Present: Tae Blair, Rachael Vettese, Liz Stanton, Ryan Johnston, Karla Cody, Mar Dunstone, Heather Soule

Regrets: Nicolette Brown, Nadija Kadunic, Quinn Sawyer, April Stafford

1. Update from Chair
   1. Introduce Mar, Karla, Quinn, and April
      1. i) Mar joined after the retreat. Admin Assistant for Bioethics and Social Justice. Assists with website and research.
      2. ii) Karla was unable to make the retreat. Was on the first DSSAC and is still on. Works for Family Medicine as a Clerkship Assistant/Residency Network Coordinator.
   2. Lunch & Learn
      1. i) DACD wants to bring faculty perspective to Staff.
   3. Website Design
      1. i) Carol Parker and Steven Kaatz/Comm Team is re-designing the DSSAC website

• Sub Committee Updates
  1. Governance
     1. i) Review of bylaws and will report at the next meeting.
  2. Communication
     1. i) October Newsletter in works
  3. Awards & Recognition
     1. i) Karla joins Awards & Recognition
     2. ii) Ryan reported. They have not met yet. Liz will meet separately with Ryan.
  4. Staff Engagement
     1. i) Mar and Karla join staff engagement
        • Discussion of adding 4^th quarter of staff development during the summer months.
          • Okay with either a summer Lunch and Learn or a volunteer opportunity in the summer.
            • (i) Accessibility
            • (ii) Meals on Wheels
          • Health & Wellness/Harassment. Maybe invite Karen Stanley-Kime about increasing morale.
          • Adding Shoutouts in the newsletter and move to Awards and Recognition committee.
        • Projects for DSAAC
          1. Lunch & Learn
             1. i) DACD | support staff L&L
             2. ii) Accessibility, Lori Dykstra
          2. Staff Awards
        • Open Discussion
          1. Rachael and Ryan were in two separate meetings and reassured that Supratik is very similar to Dean Sousa
          2. Check-in with Carol about us needing to do anything with Supratik coming into the Dean’s role
          3. Brainstorm Lunch and Learn Ideas
          4. Brainstorm ideas on how to show staff value to upper management
          5. Idea to resend a staff wide survey for professional development topics, common stressors

Adjourn 4:00pm

Present: Rachael Vettese, Liz Stanton, Ryan Johnston, Heather Soule, Nicolette Brown, Nadija Kadunic

Regrets: Tae Blair, Karla Cody, Quinn Sawyer, April Stafford, Mar Dunstone

1. Update from Chair
   1. Review Previous meeting minutes
   2. Review DSSAC website
      1. Reminder to upload photos to the Teams Folder
   3. Sub Committee Updates
      1. Governance
         1. Review bylaws
            1. Make sure that no specific numbers are listed for Lunch and Learns
            2. Review language on recruitment
         2. Communication
            1. Learning to utilize software to create newsletter
               1. Showcase support staff award winners
               2. Would like to have a collage of all headshots
               3. Highlight of new dean/thanking Dean Sousa
               4. Highlight Open Enrollment
               5. One Team One Health Feedback
               6. DSSAC Feedback Space Creation- Qualtrics
               7. Liz will locate Carol’s email about survey creation
               8. Add DSSAC emails into newsletter and on website
            2. Staff Engagement
               1. Liz is working on a Health and Wellness as a Noon Lectureship with Karen Stanley Kime in Marquette
               2. Still looking for a subcommittee lead

• Add committee recruitment into newsletter

1. Appreciation Certificates
   1. Two different ones: For those on committee vs. leadership/those who helped with Lunch and Learns
2. Staff Recognition/Awards
   1. Move certificate project to this group
   2. Waiting to hear from Carol about Budget
      1. Needs to put in a proposal for staff appreciation award into Teams

• Discussion that not everything is awards based, could be joy in the workplace

Doodle poll for DSSAC – Staff Engagement

Adjourn 4:00pm  

Next meeting: November 17^th, 2025, 3:00pm, zoom 

Present:  Tae Blair, Karla Cody, Ryan Johnston, Lisa Pasbjerg, Heather Soule, Rachael Vettese 

• Update from Chair, Vice-Chair
  1. DSSAC Listserv: who will take ownership of managing?
     1. i) A brief discussion regarding the need for someone new to manage the every-changing listserv for CHM Support Staff. We did not identify anyone from today’s attendees
  2. Website Design, Web point person
     1. i) The DSSAC will have committee representation to work with IT on the DSSCA webpage. Nadija Kadunic volunteered for this role.

