Northern Staff NewsSeptember 2017

Table of ContentsPresident’s Corner ................................. 1Non-Academic Unions .......................... 1Current Hourly Employees Needed

for the State Universities Annuitant Association ....................... 2

Fall Employee Training on Campus ..... 2Homecoming 2017 ................................ 2Operating Staff Council Profiles ........... 2Employment Changes ........................2-4Service Awards ...................................... 4

Ethics TrainingAnnual Ethics Training for employees is upon us again. This is an online interactive training done yearly as a requirement by the State of Illinois for state employees. All employees required to take the training will be receiving an email notification to their NIU account with information to be able to complete the mandate. Departments will also be notifying their employees. Anyone who will need assistance in completing the training or does not have access to a computer, please call our Training office at 815-753-9192 to make arrangements.

2017 Flu Clinic for Employees

The NIU Employee Assistance Program and Training Center, the DeKalb County Health Department and the NIU School of Nursing will be hosting the Employee Flu Clinic on campus this fall from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 20; andagain from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday,Oct. 26 in the Holmes Student Center,Regency Room. Complete details maybe found along with the vaccine form byvisiting go.niu.edu/x0n4m6

niu.edu/osc osc@niu.edu

President’s CornerGreetings from your new president!I am honored to have been elected by the Operating Staff Council as the president for the next year. I expect a busy and productive schedule ahead of me! The OSC is working hard to bring the concerns and issues of our whole group to the attention of those who can assist in solving problems and improving our campus life. I know we are all dedicated to serving our students and helping NIU start to thrive again with new leadership and a budget. There have been many sources of negativity coming from many directions, but the OSC is here to share in the governance and guidance of NIU as

much as possible. Our skills and services are vital to the operation of NIU, and the OSC is promoting that at every turn. Please feel free to attend any of our meetings – they are open to you! We meet the first Thursday of the month at 9 a.m. in the Sky Room in Holmes Student Center. Or you can email your ideas and questions to osc@niu.edu. I hope you all enjoyed the Civil Service Celebration on August 10! Thanks go out to Nancy Brown and her team who worked so hard to make it fun and successful. We brought in over $650 for the NIU Operating Staff Dependent Scholarship! Thank you to Jason John who donated back his half of the 50/50 raffle!I look forward to being of service to you. If you want to contact me directly, email bandree@niu.edu. Thanks for the dedication and knowledge that you bring to NIU.Moving Forward,Barb Andree, PresidentOperating Staff Council 2017–2018

Non-Academic UnionsThe NIU Civil Service workforce has 17 unions representing a wide range of classifications campuswide, as well as each of the regional campuses. The unions are the exclusive representative for the classifications recognized in the collective bargaining agreements, specifically regarding wages, hours and conditions of employment. Because Local 1890 is now in initial contract negotiations, there is no contract shown. If you have questions about the “clerical” union on campus, please contact the president of the executive committee, Laura Harris at 753-8421 or email lharris1@niu.edu.To see copies of these agreements, visit go.niu.edu/zw55i2.Employee and Labor Relations has developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to assist in answering questions from newer union members, as well as questions from current union members, regarding how membership in a union affects their employment at NIU. If you are not part of a collective bargaining unit, as a civil service employee you have the Operating Staff Personnel Advisor to answer questions and support you in meetings if needed. The OSPA is John Hulseberg and you can call 753-1174 or email ospa@niu.edu to reach him.

Pictures from the Civil Service Celebration

Employment ChangesMay 2017Welcome New EmployeesNicholas Coffman, Program Adviser—

Intercollegiate AthleticsAdam Vicencio, IT Technical Associate—

Application ServicesPaul Watson, IT Technical Associate—

Application Services

ChangesAbeer Elshamy to Food Service Area

Supervisor—Conference ServicesAndrew Helfers to Food Service Area

Supervisor—Conference ServicesJennifer Dooley to Radio Station Production

Supervisor—Northern Public RadioDavid Long to Assistant Director of University

Student Center—Holmes Student CenterBrian Thompson to Information Technology

Director—Office of Internal Communication

Department ChangesWade Duerkes, Manager Photographic

Laboratory to Office of Institutional Communication

Sonia Fagan, Office Support Specialist to Admissions

Jory Keller, IT Support Associate to Web and Internal Communication

Julie O’Brien, Accountant III to Accounts Payable and Travel

Scott Walstrom, Senior Photographer to Office of Institutional Communication

RetirementsPatricia Arndt, Business Manager II—College

of Liberal Arts and SciencesBarbara Ball, Graphic Designer Associate—

Biological Sciences

Operating Staff Council ProfilesBrian MihalikNIU Position/Building: Division of Information Technology, Service Desk Analyst, Wellness/LiteracyCame to NIU in: 2016Hometown: Carol Stream, ILProudest Achievement: Becoming a FatherHobby/Interest: Woodworking, Computers, Outdoors, Games, SportsNo One Knows That I: Created server training videos for Portillo’s Honey Jam CafesFavorite Movie, Play or Book: Labyrinth, Step Brothers, Austin Powers, So Many MoreInspired By: The love of laughter and my family

