UO Card promises convenience, service
The cards are on the table, and by the end of May, Trent Spradling will have helped the university draw out the best one.
Spradling, who heads the UO Card office, says he expects the university to choose by May 31 one of 13 vendors who submitted proposals for supplying all members of the UO community with an all-purpose identification/library/bus pass card.
"We aim to begin by issuing the new cards to the 2,600 new students who will be on campus during July for IntroDUCKtion, and we also plan to begin replacing the cards of all current faculty and staff this summer," he says. The target is to issue new cards to the whole campus by the end of October.
While the final appearance of the card is still evolving, Spradling says the card will include several basic features. These are employee or student name, identification number and bar code on the front, and a signature block and two magnetic stripes on the back--one for vending and one for eligibility purposes.
The cost to implement this first phase of the UO Card program, about $60,000, is being funded from existing resources and will amortized over six years, Spradling says.
"We can do this because it will be cheaper to purchase the equipment and produce the new cards than it will be to continue making the existing ID cards," he says.
Combining lots of functions on one credit card-sized card, the new UO Card is intended to improve service and convenience for the entire campus. It is being designed to take advantage of current technology while allowing the addition of new capabilities as they arise in the future.
Employees no longer will need to put Lane Transit District stickers on the back of their ID cards to turn them into free bus passes. Spradling says LTD will accept the new cards as it moves to a new system to verify user eligibility.
Card readers to be installed in various locations around campus will use an integrated copy of employee and student data bases located in the UO Card office. Information will be updated periodically throughout the year to account for employment or enrollment status changes.
In a later implementation phase, the cards could add a computer chip, turning them into "smart cards" that would be capable of more sophisticated transactions by users.
"In this first phase, we're trying to make implementation as painless as possible by retaining the capabilities of current student and employee ID cards while offering the benefit of having to carry only one card," Spradling says.
The Photo ID office in Room 12 of the Erb Memorial Union is being remodeled to accommodate the personal computers, video cameras and card printers that the new identification system will require. Parts of the new system will be portable, so staff can visit residence halls and offices to make the conversion to the UO Card as convenient as possible.
The new cards, which have several built-in safeguards to foil counterfeiting, will be issued at no cost to current employees. Spradling estimates it will take about three minutes to photograph each person and produce a card.
"While we're certainly not the first university to offer an all-in-one ID card, we're working to make the UO Card a unique convenience and value to the campus," Spradling says. For more information, call 6-2013.
Ratification vote due on new contract
The Oregon State System of Higher Education (OSSHE) and the Oregon Public Employes Union (OPEU) have begun procedures expected to result in a ratification vote by the end of May on a new four-year collective bargaining agreement announced May 3, says Eric Buckles, Human Resources.
The tentative pact, which expires June 30, 1999, was hammered out by OPEU and OSSHE negotiators after a 19-hour marathon bargaining session conducted under the auspices of state mediators Nancy Brown and Bob Bell.
Highlights of the tentative accord include:
This is the first contract the parties have bargained since SB271 authorized OSSHE to bargain directly with classified employees. Prior to this, OPEU had bargained with the state for higher education employees.
"This new agreement demonstrates that the Oregon State System of Higher Education and OPEU can work together effectively to resolve tough issues," said Jeff Seekatz, chair of the union's bargaining team.
OPEU represents about 3,700 OSSHE employees. They include professional, paraprofessional, clerical, skill trades and service personnel.
Dream comes true for Ellsworth
Ruth Ellsworth's dream had always been to work as a United Nations translator.
"I think I was born with international fever, since I had such desire to travel, and I was good at foreign language when I was growing up," she says.
But her dream was put on hold as she raised seven children. Now, as an office specialist for International Education and Exchange since February 1995, her dream of working in international relations has been realized.
"This dream had been put away for so long, I had never considered it would come true in any way, shape or form. But it has.
"I just love working with the international students," she continues, "because they bring so many things into my life. I have such admiration for them. Having come a long way from home, they have bet on themselves, stepped out into the world and taken a chance that they can make it."
Ellsworth is known as the "Mom" among international students. "This office is their home base, and our basic goal is to meet their needs. So, it is really important that they know we are here, that we care and that they are welcome."
Placing her "Mom" duties aside, she does find time for herself. "I am the proverbial `jack of all trades, master of none,' " she says, as she enjoys sewing, gardening, writing and learning Japanese.
