University of Nebraska Kearney

 Staff Senate Minutes - November 21, 2006
10:30 a.m., Sandhills Room, Nebraskan Student Union

Present:
Administrative: Bressington, Kauders, Schroeder
Managerial/Professional: Benitz, Morehouse, Schaffnitt
Service: Geiger, Gilbertson, Uden
Office: Meier
Ex-Officio: Bressington
Absent:
Office: Beerbohm, Weed

Recognition of Employee of the Month:  Bridget Hermanson, Office Associate, Social Work Program

Guest Speaker – John Lakey, Interim Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance and Lee McQueen, Director of Facilities Management and Planning - Update on Facilities Development Plan:
John and Lee presented updates on the Facilities Master Plan. Compilation of the 7-chapter plan will be completed by December 13 to present to President Miliken. It will then be presented to the Board of Regents on January 19. The plan includes campus input and “dreams” for UNK. Some of the ideas include: An opportunity to renovate Otto Olson, extending University Drive, updating/renovating the older Residence Halls which includes adding fire sprinklers, the future of University Heights, the possibility of a 2-level parking structure and/or more surface parking, construction and relocation of a new heating/cooling plant, and maintaining the attractiveness of our campus. Details of updates and a place for comments on the plan are available at Facilities Master Plan

I. Call to Order – Benitz

II. Open Floor – Staff members are welcome to have open discussion with Senate
III. Adoption of Agenda – Kauders/Morehouse

IV. Minutes of August 15, 2006 meeting – Kauders/Morehouse

V. Financial Report - Kauders, Approved – Bressington/Meier

VI. Correspondence – None

a) January Staff Appreciation Breakfast – January 3rd at 9:30 – 11:30 in Ponderosa A & B of the Nebraskan Student Union. Funding availability – Staff Senate was approached about assisting with the food portion of the event. A motion was made by Kauders/Bressington to provide $150-200 in assistance and approved by Staff Senate.
b) 2006-2007 Goals Update and Review - Staff Senate is making considerable progress on their goals:
• Format of Newsletter has been changed and in use.
• Blackboard is set up for Staff Senate Members. We are now working on uploading documents.
• Input for meeting with Chancellor – all ideas need to be submitted to Brandon by 12/10/06.
• One new member for each Staff Senate committee has been added.
• Advocated staff participation in University wide committees and open forums.
• Encouraged and will continue to encourage participation in open forums and campus search committees.
• Made progress on Leadership UNK program.
c) Update on Campus-Wide Search Committees
• Vice Chancellor for Business & Finance – Deb - 2 interviews completed and information turned over to the Chancellor. Anticipated start date is 1/07.
• Dean of Library – Audrey - 5 phone interviews completed. Anticipated start date is 7/1/07
d) Keys for Staff Senate office – Human Resources Office is going to monitor

VIII. Committee Reports 

a) Election Committee – No Report
b) Employee Recognition Committee – No Report
c) Performance Management Committee – Audrey reported that the committee has met twice and has revised the evaluation form which will be used in the spring when employee evaluations are conducted.
d) Procedures Committee – No Report
e) Professional Development Committee – Cheryl reported that funds were received from the Artisan Lecture Committee and Pepsi Funds to assist with upcoming Professional Development Presentation. The committee is looking at restructuring to 8 workshops throughout the academic year and conducting drawings to promote attendance.
f) Mentoring Committee – Bruce reported that the committee is working on a way to increase new employee involvement in the mentoring program. They want to be able to reach new employees sooner to assist them in areas most needed. Brandon reported that a draft copy of the new Leadership UNK proposal is available. They are discussing funding options.
g) Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee – Brandon reported that the Can Drive has received $259.40 worth of cans with 2 months still left to contribute which is only approximately $25 away from 2006 efforts.
h) Information Technology Advisory Committee – No Report
i) Strategic Planning Committee – No Report

IX. New Business

a) New UNK Consensual Relations Policy – Cheryl reported that a new policy has been created and all professional staff members need to be aware. A copy of the policy will be made available.
b) EOM Taxation - An executive memorandum has been circulating discussing the new policy that gift certificates will now be taxed to the award winner. Therefore, the committee needs to come up with more specific gifts rather than gift certificates. Fauneil will make the committee aware of the new policy.

X. Staff Senate Roundtable:

a) Mike – Residential and Greek Life – Staff members in his division have contacted him about situations when Lot 4 (or other lots) is closed down for events on campus. This causes difficulty for staff members to find a place, reasonably close, to park. Recently, Public Safety issued a statement indicating that if anyone received tickets during a day when Lot 4 was closed that people could bring their tickets to Public Safety and not have to pay. Mike's staff would like to propose that staff members (with a blue parking permit) would be allowed to park in other lots on days when a lot, such as lot 4, is closed due to an event and could bring their ticket in to Public Safety if ticketed.
b) Deb Gilbertson– Residential and Greek Life – Indicated that she had also had several staff members contact her regarding the parking situation. She added that it’s difficult for staff to leave for lunch and return to find a parking place in the 1 hour time they are allotted for their break. Deb also mentioned that students are parking in Loading Zones and not receiving tickets.
c) Deb Schroeder – Information Technology – The UNK e-mail service was recently upgraded on 11/20 which is why some people noticed interrupted service. The SPAM software was updated during the upgrade. There is also a plan being drafted to propose that wireless internet access be available across campus. IT will also be having a Holiday Open House, an e-mail will be sent with details.
d) Cheryl – Human Resources - NUFlex packets have been sent out and those needing to make changes or updates need to do so online. Employees not making any changes do not need to do anything. Cheryl also mentioned that the upcoming Juli and Joan Burney event promises to be a big event, a reminder will be sent to employees via e-mail.
e) Jami – Nebraskan Student Union - LPAC is planning their annual Holiday Celebration however doing something different this year by having a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest.
f) Mark/Bruce – Facilities – Replacing lights in the Health and Sports Center Arena to eliminate the “buzzing”. Installed an automatic float in the swimming pool to avoid future flooding. 12/-18-12/22 bleachers in the Health and Sports Center Arena will be fixed. Grounds working on cleaning up flower beds. Bathrooms being renovated in Cushing.
g) Fauneil – International Education – Jerry returned from a recruiting fair in the Bahamas. Fauneil mentioned that there are international students who have no place to go over the Thanksgiving Holiday, if anyone is interested in inviting them into their home can contact her.
h) Brandon – Student Life working on planning for Fall Orientation 2007. Interviewed 3 candidates for the OMA Director Search. Disability Awareness Week was a success specifically the wheelchair race. Dr. Obrecht will be January guest speaker for Staff Senate updating us on Counseling and Health Care.

XI. Announcements

a) “Turning Stumbling Blocks Into Stepping Stones” on November 28th - joint venture with the Public Sector – speakers are Juli and Joan Burney
b) Staff Senate is always seeking nominations for Employee and Department of the Month! All nomination forms are available on-line on the Staff Senate webpage
c) Staff are always encouraged to attend Staff Senate meetings – open comments are now happening at beginning of meetings
d) Next Meeting – December 19th @ 10:30 a.m. in the Sandhills Dining Room of the Nebraskan Student Union. Guest speaker, Chancellor Doug Kristensen.
• Impact the recent elections have on the University
• Budget updates/information
• Construction updates and Facilities Master Plan Updates
• How can Staff Senate help when the Board of Regents come to campus in the spring?
e) Ombudsperson Handouts

XII. Adjourn – meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m. Bressington/Kauders