Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

September 13, 2002

Council endorses mentor program for women

by Anne Krapfl
Members of the Professional and Scientific Council's peer advisory committee will work with staff at the Margaret Sloss Women's Center to coordinate a peer mentor program for P&S women, under a motion approved by council members at their Sept. 5 meeting.

The voluntary program will match women mentors and mentees according to goals and desired outcomes selected on application forms. As proposed, the program will begin this fall and run for an academic year; mentoring partners will spend at least two hours together each month, in addition to attending other workshops or events.

Council president Rex Heer said the program is a career development opportunity and especially is intended to help women in the lower P&S ranks (P-11 to P-14 grade levels). Women fill an overwhelming majority of the jobs in those ranks, he said. Career advancement and retention of employees are the long-term goals of the mentoring program.

To apply to the program, as a mentor or mentee, women should contact Penny Rice, director of the women's center, 4-4154.

In other reports:

Human resource services director Carla Espinoza said 15 laid-off P&S employees so far have received vouchers for out-placement assistance at Worklife Design, Ankeny. At least six actually have used the services of Worklife Design. ISU's contract with the company runs through May 2003.
Provost Ben Allen, during his remarks at the council's noon open forum, said Iowa State's proposed Support for the Arrival of Children policy was not presented to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, this summer, pending more research on some cost analysis questions from the board office. He said he believes the proposal will be ready for submittal to the regents in January or February. The policy outlines employees' leave rights and responsibilities when children are born or adopted into their families.
Heer announced that the P&S tuition reimbursement program again this year will reimburse eligible employees 100 percent for up to three credits per semester. This fall's tuition increase had threatened to set the reimbursement level back to around 75 percent, he said. The budgeted amount for the program this year is just under $147,000. The provost, president and vice president for business and finance offices have committed to finding the additional dollars needed, which could be as much as $40,000, depending on how many apply and qualify for reimbursement.

The council's next meeting begins at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room.