Attendees: Lisa, Jacqueline, Julie, Tae, Nara, Emily, Sarah, Candace, Kim

1. Approved minutes from last meeting
2. Discussion of elections vs nominations for committee members. Nara pointed out that most committees have elections, as it is more democratic.  We can add to the bylaws that if election doesn’t fill positions, then we can look at nominations and appoint members.
3. Sarah pointed out that it would be an overwhelming amount of work to try to change process now before upcoming openings. Also, term length has been an ongoing discussion. Until this point, we have rarely had more nominees than positions available so election question is moot.
4. Questions about when terms start and end – decided we are the same – July to July. Sometimes there is a delay b/c of Summer break/vacations
5. Final decision: Focus on determining length of terms, no to elections.
6. Dean Meeting: More discussion re Professional Development ideas.  A staff appreciation event that could happen THIS year – picnic?  Lunch with the Dean?  Academic Affairs thanking staff?  Recognition of CHM staff with 25 years + - bring more staff members to awards.  Tae: iffy on workshops/events planned on weekend/evenings (not work times).  Emily:  what are we doing re: recruitment & pay raises (referred to Strategic Plan, as well as APA contract negotiations coming up). Will he allow us on Town Hall again to recruit nominees for committee?
7. Kim thinks we should partner with the Work/Life office and have some events based on some of the staff expressed needs/wants from the survey. She will initiate. Emily suggested having them come to different campuses to encourage participation.
8. Nara updated us re: LCME visit. Went well – we won’t “officially” know until November
9. By laws meeting – f/u with Heather
10. Candy will have newsletter focus on election in May – should we also do another lunch and learn?

Meeting with Dean is Tuesday April 18 4-5pm

Attendees: Dean Aron Sousa, Lisa Pasbjerg, Karla Cody, Emily, Tae Blair, Lori Dykstra, Anne Lieby-McMahon, Nara Parmeswaram, Jacquelinie, Candace Heeringa, Ruth Patino

• Discussion of Professional Development for staff
• What Staff is interested in
• What the College may want for Staff to gain as skills
• What Supervisors may want for their staff

Dean Sousa feels that the most valuable engagement would be with National Organizations that bring attention to and allow for networking outside for the CHM, and enhancing University reputation (ie what Lisa Galbavi does with Research Admin Conferences, etc). Also attending conferences around communications, faculty affairs, different department disciplines, Student affairs, event programming certifications.  Dean’s office would be able to provide some financial assistance for this.  University should be providing wellness seminars, college should be doing leadership.

2. Kim presented her idea for Monday, May 22 health and wellness lunch and learn.
3. Discussion of role of DSSAC in LCME/Faculty & Staff Success (Strategic Planning).

We will very likely be asked to assist with reviewing metrics & noting what is or is not helpful; we will be making suggestions regarding modifying goals & strategies; we may be asked to implement some things; we will have some direct input – especially with priorities around staff development.  Nara suggested we also think about Staff mentoring.

4. Dean Sousa will discuss with Allison/Cindy adding us to a Town Hall (for group noms)
5. Staff Awards – they are looking at the possibility of an all-college retreat which will incorporate awards as a portion – possibly a staff picnic.

Attendees: Lisa Pasbjerg, Heather Hazzard, Julie Bergstrom, Emily Schultz, Lori Dykstra, Anne Lieby-McMahon, Nara Parmeswaram, Candace Heeringa, Ruth Patino

Only 5 people applied for available spots on committee.  Open discussion, all 5 approved.

Noted that there is very low participation in committees, etc across CHM, and University staff is down 

Some final discussion of last business:  Candi advised Survey Monkey is no longer feasible for the newsletter – possible just to create an “email” newsletter? She created a doc in Teams for the next newsletter person 

Some discussion around visibility of group – for the most part, thinking we are more visible b/c of newsletter, Awards creation, etc.

