Submitted Comments

Following are comments submitted to the Open Communications Committee through the electronic suggestion box. The newest comments appear on top. The comments will be discussed at Open Communicatons Committee meeting that will be held after the comments are posted.

Comment received March 2, 2005:
Why do we have a cashier when they don't have change available?

Response:
The Cashier's Office is managed by ACC Business Services. This service is designed to receive and distribute college-related transactions. The service is not set up with additional cash to provide change to ACC staff on a daily basis.

Comment received February 10, 2005:
I would like to know what the procedure is for syllabi. I know that we are to give them to our administrative assistant that gives them to Lettie and they are filed. However, at the same time they are also put on the L drive. I feel that we are taking too much time on syllabi by having a paper copy and a file if they are posted on the L: drive. We should be able to make a CD of each department's courses each quarter.

Response:
The CE Leadership Team agrees the current process for managing and storing course syllabi needs to be streamlined. This process will be discussed in the CE Leadership Retreat on 2/21/05, and an updated process will be created and communicated to all of the CE staff involved.

Comment received February 3, 2005:
The CE Open Communications Committee has received a submission inquiring as to why CE staff don't have their credentials (degrees, licensures, etc…) listed by their names in the online CE Staff Directory (http://www.austincc.edu/ce/staff.php). This is the same directory that also ends up on the cover of the draft copy of the CE Course Schedule that all CE staff use during the semester.

Response:
The CE Leadership Team has discussed the various reasons for listing credentials, as well as those against listing credentials, in the CE Staff Directory. Although credentials are not included in the greater ACC staff directories, the CE Leadership Team wants to allow credentials to be listed in the CE Staff Directory if a CE staff member would like them listed. If you would like to have your educational and/or professional credentials posted to the CE Staff Directory, please send the exact way you want them listed to Kirk White via email (kwhite@austincc.edu) by Monday, February 14th, and that addition will be made to your listing.

Comment received January 28, 2005:
Materials are often placed in the "Instructor" box at the CE Registration Desk for pick up by an Instructor. At times, Instructors are sending someone else to pick up those materials, and the Registration Staff is left not knowing whether to turn over the materials to this other person.

Response:
Since materials left for pick up at the CE Registration Desk often contain sensitive student information, the CE Registration Staff will not release these materials without a positive identification of the person picking up the materials. The CE Director of Operations and the CE Registration Staff ask Coordinators and other CE Staff, to remind their instructors that if they intend to have someone else pick up the materials for them, the Coordinator will need to know in advance so that person's name can be listed on the materials as well.

Note:
The CE Open Communications Committee suggestion/comment process will remain available to all staff (paper drop box and online submission box) allowing anonymous submissions. A new submission form is now available by the drop box that will help the Open Communications Committee better address your comments/suggestions. Keep in mind that the anonymous nature of this process makes it difficult to address specific instances and concerns with the individuals that have those concerns. The CE Leadership Team wants to encourage each CE staff member to consider bringing concerns and suggestions directly to their Director whenever possible. That way a more specific resolution may be possible.

Comment received January 26, 2005:
The CE Leadership Team has received submissions to the CE Open Communications Committee regarding the plan to move Pauline Rocha out of the Continuing Education Department.

Response:
In reviewing the functions of the CE Administrative Assistant staff positions, the position that Pauline currently fills has been found to be a duplication of functions already being covered by other staff, and is currently not essential to the overall functioning of the department. This position is being moved to another department in the college where it can be better utilized and offer Pauline an opportunity to fill a position with unique duties and responsibilities.

Comment received Monday, November 1, 2004 :
I Vickie Swist, would like to see an Ice Machine like the one on 3rd floor on the 4th floor. There is just as many students/faculty and staff on this floor as is on the other floors that house ice machines. Thank you.

Response:
Although it would be nice to have an ice machine in the 4th floor break room, this is not possible at this time. We are fortunate to have the new ice machine on the 3rd floor. Facilities paid for the new 3rd floor ice machine when they remodeled the 3rd floor. The 5th floor ice machine was donated to the College and we have been able to keep it running, and have access to that machine. Currently, the HBC operating budget does not allow for a third ice machine and the plumbing needs that would be associated with that additional machine.

Comment received Friday, October 22, 2004 :
I am wondering why some employees are able to take classes for long periods of time during the workday while others are denied this option. Is this fair? Can we find out why others are not able to take classes of the same length of time?

Response from Leadership:
We thank you for your question. The CE Leadership Team acknowledges the challenge involved in balancing
(1) the need to be as fair and equitable as possible across all CE staff,
(2) the need to maintain productivity and excellent service to our internal and external customers,
(3) the duties of various positions in the department (some which have adequate back-up by other staff, others whose duties are unique and do not have back up), and
(4) the need for our staff to participate in professional development activities.
The CE Leadership Team has agreed to address this challenge and work together to identify solutions that will meet the above goals. Our intent is to manage the CE staff's professional development in a way that minimally impacts the work that needs to be done in the department on a daily basis. As the Leadership Team works on this issue, we will keep in mind the principles we have all just discussed in our customer service and accountability trainings, that we are all responsible for the work assigned to us, that we are accountable for seeing that this work is carried out in a timely and effective manner, and that we are empowered to problem solve situations and initiate solutions when situations come into conflict (like work duties and the need for professional development). While there will not be a single solution to this situation, the Leadership Team is committed to finding the solution that is the "best fit" for all CE Staff.

Suggestion Form

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, ideas, please use our electronic suggestion box.

For comments and questions about this site contact the mnouzovs@austincc.edu. © 2002 Austin Community College This page was last updated March 2005