Councilors discussed the results of the 3-3-3 Constituent Communication Campaign during the Professional and Scientific (P&S) Council's final meeting of the 2024-25 academic year on May 22.
During the Dec. 5 meeting, councilors received an assignment to ask at least three workplace-related, open-ended questions of three new constituents, and spend three minutes summarizing each conversation after it was completed. The intent, said community relations committee chair Susan McNicholl, office of the vice president for research, was to gather feedback across the university's four divisions to help council members better understand where to focus their efforts.
After analyzing summaries from approximately 150 conversations with constituents, the community relations committee identified six areas for improvement:
- Reintroduce in-person onboarding for all new P&S employees.
- Maintain consistent transparency from university human resources regarding ISU's classification and compensation model.
- Develop a consistent model for supervisor training across campus.
- Continue Workday support for existing and new employees and make clear where they can go to seek additional help.
- Ensure important information for P&S staff is being shared across campus.
- Ensure WorkFlex is being applied consistently across the same job titles and functions in the colleges.
McNicholl said the summary of information is not intended as a to-do list but a guide for the council going forward.
Some top takeaways the committee had from responses included a desire to return to in-person onboarding as part of new hire communication, with events held two to four times a year; written reclassification and promotion guidance for employees; better publicized supervisor trainings and a return to a university-sponsored management series for supervisors; and parameters for flexible work arrangements clearly stated in position descriptions and open employment notifications.
April elections
During the annual P&S Council online election April 21-25, 18 employees were elected or reelected to council seats. More than 1,000 ballots were cast. Members' three-year terms take effect July 1. The 18 vacancies this spring were distributed among the four division this way:
- Academic affairs: 9
- Student affairs: 1
- Operations/finance: 4
- President’s division: 4
Other business
- The council approved the compensation and benefits annual report to be submitted to senior leaders to influence decisions regarding fiscal year 2026 budget plans. There were no questions or additional discussion since the first reading in April.
- Senior vice president and provost Jason Keith attended his first council meeting and spoke about successes and challenges during his first year. He praised the work of P&S employees for helping make Iowa State a welcoming and successful place and encouraged all employees to contact him with any questions.
- The professional development conference in February was at capacity with 331 P&S employees attending. The council will carry forward more than $6,000 of revenue from the event.
- The council's next meeting will be held in July, date and location to be announced later.