Patricia WielertNIU Position/Building: Administrative Assistant/Graham HallCame to NIU in: 1995

Hometown: Moved every three-four years growing up. We moved to Richland Center, WI when I was 13 and stayed until I was 18.Proudest Achievement: Elected as an Alderman for the City of Yorkville and as a Clerk for Pierce Township.Hobby/Interest: Estate Sale ShoppingNo One Knows That I: Am extremely shyFavorite Movie, Play or Book: Dr. Zhivago, Phantom of the Opera, The BibleInspired By: So many people have inspired me: my current and past bosses have and continue to inspire me to always do my best, my friends inspire me to be a true friend, my family inspires me to be a better person every day and never give up no matter the difficulties I encounter.

Current Hourly Employees Needed for the State Universities Annuitant Association Ellen Cabrera, AFSCME 1890 member, NIUAA member.I had the pleasure to meet up with NIUAA president Lynn Neeley, Vice President Deborah Haliczer and past President Joe Grush at the annual SUAA meeting in Springfield Tuesday and Wednesday, June 21 and 22, 2017. Being present for the keynote speakers and officer reports was most enlightening.I cannot express how critical it is for those of us here on campus to help our NIUAA executive board increase membership in the annuitant association from current/active employees. SUAA is THE force to be reckoned with in Springfield to protect state university employees’ pensions and benefits. They have a top notched legal advocate, Aaron Maduff LLC, who actually reads every piece of legislation being considered with our interests at heart.It struck me how little we current employees know about why the current battle over the pension funding deficit matters to us personally. I think many new employees of NIU automatically assume that whatever their parents or grandparents are getting during retirement will be the same for them. Anyone hired after 2011 already entered into a restricted system as Tier II employees. This current battle is laying the foundation for a Tier III category which will see dramatic reductions if left uncontested. I know it’s difficult to get our younger, civil service, minimum wage cohorts to consider their future 20 years down the line, but there are many proposals being made that will drastically affect annuities if passed. It is clear that our representatives in Springfield continue to look into ways to avoid replenishing the pension pool while reducing their future obligations by eliminating or restricting benefits to future retirees.In order to fight on our behalf, SUAA needs active hourly-wage employees and specifically, low-income wage earners to join the NIU Annuitant Association. The SUAA needs their voices to build the cases against these proposed changes because they will be affected the hardest. Membership costs $36 per year, and you can have $3 automatically taken out of your paycheck monthly (or $1.50 biweekly) so you don’t have to worry about renewing. This is OUR battle. Make sure OUR voice is heard at the Capitol. Sign up for NIUAA today by contacting Cathy Cradduck (ccradduc@niu.edu) or Pat Vary (pvary@niu.edu).

Homecoming 2017The Homecoming Steering Committee would like to invite all faculty and staff to help out with planning and execution of NIU 2017 Homecoming activities and events. Homecoming week is scheduled for Oct. 1-7. This year the theme is Destination: Huskie Nation (111 Years Strong). If you would like to get involved, please email Tifarah Jackson at t_jackson@niu.edu.

Fall Employee Training on CampusThe Employee Assistance Program and Training Center will be hosting the fall campus workshops. To see a full listing, visit go.niu.edu/zjqfs0

Check out Huskies You Should Know and Appreciate! Visit go.niu.edu/2467my

Andy Smith, Building Service Worker—Building Services

Steven Thompson, Financial Analyst/Planner Specialist—Budget Office

Dean Wickstrom, Image Processing Technician I —Integrated Media Technologies

July 2017Welcome New EmployeesMichelle Batty, Program Adviser—

Intercollegiate AthleticsAntonette Bourn, Chief Clerk—Housing and

Residential ServicesPulchratia Kinney-Smith, Deputy Director—

Human Resource ServicesDerrick Lander, IT Technical Associate—

Infrastructure ServicesBrandace Merritt, Office Support Specialist—

Allied Health and Communicative DisordersKimberly Miller, Clerk—Development

OperationsSydney Riebe, Office Support Specialist—

Allied Health and Communicative DisordersYiluo Song, IT Technical Associate—

Application Services

ChangesJamie Colbert to Office Manager—Counseling,

Adult and Higher EducationJerome Cole to Building Service Foreman—

Building ServicesTammie Hada to Office Manager—PsychologyLisa Johnson to Human Resource Officer—

