University of Nebraska Kearney

Staff Senate Minutes - March 28 , 2006
10:30 a.m., Nebraskan Cedar Room

Present:
Administrative:  Kauders, Schroeder
Managerial/Professional:  Newton, Benitz, Morehouse
Service:  Geiger, Uden, Rinaker
Office: Beerbohm, Larson
Ex-Officio:  Lakey  

Recognition of Employee of the Month - Michael Cremers, Facilities System Specialist
Recognition of the Department of the Month - UNK Athletics

Guest Speaker:  Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance, Randy Haack
 Vice Chancellor Randy Haack reviewed the Residence Hall project and announced that a revised bidding process has recently been approved by the Board of Regents.  The first bids came in substantially over the planned cost.   The goal is to have at least one of the halls completed for occupancy in the Fall of 2007. 
Haack also reviewed the ID card implementation process.   Not only will the ID cards be used to identify and allow building access for campus employees and students, but will also have the added feature of a debit card with a checking account at Wells Fargo and/or a "declining balance" card that can currently be used at the Antelope Bookstore, Calvin T Ryan Library for library fines and for on-campus printing.  The program titled Loper Dollars will minimize the need for students and employees to carry and use cash for daily expenses.  The goal for summer implementation is the option to use the cards for beverage vending machines in specified locations, laundry machines in Conrad Hall and for the copiers at the library.  Future implementation will include more beverage vending, laundry, and copier locations, snack vending, parking permits and fines, student health services, etc. 
The Vice Chancellor also announced that LB 605 is closer to being passed by the legislature.  If this bill does pass, it would mean money for a proposed addition to Bruner Hall and also money to fund significant improvements and updates to the utilities infrastructure at UNK.
Following a question about the possibilities of capital updates to Otto Olsen, Vice Chancellor Haack resonded that Otto Olsen is in the construction que (priority list) to be upgraded, but where on the list is uncertain. It was #2, but may be reprioritized given current changes in the Unicameral.

I.  Call to Order - Newton

II.  Adoption of Agenda - with addition of a short election report by Larson regarding the current Staff Senate elections - Kauders/Benitz

III.  Minutes of February 21, 2006 meeting -  approved with corrections.  Geiger/Beerbohm

IV.  Financial Report approved.  Benitz/Rinaker

V.  Correspondence - None

VI.  Unfinished Business 

A.  Staff Senate elections - Newton encouraged Staff Senate members to vote and to encourage their fellow employees to do the same.
B.  Faculty/Staff Club - April 7, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Alumni House -  Staff Senate will co-host with the Chamber of Commerce University Relations committee.  Staff Senate members will provide food and the Chamber committee will provide the beverages.  Beerbohm and Larson will co-chair set-up and Lakey will provide paper products for the event.

A.  Election - Larson announced that invitations to vote had been sent to all UNK staff employees on Friday.  There are 3 Administrative employees, 17 Managerial/Professional employees, 15 Office employees and 9 Service employees who accepted their nomination and their names appear on the final election ballot
B.  Employee Recognition Committee - Morehouse reported that he had met with James Paul at Chartwells regarding the picnic for the July Celebration.  They are looking at ways to reduce the cost of the meal for the employees at the picnic.  Ideas being considered include not having the breakfast and using the savings to help fund the picnic. 
Morehouse also stated that the Committee will be hand delivering Employee of the Month and Department of the Month nomination forms to directors and supervisors to encourage people to submit nominations.
The Office Makeover "unveiling" is several weeks away.
C.  Performance Management Committee - Lakey advised that a new university-wide grievance policy had recently been approved by the Board of Regents.  Lakey will present the new policy to the Performance Management Committee this month and to Staff Senate at the April meeting.
D.  Procedures Committee - No Report
E.  Professional Development Committee - No report
 1) Making a Difference Subcommittee - No report
 2) Mentoring Subcommittee - Benitz reminded members that the Mentoring Committee's new promotion is flower pots filled with goodies available for Administrative Professional's Day.  Details coming soon.
F.  Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee - Mary Heater, Chair of the O/S Scholarship committee announced that despite rumors, the aluminum can drive for scholarship money is ongoing.  The Committee is working with building supervisors and facilities to assure that containers are available in each building to collect the cans.  Also the committee plans to have the trailer available more frequently to allow campus personnel to bring their cans from home.
G.  Information Technology Advisory Committee - No report
H.  Strategic Planning Committee - Schroeder reported that a draft mission statement with goals and objectives is in the final stages and will be released to campus soon.

A.  Proposal to add immediate Past Staff Senate President as Ex-Officio - Newton, presented a proposal from the Staff Senate Executive Committee that future past Staff Senate Presidents be included on Staff Senate as an Ex-officio member for the year following their term.  This hopefully would alleviate the problem of finding someone who is willing to serve as president of Staff Senate.  The past president would have no voting privileges.  The idea was discussed whether this person should just serve on the Executive Committee.  Newton asked Staff Senate members to think about this over the next month for discussion at next month's meeting. 
        Lakey suggested and Staff Senate will consider whether future Vice Presidents of Staff Senate be elected with the idea that they will automatically become President the next year.  This would allow the Vice President time to "learn the ropes."
B.  July 1st Celebration - Newton advised that dates are being discussed for the celebration since July 1 falls on a Saturday this year.

A.  Faculty/Staff Club - hosted by Staff Senate and the Chamber UR Committee Friday, April 7th 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
B.  Next Meeting - Tuesday, April 18th @ 10:30 a.m. Nebraskan Student Union, Room 310,  newly elected senators will attend, new officers will be elected.
C.  Staff Senate seeking nominations - Employee and Department of the month nominations are needed.  Lakey announced that a campus-wide e-mail would be coming in early April requesting nominations for the TIAA-CREF Staff Award for Excellence.  
D.  Search Information - Newton announced that the Vice Chancellor for University Relations Search is moving along, the Dean of Graduate Studies Search is nearing completion, and the Dean of Education search is holding campus-wide forums with the on-campus applicant this week.
Staff Senate congratulated Newton on his recent appointment as Director of Under-graduate Admissions and Recruitment.