Archived Suggestions :: February 2009

Suggestion — 1171

Subject — Course Cancellations/Changes

Forwarded to — Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Suggestion / Comment

This semester I registered for an Arts & Sciences face to face course. I purchased the required textbook online only to find out the course was cancelled four days before the first class day. I was now registered in an online course that required a different textbook. May I suggest students be notified when their courses are cancelled. If I had not checked my class schedule in PeopleSoft, I would have been oblivious to the changes and would not have ordered the second textbook before the first class day. Since I now have to return the first textbook, please inform me how and when I will be reimbursed for return shipping costs? In the future, when notifying students of course cancellations and/or changes, information on reimbursement of applicable charges should also be provided.

Response

You have made an excellent suggestion! I will share it with the Deans and hopefully students will not have this type frustration in the future.

Suggestion — 1172

Subject — Staff Celebrations

Forwarded to — Director, Human Resources

Suggestion / Comment

We have gotten a number of invitations lately to baby showers. why are we inviting all staff to these showers when many of us don't even know or associate directly with the individual? Also, most of these showers are during work hours and last anywhere from 1 1/2 — 2 hours. It is nice to recognize new parents but inviting "everyone" and using this amount of work time to have a shower with so many people involved seems inappropriate.

Response

I have put this suggestion on the agenda for the next Cabinet meeting (February 25) for discussion. In addition, we will discuss monthly birthday parties, appropriate use of email system, etc. Thank you for your suggestion.

Suggestion — 1173

Subject — UHV Grounds

Forwarded to — Director, Facilities

Suggestion / Comment

I'd like to see the groundskeepers use an old fashioned rake instead of a gas guzzling, noise polluting leaf blower. If you were really trying to "go green" clippings, leaves, etc would be collected for a compost pile to mulch the grounds. You should also grow your own flowers instead of buying them.

Response

In response to the environment, we purchase hand equipment that meets the California emissions code. (The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) most stringent standard for power equipment.) We have eliminated all diesel equipment and we are looking at purchasing a propane lawn mower for our next lawnmower purchase. We have not purchased fertilizer or mulch this year as we are collecting our clippings and leaves to create mulch and compost. This week we processed 300 cubic yards of trimmings into mulch. Currently we are growing approximately 30% of our seasonal color flowers.

Suggestion — 1174

Subject — Employee Training

Forwarded to — Coordinator, Training & Continuing Education

Suggestion / Comment

There have been some good training announcements lately, but most have required either a half-day or at least 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Many of us just can't "clock out" for that amount of time. Can't we limit some of this training to 1-2 hours max? for example, why is the email training 3 1/2 hours?

Response

I am still new here and it is taking me a little time to get used to the different culture. Probably surprising to you, but I am used to having people in training for two to four days straight although that will surely not work here. We have been working to shorten the amount of time spent in training and I haven’t quite got it right yet. But, I AM working on it.

Unfortunately, some courses can’t be shortened because of the depth of the material discussed and to allow practice time so the new information and skills can be used effectively in your work area. However, some can be shortened and still be effective. It is highly likely, for example, the "Managing Your Email" is one of those courses that could be shortened and I will definitely look at that when it is offered again.

I know your time is short, but I would enjoy meeting with you to discuss your ideas on best training course lengths, times offered, days offered, when in the semester training should be offered, best ways to reach participants to let them know about courses, courses that should be offered, etc. You (and anyone else interested in helping us be more effective) can reach me at penryn@uhv.edu  to set up a meeting to share your ideas.

Suggestion — 1175

Subject — Faculty Workload

Forwarded to — Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Suggestion / Comment

This semester a strange thing happened at UHV. Because the Administration did not hire enough faculty, existing faculty were asked to teach an extra class, for which they would get release time in the future. Others had their class size increased from the 'cap' of 35 to 50. These later people received nothing. Yet, if a person has 15 more students, that is virtually the same as somebody teaching a small extra class. Similar circumstances, and yet two different reward systems. Or lack thereof for those who are teaching 50. Those who are teaching the larger class sizes have less time, but must continue to keep at their normal pace for research and service. Some form of reward system should be made for faculty who have had their workload increased while the University saves money because they did not hire faculty in time.

Response

Growth in student enrollment provides both opportunities and challenges for academic programs. In these times of fiscal constraint the Deans work hard to accommodate growth and faculty preferences. In some fields, accreditation requirements mandate that full-time faculty teach a high percentage of students. In some other areas, qualified adjuncts are not available. It is a fact that class size will not be "capped" at 35 students in the future. Deans have arranged with some faculty to teach overloads this semester and usually they are paid for the extra course. In one School other arrangements were required but in the future, the faculty in that School will also be paid for the overload that semester.

Suggestion — 1176

Subject — eSmart

Forwarded to — Sr. Director, Information Technology

Suggestion / Comment

eSmart System In the previous web version, we can use eSmart System for our certificates. Just wondering, where is the eSmart System in the new web page and where can we find our previous works? Thank you!

