Council Solicits P&S Concerns by Anne Dolan More than 130 Professional and Scientific employees attended an open forum and luncheon hosted April 6 by representatives of the P&S Council. The forum was intended to solicit P&S employees' opinions and concerns. Those who attended joined the discussion of their choice on topics such as salary issues; professional development; performance evaluations; dismissal and reorganization policies; degree requirements for P&S positions; and the consistency of policies regarding sick leave, vacation and taking classes. Reports from the discussions will be sent to those who attended the luncheon and summaries of each discussion topic will appear in the May issue of the P&S Newsletter. NEWLY ELECTED In other business, Jan Flick reported on new council members elected in March. Following are new members, who begin their terms in June: --Representing academic and research: Jim Chrisinger, manager of international projects, economics department; Nancy Nisbett, program coordinator, Office of Sponsored Programs; Karen Oerter, assistant scientist, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development; and Richard Skwarek, director of the Center for Professional and Executive Development, College of Business. --Representing business and finance: Jan Flick (re-elected), benefits specialist, Personnel Office; and Norman Hill, manager, Central Stores. --Representing IPRT/Ames Laboratory: Tamara Bloomer, assistant scientist, Ames Lab; and Amanda Clark, associate scientist, Center for Nondestructive Evaluation. --Representing extension: Jim Meek, special projects manager, families extension; and Shawn Shouse, extension field specialist in Montgomery County, Red Oak. --Representing external affairs: Linda Kitchel (re-elected), manager of prospects research, ISU Foundation. Due to growth in the number of P&S employees in the last year, one additional position was created in the area of academic and research, bringing the total number of council representatives to 29, or one for approximately every 67 P&S employees. In addition to electing council members, P&S voters approved a constitutional amendment to seat new members at the last meeting of the fiscal year instead of the last meeting of the academic year. Council president Katy Rice announced that representatives of the six units that received grants this semester for student retention and recruitment projects will give summary reports at the council's June 1 meeting. She said President Martin Jischke, who funded the grants, also hopes to attend. MISSION STATEMENT Council member Ralph Knox, who chaired a committee to draft a mission statement for the council, presented the committee's proposal. The council will vote on it at its next meeting. It reads: The Iowa State University Professional and Scientific (P&S) Council serves as a resource and an advocate for P&S employees. The Council identifies the needs of its constituents, provides information and advice in response to those needs and recommends to the administration policies and procedures that benefit P&S employees and assist in fulfilling the mission of the university. The next meeting of the P&S Council is Thursday, May 4, in the Memorial Union Gold Room. The open forum begins at 12:15 p.m. _____ contact: Anne Dolan, Internal Communications, (515) 294-7065 updated: 4-21-95