Dean’s Support Staff Advisory Committee Retreat

Attendees: Julie Bergstrom, Sarah Sapkowski, Grace Yoder, Jacqui Evans, Emily Schultz, Ruth Patino, Sarah Enlow, Tae Blair

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Team Building: An exercise in communicating – giving drawing instructions to your partner, then switching
3. Year-at-a-glance
   1. Create descriptions for the roles of the officers (a sheet for each)
      1. Have a memento as a committee member
   2. Organization of officers
      1. Stay current (have a checklist)
   3. Have DSSAC member on Diversity Committee. Sarah Enlow and Liz Stanton will represent DSSAC, Grace Yoder and Emily Schultz offered to be back-ups
   4. CAC (Lori Dykstra) and Diversity (Sarah Enlow) will be standing agenda items at each DSSAC meeting
   5. Community Service Committee – do we want one? See below ‘Committees’
   6. DSSAC Volunteer Events/Service – See below ‘Committees’
   7. The survey – review again
      1. i. Word Cloud
      2. Faculty staff success workgroup (Sara E.) There is a plan for the strategic plan including a survey.
         1. Use one of our meetings to focus on the strategic plan
4. Subcommittee Brainstorming and discussions:
   1. Communications Subcommittee – newsletter, survey, program development, quarterly Green Apple Award: Lead: Kim Sapkowski; Liz, Julia, Tae (Sara – mentor)
   2. Committee Governance Subcommittee – Update, keep current the processes of the committee (how elected): Lead: Emily Schultz; Julie, Liz (Julie, Budget)
   3. Staff Engagement Subcommittee – Professional Development (Lunch & Learn), Health & Wellness, Community Service, Picnic, Dean’s Staff Reception: Lead: Tae; Kim, Grace, Jacqui, Lori
   4. Recognition Subcommittee – Awards (MS•You), bring joy, staff recognition: Lead: Ruth; Sarah, Nara
5. Outside Committee representation
   a. CAC: Lori Dykstra
   b. Diversity: Sarah Enlow, Liz Stanton
6. September 11th DSSAC meeting with Dean Sousa
   a. Need DSSAC Operating Budget: line item estimates

Attendees: Aron Sousa, Nara Parameswaran, Julie Bergstrom, Kim Sapkowski, Grace Yoder, Jacqui Evans, Emily Schultz, Ruth Patino, Sarah Enlow, Tae Blair

1. Welcome and Introductions of the committee members
2. Julie provided a summary of the August 31^st DSSAC Retreat held at Fee Hall.
3. Committee Goals:
   1. More inclusion of community staff (awards/recognition)
   2. Be more visual to the CHM support staff; get our committee out there
   3. Recruit more members to join the committee (add this to our newsletter)
4. Subcommittee Reports:
   1. Governance:
      1. Review Bylaws edits to the whole committee
   2. Communications:
      1. Newsletter will be distributed on October 18^th followed by January and April editions
      2. Spread the word of our Committee’s goals
   3. Staff Engagement
      1. Organize one giving event amongst East Lansing, Grand Rapids and Flint
      2. Hold/rotate DSSAC meetings in East Lansing, Grand Rapids and Flint to appreciate each other’s community
   4. Awards & Recognition
      1. Julie and Ruth will be attending the Awards Reception
      2. Nomination announcement and selection process will be improved: to include community staff as well as the nomination process timeline (will coordinate with the Dean’s office)
      3. Dr. Miko Rose, founder of the Joy Initiative
5. Dean Sousa
   1. DSSAC to participate in future Dean’s Town Hall
   2. Dean’s Support Council: Lisa Galbavi is a good resource – manages conferences – has access to programming of Dean’s Assistants nationally
6. Acknowledged Lori Dykstra as member of the CAC committee; and Liz Stanton and Sara Enlow as members of the Diversity Committee

Attendees: Nara Parameswaran, Julie Bergstrom, Kim Sapkowski, Grace Yoder, Jacqui Evans, Emily Schultz, Sarah Enlow, Tae Blair 