Ellsworth's personal credo comes from her church: In essential is unity, in nonessential is liberty, and in all things, charity.
"The most important thing in life is relationship and wholeness in yourself. Because those are essential, there is unity in them.
"In nonessentials," she continues, "people should be free to speak, think and express themselves. Then, we need to give each other the opportunity to be ourselves, to find that unifying wholeness within ourselves, and appreciate each other for our differences."
--COURTNEY HEDBERG, COMMUNICATIONS INTERN
Employees asked to become advocates
President Dave Frohnmayer met recently with 70 faculty and staff to plan how best to improve the odds that the state of Oregon will reinvest in higher education in the next legislative session.
Pointing to the attention higher education has received recently from government and business leaders, he suggested that becoming an advocate for the university is crucial to restoring the promise of publicly funded higher education.
"I urge all faculty and staff to speak up on behalf of reinvesting now in higher education and in the University of Oregon," he said. "We need everyone's help to get our message to current legislators and legislative candidates."
As a former legislator, the president emphasized the influence of letters from constituents and the significance of a call from the home district. He urged faculty and staff to encourage relatives and friends to write on behalf of the university and to make sure that legislators from Eastern Oregon and the Portland metropolitan area are hearing from the university's friends, too.
Frohnmayer said legislators want and need expertise in a simple, easy-to-read format on a variety of issues. He encouraged faculty to offer legislators expertise in a nonpartisan manner.
Attention to election activities such as candidate receptions becomes even more critical as a change in term limit law guarantees increased changes in legislative leadership, he noted.
Participants in the advocacy meeting pledged to adopt a legislator, write letters to the editor and contact people who would speak or write on behalf of the university. They also agreed to offer expertise, become involved in a legislative reception and visit alumni groups.
Davison Soper, Physics; David Povey, Planning, Public Policy and Management; and Paul Simonds, Anthropology, organized the meeting in cooperation with Legislative and Community Relations and the Alumni Advocates network. Povey coordinated electronic voting and group discussion. Walt Roberts of the Cumulus Group, Beaverton, provided the electronic voting gear.
To join the UO advocacy effort, call 6-5023.
Senate backs relationship policy
Members of the University Senate on May 8 gave their conditional approval to a proposed university policy prohibiting university employees from dating students or employees whom they teach or supervise. Faculty members and administrators had worked on the proposal for more than two years.
The policy states that sexual relationships between faculty and students, between staff and students and between employees are unprofessional when one party has supervisory or evaluative power over the other party. Moreover, such unprofessional behavior creates inherent conflicts of interest which may affect other members of the UO community.
Although support was widespread, several senators said the draft version places too much of a burden on alleged transgressors to prove their innocence. Senators asked for revised wording of those sections and requested another chance to look over the policy when the senate meets again in the fall.
Vice Provost Lorraine Davis told senators that President Dave Frohnmayer will review their suggestions and make any necessary changes before implementing the policy.
Audit says family housing well managed
A recently completed state review, released May 8, finds that the university is a responsible manager of its family housing program, while identifying some areas for improvement.
The Audits Division of the Secretary of State's office initiated the audit in January 1995. The audit looked at University Housing's management of its family housing program in the areas of construction costs, rental rates, maintenance and repair requests, and contracting for maintenance and repair projects.
"We're pleased that the Secretary of State's year-long audit affirmed that the university is a responsible steward in the area of family housing," said Vice President Dan Williams, Administration. "The review identified some things we are doing well and areas where we can improve. While we have a difference of opinion on some of the audit's conclusions, we welcome the opportunity to examine ways to improve our performance."
Bulletin Board
Construction begins on railroad underpass
Work crews under contract with the City of Eugene broke ground this week on a project north of Franklin Boulevard to extend Riverfront Parkway under the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. The project will include building a temporary 2,000-foot bypass track over which trains will travel so that the road crews can safely excavate and build the underpass. The project, which will provide access for future Riverfront Research Park development north of the tracks, will be completed by the end of the year. Various construction vehicles, as well as trucks delivering fill material to the site, will pass over the bike path north of the tracks during the work on the underpass. To ensure the safety of bicyclists, pedestrians and skaters in the area, crews have installed traffic control signs.
Summer youth jobs program returns
Friday, May 17, is the deadline for departments to submit Summer Youth Employment Program Position Request Forms directly to Looking Glass. The program emphasizes academics and provides a positive work experience for approximately 200 Lane County youth ages 14-21. This year, all youth will participate in the Summer Training and Academics for Youth Program (STAY), and the work schedule will be very different from past years. Human Resources is sending departments a letter from Looking Glass which describes this year's program. For information, call Chris Lonigan, 6-2963.
