search committee, news releases and
media coverage, the committee’s meeting schedule, and more.
MRINALINI RAO, Professor of Physiology and Biophysics
and former Vice President for Academic Affairs, chairs the UIC Chancellor’s
Search Committee.
AP Conversions Still a Hot Topic
at Cool Ice Cream Social
APAC’s MEET, Greet, & Treats ice cream
social event, held on a humid June 24, yielded a modest turnout with
interesting conversations about the ongoing concerns about AP conversions.
Several people said they attended to meet fellow APs and learn about the campus
from the veterans in the group.
THERE WAS a good assortment of individuals,
from those who work in the hospital to the library, to the newly created Office
of Procurement Diversity in the Office of Business and Financial Services
(OBFS), and others.
APAC MEMBER Marelet Kirda pointed out, “It was
well worth it to stop in, especially since folks were able to bring some ice
cream treats back to their respective offices since we had so much!”
APAC Election Results
After the
recent APAC balloting, Kate Pravera, Academic
Director, School of Continuing Studies, was elected to APAC. Marelet Kirda, Assistant to the Vice
Chancellor for Research, was re-elected to the University Senate for a
three-year term. Jennifer Rowan, Executive
Director, Research Administration and Operations, Office of the Vice Chancellor
for Research, and Diedre Rush, Associate
Director, Financial Aid Office, have decided to step down from APAC.
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 the College of Medicine Research Building (CMRB),
909 S. Wolcott, or Room 2750 of University Hall on the East Campus. Next
meeting is Aug. 13 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in CMRB 4175. For information, call
(312) 996-0306.
APAC PROFILE
LATEST.jpg) |
APAC member Nester
Komolafe.
|
By
Susan S. Stevens
NESTER
KOMOLAFE joined UIC in 2008 as a Contracts Coordinator in the Purchasing
Division, UIC Office of Business and Financial Services. He has also worked in
the UIC Office of Business Development Services.
HIS
KEY responsibilities are drafting, reviewing, and
negotiating complex University contracts in accordance with State of Illinois
statutes, and University policy and requirements.
IN
2011, Komolafe received the UIC WOW Award in recognition of his
outstanding service which reflects UIC’s core values. He served as an executive
member of UIC Senate Committee on Academic Services during the 2013-2014
academic year. The panel reviewed policies regarding, and the performance of,
units which provide support for UIC academic programs.
HE
JOINED APAC in 2013. “APAC has done many great things for UIC
Academic Professionals,” he said. “I was motivated to join APAC in 2013 in
order to apply systemic thinking and pragmatic solutions to shape policies that
deliver positive impacts.”
“I AM
looking forward to making my contributions to APAC to be
an affirmation that dynamism and good leadership can give muscular expression
to Academic Professionals’ legitimate yearnings and aspirations for good
governance and accountability.” Komolafe is a member of APAC’s Subcommittee on
Bylaws.
AN
EXPERT in contracting, procurement, and supply chain
management, he has more than 20 years of professional experience in both
private and public sectors. He has worked for private corporations in the
fields of publishing, garments, transport, real estate management, building
construction, manufacturing, cable telecommunication, and satellite and
broadband telecommunications.
“I AM
distinctively privileged to have worked and obtained academic degrees and
professional qualifications in contracting, procurement and supply chain
management on three continents – each in Africa, Europe, and North America,”
Komolafe said.
KOMOLAFE has
several academic degrees and professional qualifications: a Bachelor’s of
Science degree in Physics from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, a Master’s
degree in Procurement and Acquisitions Management from Webster University in
St. Louis, MO. and a second Master’s degree in Law and Public Policy from the
University of Illinois at Springfield, IL.
HE
OBTAINED a Certificate of Completion in Sustainable Global Supply
Chain Management from the University of San Diego, CA. He also has a Royal
Charter Certification in Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS) from studies in the
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, Stamford, England. Some
certifications obtained in the United States include Certified Professional
Public Buyer (CPPB) and Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM).
“I AM a
research-minded person, driven by very passionate quest at finding solutions to
complex problems,” Komolafe said.
KOMOLAFE’S
PHILOSOPHY is simple, he said. “One thing I have learned is that I
have not learned anything -- the pursuit of knowledge is endless; the more I
know, the more there is to know.”
HE IS a
family man who has clear faith in Jesus Christ. He enjoys spending time with
his lovely wife, Dr. Lois Komolafe, a pharmacist, and three cheerful children;
Virtuous, Valor, and Victorious.
HIS ONLY hobby is photography. “I
am a photo-happy guy!” he said.
AP RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
UNDER THE direction of the Office for Access
and Equity (OAE), members of a volunteer committee with members from APAC and
the Chancellor's Status Committees are pleased to announce the Fall 2014
Academic Professional Mentorship Program (APMP), a mentoring program for all
staff at UIC including Academic Professionals and Civil Service employees.
Civil Service employees must have their supervisor’s approval before joining
the program.
THE MENTORING program allows UIC staff members the opportunity for professional development, advancement, leadership development, and skill building in their careers. The program will run from the beginning of September 2014 through May 2015. A kick-off event for all participants will be held in mid-September. The date is to be determined.
IF YOU are interested in becoming a mentor and/or a protégé for the first time or participating in program again, visit the APMP website and complete an application: http://www.uic.edu/depts/oae/Forms/APMP.htm.
IF YOU have questions, please contact the committee at apmp_committee@uic.edu.
THE CONTINUING CRISIS
UNIVERSITY TO ask for 3.8% boost in State funding, News-Gazette, July 15, 2014. http://www.news-gazette.com/print/1281539
CITIGROUP SETTLEMENT will put $84 million in Illinois
pension coffers, Chicago Tribune, July
15, 2014. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-citibank-0715-biz-20140715,0,1520978.story
IS AMERICA’S GREAT
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BEING DESTROYED? AlterNet, Feb. 28, 2014.
http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/chomsky-how-americas-great-university-system-getting?paging=off¤t_page=1#bookmark
Vol. 7, No. 6, July 2014
ISSN 1946-1860
Editor: William S. Bike
Staff: Neal Lorenzi, Gail Mansfield, Susan S. Stevens, Katherine Vega, Monica M. Walk
Chair: Michael Moss
Vice Chair: Ahlam Al-Kodmany
Secretary: Mary Berta
Treasurer: Colleen Piersen
Web Chair: Jeff Alcantar
Web Chair: Jeff Alcantar
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