J Vancouver Community College • Volume 1, Number 16 - June 8,1993 Budget information meetings planned for June 14 The Board has invited all employees of VCC and Langara to attend budget information meet¬ Stress workshops draw sizable response ings on Monday, June 14. The first meeting of the day will be held at Langaraat9 30a m inroomAl 30,alsoknownas Newbury Hall. This will be followed by a similar meeting starting at 1 • 30 p m. at the Queen Eliza¬ A recent message to all employees regard¬ ing the College's Employee Assistance Program has drawn a sizable request for Stress Manage¬ ment Workshops. beth Playhouse. It's expected that the morning "There has been a significant response from Langara meeting will be attended by those em¬ employees," said Employee Relations Director ployees who work at that campus, and that the Wayne Martin "Therefore we will proceed with afternoon session will be for employees of the a series of workshops to accommodate as many new VCC. However, both meetings will be open interested employees as possible." He said em¬ to all employees of the College ployees will receive more information as soon as Every effort will be made to allow all em¬ details are available ployees to attend these meetings, if there is any Martin also said that the College's benefits doubt, faculty and staff are asked to check with consultant, Western Management, is researching their supervisors and preparing seminar material for the support of The meetings are intended to provide in¬ those employees who may be affected by lay-offs formation and proposed scenarios for up-coming budget considerations, and also to seek employee suggestions on ways that the effects of reducing the College's deficit might be moderated. TC expands to 17 members Both meetings will be attended by mem¬ The Transition Council has grown to 17 For bers of the Board, Vice President of Finance and members. Those now serving on the TC are: Administration Fred Wyhe, Transition Control¬ VCC President John Cruickshank, Langara CEO daily ler Chris Ebbehoj, and other College administra¬ Linda Holmes, VCC Vice Presidents of Instruc¬ tors, including Linda Holmes for Langara and tion, Dale Domand Linda Martin, Acting Direc¬ John Cruickshank for the VCC meeting tor of CE Gail Rochester, Director of College news It's now expected that to accommodate updates phone 7099 employee input and other considerations, the Board will act upon final approval of the budget during its July or August sitting, rather than the June 23 meeting, which had been earlier re¬ ported. Resources and Organizational Development, Richard Pearce, Vice President of Administration and Finance, Fred Wyhe, Langara Acting Deans of Instruction Martin Gerson and Linda Arnold, Director of International Education and Contract Development, Tom Toulson, Director of Em¬ ployee Relations Wayne Martin, VCCFA Presi¬ after dent Dalton Kremer, LFA President Lawrence 2:30 pm the presidents of the three student associations— Warren, VMREU representative Jo Hansen, and Continued on the other side... Michael Fergusson (City Centre), Rodney DeCroo (Langara) and Manuel Salinas (KEC)—or their delegates. would you like to join me in this type of consulta¬ tive management approach? Please phone the Exchange Line, 7099. As usual, you will be asked following the daily news A message from John Cruickshank broadcast to push "One" on your phone to leave a Last week on the Exchange Line I talked about some problems that had developed in the appointment of deans and division chairs for the your thoughts in writing to me. comment. (IS people responded on Thursday- Friday oflast week). Or perhaps you'd like to put Either way, I look forward to your input. John Cruickshank ne w VCC. The purpose of this message was not so much to delve into that particular issue, but rather to explore a concern that was raised by a VCCFA member as a result of the controversy. The instructor had phoned the Exchange Line asking if there is not a way to avoid similar Issues Forum message clear There was no doubting the message at the pitfalls in the future. I believe there is a way.. .and end of the May 28 VCC Issues Forum...people here's where all of you, as employees of the have high expectations that they continue to be given a meaningful voice in the planning process, College, come into the picture. What i heard at the VCC Issues Forum was that people want to have meaningful input into and that process be moved along with some ur¬ issues before the decisions are made. I think the 'The Issues Forum was a great day for VCC," Exchange Line is one way to accomplish that. gency. said Cruickshank. I'd like to know how you feel about my "I want to thank everyone who explaining some of these issues on the Exchange participated...and also guarantee them that the Line, and then giving you the opportunity to leave momentum which was gained during the forum your comments. Further, how would you feel will continue to grow." about backing up that process with a written questionnaire for all employees? For instance, would you like to have these types of issues ex¬ Nine out of ten participants rated the event as a four or five on a one-to-five scale. plained in writing with an opportunity, on the Cruickshank added that the VCC Steering same sheet of paper, to reply? Are you prepared Committee has begun constructing a constitu¬ to take the time to do so if the opportunity ex¬ ency model for VCC planning which will encour¬ isted? age input and communications involving all em¬ I think the phone line, and perhaps the questionnaire, are powerful opportunities for employees to become involved in their future. It's a route I would like to take. My question is: ployees.