Brett Maciech
At the Wednesday UW Staff Senate meeting senators discussed the Ivinson reconstruction project, provost search committee and the Affordable Care Act.
Mark Collins, associate vice president for administrative operations, said the total reconstruction of the Ivinson corridor between 9th street and 15th street has been pushed back to 2017.
“Given the magnitude of the project, given the size and scope of the project and just exactly what’s involved with the design and engineering, this has been pushed back to 2017,” Collins said. “It’s become a very expensive project, it’s pushing between $10 million and $11 million.”
Collins said the reconstruction will comprise all utilities, including water, sewer, sanitary sewer, electrical line reconfiguration, an added two-lane cycle track and diagonal parking. The project will also require further construction on the side streets between the specific Ivinson corridor.
The university owned buildings on Lewis street will also be abated and demolished sometime this spring.
The street in front of the new STEM building has been closed to all vehicular traffic, except for busses, utility vehicles and emergency vehicles. This will remain in place throughout the spring.
Human Resources Manager Eric Goldenstein commented on the communication of the Affordable Care Act to the staff senate and the recent action taken by HR to inform staff members of their benefits.
“This morning printed copies to over three hundred benefited employees were put in campus mail, so they’re receiving that,” Goldenstein said. “And then for all non-benefited employees we just mailed copies of their notice to their homes.”
All staff members will be receiving another form from HR called a 1095C. This form shows each person which months in 2015 they and their dependents were eligible for coverage, which is necessary for their income taxes and retirement.
Kathie Hull, the director of business affairs, stood before the staff senate and called for additional help for the search committee for the vacant vice president of academic affairs position, or provost.
“The vice president of academic affairs is concerned, of course, with the academic side of the university, but as everyone knows, nothing runs very well without the non-staff and the supporting staff,” Hull said. “I would encourage all the staff to attend the WyoCast… your participation is very important.”
The committee is using a search firm that will provide them with a list of potential nominees for review of nominee’s credentials and references. At the end of their search, they will provide incoming UW President Laurie Nichols with a list of the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses.