• Treasurer Update – Heather Soule
  1. Heather designed two new forms for the DSSAC. Both will help manage our funding and finances
     1. i) DSSAC Financial Tracking Form
     2. ii) DSSASC Subcommittee Funding Request Form

• Sub Committee Updates
  1. Governance
     1. i) Bylaws
        • Protocols for funding – add to bylaws if this is not already there
     2. Communications
        1. i) October newsletter distributed; next issue: January 2026
     3. Awards & Recognition
        1. i) For the Exceptional Support Staff monetary award of $1,000, we are not able to gross up to net $1,000, per university guidelines.
        2. ii) DSSAC Membership recognition certificates will be issued
     4. Staff Engagement
        1. i) Initiatives – report up to the Chair and Vice-chair prior to Go-Live of any initiative; followed up by whole committee approval
        2. ii) Mar: create a survey re: Professional Development interests for support staff

• Adjournment

Present: Karla Cody, Mar Dunsmore, Quinn Sawyer, Heather Soule, Ryan Johnston, Nicki Brown, Liz Stanton, Nadija Kudunic

Regrets: April Stafford, Rachael Vattese, Tae Blair, Carol Parker, Lisa Pasbjerg

• Update from Chair, Vice-Chair
  1. Meeting attendance
  2. Membership
     1. i) Recruit your co-workers
        • No takers in community staff job responsibilities
        • We want to encourage fellow staff regardless employed body
     2. ii) Survey
        • Create in Qualtrics, granting access to all members via their MSU ID
          • Membership
          • Professional Development L&L

1. DSSAC Tracking Sheet
   1. i) Subcommittee review and update

• Secretary Report
  1. Uploads to website (receives all materials to be uploaded)
  2. Following the monthly meetings, the Secretary will distribute the meeting recording link to DSSAC members
     1. i) Vote for the recording, no quorum to approve. This recording for today will be destroyed.
• Treasurer Update
  1. Treasurer updated the process with: All initiative funding requests are to be vetted through the Chair, then the Committee, CHM leadership, and finally, treasurer for tracking.
     1. i) Vote from committee, no quorum to approve. Email to committee members to get approval.
  2. Staff awards were funded and distributed in November and tracking sheet updated.
• Sub Committee Updates
  1. Governance
     1. i) Bylaws update, no updates
     2. ii) Adjust the quorum number for vote: If not Roberts rule of order
  2. Communications
     1. i) Web Design Update – Nadija – Steven Kaatz
        • 8 community campus and contracted staff
          • Vote on contracted staff – email to staff

1. ii) Newsletters are created in SharePoint
   • January newsletter
   • Special newsletter pre and highlights on quarterly
   • Views limited on who seen – Nadija to research funding for mail chimp

• iii) Listservs (two reps needed) - Ryan and Nicki
  • All Staff Listserv
  • Community Staff (tbd Contract staff) -MSU Affiliates (Non-Green and White) Listserv
  • Green and White Listserv

1. Awards & Recognition
   1. i) Quarterly Staff Recognition
      • Newsletter Shout Out w/Hyperlinks
        • Pull out best of the best and decide on outcome of award – process to come
      • All-Campus (8) Hyperlinks featuring what that campus is all about
   2. ii) Update on Exceptional Support Staff Awards for 2026
      • Tbd, with shout outs supporting
      • highlight – med news can support
   3. Staff Engagement
      1. i) Community Service
         • Valentine Cards Initiative – Select Campus Champions for all 8 campuses
      2. ii) Professional Development (L&L)
         • Under consideration based on survey:
           • Interim Dean Town Hall
             • (i) Need support from other people
             • (ii) Look at survey – timeline (May)
           • Committee Recommendation
         • iii) Health and Wellness
           • Karen Stanley-Kime and April Yuki confirmed (Date TBD)

1. iv) Email to Vote on combine health and wellness and professional development as lunch and learns

• Update on CHM Learning Committee
  
  
• Open Discussion
  1. Creating a more inclusive committee (2 reps)
     1. i) Have a champion from each of the 8 campuses
     2. ii) Review Org Charts to identify individuals

