University Council Business: Summary of Progress

Submit a topic for consideration.

Term	Topic	Summary of Result
Summer 2022	Topic Submissions	Spreadsheet of topic submission status available at /uc/documents/documents-of-interest/TS status spreadsheet for web.xlsx
Spring 2020	Professional Development Courses	Instructor-led and on-demand training opportunities are available at http://www.uakron.edu/training. The LinkedIn Learning Pilot will provide professional development courses. An IT Trainer was hired in April 2019 (IT Training Team was cut in 2015).
Fall 2019	Faculty/Staff Parking	The Parking Services Director recommends making no changes to the existing parking lot designations or campus loop route at this time. Parking and Transportation Services monitors parking lot availability and weighs rider feedback, making adjustments to the shuttle route when warranted and feasible, and will continue to do so during the winter months. Any changes to the shuttle route should be driven by this normal process and indicated by the data under review.
Fall 2019	Speeding in and around Lot 6 and Vine Street	New speed bumps have been acquired. The new installation will feature an improved design that should function better for removal and replacement before and after the snow plowing season.
Fall 2019	Student Recreation and Wellness Services Accommodations for 60+	The SRWS Director shared the concern with the staff so it can be followed up with the trainers. All of the group exercise instructors and personal trainers are required to have and maintain national certification in their specific disciplines. These trainings, as well as our in house training, include modification techniques of exercises. Modifications go beyond age to be broader in scope to include mobility impairments which can affect all ages. SRWS provides two inclusive changing rooms and adjoining lockers. During lunch times we have shortened classes to be more accommodating to those looking to participate over the lunch hour.
Fall 2019	Wellness Incentive Program	The cost of a stand-alone incentive program is cost prohibitive in terms of staff time and financial backing. Both the Recreation and Wellness Committee and the Talent Development and HR Committee are committed to updating the Wellness Resources website and the dissemination of information about available Wellness Resources on campus on a regular basis.
Spring 2019	Computer Kiosks	All computer kiosks located in public areas of university buildings must require users to log-in with university approval credentials, with the exception of the public open access computer kiosks in Bierce Library and the Science & Technology Library.
Spring 2019	Food Pantry	Campus Cupboards are available in the Jean Hower Taber Student Union, Polsky CAST Advising, Simmons Hall Lobby (ZipAssist). Marketing displays and flyers have been developed.
Spring 2019	Free Speech	The Use of Campus Spaces by Outside Groups policy is posted in the Digest when appropriate.
Spring 2019	Nursing Mother's Locations	There are three nursing mother’s locations in the School of Law, Student Recreation and Wellness Center and Shrank Hall South. Capitol Planning and Facilities Management will add locations where appropriate to future building renovations.
Spring 2019	Sick Leave Bank	A voluntary Leave Bank Program was implemented in July 2019. The Leave Bank Program allows a donor to contribute accrued sick leave to the Bank and a recipient to use donated leave hours from the Bank.
Spring 2019	Support Pollinators	A trial pollinator garden will be established on the former site of Gallucci Hall in Spring 2020.
Spring 2010	Web Accessibility	UA has a large and complicated web presence and we are focusing on continuous improvement, making accessibility part of our ongoing work.
Fall 2018	Renewable Energy	25% of UA’s electricity will come from green sources.
Fall 2018	Food Pantry	A Pop-up Food Pantry was established in the Jean Hower Taber Student Union.
Spring 2018	Age Friendly University	UA is listed on the Age Friendly University Global Network website.
Spring 2018	Retention of At-Risk Students	The Student Engagement and Success Committee provided information regarding the institutional use of data analytics for retention of at-risk students. Tower Insights (which works in tandem with Oracle Analytics existing on campus) is expected to be implemented in Spring 2019.
Spring 2018	University Achievement Awards	The University of Akron Achievement Awards are an annual set of awards given to faculty, staff, and contract professionals. These achievement awards recognize contributions in teaching, research, mentoring students, supporting the student experience, community engagement, service and commitment to diversity. The UC Awards Committee will serve as the body that selects the award recipients. The recipients will be recognized at an annual event in April/May.
Fall 2017	Age Friendly University	President Wilson recommended adoption of the initiative.
Fall 2017	Organic Waste Recycling	Improved environmental stewardship and reestablishment of a food-scrap recycling program at Robertson Dining Hall to meet student expectations (USG legislation calling for a reduction in University food waste).
Fall 2017	Water Fountains	UA has updated standards with applicable for replacing water fountains with water bottle style fountains.
Spring 2017	Food Pantry	Created the Akron Street Card, a guide to community resources including food assistance, meal sites, medical information, as well as home and health care. The information is also available on the Campus Wellness website.
Spring 2017	Mobile Application Redesign	Consultations will be held with Purchasing and the VP of Finance and Administration to determine feasibility of moving forward.
Spring 2017	Strategic Planning and Budgeting Process	President Wilson recommended adoption and implementation of this process.
Spring 2017	Zipmail (e-newsletter for students)	University Communications and Marketing made changes to Zipmail to make it work better on mobile devices.
Fall 2016	Principal Investigator (PI) IDC Funds	The PI - IDC carryover amounts were fully released to the Principal Investigators by December 23, 2016.
