"It was a very interactive process, a very collaborative effort," Sander says. "[Members'] views cut across their positions."

The administrators worked closely with the committee's support staff, which performed many of the day-to-day chores of the committee.

The administrative staff would often begin the meetings by presenting their findings from the data collection and analysis efforts of the past month. The faculty members would then question the staff, and any unanswered questions would become the subjects of research for the next meeting.

Two of Zeckhauser's assistants, Polly Price, associate vice president for human resources, and Kim A. Roberts '78, director of the office of labor and employee relations, served as experts on the University's labor policies, and bore the brunt of the committee's charge to gather as much data as possible about casual and contracted employees.

The pair coordinated the surveying process, which included formulating questions, designing the survey, collecting responses and analyzing results.

Price also helped set the agenda for the monthly meetings, working closely with Mills. She drafted much of the final report itself.

Both the surveying and editing processes involved a back and forth between the staff and committee--Price would present drafts of surveys and proposals to committee members, who would comment and suggest editing changes.