• 2026 DSSAC Meeting Schedule
  1. Monthly, 3^rd Monday, 3 pm
     1. i) A holiday reschedule will move to 4^th Monday

• Headshot and bio – Nadija to ask if they are interested in having their headshot on website.
• Adjournment
  1. Next Meeting: January 19, 3-4 pm, Recorded and Transcribed

Present: Steve Baranski, Tae Blair, Nicki Brown, Karla Cody, Ryan Johnston, Nadija Kadunic, Connie Piasecki, Quinn Sawyer, Heather Soule, Liz Stanton

Regrets: Mar Dunstone, April Stafford, Rachel Vettese

1. Approval of minutes
   • A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of January 22, 2026
2. CHM Leadership Report – Carol Parker – Unable to attend
3. Communications
   • Nadija is working on an updated DSSAC webpage
   • DSSAC Newsletter
     • Consider eliminating DSSAC quarterly newsletter as the process is very time consuing, and to make room for a "communications" focus of tangile information to Dean. 
     • As an alternative, reach out to college marketing team to include pertinent information in the college's internal newsletter, MedNews. This goes out to staff, faculty and students. 
4. Awards & Recognition 
   • Kudos Board
     • Ryan & Heather working on Google form. Form will feature five questions with drop-down options, plus one section for comments.
     • Feeder program for exceptional support staff award – for peer nominations
     • Next month – draft of Kudos will be presented
   • DSSAC Exceptional Support Staff Awards for 2026
     • 10 days from now – will have clearer picture for the nomination portal (Staci Howard)
     • Initial announcement from FAD; DSSAC reinforces the process and nomination process
     • Champions at various campuses can submit nominations.
     • DSSAC can send message to support staff ahead of the nomination process
   • Staff Engagement
     • Initiatives identified – difficult process to implement
     • Initiatives for 25-26
     • Recognize staff – highlight them with Community Service
     • Ice Cream initiative -Melting Moments proposal
       • Vouchers for all CHM support staff, 1 scoop-cone or cup
       • Identifying ice cream vendors/businesses at our eight locations, cost, how to distribute.
       • Liz in communication with Carol Parker on the nuances to carry this initiative out
       • Estimated costs shared; anticipating a $2,000 budget
     • Health and Wellness
       
       • Karen Stanley-Kime is providing input to our transition process; agreeable to joining our committee meetings to share her expertise and ideas on change
       • No Lunch and Learn Event planned
5. Proposed DSSAC Transition
   • Eliminate sub-committee format
     • Helpful but overwhelming to members – many tasks for limited membership to embrace
     • Members stretched to participate on 1 or more subcommittees
   • Move to one team format – with all members contributing to our goals through 1x monthly meetings.
6. Governance
   • Bylaws section 4.0 updated to align with proposed transition
   • Eliminate sub-committee format
     • Helpful but overwhelming to members – many tasks for limited membership to embrace
     • Members stretched to participate on 1 or more subcommittees
     • Move to one team format – with all members contributing to our goals through 1x monthly meetings.
   • Addition of Program Coordinator, tasked with tracking status of focus areas and keeping everything on track
   • Section 6.0: New quorum: 50% plus 1 (4.21 decrease 12 members to 10 members). 2/3 feedback required to change bylaws, etc.
   • Three main charges added: 
     • Communications
     • Awards/Recognition
     • Community Service 
7. Communicating issues to the Dean
   1. Interim Dean Rahamajhi has not attended a meeting yet due to his new to position and transition. Plus DSSAC was not in position to interact with Dean during Jan-March. DSSAC must improve in this area. 
8.  Program Coordinator Role
   
   • DSSAC Task List Timeline draft shared. Program Coordinator has the liberty to change/customize the form. 
   • Group to consider taking on this role for next term and respond by 3/2 
   • Would meet 15-min prior to monthly meetings with co-chairs 
   • A Communications Coordinator would be helpful if that subcommittee is eliminated. Assign that role each term rather than including in Bylaws. 
9. Motion made and approved to accept the revised DSSAC Bylaws as distributed on February 24, 2026.
10. Motion made and approved to invite the Dean to participate quarterly at our monthly meetings.
11. Provide feedback to Liz and Tae by the next meeting on March 26^th.

