University Times

By unanimous voice-vote, the Staff Association Council (SAC) Feb. 20 elected Audrey Portis vice president for communications. Portis, of anesthesiology, will serve out the term of Maureen Jenkins, who is retiring from Pitt at the end of March. SAC officers' terms run until June 2003.

Also at yesterday's meeting, SAC President Barbara Mowery reported that Ron Frisch, associate vice chancellor for Human Resources, had responded to SAC's request that the staff classification system, including pay ranges, be re-evaluated.

According to Mowery, Frisch wrote that the system is evaluated every year by Human Resources. This year's report is due this spring to Jerome Cochran, executive vice chancellor, for final review, Frisch indicated.

In other SAC developments:

* Mowery asked staff to support Pitt's nationally ranked men's basketball team by wearing blue and gold March 1, the day before the last game to be played at Fitzgerald Field House.

* Mowery also asked staff to spread the word about an informational session on the upcoming Fort Pitt Bridge and Tunnel major construction project. Pitt's Department of Parking, Transportation and Services will host representatives from PennDOT and the Port Authority. The session will be held March 12, noon – 1 p.m., in the William Pitt Union Assembly Room.

* The SAC spring assembly is scheduled for April 9 in the William Pitt Union Assembly Room, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The format will be a marketplace where several Pitt organizations will provide information on their services. Flyers will be distributed to staff in advance of the assembly.

* The spring issue of SAC Tracks, the organization's newsletter, is expected to be published in early April.

* Pitt Kennywood Day is set for July 27. This year, only cash or credit cards (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) will be accepted for purchase of Kennywood tickets, because last year several personal checks bounced, SAC's program and planning committee member Gwen Watkins reported.

Staff also can purchase meal tickets (cash only) for an all-you-can-eat buffet, Watkins said.

Prices and ticket sales dates will be announced at a later time.

–Peter Hart