Human Resource ServicesNaicia Miner to Human Resource

Representative—Human Resource Services Elizabeth Schwartz to Program Services

Specialist—Human Resource ServicesThomas Shannon to Mailing Equipment

Operator/Expeditor II—Materials Management

Briana Tallitsch to Events Administrator—Convocation Center

DeathJeanne Essex, Administrative Assistant—

Executive Vice President and Provost

Department ChangesAlicia Anderson, Business Administrative

Associate to ControllerBrian Berchtold, Educational Program

Evaluation Coordinator to Student Academic Success

Gregg Fieffer, Budget Analyst II to Budget Office

Justin Kline, IT Support Associate to Intercollegiate Athletics

Emily Salvani, IT Technical Associate to Web and Internal Communications

RetirementsBarbara Alsup, Account Technician II—BursarEarl Beck, Building Service Worker—Building

ServicesJames Bollenbach, Manager—Operation

Services

Katie Mayberry to Human Resource Assistant Manager—Human Resource Services

Joey Talbert to Parking Services Agent II—Campus Parking

Donna Walker to Chief Clerk—Housing and Residential Services

Department ChangesAnthony Calderala, Program Adviser to

Kinesiology and Physical EducationStacey Cooper, Health Education Coordinator

to University recreation and WellnessDawn Galbreath, Office Support Assistant to

College of Liberal Arts and SciencesJames Huizenga, Publicity Promotion Specialist

to Health ServicesPatricia Liberty-Baczek, Office Support

Specialist to Geology and Environmental Geoscience

RetirementsJudy Baker, Building Service Worker—

Building ServicesDonna Barnaby, IT Technical Associate—BursarWayne Chisamore, Painter—Physical PlantMelodie Clark, Payroll Specialist I—Human

Resource ServicesDeborah Fisher, Office Support Specialist—

College of Liberal Arts and SciencesJeanne Jennings, Admissions/Records Specialist

—Registration and RecordsJeffrey Johnson, Building Service Worker—

Building ServicesThomas Malohn, Building Service Worker—

Building ServicesAudrey Maxey, Food Service Administrator III

—Campus Dining ServicesDonna McRoberts, Building Service Worker—

Building ServicesRobert Olle, IT Technical Associate—

Registration and RecordsNancy Ondera, Housing Officer—Housing and

Residential ServicesJane Schell, Licensed Practical Nurse—Health

ServicesChristine Sims, Survey Interview Supervisor—

Center for Governmental StudiesDavid Smith, Building Service Foreman—

Building Services

SeparationsRobert Allen, Human Resource Representative

—Human Resource ServicesNicasio Cambel, Jr., Assistant Equal

Opportunity Officer—Human Resource Services

Renata Catlett, Office Support Specialist—Alumni Services

Karyn Dixson, Medical Assistant—Health Services

Samantha Doty, Police Telecommunicator—Public Safety

Rodolfo Galindo, Food Service Administrator II—Campus Dining Services

Debrah Meyers, Survey Interview Supervisor—Center for Governmental Studies

Ali Muhiuddin, Police Sergeant—Public SafetyShannon Peura, Office Support Specialist—

Statistics

Robert Cardinell, Building Service Worker—Building Services

Patricia Collin, Admissions/Records Specialist I —Admissions

David Dodson, Building Service Worker—Building Services

Cora Gaines, Clerk—Conference ServicesSylvia Gorman, Information Technology

Director—Infrastructure ServicesBarbara Jones, Human Resource Officer—

Human Resource ServicesRosalie Miller, Human Resource Assistant

Manager—Human Resource ServicesLynne Smith, Senior Library Specialist—

University Libraries

SeparationsTimothy Baldwin, Admissions/Records

Representative—AdmissionsMilo Barsanti-Gonzales, Multimedia

Communications Specialist—Alumni Services

Kewon Brown, Food Service Sanitation Laborer—Campus Dining Services

Ann Elliot, Business Manager II—Alumni Services

Brionni Hall, Residence Hall Attendant—Public Safety

Eryn Johnson, Clerk—Public SafetyRudy Lopez, Building Service Worker—

Building ServicesBrennan Reeder, Medical Assistant—Health

ServicesRichard Roose, Building Service Worker—

Building ServicesAmber Shafer, Culinary Worker II—Campus

Dining ServicesJennifer Weber, Child Development Supervisor

—Campus Child Care

June 2017Welcome New EmployeesKyle Buehler, Admissions/Records

Representative—AdmissionsClaire Duvall, IT Technical Associate—

Educational Technology Research and Assessment

Nicholas Jones, Program Adviser—College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