Adjournment - 5:08

Next Meeting: March 26, 2026, 4 pm

Attendees: Tae Blair, Liz Stanton, Ryan Johnston, Nicki Brown, Nadija Kadunic, Quinn Sawyer, Heather Soule, Connie Piasecki, Rachael Vettese, Dean Rayamajhi, Carol Parker, Mar Dunstone

Regrets: Nicki Brown

1. Welcome: Dean Rayamajhi
   • Supratik will join DSSAC meetings quarterly
2. Note: all meetings are recorded – approve this meeting to be recorded: quarterly meetings set up.
3. Introduction: Members
   • All Campus including contracted employee’s
   • Supratik Introduction:
     • Medical school in Nepal, Residency at Sparrow, Carol Parker hired him 19 years ago
     • Has been interim dean for 6 months
     • Has a reasonable understanding of the functioning of the college

4. Provide History and Current State of DSSAC
   • History: subcommittee based, multiple task initiatives
   • Current State: whole with 3 focus areas – keeping everything fluent
     1. Awards: (2025-26)
        1. Exceptional Support Staff Award ($4000.00)
        2. Spartan Shout Out Station ($1000.00)
        3. Melting Moments ($2340.86)
     2. Communications
     3. Community Services

5. Ask Dean for Update on One Team One Health
   • Are One Team One Health updates exclusively through the Dean’s update/message from president?
     • Research Network and Health Updates don’t necessarily impact us
     • The MSU School of Medicine will house both CHM and COM
       • Each will need a Dean because it is a requirement of accrediting bodies: full responsibility of running the school
         • Academic/student affairs in each silo, but clinical/advancement can be in the middle bucket
         • Proposed structure is not final
       • Board of Trustees needs to vote on this proposal
       • AAMC and AOMCAS and LCME need to vet
         1. Doesn’t think LCME would put us on probation
       • Job security
         • Been told by the provost that this isn’t driven by desire for efficiency/cost cutting
         • Once Voice/One Executive Dean who deals with all the transactional relationships- Henry Ford and Corewell
         • Some Chairs may lose title, but doesn’t want us to worry about losing jobs altogether
       • First 4-5 years should be investment in College of Health Sciences, Research network maybe less so
       • There may be a 7-figure donation for a new building, possibly behind radiology
       • Community Campus structure is not changing-that’s tied to accreditation
     • Voice of Staff:
       • How will the potential merger affect all support staff/contracted employee of MSU/CHM jobs
         • There is still a lot that needs to be decided, with a lot of layers between faculty/staff
       • Will the contracted employees of MSU/CHM be absorbed by the Green and White Checks; concern brought up due to the One Team, One Health verdict coming soon
         • No, don’t anticipate this changing anytime soon.
       • With the unknown changes in the curriculum and the needs for the communities to move forward, but no final goal and objectives being produced. How are we handling the outcome of overburden and burnout.
         • For now nothing for the curriculum changes
         • The last thing to change would be the curriculum, and it is very stable

Next meeting for Whole Committee: March 26^th at 4:00pm

Attendees: Liz Stanton, Tae Blair, Connie Piasecki, Steven Baranski, Ryan Johnston, Nicki Brown, Ryan Johnston, Rachael Vettese 

Regrets: Nadija Kadunic, Carol Parker, Karla Cody, Mar Dunstone, Quinn Sawyer 

• Brief Overview of New Committee Structure 
  • Program Coordinator will add people to tracking sheet who agree to action items discussed in meeting and will check in or committee member let PC know it is complete. 
  • Connie will work with Tae throughout the rest of the year 

• Vote: 
  • Final Vote: Motion Carries. 8 in favor, 0 against 
  • Med News, CHM Comm being the gatekeeper of High Yield for Faculty/student/staff information to upload 
    • Nadija is the point of contact  
  • Idea is to eliminate DSSAC newsletter  
  • DSSAC List serv for staff only, direct communication 

