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Medicine Faculty Council. He said that he had received e-mails, after having solicited some, from the chair of the College of Medicine Faculty Council that indicated their acceptance and understanding of the process that is available. Other faculty members, who had contacted him over the last couple of months regarding this issue, also indicated that they were willing to accept the changes.
He said that a number of faculty expressed their thanks to the Board for providing the opportunity for the process to complete itself and the assurances made with regard to the possibility of exceptions. He believes that this matter has been thoroughly and appropriately dealt with in the Human Resources Committee, and he fully endorsed the Board's action.
Judge Patton said the committee received a UK Work-life Initiative report. The Work-life Initiative was adopted by the Board in April 2007. It was adopted after a very exhaustive process that began when President Todd asked for it. There were surveys of faculty and staff and input from the University and Staff Senates and the Human Resources Committee. Kim Wilson, associate vice president for human resources, and Robin Pease, director of work-life, gave the committee a brief update. Judge Patton outlined the following highlights in the report:
• There is a GED rewards program in place. Many employees have taken advantage of that program, and as a result, they have received a $1,500 stipend.
• 24 employees are participating in the computer on loan program.
• 373 employees are utilizing the tuition discount program.
• 59 employees have taken advantage of the domestic partner benefit program.
• The employee assistance program which provides for counseling and referral for job advancement is in place and active.
• There is a program in place that provides emergency backup child care for employees.
• There is a staff leave pool implemented that helps staff members or faculty who have exhausted accrued leave due to catastrophic illness or injury. There have been 758 days donated by other staff and 278 days have thus far been utilized for those emergency needs.
• There are programs in place that provide for flex-time operation with approval of supervisors.
• There is a voluntary program of reduced summer work hours without pay with supervisor support, and thus far, 56 employees have taken advantage of that program and have saved the university $70,800 in what would otherwise be payroll.
• There is a ridesharing program in place where you can actually get on the computer and figure out who you can carpool with to work. That program saves everybody money.
• There is a pet spot to inform you about taking care of your pets.