Highlights from the System Office Staff Council September Meeting

Sept. 24, 2021

The System Office Staff Council held a regular business meeting on Monday September 12. Below are highlights from the meeting

September 2021 SOSC Meeting Highlights:

  1. CITO Boucher and Sean Hagan attended the meeting to discuss Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) security implementation across the UA System and particularly for System Office staff. System Office has an excellent rate of implementation for MFA (about 90%). Most staff have not had any complications. Sean Hagan emphasized that it is recommended to have more than one method of MFA established and that OIT is available to help with a bypass code if your chosen method(s) have somehow expired or are unavailable. 
  2. Post-Covid Workplace team update was presented. A new website will be available as a resource regarding all thing remote-work. Guidelines and FAQs are being developed to help employees understand, interpret, and apply the remote work policies and regulations. The transition team will continue to monitor the implementation to help address any further questions or issues.
  3. Staff Council received a response from President Pitney regarding the final administrative review report. All the reviews and responses for each MAU are available on the President’s website. https://www.alaska.edu/pres/adminreview/
  4. Staff Council discussed recent travel (email – draft changes, response by September 29th) and ethics regulation (email – draft changes, response by September 22) changes which have been sent to governance committees for review. If you have questions or comments email the governance office at ua-sagov-office@alaska.edu.
  5. Staff Council reviewed and discussed solicited responses for ways to use the money from the new Staff Development fund. Further details for options based on the general suggestions will be available at the next meeting.
  6. Staff Council heard updates on Alliance Activities including:
    1. Staff Alliance submitted FY23 Compensations Recommendations memo to President Pitney.
    2. Staff Alliance received President Pitney’s response to the Interim Phase C Resolution Staff Alliance passed a few months ago.
    3. Staff Alliance submitted a memo to Michelle Pope with Comments on Updates to Remote Work Regulations.

SOSC will meet next on Monday October 11 from 10:00am-12:00pm. All staff are encouraged and welcome to attend. Reach out to SOSC representatives to share your ideas and/or concerns. Additional information about SOSC and the Zoom link for regular meetings is available on its website.