A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor, a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Commision meets

Virginia Tech Spectrum, Aug 31, 1995

Commission members discussed changes in the grievance procedure, and expressed their disapproval of a facility-access fee for use of War Memorial Gymnasium at the August meeting of the Commission on Classified Staff Affairs.

(Editor's note: Scheduled for publication in next week's Spectrum is an article which will provide a detailed background and other pertinent information on the facility-access fee.)

Approval was expressed for a proposed revision in the grievance process which would make department heads or equivalents the administrative second step in the grievance process, rather than deans. Deans or vice presidents would become third-step administrators rather than the provost if the proposed changes are approved by the Department of Employee Relations Counselors in Richmond.

There was lengthy discussion of the new facilities-access fee. Vice President for Personnel and Administrative Services Ann Spencer provided some background information on the fee, noting that a new mandatory recreation fee being implemented for students would make it unfair for them to bear all the cost for maintaining WMG facilities.

The $41.50-a-year fee for faculty and staff members and their dependents went into effect July 1. It replacees the pool membership fee, and allows access to weight rooms, racquetball courts, gymnasium, pool and locker rooms. William Dougherty said that free use of the gym was one of the few perks afforded to Tech employees, and "was one thing attractive about working at the university."

Commission members also were not pleased with the way the new policy was communicated, citing the memo which was received after the policy was initiated.