James Lawson, Jr., Admissions/Records Representative—Admissions

Colleen Quigley McAllister, Police Telecommunicator Supervisor—Public Safety

Susan Smith, IT Manager/Administrative Coordinator—Institutional Effectiveness

Thomas West, Jr., Chief Clerk—Housing and Residential Services

ChangesChristina Atherton to Human Resource Assistant

Manager—Human Resource ServicesLaurie Johnson to Human Resource Officer—

Human Resource ServicesNorma Laino to Office Administrator—College

of Engineering and Engineering Technology Lianne Mace to Admissions/Records Officer—

Illinois Board of Examiners

Operating Staff CouncilNorthern Illinois UniversityDeKalb, Illinois 60115-2828

Northern Staff News is published by the Operating Staff Council of Northern Illinois University.Editor: Barbara AndreeContributors: Barbara Andree, Ellen Cabrera, Kathie Dempsey, Judy Flores-Sender, Tony Gary, Sandy Hess, Jay Monteiro, NIU Today, Karen SmithNorthern Illinois University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, status based on the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. Further, the Constitution and Bylaws of Northern Illinois University provides for equal treatment regardless of political views or affiliation, and sexual orientation.Printed by authority of the State of Illinois.www.niu.edu 9/17 94213

Linda Korth, Human Resource Officer—Human Resource Services

Ellen Smith, Chief Accountant Assistant—Controller

Ruth Stone, Building Service Worker—Building Services

Rhonda Wybourn, Deputy Director—Human Resource Services

SeparationsEmily Cavazos, Police Officer—Public SafetyKristine Coffin, Police Telecommunicator—

Public SafetyStefan Groebel, IT Technical Associate—

Housing and Residential ServicesDonald Mullis, Security Guard—Public SafetyDeborah Sheppard, Clerk—Center for

Governmental StudiesKevin Troyer, Events Administrator—

Convocation CenterSherry Wisdom, Staff Nurse I—Health ServicesSandra Woodson, Human Resource Officer—

Human Resource Services

Service AwardsMay 20175 YearsGarrett Balbach—DoIT-Admin-Business-

FinanceRonald Blomberg—Materials ManagementStephanie Brown—International Student and

Faculty OfficeJames Cutshaw—Building ServicesRyan Damhoff—Chemistry and BiochemistryLaura Harris—Special and Early EducationPhillip Manno—Physical PlantPeter Poterek—Bursar

10 YearsBenjamin Gardner—Human Resource Services

15 YearsRenee Bechtel—Human Resource ServicesRuthann Yeaton—Anthropology

20 YearsStanley Erlien—Infrastructure ServicesBarbara Whitesel—Sponsored Programs

Administration

25 YearsKathryn Buffington—College of Business

30 YearsRonald Barshinger—University LibrariesJeanne Ratfield—Executive Vice President and

ProvostDavid Ulrich—Infrastructure Services

June 20175 YearsCecelia Bolles—Procurement and Strategic

SourcingTrisha Drake—Registration ServicesDianne Fraedrich—Counseling, Adult and

Higher EducationMichael Hildreth—Physical PlantAbigail Lund—Vice ProvostJessica Quinn—Operation Services

10 YearsJelmir Atkins—College of Engineering and

Engineering TechnologyCarole Drennan—Health ServicesMatthew Janouskovec—College of BusinessDavid Scharenberg—Environmental Health and

SafetyGreg Wilhelm—Building Services

20 YearsGigi Beaird—Vice President Marketing and

Communications

25 YearsBrien Martin—Budget Office

30 YearsJohn Highland—Application Services

July 20175 YearsMatthew Drew—Physical PlantSusan Foose—Health ServicesScott Galto—Heating PlantEdward Hall—Heating PlantDouglas Rapp—Heating PlantNicholas Slicer—Curriculum and InstructionBarbara Stark—Health ServicesAnthony Velazquez—University LibrariesAnthony Wedick—Office of Creative Services

10 YearsLeonard LeGrand—Student Athlete Academic

Support ServicesAugust Milz—NIU Outreach NapervilleRebecca Nates—Allied Health and

Communicative Disorders

15 YearsVickie Hueramo—Human Resource Services

20 YearsRobert Pecherek—Heating Plant

Save The Date!Jan. 11, 2018 is Bowling and Pool Night! Details to follow in November.