1. CAC Report – Lori Dykstra
   1. Bylaws: voted on individuals to have voting rights
   2. Process for Research Assoc. Dean submitted to interim president
2. Recap to October 10 DSSAC meeting with the Dean
   1. Lori Dykstra will summarize for CAC and review goals
3. Jack Breslin Award memo should go out from DSSAC
4. Diversity Committee – Sarah Enlow
   1. Liz Stanton and Sarah are voting members – recently participated in a vote!
   2. Carol Parker gave an overview of the College’s Strategic Plan
   3. DSSAC has an opportunity to advocate for CHM staff
5. Subcommittee Reports
   1. Recognition (Ruth unable to attend)
      1. Exception Staff Award process will be streamlined, improved and documented
   2. Governance
      1. Have been meeting regularly; updates will be presented to the group
6. Proposal to move DSSAC meetings to Wednesdays at 11 am
7. Nara Parameswaran
   1. Move forward with including community staff with news, activities, awards
   2. Strategic Plan: waiting to see how the projects and budgeting works out; will talk through the plan when it is more solidified
8. Podcast Idea? Suggested to CHM Dean’s Town Hall as guest committee
9. Meeting adjourned, 9:25 am

Attendees: Julie Bergstrom, Grace Yoder, Kim Sapkowski, Emily Schultz, Ruth Patino, Lori Dykstra, Julia Terhune, Liz Stanton, Jacqui Evans, Tae Blair

1. Welcome, Julie Bergstrom
   1. Carol Parker will take Nara’s place on the committee. She was unable to attend today’s meeting
2. Approve Minutes
   1. The minutes of October 10 and 13, 2023 were approved as presented
3. Joy in the workplace
   1. Julie shared information she received from Kate Ruger on bringing joy into the workplace:
      1. Use one of Kate’s PowerPoints; decide how to incorporate it
      2. Lunch and Learn (professional development, entire presentation on Joy)
         1. Need a DSSAC budget
      3. How can we inspire wellness for others?
         1. A mindfulness session with Claudia Finkelstein
         2. Have a submission portal (Kate Ruger)(also Miko Rose) to submit kudos. Committee takes submissions to supervisor for the supervisor to disseminate.
         3. Letters – similar to kudos – sent to the person being recognized.
         4. Have more than two Exceptional Staff Awards – get a larger budget or divide the current $2500
            1. Have our own DSSAC dinner?
            2. Supervisor of our awardees were not invited to the October dinner – not aware of protocol
               1. Not aware our winners could be bring a guest
            3. Can we solicit the Dean for more awards?
            4. Have different categories for Staff Excellence?
               1. Community Service
               2. Community Staff – already an approved change – language to be clear of inclusivity as a whole to CHM Staff.
            5. Spartan Spotlight Award (what would that be?)
            6. Use first 5 minutes of meetings for personal sharing/celebrations/vacays
               1. Staff can submit photos from events to share.
               2. This should come from the Dean: Supervisor-led joy exercises.
            7. Person of the month – tricky, depending on size of department. People on their team share experiences with the Person of the Month
            8. Carol Parker’s role – she could advocate for supervisor-led ‘Joy’ moments via Dean’s Staff meetings
            9. Borrow Kate’s slides or make our own?
4. CAC Update- Lori
   1. No update from the October meeting
5. Diversity Update- Liz and Sarah
   1. Student mistreatment and how they report/their comfort level in doing so
      1. How do we feel about it – as staff? Are we comfortable reporting – what is the risk?
      2. Should we create a survey that reflects the processing in reporting – what do we want to have in the reporting process?
      3. Qualtrics captured the number of times students click on ‘mistreatment’ – could be students just visiting the site, not necessarily reporting.
      4. How do we as staff look at the reporting process?
      5. Agreed this subject is more HR
6. Subcommittee Updates
   1. Recognition Subcommittee
      1. Community Staff inclusion for next Exceptional Staff Awards
      2. Incorporate everybody via Qualtrics – beyond our committee to vote on the awards? DSSAC makes the final decision. Will keep to DSSAC for now with future discussion
      3. Lori created a sample recognition form
      4. Exceptional Staff Award winner selection feedback – defer to next meeting
   2. Communications Subcommittee
      1. Newsletter went out October. Next up: January
      2. Will meet with Todd Ring from IT on a future format
      3. Will solicit subcommittees for newsletter updates
      4. Do we want other people to see our newsletter?
         1. Faculty? Everyone?
            1. Carol Parker can disseminate to CHM leadership
   3. Governance Subcommittee
      1. Will select a date to present Bylaws changes – will need 45-minutes to present the changes. Proposed a January meeting
   4. Staff Engagement Subcommittee
      1. Support Staff Week of Giving event proposed by Grace Yoder and Jacqui Evans for the three campuses. Staff Engagement will plan and provide an update
      2. Next year: Christmas Holiday event option – cards for nursing home residents
7. Adjourn: Noon

