University Times

Staff Association Council (SAC) has been receiving a steady flow of e-mail and phone calls from University staff members anxious to learn if an early retirement plan will soon be offered to staff members.

In response to those questions, SAC President Brian Hart noted at the group's Nov. 13 meeting that nothing has been done about developing an early retirement plan for staff beyond a few, very preliminary discussions involving SAC and the Office of Human Resources.

"We're in initial discussions with Human Resources," said Hart. "We intend to monitor the progress of the faculty early retirement plan. We won't be making any proposals to the administration at least until after work on the faculty plan has been completed." In a July 3 interview with the University Times, Chancellor Mark Nordenberg said he hoped to put into place a new faculty early retirement plan, and then possibly would consider a staff early retirement plan. See story on this page.

"We're looking at the faculty as a first step," Nordenberg said, "and that may well give us some ideas for staff." In other business, SAC also:

* Announced that the staff organization is seeking comments, pro and con, for a survey it is conducting on the recent 30-day test closing of the Bigelow Boulevard block between the Cathedral of Learning and William Pitt Union.

The survey is being conducted to help SAC develop an official statement on the test closing that will be forwarded to various parties involved in the closing.

Written comments can be sent to the SAC office, 925 William Pitt Union, or send e-mail to: sac@engrng.pitt.edu.

* Announced that a ticket deal is being offered to University employees interested in attending the Dear Friends' Victorian Christmas Concert on Dec. 1 at 2:30 p.m. in the Stephen Foster Memorial auditorium.

University employees who buy one ticket for the concert will receive a second ticket of equal or lesser value free.

In addition to Victorian era Christmas songs, the program will include a puppet show and readings from the works of Charles Dickens.

* Announced March 27 as the date for the Wellness Fair. Additional details will be available closer to the time of the fair.

* Set the next SAC meeting for Jan. 8, noon to 2 p.m., in 2M/2P 56 Forbes Quadrangle. There will not be a SAC meeting in December.

–Mike Sajna