Inside Iowa State
Dec. 12, 1997
P&S Council
Council: Separate affirmative action, human services duties
by Anne Dolan
After much discussion at its Dec. 4 meeting, the Professional and Scientific Council recommended to President Martin Jischke that the positions of human resource services director and university affirmative action officer be separated. Jischke asked for a recommendation from the council. Carla Espinoza has been wearing both hats since August 1996 (the affirmative action hat on an interim basis).
While council sentiment is very favorable to Espinoza's performance in both roles, some council members said it's critical to consider the positions, not the personalities filling them.
Some argued that the skills required for each of the positions are similar; therefore it's reasonable to expect other individuals could serve in both capacities as well. They also argued in favor of keeping both titles with one person to "accomplish more with less resources."
Council President Rob Bowers said Espinoza's recommendation is that she continue to serve in both capacities.
But others argued that it's important to separate the two to avoid potential conflict of interest situations -- or even a perception of conflict of interest -- and to maintain a system of checks and balances. Council member Tamara Bloomer said a separate affirmative action position may positively impact student and employee recruitment and retention efforts. Iowa State should separate the two positions and send the message that affirmative action, which is under attack across the country, is important on this campus, she said.
The recommendation to separate ISU's affirmative action leadership from the human resource services director position passed by a 23-5 margin.
Following are other meeting highlights:
- In her monthly report to the council, Espinoza said the
Board of Regents office has sent word it intends to enforce
"more rigorously" the university policy against red circling
employees. A red-circled employee is one whose salary exceeds
the maximum in that position's pay matrix. Espinoza said ISU
has about 60 red-circled employees, most of whom are beyond
their pay ranges for market equity reasons. She said those
who are red-circled will receive raises only when the pay
ranges are adjusted higher.
- Espinoza also reported that the focus groups have been
completed in the P&S classification study headed by Dorothy
Sally. Espinoza said an overriding issue that emerged from
the sessions is that P&S employees don't have enough
information about their own positions or the classification
system to know how they can improve their situations or seek
promotions and other positions at Iowa State.
Next, Sally will prioritize the issues raised in the focus groups. By Jan. 1, she hopes to name teams to do in-depth studies of the issues. Team members will be P&S employees with expertise in the issue.
- Council member Bob Basham, representing external affairs,
has resigned from the university. Monica Porter, ISU
Foundation, will fill his council spot until the regular
election in March. Council member Stephenie Elliot,
representing academic and research, was elected to fill
Basham's at-large spot on the council's executive
committee.
- Sally is developing an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
section in human resource services' Web site for P&S
employees. More questions are sought and can be sent to
council member Danette Kenne, e-mail: dkenne@iastate.edu.
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