Staff Senate Minutes
University of Nebraska at Kearney
April 17, 2007 - 10:30 a.m., Nebraskan Union - Sandhills
Present: Administrative: Bressington, Kauders, Schroeder
Managerial/Professional: Benitz, Morehouse, Schaffnitt
Service: Gilbertson, Uden
Office: Beerbohm, Weed, Meier
Ex-Officio: Lakey
Absent: Geiger
Recognition of Employee of the Month
Patty Rivera, Custodian
Cushing/Health & Sports Center
Recognition of the Department of the Month
Japanese Association of Kearney (JAK)
Guest Speaker – Barbara Johnson
Vice Chancellor for Business & Finance
Ms. Johnson provided information to the Senate about her background and what brought her to UNK. Ms. Johnson received her undergraduate degree at Hampton University in Virginia and her MBA at Atlanta University. Her first “career path” position took her to Florida State as Director of Auxiliary Services. She was then recruited to Ohio State where she was introduced to Central Administration. Prior to beginning at UNK approximately 1 ½ months ago Ms. Johnson was a consultant with NACUBO. She worked with schools affected by the 2005 storms. She created a model Emergency Plan for recovering and continuity for businesses. With the events of this week at Virginia Tech she has been meeting with the various entities on campus about the preparedness plan that UNK uses. She is very confident with the kinds of things we are doing and what we would do if an event occurred on campus.. She is enjoying learning about Nebraska and eventually plans to travel the state. Ms Johnson welcomes questions from staff regarding Business and Finance either by email or phone.
Guest Speaker –Major Will Prusia
Gold Program
Major Prusia informed the Senate of the Gold Program beginning this fall on campus. It is similar to the ROTC program that ended in 1995. Gold Program is a unique leadership development program specifically for the civilian career-minded student. The Guard Office Leadership Development (GOLD) provides motivated young men and women exciting and valuable instruction in a variety of areas. There are currently two (2) classes with labs that will be held this fall (Foundation of Officership and Basic Leadership). The basic course will be available to all interested students. The advanced course is available to those who are currently in the Guard or will be joining the Guard. The target enrollment for fall is 30 (10 for basic and 20 for advanced). For additional information please contact Major Prusia at 865-5340.
Call to Order
Introduction of All Members
Welcome to New Members
Adoption of Agenda – Kauders, Bressington
Approval of Minutes – from February 20th meeting – Beerbohm, Uden
Approval of Minutes (with corrections) – from March 20th meeting – Bressington, Morehouse
Financial Report – Audrey Kauders – Finance Office the last few times has charged to the Auxiliary account – We will continue to use the State Funded account for expenses and then transfer exact dollars from the Auxiliary Account at the end of the fiscal year. Beginning with the new year we will work with the Foundation to obtain regular notices of fund balances.
Approved – Schaffnitt, Schroeder
Correspondence – None
Unfinished Business
Reminders
UNK Day (formerly “July 1 Celebration”)
a. Set for June 29th at 7:00 – 8:30 a.m.
B. Staff Senate End-of-Year Report – Brandon will hopefully have it ready for next meeting
C. Ice Storm Resolution – Deb created a resolution – approved by Senate (attached)
Committee Reports
A. Election Committee – Jami Schaffnitt
The Election is complete – Dixie compiled statistics for this past election. The committee would like to thank Darren Addy for all his work with this years’ election (on such short notice!). Dixie has asked the Senate if they have an idea of how to improve the nomination process (particularly in the service section). Some ideas brought to the Senate were having one of the members attend the monthly meetings at Facilities and Residential & Greek Life and bring nomination forms to those meetings; we would also like to make voting more accessible to individuals. The senate also addressed the issue of what to do if there are no acceptance of nominations; potentially visit with the individuals in the categories about the Senate just prior to nominations;
B. Employee Recognition Committee – No Report
C. Performance Management Committee – No Report
D. Procedures Committee – No Report
E. Professional Development Committee – Cheryl Bressington – the Loper Office Makeover is nearly complete – The Open House will be next week – watch for details! The Loper Makeover is progressing well although the female participate has chosen to withdraw and the alternate is now in place.
F. Mentoring Committee – Bruce Uden – Will be meeting next Thursday with the focus on Leadership UNK. Twenty (20) applications have been mailed however none have been returned. The final copy of the Leadership UNK is complete. If you wish to see a copy, please contact Linda Clark or Dee Ellingson. A reminder, there is room for 10 participants. The Senate would like to congratulate Dee and Linda for pressing forward with the Leadership UNK. They were instrumental in the planning and completion of the project.
G. Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee – No Report
H. Information Technology Advisory Committee – No Report
I. Strategic Planning Committee – No Report
New Business
A. Election of New Officers for 2007-2008 – Congratulations to our new officers!
President – Brandon Benitz
Vice – President – Jami Schaffnitt
Secretary – Fauneil Meier
Treasurer – Audrey Kauders
In addition to the election of officers John requested nominations from the floor for two nominees to serve on the Professional Conduct Committee – Currently Deb Schroeder and Audrey Kauders serve on this committee – Both were nominated from the floor and accepted the nominations. There was some concern about who can serve on this committee (by-laws state “administrative and/or managerial/professional staff representatives elected by the Staff Senate”. Whether those are currently Senate members or someone chosen by the Senate. A motion was put into place that the Senate can select someone who is an administrative and/or management/professional staff and not a member of the current Senate. The motion passed.
B. Continuity Issues
1. “Communication Link” – Laura Wardyn has agreed to do both the Communication Link as well as the Website maintenance
2. Staff Senate Website Maintenance
3. BlackBoard – Deb Schroeder will maintain the Blackboard. If you re unfamiliar with Blackboard Deb will be happy to sit down with you and go over it! Also, if you need your password please contact Andrea Childress!
C. Recognition of Outgoing Members
Deb Schroeder
Bruce Uden
Joni Weed
Staff Senate Roundtable – Staff members update the Senate on events happening in their offices/departments
Audrey: Just had their Statewide Board meeting yesterday and recovering from that!
Teresa: Athletics is recovering from the NCAA tournaments. Getting ready for graduation
Deb: Helping kids with moving
Bruce: HVAC in MSAB will be done this week! – update on Tyler Anderson – has been moved to Madonna for rehabilitation.
Mark: 16 of 18 trees are down or will be down. They are coordinating with the city to do some of the more dangerous limbs and trees. Because of the V. Tech incident they are asking their staff to be more aware of their campus surroundings; anyone suspicious or unusual happenings to contact Public Safety. New irrigation near Cushing and Otto Olsen. Woodchips have been ordered for the Child Development Center. Salvation Army will have trucks available move out day for any items that the students don’t want to take with them!
Fauneil: Jerry has is leaving for South Korea for recruiting purposes. There are 40 new NCN students arriving May 16.
Wilma: There will be no increase in parking fees this coming year!
Jami: Extremely busy with election of new officers in the Student Government Organizations. A reminder the FUN5k walk is this Saturday at 9 a.m. The Chris Cagle and Julie Roberts scheduled for next Thursday at 7 p.m.
Cheryl: Will have the Diversity planning report ready for tomorrow’s meeting
John: In addition to the EOT, a reminder the Celebrating Excellence is Thursday in the Ponderosa Room. Service Awards are schedule for approximately 12:45.
Follow-up to Mark’s comments about the grounds works on campus – these are some of one-time the monies the Chancellor allocated. Also, the campus received FEMA money in the amount of $25,000 to cover labor and other expenses incurred during this past ice storm.
Deb: Reminder if you want Office 2007 installed the Helpdesk will be able to assist you. Jane Peterson is willing to work with anyone that is interested in learning Pod casting. It’s a great way to communicate!
Laura: Just did a pod casting yesterday!
Jan: They have a work study that is graduating in May so are having a luncheon today as a going away – This student worked for them for four years!
Joni: Office currently under “renovation”. Hopefully will be done in a couple of week!
Brandon: the Blue & Gold Welcome Week is planned – Brochure is in the final stages. The date is August 24, 2007 – Orientation has been moved to Sunday with the Chancellor’s picnic on Sunday at 5:00. There will be several events scheduled throughout the week – Watch for more details!
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. Anyone in the UNK community is encouraged to attend Staff Senate meetings
C. Next Meeting – May 15th @ 10:30 a.m. in the Sandhills Dining Room of the Nebraskan Student Union. Guest speaker – Amber Lewis, UNK Student Body President and Student Regent.
Adjourn
A Resolution
Presented to the Staff Senate
University of Nebraska at Kearney
April 17, 2007
Whereas, an ice storm during New Year’s weekend, 2007, critically damaged the power grid throughout central Nebraska,
Whereas, the storm seriously damaged trees and landscaping on the UNK campus,
Whereas, the campus was shut down for three extra days (January 3-5, 2007) awaiting repairs to the power grid,
Whereas, staff in campus offices navigated icy roads and streets to travel to the UNK campus to perform essential duties during the shut down,
Be it resolved that Staff Senate expresses sincere appreciation to the many staff members and offices who committed their time and energy to maintaining essential services and preparing for the arrival of students, faculty and staff at the start of the spring semester.