Attendees: Julie Bergstrom, Sarah Enlow, Grace Yoder, Emily Schultz, Jacqueline Evans, Ruth Patino, Julia Terhune, Liz Stanton, Carol Parker, Tae Blair 

Call to Order:  Julie Bergstrom called the meeting to order at 11:04 

Approval of Minutes:  A motion was made by Ruth Patino and seconded by Kim Sapkowski to approve the minutes of November 8, 2023. Motion passed. 

Old Business:

• Group volunteer event status. No update
• Holding DSSAC group meetings at the other campuses (could be a lunch and learn)
  • Still working on budget submission

Subcommittee Reports

• Bylaws: Emily Schultz
  • Regularly
  • Will bring changes to January or February Meeting for review and vote
  • Emily distributed, real time, the bylaws via email
• Recognition/Awards: Ruth Patino
  • Ruth will create a timeline and guide for due dates/what to do/who to contact
  • Addressing this year’s concerns – timing, selection process of Exception Support Staff Award recipients, etc.
  • Need to know date of 2024’s ceremony/announcement. Julie and/or Sarah will get details – also location
  • Begin notification and nomination process early
  • When will monetary award be given for 2023? (as of Nov 20, not received)
  • Increasing # of awardees – divide the money or increase money
• Carol Parker Introduction
  • Liaison to any questions our committee has for her/the Dean’s Office
• Staff Engagement - Tae
  • Ele’s Place is the 2024 initiative the Subcommittee will embrace. Ele’s place is an organization that offers grief support for children and teens. Goal is to conduct a food drive at the Flint, Lansing, and Grand Rapids campuses to support the food pantries. This will help Ele’s Place with their monthly pot-luck support meetings.
• Emily Schultz – member of the Search Committee to replace Nara’s former position
  • Two candidates
• DEI – Liz Stanton
  • Have not met
• Officers Update
  • Proposal to send a support staff-wide December greeting
    • Email greeting
    • Julie will draft, post to Teams for approval
• Communications Committee – Kim Sapkowski and Liz Stanton
  • Next Newsletter will be sent January 15 2024
  • DSSAC will create newsletter in SharePoint
    • Newsletter will be distributed via email and be in the body of the email – not as an attachment
    • Shareowners can access and edit the document – very interactive
    • Listserv CHM All Support Staff was created.
      • List will be updated quarterly of all active members of CHM support staff.
      • Procedure will be posted in Teams Documents
• Follow up carry over from Nara?
  • Staff Awards timeline for 2024 – can consult with Carol Parker
  • CHM Strategic Plan Update from Carol Parker
    • How can this group get involved?
      • Can have an update at our January meeting
    • Dean joins our meetings quarterly
  • Any buzz/feedback on new MSU president, Kevin Guskiewicz?
  • Dean’s Support Staff Reception – Bringing it Back?
    • For Dean’s office staff only
    • Can discuss this further.
    • All Staff picnic or potluck/where?
      • Carol will explore ideas and report back