Response

Unfortunately, we have discontinued our license with the eSmart application due to increased costs (55% more annually) and continued low usage by students, faculty, and staff. During the 2 years of access, less than 2% of our students used the training application, and with the steep increase in costs, it was decided by the university’s administration, after consulting with the Student Senate, that those funds could be used more effectively elsewhere. As for a record of your previous work, contact Sherrie Kroll at krolls@uhv.edu  and she can provide you with that information. If you have further questions concerning this issue, contact me, Joe Ferguson, at fergusonj@uhv.edu.

Suggestion — 1177

Subject — Staff Celebrations

Forwarded to — Director, Human Resources

Suggestion / Comment

In response to the posting in the suggestion box concerning baby showers, birthday parties, etc, I'd like to voice my concern that the few complaints we receive will result in cancellation of these events. Most of the staff spend a very short time at any event. This is a chance to network and get to know more of the staff and congratulate the honoree. These are come and go events, so the host and honoree are the only ones that stay the full time. We all get emails from different organizations, such as Student Organizations, other announcements, etc, that are not strictly work related. Some of us may choose to participate, however you may choose to opt out. It just takes a stroke to delete an email.

Response

I have put this suggestion on the agenda for the next Cabinet meeting (February 25) for discussion. Thank you for your suggestion.

Suggestion — 1178

Subject — Building Signage

Forwarded to — Director, Facilities

Suggestion / Comment

Since the UW building does not have a front desk receptionist at either of the main doors, why is proper signage to different locations in UW not available? Many times, people looking for events in the Alcorn Auditorium are left wandering the hallways until someone assist them. Wouldn't a map (like in the malls) be more appropriate and helpful to visitors?

Response

A directory is located at each entrance to the West building, and at the center of the Center building adjacent to the stairs. It was decided many years ago that our buildings were not large enough to require maps. If student, faculty, or staff council now determines that we need maps, that suggestion can be forwarded to me or the budget committee about this necessity.

Suggestion — 1179

Subject — UHV Website

Forwarded to — Web Services Manager

Suggestion / Comment

Please fix our website. I work here and I know there is a page with frequently ask questions, FAQ, but I cannot find it. Did you remove it? If it's that hard to find for someone who works here, how difficult is it for current or future students?

Response

Thank you for your suggestion.
Many departments and some of the schools have an FAQ feature in their web pages. Can you tell us which one you’re looking for specifically? Or what type of questions you’re trying to get answered?

Suggestion — 1180

Subject — Motorcycle Parking

Forwarded to — Director, Business Services

Suggestion / Comment

Can UHV enforce motorcyle drivers to park in motorcylce designated parking space (or at least faculty & staff). I don't understand why you should not, if not give them a ticket for parking in a regular parking space, as I am quite certain you would give a regular car a ticket if found parked in a motorcyle space. Solution: If not do away with them, because rarely do we see one motorcyle parked in them, and I know we have several on campu in our faculty and staff reserved parking.

Response

No, we don’t plan to enforce parking of motorcycles in these designated spots, just as we would not make individuals with disabled plates park in handicapped spots, if they choose not to. And yes, we will ticket in vehicle that parks in a spot designated for motorcycles. We do see cyclists using the spots but not as much as we hoped. Since they are underutilized, we will eliminate one of the two spots, making it available for vehicles.

Suggestion — 1181

Subject — Employee Training

Forwarded to — User Services Administrator

Suggestion / Comment

I'd like to see more training on Outlook, Excel, Adobe (for creating forms), Frontpage or whatever webpage creation software UHV uses, and PeopleSoft. I need training that I can use in my job to help my department become more professional and efficient

Response

The university is aware of the need for training to keep up with the ever-changing software applications. And, the university spends a lot of time evaluating the training we are offering. So, we appreciate your input.

Let me first explain what is currently offered. Training is offered every semester for Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook, Excel, Word and Powerpoint. IT is currently working with the office of Training and Continuing Education on the spring training schedule. You should see this published very soon.

FrontPage, our earlier web authoring tool, is available to get training on, if it is already installed on your office PC. However, SharePoint Designer is the new web authoring tool, and can be installed by calling Help Desk and requesting it.

Training for both SharePoint Designer and FrontPage are best served in small groups, or one-on-one, to accommodate the needs of each department, the learning curve of each employee, and to ensure specific areas of web development are met. Please contact Marci Wallace, Web Services Manager, for assistance with training on either software, regardless of your campus location.

Peoplesoft training is currently available by contacting one of the following:
Finance: Vangie Kolesar
HR: Karen Pantel
Student Administration: Anyone can go to the www.uh.edu/peoplesoft link and find this training info for PeopleSoft.
Formal training is offered once a year or more for query training. Otherwise, departments provide their own training. There are discussions to set up some training sessions for staff and already do for faculty when needed. Admissions also has a few hand-outs and are always there to assist.

If you have a particular training in mind, first contact either Nancy Penry with office of Training and Continuing Education, or IT. We try to maintain at least 5 students per class. So, if you can recruit at least that many, there is a better chance that the class will go forward. If we consistently do not meet the minimums, our policy is to discontinue the training and recommend that training be sought outside the university. As always, one on one assistance can be provided for simple matters.

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