Spring 2016	Tobacco Free Policy	The University became a tobacco- and nicotine-free campus on July 1, 2017.
Spring 2016	University Capital Request	University Council endorsed the capitol request that was submitted to the Ohio Board of Regents.
Fall 2015	Fee Remission for Part-time Staff Dependents	Rule 3359-26-02 was revised on August 16, 2016 to permit part-time staff members the ability to transfer their unused fee remission benefit for credit courses to part-time staff member's eligible dependent.
Fall 2015	University Wellness Statement	President Scarborough endorsed the statement as an overarching philosophy.
Spring 2015	E-Cigarettes	The College of Health Professions has implemented a non-smoking policy (which includes e-cigarettes) for areas that are within the sole control of the college. The college policy does not extend to common areas used by more than one department.
Spring 2015	Leave Bank Policy	The University Council sent a recommendation to President Scarborough in support of creating a leave bank for non-bargaining unit employees.
Spring 2015	Smoking	A communication is sent to the campus community at the beginning of each semester asking smokers to comply with Ohio's Smoke Free Workplace Law. UA forbids smoking in any enclosed area, including buildings, parking decks and University Vehicles. No smoking is permitted within 25 feet of an entranceway, window or ventilation system of any University building or enclosed area.
Fall 2014	Completion Plan for UA	The Completion Plan was endorsed by the Board of Trustees
Fall 2014	Prayer Room on Campus	All student groups have an opportunity to request space at multiple locations across campus.
Spring 2014	Nursing Mother's Locations	The University currently has two room available for nursing mothers at the Recreation and Wellness Center and at the School of Law. The Director of Campus Planning and Space Utilization will review Bierce Library and the Student Union to identify additional locations in the central part of campus.
Spring 2014	Building Upkeep of Schrank Hall and Mary Gladwin Hall	Vice President Ted Curtis and Assistant Vice President of Physical Facilities Joe Gregor addressed the concerns.
Spring 2014	Folk Hall Repairs	Vice President Ted Curtis and Assistant Vice President of Physical Facilities Joe Gregor addressed the concerns.
Spring 2014	Internet Connectivity	Students, faculty, staff and those with UA credentials should only access the Rootown and UARH (residence hall) networks. The UAguest network is intended for use by guests and information has been restricted to protect copyrighted and licensed material.
Spring 2013	Customized Text Books	Standard textbooks are less expensive than a custom version; standard textbooks can be resold but custom cannot. The deans have been asked to share these findings with their faculty to see if they might consider other options.
Spring 2013	Student Recreation and Wellness Center (SRWC) during football games	The SRWC will be open on home football game days for the 2013 football season.
Fall 2012	Environment Sustainability	UA's Board of Trustees approved a proposal to install solar panels on the roof of the Louis & Freda Stile Athletics Field House. It is conservatively estimated that this project will save UA at least $1 million over the next 20 years. While student fees will not be reduced, future risk of escalating fees have been directly mitigated because of this project. A study done by the VP of Capital Planning concluded that generating energy through the use of wind turbines was too costly and physically obtrusive.
Fall 2012	Faculty/Staff Hiring	The Talent Development and Human Resources Committee looked at UA Staffing from 1997-present and created a report that includes the following components: historical comparison, context for growth, and comparison with national and Ohio peers.
Fall 2012	Fee Remission for Part-Time Staff Dependents	The Budget and Finance Committee and the Talent Development and Human Resources Committee jointly determined that in the current financial situation, they could not recommend that the existing benefits package be expanded to include dependents of part-time staff.
Fall 2012	Health Care Benefits for Part-time (non-teaching) Employees	The Talent Development and Human Resources Standing Committee provided the following information: UA employs 159 part-time regular (non-teaching) employees and 239 temporary part-time employees. When part-time employees are hired, it is made clear that the position is part-time and there is no indication that it will become full-time in the future. Health insurance is offered to part-time employees that work at least half time; 100% of the cost is paid by the employee.
Fall 2012	Student Family Housing and Day Care	The Student Engagement and Success Committee provided the following information: UA does not offer family housing on campus due to cost and liability issues. UA relies on providers near campus to provide family housing (i.e., Fir Hill Towers, Ellis Properties and Summit County Job and Family Services). UA's Child Development Center provides day care options.
Fall 2012	University Administration Hiring	The Talent Development and Human Resources Committee looked at UA Staffing from 1997-present and created a report that includes the following components: historical comparison, context for growth, and comparison with national and Ohio peers.
Spring 2012	Budget Information Request	University leaders held three campus forums to present a comprehensive budget analysis of the last ten years, including plans for the FY13 budget.
Spring 2012	Interdisciplinary Symposium	The Budget and Finance Committee recommended that the University members interested in this activity seek funding from external sources (i.e., corporate sponsors, The University of Akron Research Foundation, The National Science Foundation and other agencies).
Spring 2012	Recognition of Service on University Council	UC Steering Committee sent annual recognition letters to UC members; this will be done on an annual basis.

Note: University Council convened its initial organizational meeting on November 22, 2011