University of Nebraska Kearney

Staff Senate Minutes - October 15, 2002

Employee of the Month: Linda Johnson, Admissions Coordinator, Graduate Studies & Research

Present:
Directors -- Livingston, Roggasch
Managerial/Professional -- Bressington, Danube, Kucera
Office -- Ellingson, Jones
Service -- Lange, Wilson
Ex Officio: Lakey

Absent: L. Clark

1. Call to order

2. Adoption of Agenda -- Agenda approved.

3. Introductions, Correspondence, and Minutes of 9/17/2002 -- Minutes approved.

4. Unfinished Business
   1. Homecoming
      The parade was great visibility for Staff Senate. Tim Danube, on behalf of SAC, thanked Staff Senate for participating. It was suggested that Staff Senate participate in more of the homecoming events next year.

   2. Friday Afternoon Club
      Had a great turnout. $77 was donated to the Scholarship Fund. Jim Rundstrom donates cans collected from the Alumni House functions to the Scholarship Fund. It was suggested that Staff Senate sponsor Friday Afternoon Club later in the year next year to avoid the expenses to Staff Senate being all in October. April was suggested for next year for Staff Senate to sponsor FAC. Another suggestion was getting corporate sponsors to cover some of the expenses. The topic of funding for Staff Senate was discussed. Faculty Senate and Student Senate both receive financial support from UNK funds.

5. Committee & Search Reports
   1. Election Committee
      Vacancies -- Two replacements are needed to fill the positions on Staff Senate, one from Directors and one from Service.

   2. Employee Recognition Committee
      The Employee of the Month form will be changed to include the signature of the supervisor. The committee is working on a "reserved" parking space for the EOM.

   3. Performance Management Committee
      The committee will be meeting soon. One task will be clearer guidelines for a reduction in force.

   4. Procedures Committee -- No report

   5. Professional Development Committee -- No report

   6. Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee
      Last chance to donate cans for the Scholarship is October 16, 17 & 18. The recycling trailer will be in the parking lot east of the Nebraskan. The can drive on campus is being used to get the endowed fund up to $10,000. Staff Senate members were to encourage employees to designate donations from the Foundation drive to the Employee/Dependent Scholarship Fund.

   7. Making a Difference Subcommittee
      Making A Difference is October 22 in the Union. 120 are pre-registered. Last year's attendance was approximately 160. Volunteers are needed for the registration table and session hosts.

   8. Mentoring Subcommittee -- No report

   9. Information Technology Advisory Committee
      The committee met October 14. The chair, SVCAA Hadley, is reorganizing the committee.

   10. Strategic Planning – No report

   11. Centennial Committee
       Met recently. The Steering Committee is organizing 3 subcommittees and needs additional members. The subcommittees are: Publicity/merchandising, finance/fund raising, and events. The kickoff event for the Centennial Celebration will be in March 2003.

   12. Marketing Council -- Not meeting any more

   13. Parking Committee
       Current Staff Senate representatives on the committee are Anita Kucera, Larry Rauert, Rich Broderson and Laura Wardyn.

   14. North Central Steering Committee
       Every 10 years the University undergoes North Central Accreditation. Kathy Livingston is the Staff Senate representative on the committee. The documentation for accreditation will be written by Fall 2003.

6. New Business
   1. U-Wide Benefits Committee
      No staff qualify for the "buyout" being offered this year. Insurance premiums will increase slightly for next year. The deductible on prescriptions and the co-pay deductible will also go up slightly. Changes to NuFlex will soon be done electronically. This will be connected with SAP and employees will be able to feed in their own benefits package. Some training will be needed to do electronic entry of benefits.

7. Announcements
   1. Next meeting November 19, 2002, Room 310, Student Union

   2. Let's Have Lunch November 13, 2002, Noon, Room 310, Student Union, "Creative Gift Wrapping"

   3. Making A Difference October 22, 2002

   Adjourned at 11:25 a.m.