In what they consider to be a "first step in letting the administration know where our needs lie," the Classified Staff Training and Development Advisory Committee (CSTDAC) has released a report on its activities and the results of a survey of classified staff training and development needs.

After reviewing the 83-page "1998—99 CSTDAC Activities and Survey Report," compiled by Kathy Dickison, Psychology, the committee developed several recommendations. Among them are establishing promotional development paths for careers represented at the university; providing classified staff release time for enrolling in selected UO courses; encouraging flex-time for classified employees; and providing office coverage for classified employees attending training.

"We’ll be reviewing the recommendations and using them when they are appropriate for employee training," says Linda King, Human Resources. "I appreciate the hard work by the committee to gather the information."

Of 1,104 classified employees sent surveys in April, 302 returned them for a 27 percent rate of return.

The questionnaire gauged the feelings of the classified staff about issues such as personal skill development, training for job advancement, stress reduction, dependent care and employee retention. In addition, the survey asked respondents for information about themselves, their mentoring group participation, their sources of information about training and their efforts to procure training.

"The survey shows that there is a tremendous need for training and development on campus," says CSTDAC co-chair Jean Pickering, Admissions. "It pinpoints the need, which alerts the administration about ways to improve training and development that will better serve employees."

According to the report, the typical respondent was a white, 47-year-old female office worker with a bachelor’s degree. She has had more than 10 years service at the UO and has a 48 percent chance of being the primary guardian of dependents.

Among its many findings, the survey revealed that only 12 percent of UO workers take UO classes. The report’s authors attribute this relatively small percentage to a lack of work-release time as well as a dearth of evening and distance learning classes.

CSTDAC co-chair, Kathy Cooks, University Scheduling, says such information is valuable because it helps planners design training opportunities that would be most beneficial to all classified employees.

"It’s our hope that the administration will look at the report and survey results and then act on the recommendations with minor modifications, if any," says Cooks. "It is also important to note that we are grateful to Dan Williams and Linda King for helping coordinate and fund the New Horizons computer workshops. Their support has been key."

A preliminary assessment of the 1999 Oregon Legislature’s budget-related decisions shows a mixture of successes and disappointments for the University of Oregon and the Oregon University System.

"We are very appreciative that the legislature has restored some of the dollars cut from higher education during the past decade," says President Dave Frohnmayer. "This budget is an important step forward for Oregon students and their families."

When the session ended July 24, higher education came away with $748.428 million, $110.143 million more or about 17 percent above the current service level. The largest additions were $75.943 million to implement the new student-centered funding model and $15.3 million to continue a tuition freeze for students.

Gov. John Kitzhaber signed the OUS budget bill on July 30 and a separate capital construction measure appropriating $15.8 million above current expenditures on Aug. 3.

A more detailed assessment of the legislature’s budget actions is planned for the next issue of News & Views, to be published on Sept. 30.

The Oregon Bach Festival had 15 sellout concerts this summer, the most for one season in the festival’s 30-year history. Paid admissions, at 19,300, were 6 percent higher than last year. Total attendance for the 1999 festival’s 46 events, of which 15 were free, numbered more than 32,000.

Complimentary copies of the 1999—2000 University of Oregon Catalog have been distributed to faculty members. Those who have not received a copy should call Larry Waddell, Admissions, 6-1293; to make sure you’re on the faculty distribution list, call Printing Services, 6-3794. Extra copies are available for $5 apiece at the UO Bookstore and at Admissions. Online, the catalog is available in Acrobat format at <darkwing.uoregon.edu/~uopubs/catalog/catalog.pdf>.

Nominations for the 2000 Distinguished Alumna/Alumnus and the Outstanding Young Alumna/Alumnus Awards are being accepted by the UO Alumni Association. The awards go to individuals who have attained extraordinary distinction in their chosen professional fields or by personal endeavor. There is no firm deadline, but nominations should be received by the end of September. Contact Amy Schroeder, 6-2101, or Jennifer Soulagnet, 6-3180.

Repairs at Mac Court are blocking all of the diagonal parking on the south side of the building (although a driveway to the back of the building will be maintained). Fencing is also blocking off the sidewalk and yellow zone areas near the entry marquee on the west side. The first part of the project entails removing vines, repairing cracks, waterproofing, painting and repairing windows. The second phase will consist of removing and replacing the canopy over the entry. The project is slated for completion by Sept. 15.

In the spotlight

Andy Marcus, Chemistry, was awarded a three-year $255,000 National Science Foundation CAREER Award for research on the behavior of confined complex fluids and for broadening chemistry education through multidisciplinary themes. He also received a $25,000 Petroleum Research Fund grant from the American Chemical Society and a $50,000 Exceptional Opportunity Grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to support research on novel optical approaches to the study of metabolism inside living cells.

Six faculty members in Arts and Sciences were recognized by their peers this spring for excellence in teaching, superior scholarship and dedicated service. Henry Wonham, English, received the $3,000 Norman H. Brown Faculty Fellowship in the Liberal Arts. Each receiving a $5,000 award from the Richard A. Bray Faculty Scholars in Arts and Sciences endowment were Alexandra Bonds, Theater Arts; Michael Manga, Geological Sciences; and Ronald Mitchell, Political Science. Regina Psaki, Romance Languages, was named the first recipient of the $2,000 William K. and Susan C. Piché Faculty Fellowship. Jon M. Erlandson, Anthropology, was named the 1999-2001 David M. and Nancy L. Petrone Scholar in Arts and Sciences which includes a cash award for discretionary support for instruction, research-related expenses, and travel related to teaching and research.

On the move

Laura Connell is the new Orientation director, succeeding Kris Winter who leaves Aug. 15 to pursue a master’s degree at Oregon State. Most recently a member of the New Student Programs and Academic Advising staff at SUNY Buffalo, Connell is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Buffalo in student personnel administration.

In Print/On Display

An exhibit of oil paintings about innocence and technology by Kelly Newcomer, UO Bookstore, will be on display until Sept. 4 in the Jacobs Gallery at the Hult Center.

On the podium/stage

Featured UO soloists in concerts during the 1999 Oregon Festival of American Music were Music professors Fritz Gearhart at "Echoes of the Spirit" on Aug. 11 and Gary Versace at "From Gospel to Swing" on Aug. 12.

Raymond F. Mikesell, Economics emeritus, presented "Bretton Woods–Original Intentions and Current Problems" on July 9 during the Western Economic Association International annual conference.