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<p><em>I am curious why in Banner, when we look under "Search Master Schedule," it has only Fall 2018 to Fall 2019. Often times, we need to search back a few years to see where courses made and other failed to enroll. It is frustrating to be limited to such a small time span. Is there any way this can be expanded? </em></p>
<p>The questioner seems to be using what is often referred to as the "self-service" view of Banner. This view is designed for students, so it only shows current and recent terms available to avoid any confusion for individuals looking for their own academic schedules. Searches within self-service Banner only show end of term data, so they wouldn't show any data related to cancelled courses, which have been removed from the self-service system by that point.</p>
<p>To find the historical course information that the questioner is seeking, employees have access to many years of master schedule data, including reporting that can pinpoint enrollment on the date of a course's cancellation. Master schedule history is available through the ePrint link in myMCC.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>CSEA employees, often referred to as Support Staff, are just that - we support students, faculty, administrators, outside vendors across MCC. Every office at MCC runs on the back-bone of CSEA Support Staff. It is because of our hard work, dedication, efforts, &amp; energy that MCC can serve students and the many customers that MCC serves. There is very little flexibility for CSEA employees in their work day. One area where MCC Administration can and should show their support for CSEA staff is for MCC Administration to in the near future implement a more flexible work day. Student Service Offices, students and faculty are here well before 8 AM. Why does MCC continue to enforce a rigid 8:45 AM - 4:45 AM work day for CSEA employees? </em></p>
<p>First, I agree with the questioner's points about the incredible dedication, commitment, and importance of our CSEA employees. MCC, literally, could not open or remain open each day without these valued members of our workforce, and I am grateful for their service.</p>
<p>Now, on to the question: At present, some members of the CSEA workforce do have the option to participate in shift work or shifted work hours; they are typically in Building Services and Facilities, where the employees' work is required before official College hours start and after they conclude. The hours that MCC is officially open have long been identified and published as 8:45 am to 4:45 pm, Monday through Friday. These are our peak service times, and most students and visitors expect to receive services. Even within this window, though, there are variations in hours across offices and departments that are based on agreements with supervisors and are made with the mission of our College and service to our students in mind.</p>
<p>Recently, for example, based on requests from students, some offices have started conversations about shifting hours later. It does not appear that we've received similar requests from students for earlier hours, but we are starting to hear more interest from students in having some access to services on the weekend.</p>
<p>Also, to follow up on an earlier Wednesday Message about flexible work schedules:</p>
<p>In a recent review of an 80% position in Human Resources, the Faculty Senate's Special Committee on Administrative Affairs asked if MCC could provide more such opportunities within the College. I can now share that each division is identifying positions that could be offered to employees as either 80% or 10-month appointments (per the applicable collective bargaining agreement). The primary threshold for consideration is simple: at these reduced work hours or weeks, the position must still meet the needs of the College and our students. If you are interested in having your position reviewed by your division for this opportunity, please contact your supervisor.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>I noticed that some new employees are hired, but I never found the opening in the HR job opportunities website. Another situation is when current employees are promoted without giving a chance to current employees to apply for the position. For example, a counselor was promoted to Assistant Director. This is a source of discouragement and an example of lack of transparency when I know that my colleague got promoted, and we never know until the change is a fact. Is there a fair way we can establish at MCC so this type of under-the-table situation is corrected?</em></p>
<p>When an existing employee receives a new title/position, the questioner is correct: it is not always the result of a search. However, it is also not an "under-the-table situation." Promotions are provided for in the negotiated contracts. Promotions that do not involve academic rank come to the Board of Trustees each August: this is the type of promotion noted in the question. Employees begin the process of seeking a non-rank promotion by discussing this opportunity with their supervisor, a process that begins early in the academic year. Promotions do not create "new" positions; rather, the employee is advancing in title because of expanded work responsibilities that include all of their previous duties plus additional ones.</p>
<p>In other cases, internal searches--which are posted online, only within MCC--have been conducted: such positions are open to qualifying internal candidates. In far rarer cases, an employee may be hired into a position under a search waiver: this is done when time is of the essence to fill an opening (usually an unexpected one). Search waivers are intended to fill a position only for a short duration (i.e., long enough to conduct a full search).</p>
<p>Again, thank you for your questions! Since establishing the anonymous portal in 2015, I've received more than 100 questions and have responded to almost all through the Messages to the College Community and this blog. As always, please feel free to leave your feedback in the comments section of <a href="https://www.monroecc.edu/updates/">the blog</a>. I look forward to answering more questions next month.</p>

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MCC Daily Tribune

President's Wednesday Message

This week, I'll be answering a few more of your anonymous questions; this time on topics including the master schedule, employee work schedules, and promotions:

I am curious why in Banner, when we look under "Search Master Schedule," it has only Fall 2018 to Fall 2019. Often times, we need to search back a few years to see where courses made and other failed to enroll. It is frustrating to be limited to such a small time span. Is there any way this can be expanded?

