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QI was distressed to hear what were obviously commercial messages for Coca-Cola and Goody's at a basketball game. I thought Carolina was one of the few schools that had resisted the temptation to spoil the environment of its athletic facilities with commercial signs and messages. Has that long-standing tradition been changed?
AThere have been no announcements about Goody's at Carolina basketball games. The acknowledgement of Coca-Cola in our half-time public announcements is done in the context of a reminder to fans to visit our concession stands. The announcement is a requirement of our concessions agreement with Classic Foods.
John Swofford, Director of Athletics
QWhat is the University's severance policy? Is there one policy for SPA and EPA non-faculty employees or are there different ones for these two employment categories? I understand that state law providing for severance pay allows payment to both SPA and EPA, though UNC-CH has never paid severance to EPA employees whose positions are eliminated.
AThe University follows the state Personnel Commission's policy with regard to severance pay for SPA employees. That policy links the amount of severance pay to length of state service, beginning with two weeks pay for less than one year's service and going up to four months' pay for 20 years or more of state service. Those amounts can be increased if the employee is 40 years of age or older. This policy is based on N.C. General Statute 143-27.2, which limits its applicability to those employees covered by the State Personnel policy. Since EPA non-faculty employees are not covered by the State Personnel Act or policy, they are not subject to this policy.
Most EPA non-faculty employees have a contract or an appointment for a fixed period of time, although some EPA non-faculty employees are considered at-will employees. For at-will employees, University policy provides that if the EPA non-faculty employee is not being renewed, then the employee must receive at least 30 days' advance notice in the first year of employment and 90 days' advance notice in the second and all subsequent years. For EPA non-faculty employees with a fixed-term appointment, policy provides that no notice is required if an appointment is not renewed for an employee with an appointment of one year or less; 90 days advance notice is required if an employee has a more than one year appointment. EPA non-faculty policy does not distinguish between various reasons for discontinuation of employment. Although EPA non-faculty policy does allow for a "layoff"-like process for EPA non-faculty employees in the event of financial exigency or the shutdown of an entire program, such an event has occurred only once at Carolina.
Drake Maynard, Senior Director, Human Resource Administration
QI am a fan of the Department of Music's wonderful presentations. But even if I arrive a half-hour early, frequently there is no place to park. When I tell my friends about concerts at Hill Hall, they tell me they won't go: "no place to park." Apparently students heading for Franklin Street use the parking areas near Hill Hall as a convenient place to leave their cars. Can't something be done?
AParking in the North Campus area is difficult at night due to the large number of users, including but not limited to employees and students working nights, evening class students, persons attending departmental events and, yes, people going to Franklin Street. The Department of Music and we at DTP are aware of the difficulties and the folks in music will request that we monitor certain lots for some of their concerts. However, the simple lack of parking resources on this part of campus precludes there being enough parking for Hill Hall events even when we monitor parking. We are anticipating being able to provide more and easier access to Hill Hall next year when the Michie property has been converted to parking. Until then, we ask that you bear with us and possibly look into other parking options such as Chapel Hill's Rosemary Street Deck, which is only a short walk from campus, or the Bell Tower parking lot, which has available space most evenings.
LaBron Reid, Special Events Administrator, Transportation & Parking
QI have heard that for many years season tickets to men's basketball have been given free to members of the University community, and to individuals who are not full-time UNC employees, and that these freebies are located in faculty-staff sections. Has this ever been true? Is it now so? If so, how many and why?
AThere are not now, nor have there ever been, complimentary tickets for men's basketball games issued from faculty-staff designated seats to anyone outside the University. Faculty and staff members who serve on various athletic committees receive complimentary tickets for the term of their service. This list of individuals is provided to and approved by the chancellor.
John Swofford, Director of Ahtletics
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