Representation areas for the Professional and Scientific Council could change, members learned at their Nov. 1 meeting. A motion to divorce the combined representation for P&S employees in the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory and IPRT (Institute for Physical Research and Technology) opened the door to further changes.
Currently, council members represent one of six organizational areas:
- Academic and research
- Extension
- Business and finance
- Student affairs
- IPRT/Ames Lab
- President's office
The motion that proposed separating the IPRT/Ames Lab organizational area sought to mirror a 2007 change that established independent directors for the two entities.
Senior vice president and provost Jonathan Wickert recommended a reevaluation of the current structure with an eye to the current university model. Dick Pfarrer, chair of the council's representation committee, withdrew his group's motion in order to "revisit the organization of the representation areas."
Pfarrer indicated a new motion on representation areas would be introduced and likely voted on at the council's Dec. 6 meeting.
Other business
- Concern over low travel reimbursement rates will be sent to a council committee for development of a resolution. Past president Dan Burden said employees are reporting that current rates are inadequate for coverage of travel expenses.
- A professional development day for all P&S employees is being planned for April 2.
