Latest Fringe Benefits Committee Minutes: Meetings #1, #2, #3 FY 2018-19

CID Chair: Rame Hanna; Director for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, The DEI Team

CID Coordinator: Christelle Hayles; Associate Director for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, The DEI Team

Collaborative Partner: Debora Jackson; Dean of WPI Business School

Collaborative Partner: Chris Chagnon; ITSM Architect

Collaborative Partner: Rachael Riley-Schafer; Service Desk Supervisor

Academic Affairs

Inclusion Partner: Kris Sullivan; Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

WPI Business School

Inclusion Partner: Brent French; Executive Director of Finance & Operations

Campus Planning and Facilities

Inclusion Partner: William (Bill) Battelle; Events Director

Division of Student Affairs

Inclusion Partner: Amy Curran; Director of Accessibility Services

Inclusion Partner: Jamie Dillon; Associate Director of Employer Relations and Recruiting

Division of Talent and Inclusion

Inclusion Partner: Roxanne Gardner; Director of Talent Acquisition

Enrollment and Institutional Research

Inclusion Partner: Andy Palumbo; Vice President, Enrollment Management

Finance and Operations

Inclusion Partner: Paul Mathisen; Associate Professor and Director of Sustainability

Global School

Inclusion Partner: Anne Ogilvie; Director for Team Learning

Inclusion Partner: Lisa Stoddard; Associate Professor of Teaching

Graduate Studies

Inclusion Partner: Levi Prudhomme; Assistant Director of Operations of Graduate Admissions and Recruiting

Information Technology (IT)

Inclusion Partner: Antoine Harrison; Deputy Chief Information Officer

Marketing Communuications

Inclusion Partner: Liz Gallagher; Web Development Manager

Office of General Counsel (OGC)

Inclusion Partner: Amy Fabiano; Associate for General Counsel

Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR)

Inclusion Partner: Ellen Grant Piccioli; Director of Manufacturing Innovation

School of Arts & Sciences (A&S)

Inclusion Partner: Lindsay Davis; Assistant Teaching Professor

School of Engineering

Inclusion Partner: Kris Billiar; Professor and Department Head

Undergraduate Studies (UGS)

Inclusion Partner: Kathy Chen; Executive Director of STEM Education Center

University Advancement

Inclusion Partner: Monica Ellis; Assistant Vice President of Lifetime Engagement

 

Minutes for Fringe Benefits Committee

Meeting:              Fringe Benefits Committee (FBC) 2018-2019

Date:                   February 15, 2019

Location:             50 Prescott St., Suite 1208

Attendees: Joseph Sarkis (Chair), Eric Chojnowski, Jaime Dillon, Bethel Eddy, George Kaminski, Ruth McKeogh, Julia Quinn-Szcesuil, Sarah Wodin-Schwartz, Sharon Wulf

Not Present: Dimitri Koutmos, Nima Rahbar, Wendy Walsh, Kevin Wheeler

Guest: None

Meeting called to order at 12:15 pm

• Approval of Agenda – Approved

• Approval of Minutes – Approved

The topic of revising the policy on summer hours was introduced for discussion.

Eric Chojnowski (WPI Benefits Manager) reviewed the current summer hours policy: employees scheduled to work 40 hours a week will work 37.5 hours per week (and be compensated for 40); employees scheduled to work 37 ½ hours per week will work 35 (and be compensated for 37 ½.Summer hours typically run from mid-May to mid-August.

Eric presented some benchmark summer hour policies from universities within the EdHealth system of which WPI is a member.

There was discussion about the various options including a “9/80 like” week. Employees would receive a full day off for each two week period of full work. Variations on hours was discussed.

Overall discussion included remaining mindful of morale, culture, and equity in all decisions about summer hours policy changes, any scheduling challenges these changes could bring to departments, and how managers would address these issues.

• There was consensus to continue development of a working document.

• Committee members were encouraged to investigate other summer hours if they so choose and to consider what alternatives might best work for all WPI employees. Discussion will continue.

• Next meeting will take place within two weeks.

Meeting adjourned at 1:07 pm

Submitted by Julia Quinn-Szcesuil

Minutes for Fringe Benefits Committee

Meeting:              Fringe Benefits Committee (FBC) 2018-2019

Date:                   November 26, 2018

Location:             Salisbury Labs 226

Attendees: Joseph Sarkis (Chair), Eric Chojnowski, Jaime Dillon, Bethel Eddy, George Kaminski, Ruth McKeogh, Julia Quinn-Szcesuil, Nima Rahbar, Wendy Walsh, Kevin Wheeler, Sharon Wulf

Not Present: Dimitri Koutmos, Sarah Wodin-Schwartz

Guest: None

Meeting called to order at 3:03 pm.

• Approval of Agenda – Approved.

• Approval of Minutes – None to Approve

• Each individual present introduced themselves.

• The FBC charter was reviewed by all. A review of the FBC charter was made. Some discussion on scope and makeup of committee ensued.

• Eric Chojnowski (WPI Benefits Manager) reviewed benefits currently offered by WPI. Listing provided. Benefits are grouped into “Institute Provided Benefits” and “Optional Benefits”.

Eric and other committee members pointed to significant details on WPI benefits existing at: https://www.wpi.edu/offices/talent/benefits-payroll-perks/benefits-matrix;

with latest WPI Employee Benefits and Policy Manual appearing at: https://www.wpi.edu/sites/default/files/EmployeeHandbook.pdf.

• Current and future issues were briefly discussed. Discussion topics included various issues including, but not limited to, bereavement, retirement, insurance policies, Workday, tuition benefits, and health insurance quality.

• Committee members were encouraged to provide potential topics and priorities by email before next meeting.

• A new meeting will be scheduled.

Meeting Adjourned at 4:01 pm.

Submitted by Joseph Sarkis