The policy must be rewritten to ensure equity for all staff. There was considerable discussion among those present about the manner in which a change in the policy would affect the sick leave policy and whether changes would have to be made in the number of sick days per year for which a staff member would be eligible. Ms. Trantas stated that the information about the maternity leave policy had just come to light and will affect the timing of the final draft being presented to the Sick Leave Committee. The College Ombudsperson, Eleanor Funk, reported that she had met with Senior Administrative Staff to report on the progress of her office's work since its institution in mid-January. The Ombuds Office is a safe place for anyone to voice his or her concerns.
All discussion is confidential and the office is a place to help people feel they have been heard.
The Ombudsperson is a sounding board and maintains a strictly neutral position. Many individuals simply drop in, partly because of the office's accessible location in the Campus Center. Ms. Funk has welcomed twenty-five visitors since January. Sixteen of the visitors have been staff members, six have been supervisors or administrators, and three have been students. She has not received any visits from faculty members.