Administrative Council Fact Sheet

Administrative Council was formed in 1983 to provide Wellesley College administrative staff with a forum to discuss and make recommendations on issues of common concern to them. Serving in an advisory capacity to the President, Council represents staff views and its recommendations are brought to the President, senior staff, and the Board of Trustees.

Council has a varied committee structure. The committees are Steering Committee, Nominating Committee, Compensation/Personnel Policy Advisory Committee and Committee for Diversity. In addition there are representatives to Academic Council, Student Senate, the Advisory Committee on Budgetary Affairs, the Standing Panel for College-Wide Grievance Committee and the Committee Against Racial Discrimination. Administrative Council also has positions for a Parliamentarian, Tellers and a Secretary.

Since the inception of Administrative Council, many important changes have been brought about, partially as a result of Council's work. Some of the most significant are highlighted below:

• The salary scale for administrative staff was adjusted to ensure that salaries of entry-level administrative staff are equal to salaries for comparable entry-level union employees.
• In 1984/1985 the salary pool for administrative staff was increased in order to bring the percentage increase more in line with those accorded to continuing faculty.
• The two lowest salary grade positions were eliminated and positions in those grades were upgraded.
• Recommendations were made that resulted in differential raise for many long-term employees, moving them higher in their salary range.
• The policy for compensatory time/overtime was clarified to note that comp time beyond 40 hours is awarded at time-and-a-half for non-exempt staff.
• Partially as a result of reports issued by Administrative Council, consulting firms were hired twice by the College to undertake a comprehensive restructuring of the administrative salary scale. Since then, the Compensation/Personnel Policy Advisory Committee has annually made recommendations regarding the administrative salary pool.
• The maximum number of accumulated sick days was increased from 120 to 130, and the age for payout of one-half of accumulated sick leave was reduced from 65 to 62 (after ten years of service).
• The tuition reimbursement program for courses taken outside the College was improved twice to increase it from 50% reimbursement to 100% and then to increase the maximum from $500 to the amount of one Wellesley course.
• The policy of charging part-time staff $150 to audit a course was altered to allow regular part-time members of staff to audit courses for free, as do full-time members of staff.
• The existing parental leave policy was improved three times to allow full flexibility in scheduling the allowable six month leave, to pay partially for continuation of health benefits, and then to provide for six weeks of paid leave.
• A dental plan for staff was instituted.
• In response to federal law, the College accepted a two-year recommendation from Council to continue to pay into the pension plan of employees who work beyond age 65.
• A short-term disability policy was implemented.
• Council helped implement a smoking policy.
• Some benefits were extended to include domestic partners.
• Administrative Council is asked to discuss and make recommendations on many diverse and important topics on campus such as ROTC policy, affirmative action, the Task Force of Racism, the Plans and Priorities and Fiscal Policies, the College's mission statement, the sexual harassment and divestment and grievance policies.
• Input was sought from Council on various staff development programs. Administrative Council representation on the Advisory Committee on Budgetary Affairs was increased from one voting member to include an additional non-voting member. Many brown-bag lunch presentations were held to highlight and explain various ethnic, religious and cultural traditions. Many "capsule profiles" of various departments and organizations on campus were presented. Outside speakers were invited to present on topics of need and interest to members.

We encourage you to join Administrative Council and become an active part of its important work.