DEAN’S COUNCIL MINUTES: March 18

A meeting of the Dean’s Council was held on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., in the Dean’s Conference Room.

Present: Peter Blackmer, Birdie MacLennan, Nancy Bercaw, Jeff Marshall and Jeanene Light

Absent: Mara Saule, Paul Philbin, Keith Gresham, Selene Colburn

The meeting was held in the form of updates around the table.

I. Jeff Marshall discussed the need to have a library presence at the Student Research Conference April 17 at Davis Center. Selene is aware of the situation and will share with the Communications Team. Jeff further talked about the idea of UVM Libraries’ sponsoring a research prize. The Council will continue to pursue the idea at the next meeting, including what the criteria could be for such a multidisciplinary unit. Jeff also mentioned that the leak in special collections, which dictated the move of many reference materials, is still being resolved by University engineers. Also, the Billing’s project will be presented formally to the Board of Trustees in May.

II. Peter Blackmer wanted libraries employees to be aware of a Continuing Education Summer University promotional event being held in Bailey/Howe on Thursday, March 20, from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Café. Peter also wanted to remind directors that the time for initiating actions on next year’s faculty promotions is nigh. The process is long and should begin this summer.

III. Birdie provided CMS updates:

a. A budget consultant, Robert Clearly from Syracuse University, is coming on Monday, March 24 for a day and a half. The purpose of his visit is “to develop ‘best practice’ strategies for the design of a new budget model that is appropriate for the UVM Libraries. Examine potential to align budgeting and accounting practices between the libraries vis-à-vis Voyager and PeopleSoft. Maximize workflow efficiencies. Enable financial modeling that facilitates monthly reports for tracking appropriations, expenditures and balances as UVL (UVM Libraries), as well as for individual units (broad question, but ease of report functions by budget design is the goal).” Detailed information about Robert’s visit can be found at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgb55c24_43dxfp33hd

b. The third floor weeding and redesign project, which is making space for the new Writing in the Disciplines depart, is underway conceptually.

IV. Nancy told the Council that Mara will be hosting a staff-only luncheon on Thursday, April 17 to talk with staff members about work in the libraries.