The questioner seems to be using what is often referred to as the "self-service" view of Banner. This view is designed for students, so it only shows current and recent terms available to avoid any confusion for individuals looking for their own academic schedules. Searches within self-service Banner only show end of term data, so they wouldn't show any data related to cancelled courses, which have been removed from the self-service system by that point.

To find the historical course information that the questioner is seeking, employees have access to many years of master schedule data, including reporting that can pinpoint enrollment on the date of a course's cancellation. Master schedule history is available through the ePrint link in myMCC.

CSEA employees, often referred to as Support Staff, are just that - we support students, faculty, administrators, outside vendors across MCC. Every office at MCC runs on the back-bone of CSEA Support Staff. It is because of our hard work, dedication, efforts, & energy that MCC can serve students and the many customers that MCC serves. There is very little flexibility for CSEA employees in their work day. One area where MCC Administration can and should show their support for CSEA staff is for MCC Administration to in the near future implement a more flexible work day. Student Service Offices, students and faculty are here well before 8 AM. Why does MCC continue to enforce a rigid 8:45 AM - 4:45 AM work day for CSEA employees?

First, I agree with the questioner's points about the incredible dedication, commitment, and importance of our CSEA employees. MCC, literally, could not open or remain open each day without these valued members of our workforce, and I am grateful for their service.

Now, on to the question: At present, some members of the CSEA workforce do have the option to participate in shift work or shifted work hours; they are typically in Building Services and Facilities, where the employees' work is required before official College hours start and after they conclude. The hours that MCC is officially open have long been identified and published as 8:45 am to 4:45 pm, Monday through Friday. These are our peak service times, and most students and visitors expect to receive services. Even within this window, though, there are variations in hours across offices and departments that are based on agreements with supervisors and are made with the mission of our College and service to our students in mind.

Recently, for example, based on requests from students, some offices have started conversations about shifting hours later. It does not appear that we've received similar requests from students for earlier hours, but we are starting to hear more interest from students in having some access to services on the weekend.

Also, to follow up on an earlier Wednesday Message about flexible work schedules:

In a recent review of an 80% position in Human Resources, the Faculty Senate's Special Committee on Administrative Affairs asked if MCC could provide more such opportunities within the College. I can now share that each division is identifying positions that could be offered to employees as either 80% or 10-month appointments (per the applicable collective bargaining agreement). The primary threshold for consideration is simple: at these reduced work hours or weeks, the position must still meet the needs of the College and our students. If you are interested in having your position reviewed by your division for this opportunity, please contact your supervisor.

I noticed that some new employees are hired, but I never found the opening in the HR job opportunities website. Another situation is when current employees are promoted without giving a chance to current employees to apply for the position. For example, a counselor was promoted to Assistant Director. This is a source of discouragement and an example of lack of transparency when I know that my colleague got promoted, and we never know until the change is a fact. Is there a fair way we can establish at MCC so this type of under-the-table situation is corrected?

When an existing employee receives a new title/position, the questioner is correct: it is not always the result of a search. However, it is also not an "under-the-table situation." Promotions are provided for in the negotiated contracts. Promotions that do not involve academic rank come to the Board of Trustees each August: this is the type of promotion noted in the question. Employees begin the process of seeking a non-rank promotion by discussing this opportunity with their supervisor, a process that begins early in the academic year. Promotions do not create "new" positions; rather, the employee is advancing in title because of expanded work responsibilities that include all of their previous duties plus additional ones.

In other cases, internal searches--which are posted online, only within MCC--have been conducted: such positions are open to qualifying internal candidates. In far rarer cases, an employee may be hired into a position under a search waiver: this is done when time is of the essence to fill an opening (usually an unexpected one). Search waivers are intended to fill a position only for a short duration (i.e., long enough to conduct a full search).

Again, thank you for your questions! Since establishing the anonymous portal in 2015, I've received more than 100 questions and have responded to almost all through the Messages to the College Community and this blog. As always, please feel free to leave your feedback in the comments section of the blog. I look forward to answering more questions next month.

Anne Kress
Office of the President
04/24/2019