Daily Bulletin

UW staff salary increases proposed

"In its deliberations, the Committee carefully considered a variety of issues and data (e.g. staff salaries in the local community and among other universities), as well as the University's financial situation, in order to ensure that the Committee arrived at an equitable compensation agreement for staff members," the committee's report to vice-president, academic and provost, Jim Kalbfleisch, stated.

"Consideration of these factors has resulted in the unanimous recommendations of the Committee that:

• "Effective May 1, 1999, the salary job values (formerly refeerred to as mid-points) for regular staff members be adjusted upward by 1.5 %.
• "Effective May 1, 1999, the merit program be run for regular staff members and merit funds be distributed based on the staff member's performance and position in the range and according to the stated performance goals of the salary program.
• "Effective May 1, 1999, the hourly rates for Janitors and Housekeepers be adjusted upward by 1.5%.
• "The provision for staff members who are no more than three years from retirement (normal or by agreement with the University) to substitute one week of vacation for a 2.0% salary increase will continue until April 30, 2005."

As well, by May 31, 1999, a referendum will be held to determine staff support for a switch from monthly to twice-monthly pay periods. "At that time, associated costs, start date and details will be articulated."

Kalbfleisch will take the recommendations to the April 6 board of governors meeting, and will support its approval.

Women talk technology

Advertised in local high schools as an event for parents and their children, the talk is aimed at encouraging young people, particularly women, to enter technical disciplines, said math student Sarah Kamal, one of the organizers. As well, it will give university students a chance to chat with women in industry about possible career paths, added Christine Cheng, a student in systems design engineering and Federation of Students president-elect.

Six speakers will provide insights into creating career opportunities and finding meaning in business and technology: Shala Aly, vice-president of e-business, IBM Canada; Poesy Chen, computer science students and former manager of sales information services, Corel; Sabrina Hasham, systems design alumna and principal, Hasham Consulting; Karin Nova, systems analyst and software developer, Waterloo Hydrogeologic; Kathie Taylor, consulting services manager, DBM Systems; and Kathryn Woodcock, manager, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

The event will be held in Davis Centre room 1350 at 7 p.m. All interested persons on campus -- including men -- are invited to share their experiences and thoughts at the session, says Kamal.

HR develops new info reports

"While these reports are being developed we ask you to bear with us," says Alfrieda Swainston in HR. In a memo recently sent to managers, she notes that an interim completion of probation notice is being produced. "If, however, you are aware of a new staff member who should have completed their probation period and you have not received a notice, would you please call Marg Letter at ext. 6645.

"For vacation entitlements, could you refer to the printout you received last year and check Appendix A Vacation Credits, Policy 6, for any additional days which have accrued as a result of increased years of service.

HR is developing an interactive formula to determine individual vacation entitlements that will be available on the human resources website. Managers will be notified when this is ready, and are welcome to phone Letter at ext. 6645 if they require assistance.

"Significant anniversary date listings have been supplied; however, they may not be completely accurate," says Swainston. "Please check your listings for errors or omissions."

In the absence of the Gazette

• Instructional support co-ordinator, computer science, grade USG 8/9
• Administrative secretary, earth sciences (Porous Media Research Institute and Geomechanics Group), grade USG 5
• Systems assistant, registrar's office, grade USG 7
• Research financial administrator, office of research, grade USG 5 (two positions)

Events on a sunny Wednesday...

Conrad Grebel College hosts a classical saxophone and piano concert at 12:30 p.m. in the chapel, featuring Willem Moolenbeek and Boyd McDonald. Admission is free.

Also at Conrad Grebel today, two films, Keepers of the Fire at 1 p.m. in the board room, and You Can't Beat a Woman at 7 p.m. in the faculty lounge, are being screened as part of the International Women's Week film series.

Students Advising Co-op meets at 4:30 p.m. in the Student Life Centre multipurpose room. On the agenda: a recap of changes to SAC, WatPubs roundtable, handbook report and survey status. As well, preparations are being made for a meeting on Thursday with co-op director Bruce Lumsden, and student input is invited.

The University Catholic Community at St. Jerome's is hosting Evensong (evening prayer) at 7 p.m. in Siefgried Hall, followed by part three of the Lenten video series, Human Dignity.

The Paul Mitchell Group, "a trumpet based outfit which does everything from big band to cool jazz" performs tonight at 8 in the Grad House as part of the Louis Fagan Memorial Jazz Series. Tickets are $5 and include a drink and finger food.

Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m., the student information systems project team will be hosting an open house beginning with a presentation in the Theatre of the Arts. After a year of running tests of UW's business processes using the new software system, the team is preparing to develop a UW prototype and review it with users across campus. In its presentation on Thursday, the team will demonstrate how the PeopleSoft Student Administration System can be used "to move an individual student through standard processes from recruitment to graduation."

Also scheduled tomorrow is an open forum on Urban Environmental Management at 3:30 p.m. in Environmental Studies 1 room 221. Initiated by an interdisciplinary group of faculty, students and local residents, the forum is designed to develop a network of people interested in issues of urban environmental management, to begin planning a fall workshop on the subject, and to consider an education and research program on urban environmental management. For more information, contact Beth Dempster, a PhD student in the school of planning, at mbldemps@fes.uwaterloo.ca.

And a reminder, students may transfer to architecture by completing an application for internal transfer form (available from the registrar's office) by Friday, March 12.

Tomorrow, the registrar's office (on the second floor of Needles Hall) and the graduate studies office (on the third floor) will be closed between 10 a.m. and noon to allow staff to attend a meeting.

Barbara Elve
bmelve@uwaterloo.ca

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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