DECATUR, Ill. – Parking has always been challenging on campus. For faculty and staff members, finding a close parking spot was compounded by having to also purchase a yearly parking pass for $50.
But the cost of the parking pass for faculty and staff will be a thing of the past starting in August, as ǿý President Jim Reynolds announced the elimination of that cost to employees during the 2024 Spring Semester Opening Meeting held in the University Commons on January 31.
The proposal of free parking for staff and faculty was put forward to the Administration by the ǿý University Staff Advisory Council (MUSAC), which serves as a liaison between staff and University leadership. The group provides opportunities for staff to engage with each other, develop ideas, voice concerns, and review and discuss policies and procedures that impact the culture and .
“Charging for a parking permit has never sat well with me, and I’m not used to that. I’m used to registering your car and following the rules,” said , who serves as a MUSAC Facilitator on the council. “MUSAC had the possibility of getting that to stop, and we presented the idea to the President’s Council.”
The 12-member MUSAC group also strives to promote a positive and collaborative work environment committed to assessing, prioritizing, and communicating employee needs. They can also provide feedback on broad issues and potential new programs, procedures, benefits, and decision-making that can impact ǿý employees. In its advisory role, it does not act on personnel or individual issues.
MUSAC is chaired by Technology Services Manager Rodger Reed and co-chaired by Admissions Director of Operations & Events Shelby Baum, who were elected by staff into those positions in October.
Voting for representative members from each of the 10 divisions among staff took place in November. Here is the current roster of MUSAC members:
- -Academic Affairs: Jeshae Ali, Audition Coordinator/Administrative Assistant
- -Alumni and Development: Susan Berg, Administrative Assistant
- -Marketing & Media Relations & Human Resources: Matthew Flaten, Public Relations Coordinator
- -Information Technology: Seth Hansen, Database Analyst
- -Academic Affairs: Jennifer Moore, Executive Assistant to the Provost
- -Student Financial Services: Sandra Renfro, Student Accounts Receivable Coordinator
- -Athletics: Whitney Sowers, Co-Head Coach of the Women’s Softball Team
- -Admission: Derrick Sosinski, Senior Admission Counselor
- -Student Affairs: Natia Weathers, Coordinator of Campus Life for Residential Communities
- -Public Safety: Donald Wrigley, Security Officer/Dispatcher
Staff members with questions or issues to bring to the MUSAC can contact their representative directly or submit questions on the MUSAC intranet page.
In its most recent meeting in January, the group discussed improving overall staff recognition, including the possible return of Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards, and how ǿý can continue improving its culture.
MUSAC holds monthly meetings and has upcoming meetings scheduled for February 29, March 28, April 25, May 30 and June 27.
“We want our MUSAC members to be in contact with their groups regularly about any issues that staff have so that we can get that feedback,” Reed said. “We want to hear if what we are doing is making a difference on campus.”