Getting extra copies of News & Views?
If you're getting more copies of News & Views than needed, please recycle the extras and ask Printing Services to adjust the number of copies you receive. Returning your extras to the Office of Communications (even with a note of explanation) won't affect how many you receive, because the mailing list for News & Views and many other publications is maintained by Printing Services. Call 6-3794 to adjust the number of copies delivered to your department.
Library offers new on-line services
To provide better access to scholarly information at lower cost, the Library System has subscribed to all full-text electronic journals that Johns Hopkins University Press adds to its Project Muse database. The Library System also is offering the UnCover Reveal Service, an e-mail service that alerts users to new publications in journals of interest to them. For information about either service, call Faye Chadwell, 6-1819.
Our People
In the spotlight
Brent Harrison, Recreation and Intramurals, will direct the Oregon Chapter of the National Intramural and Recreation Sports Association. His two-year term begins in September.
Gov. John Kitzhaber has appointed Jan Oliver, Administration, to his task force to study school financing and the local tax increase option.
Three Specialized Training Program faculty--Rick Albin, Dan Baker and Phil Ferguson--have received highly competitive one-year fellowship awards worth $40,000 each from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Their awards represent 30 percent of all of these prestigious national awards given in 1996.
The Northwest Council on Study Abroad (NCSA) has selected three UO professors to teach in Europe for one term during the 1996-97 academic year. During fall term 1996, Louise Bishop, English, will teach in Avignon, France, while Lynn Kahle, Marketing, will teach in Cologne, Germany. Priscilla Southwell, Political Science, will teach during winter term 1997 at the University of Language and Culture for Foreigners in Siena, Italy.
The Student Insurgent, an independent newspaper of the left published biweekly on campus during the academic year, has won first place for "hellraising" in the 1996 Campus Alternative Journalism Awards. The paper also earned honorable mention for opinion writing. Chris Brady, History, is the only graduate student on the paper's staff.
On the move
Karla Rice has been named director of Physical Activity and Recreation Services. She will succeed Lois Youngen when she retires July 1.
Ned J. Christensen, Communication Disorders and Sciences, and Donald S. Tull, Marketing, have been given emeritus rank upon their retirement after 33 and 29 years of service, respectively.
Dave Heeke, Intercollegiate Athletics, has been promoted to associate director of athletics for marketing and media relations. He will continue to administer promotions and broadcasting and will add supervision of ticket sales, sports information and video operations. Steve Hellyer, former assistant athletics director for media services, fills a new position as coordinator of football operations and special events. For the next 12 months, sports information assistants David Williford and Jamie Klund will serve as interim co-directors while a search is conducted to fill the sports information director post permanently. In other personnel changes announced by Athletic Director Bill Moos, associate director Barbara Walker will add supervision of all sports except football and men's basketball and administration of medical treatment, equipment, strength and conditioning, compliance and student affairs to her current responsibilities for sports management and as senior women's administrator. Associate director Herb Yamanaka will focus on fund-raising and development, and senior associate director Sandy Walton will continue to be in charge of internal affairs.
In print
Greg Ringer, Recreation and Tourism Management adjunct, is the author of "Images of Tourism and Community in the Alaska Wilderness" in the Winter 1996 issue of Annals of Tourism Research. He also is co-editor with Carolyn L. Cartier, Geography, of "Destinations: Cultural Landscapes of Tourism," to be published by Routledge International Publishing, London.
Raymond F. Mikesell, Economics emeritus, had two studies published by the Jerome Levy Economic Institute, "Proposals for Changing the Functions of the International Monetary Fund," Working Paper No. 150 (December 1995) and "Revisiting Bretton Woods: Proposals for Reforming the International Monetary Institutions," Public Policy Brief No. 24 (February 1996).
Dee Southard, Sociology GTF, was quoted in "Homeless Bound: More People Are Living With Less" in the March/April 1996 Zero Population Reporter. She also coordinates a global electronic discussion list and archive on homelessness at <http://csf.colorado.edu/homeless>.
On the podium
In April, Lowell Bowditch, Classics, presented a paper, "The Material Conditions of the Aequus Animus: Horace, Epistles 1.14," at the annual meeting of the Classical Association of the Pacific Northwest.