Staff Council Update: February 14, 2023

February 8, 2023 | by Middlebury Staff Council

Happy Spring Semester!

With the MIIS staff having started their spring term on January 30, and the Vermont campus starting this week, we are now all officially in the spring term. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we wanted to extend our appreciation for you all. It is a privilege to represent staff as exceptional as you. Thank you for your dedication.

New Resource – Solving Higher Ed’s Staffing Crisis: Staff Council will be engaging in a series of discussions in our monthly meetings with the Senior Leadership Group using the Chronicle of Higher Education Special Report Solving Higher Ed’s Staffing Crisis (2022). The report is available to all Middlebury Community members as a PDF thanks to the Library. Please note that, due to license restrictions, access is IP authenticated. So, from on-campus the link takes you straight to the report but from off-campus one must connect via the College’s VPN network.

Current Middlebury Staff Council (MSC) Projects:

Communications Committee – Creating a staff council working relationships policy statement to help guide our internal communications.
Compensation Committee – Reviewing the January HR update and upcoming compensation program timeline to provide feedback for the March HR update.
Events – Coordinating Daffodil Days after a Pandemic break. Planning April Wellness Fair participation.
Resources Committee – New committee being formed in February to review budget and resource issues and to work collaboratively with the Faculty Resources Committee.
Staff Paper Cuts – Staff Council will be working with Mike Thomas on this initiative to move toward a system of continuous monitoring and updating of campus systems in the interest of all community members (see 2/1 meeting update below). As we plan how this will happen, if you have an issue you would like to add to the list or a suggestion, please contact your district representative or submit our suggestion form.

Upcoming Events (VT):

2/15 – Afternoon at the Rikert Outdoor Center (alternative weather date February 23)
Now through 2/21 – Staff Council Daffodil Days for the American Cancer Society
2/25 – Let’s Go Skiing at Rikert with GMHEC

Upcoming Events (CA):

2/21 – Faculty/ Staff Town Hall to Institute community with Laurie Patton and Dan Courcey 12:15-1:45 PM PT, zoom and McGowan 100

Meeting Updates:

1/17 – Leadership Alliance Update – see the 1/17 Tear Sheet
2/1 – Staff Council Open Meeting with guest Mike Thomas, Vice President of Administration and Chief Risk Officer speaking on the Paper Cuts Initiative. See the slides or watch the video.
2/16 – Staff Council Working Meeting (closed)
2/23 – Staff Council and Senior Leadership Group (closed)
3/15 – Open MSC Meeting with guest Khuram Hussain, VP of Equity & Inclusion; Assoc. Professor of Education Studies.

Employee News:

Welcome to the new staff.

Representative Spotlight: JONATHAN KEMP

Jonathan, a former Staff Council representative, just recently started a position at the Whitin Observatory, Department of Astronomy, and Department of Physics at Wellesley College. While he is still transitioning from Middlebury, we wanted to share his spotlight so you all can join us in wishing him well at Wellesley.

Jonathan started at Middlebury in 2014, working 9 years as the Telescope and Scientific Computing Specialist at the Mittelman Observatory on the Vermont campus. He had been on the Staff Council for nearly two years as the District A* representative, where he served as the chair of the HR6 committee.

When asked what drew him to join Staff Council, he wrote, “Service, advocacy, collaboration, and contribution.”

Jonathan’s favorite Middlebury resources are to “explore and enjoy Middlebury’s unique sense of space, some favorite places beyond the Mittelman Observatory include the Antique Scientific Instruments Collection in Armstrong Science Library, the Greenhouse in McCardell Bicentennial Hall, the Abernethy Room in Axinn Center for the Humanities, and the Bread Loaf Mountain Campus.

Fun fact about Jonathan: He spent 12.5 years in Hawaii before coming to Vermont!

Are you a member of District A? Consider taking Jonathan’s spot as a representative of the Staff Council. Simply fill out this form to submit your interest.

*District A represents: Academic Affairs, Academic Coordinators, Assessment and Institutional Research, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research, Digital Learning and Inquiry, Mahaney Arts Center, Dean of Faculty Office, Environmental Affairs, Middlebury in DC, New England Review, Provost’s Office, Registrar, Sciences Technical Support Services

Contact Us

Find your district and the Staff Council Representatives list at go.middlebury.edu/staffcouncil.

Please print and post this for employees as needed.