•  Fund Approval for 25-26 and 26-27 
  • Account provided
• Vote: 
  • Final Vote: Motion Carries. 8 in favor, 0 against 
  • Spartan Shout Out Station – Staff Appreciation 
    • Process 
      • Intent is to give support staff the opportunity to acknowledge hard work of peers 
      • Nominators submit submissions via survey (nominators will receive an auto email thanking for submission) 
      • Awardees will be randomly selected 
      • Purpose is positive affirmation  
      • Original idea was that each campus would take care of own basket (no shipping), now it is 2 per quarter 
    • Questions:  
      • Do donations count against monetary amount, NO  
      • Are items all MSU related, NO  
    • To Do: 
      • Create Email template to populate information  
      • Blurb for our Website 
      • Add to March Med News Shout Out 
      • Ryan and Nadija will work on language 
      • Occurs April-July 
      • Aim to give out baskets in June 
    • Flyer
    • Timeline for submission for the 2025-26 for CHM Comm
      • 2 nominations 
      • 1 nominator 
    • Fund Approval - $300.00 from DSSAC fund
      • Must use treasure report 
      • Must be gift basket without $ amount 
• Vote:
  • Final Vote: Motion Carries. 8 in favor, 0 against 
  • Melting Moments – Staff Appreciation 
    • Process 
      • We will only provide ice cream coupons for the local stores in the communities  
      • Dairy Queen never responded, so we cannot send anything for hybrid/remote employees  
    • Timeline for submission for the 2025-2026  
      • Prep in April 
      • Distribute first 3 weeks in May 
      • Reconcile at end of May  
      • Reconciliation needs to happen within 30 days for controller’s office  
    • Fund Approval: $2000.00 for DSSAC fund
      • Must use treasure report 
      • Distribution log 
    • Must provide voucher without $ amount 
      • Flint rep: Tae Blair 
      • Detroit rep: Liz Stanton 
      • South East Michigan rep: Liz Stanton 
      • Traverse City rep: Nicki Brown 
      • Grand Rapids rep (need 2): Nadija Kudanic 
      • Upper Peninsula rep: Connie Piasecki 
      • East Lansing rep (need 2): Liz Stanton 
      • Midland rep: Steve Baranski 
• Open Discussion: 
  • Liz feels like this has been the most productive year, and there is a lot of positive energy/appreciation moving forward 
  • Adjusting DSSAC the last two months will continue to make the committee successful next year  

Present: Tae Blair, Liz Stanton, Connie Piasecki, Rachael Vettese, Mar Dunstone, Ryan Johnston, Steven Baranski, Karla Cody, Nadija Kadunic, Quinn Sawyer, Carol Parker 

Regrets: Nicki Brown, Heather Soule, April Stafford  

• DSSAC Tracking Sheet
  • Melting Moments 
  • Program is for staff at all eight campuses  
  • Communication for this will go out tomorrow (4/24) 
  • Make sure you log which vouchers were given out and email Liz Stanton so she has a record 
  • UP Team may go as a group for ice cream 
  • Follow-up with Alex: Can vouchers be left on desk of employees not in office? Liz will follow-up 
• Shout Out Station
  • Ryan discovered a computer program that can randomly generate winners and takes out winners when you spin again: https://wheelofnames.com/  
  • Winners can receive vouchers, so we are only charged if the voucher is used  
  • Possible deal with University Stores: https://spartanspiritshop.msu.edu/  
  • Alex Scott- fiscal officer: scottal1@msu.edu 
  • More to come on how to award people (since we cannot give out money) 
  • Once Shout Outs are finalized, they will be added to the website and an email will be sent out to CHM from DSSAC 
• Staff Awards, extended to 4/30, email sent 
  • We have received nominations  
  • These nominations will be reviewed by DSSAC 
  • Liz Stanton will send out more information soon on how to review materials/make decisions  
  • If you have nominated someone or been nominated, you will be excused  
• Website Updates
  • Nadija Kadunic has created an upgraded webpage that includes more details about the committee and what we do, how to sign up, how to submit feedback to the dean, update
  • Tasks: Create a Qualtrics form for people to submit feedback, questions, concerns for DSSAC to review 
    • Send quarterly email to CHM staff reminding them we will meet with Dean soon, so they can submit feedback if they want it relayed
• Financial
  • Melting Moments is our only line of expenses at this time, this is in Teams 
  • This is the first year DSSAC has had a budget 
  • Future Ideas: Get Together annually (or every other year) as DSSAC or staff recognition  
• New Member Call for Nomination
• Mar Committee 
• DACCC 
  • Student Concerns: Bathroom signs in Grand Rapids 
  • One Team One Health 
    • LCME feedback has been submitted- a DCI will likely be triggered  
    • Idea is to have various steering committees  
      • People from effected colleges will serve   

Next Meeting: May 28th, 4:00PM