Staff Senate Minutes - December 19, 2006
10:30 a.m., Sandhills Dining Room, Nebraskan Student Union
Present:
Administrative: Bressington, Kauders, Schroeder
Managerial/Professional: Benitz, Morehouse, Schaffnitt
Service: Geiger, Gilbertson
Office: Weed, Meier
Ex-Officio: Bressington
Absent:
Service: Uden
Office: Beerbohm
Recognition of Employee of the Month: Gloria Travis, Payroll Manager, Human Resources
Recognition of the Department of the Month: ID Card Office and the ID Card Committee
Guest Speaker - Chancellor Doug Kristensen
Chancellor Kristensen spoke about the impact the new Unicameral members and new Board of Regent members would have on the University. The legislature is starting with the largest number of new members since 1930. There are 21 new members mostly due to term limits. The two new Board of Regents are both graduates of this institution.
The new biannual budget was submitted based on historic growth (5 ½% to 6% per year). The budget might impose a decrease in programming, however it is too early to tell that and other specifics.
The Chancellor foresees the Board of Regents developing a policy regarding the use/lose case law that just came through regarding employee vacation time.
The Facilities Master Plan was presented to President Milliken. Milliken was overall pleased with UNK’s proposal. The plan will now be presented to the Board of Regents in January. There main focuses of UNK’s plan are: 1) Continued Resident Renewal, 2) Academic Infrastructure, 3) Campus Attractiveness and 4) Unrealized Opportunity.
Chancellor Kristensen closed by mentioning two concerns, 1) staff pay is still too low and 2)freshmen numbers too low. He feels that scholarship money is one thing needed to obtain more students.
Chancellor Kristensen thanked Staff Senate and wished everyone a Happy Holiday.
I. Call to Order - Benitz
II. Open Floor – Staff members are welcome to have open discussion with Senate
III. Adoption of Agenda – Bressington, Kauders
IV. Corrections to October 17 minutes – Geiger/Kauders; approval of November 21 minutes – Morehouse/Meier
V. Financial Report – Audrey Kauders – Approved, Morehouse/Weed
VI. Correspondence – Joni Weed
VII. Unfinished Business
a) January Staff Appreciation Breakfast REMINDER – January 3rd at 9:30 – 11:00 in Ponderosa A & B of the Nebraskan Student Union – Everyone encouraged to attend!
b) Parking – At the last meeting a concern was brought up regarding parking for staff members who have to find alternate locations to park when lots are closed down for events on campus. A suggestion was made that staff members (with a blue parking permit) should be allowed to park in other lots on days when a lot is closed due to an event. Deb Schroeder is drafting a proposal to send to John Lakey.
VIII. Committee Reports
a) Election Committee – No Report
b) Employee Recognition Committee – Joni Weed – EOM recipients will now be awarded $10 in points from Chartwells rather than a $10 gift certificate which will avoid the recipient being taxed for that amount. The Antelope Bookstore is considering giving a specific item as an award.
c) Performance Management Committee – No Report
d) Procedures Committee – No Report
e) Professional Development Committee – Cheryl Bressington – Rich Broderson’s office has been chosen for the Loper Office Makeover and Jon McBride and Caryn Hohnholt were chosen for the New U Makeover.
f) Mentoring Committee – No Report
g) Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee – No Report
h) Information Technology Advisory Committee – No Report
i) Strategic Planning Committee – Deb Schroeder – Committee is now discussing the deployment of the Strategic Plan and how to commit it to implementation.
IX. New Business
a) Professional development leave proposal for Managerial/Professional staff members – Brandon will review proposal with John Lakey.
b) Pictures of SAFE Winners – Cheryl Bressington will check to find the whereabouts of these pictures so they can be displayed.
c) Catering Concern – A concern was brought up regarding the price of Chartwells catering since it is required for on campus event. Brandon is going to explain the concern to John Lakey and review the parameters of the Chartwells contract.
X. Staff Senate Roundtable – Staff members update the Senate on events happening in their offices/departments
a) Jami Schaffnitt – Nebraskan Student Union – Preparing for spring semester and planning ahead for Blue & Gold Day and Fall Orientation.
b) Mike Geiger – Residential and Greek Life – Catching up with deferred maintenance.
c) Deb Schroeder – Information Technology – Working towards campus wide wireless internet access.
d) Fauneil Meier – International Education – Preparing for spring semester and 35 new international students.
e) Mark Morehouse – Facilities – Preparing for possible snow removal. Working with Student Government to purchase additional picnic tables.
f) Brandon Bohn – Student Government – “Chats with the Chancellor” going well. Student Government also working on a parking survey.
g) Audrey Kauders – MONA – MONA is open over the Holidays!
h) Cheryl Bressington – Human Resources – Floating Holiday requests need to be made and now is the time to update addresses for W2 forms.
i) Brandon Benitz – Student Life – Juan Guzman has been named the Director of Multicultural Affairs.
XI. Announcements
a) 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
b) Staff are always encouraged to attend Staff Senate meetings – open comments are now happening at beginning of meetings
c) Next Meeting – January 16 @ 10:30 a.m. in the Sandhills Dining Room of the Nebraskan Student Union. Guest speaker, Dr. LeAnn Obrecht, Director and Counseling and Health Care.
XII. Adjourn – meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m. Kauders, Morehouse