Staff Senate Minutes
University of Nebraska at Kearney
August 21st, 2007
10:30 a.m. in the Sandhills Dining Room
in the Nebraskan Student Union
These are the official minutes of the August 21, 2007 Staff Senate Meeting.
Present: Administrative: Bressington, Kauders, Osmanski
Managerial/Professional: Schaffnitt, Benitz, Morehouse
Service: Gilbertson, Heinowski
Office: Meier, Wardyn
Ex-Officio: Lakey
Absent: Geiger, Beerbohm
Recognition of Employee of the Month-Deb Hurtya Director, Dual Career Program
Recognition of Department of the Month-Business Services
Guest Speaker – Chancellor Doug Kristensen
Chancellor Kristensen discussed with Staff Senate some of the construction projects and future plans for the campus. He commented that almost every place he goes on campus he hears what people have plans for and that is very encouraging to hear and invigorating to him. The Chancellor indicated that he had just received a summary of the NSEA report and was anxious to read about what students have to say about UNK. This fall is also going to be an important time regarding the first eight implementation plans for the strategic planning process. He encouraged Staff Senate to individually offer some help or input in an area of the eight implementation plans they are interested in. This is a good collective process for people to contribute to or volunteer for to be involved in the direction of the campus. He encouraged Senate members to take advantage of the podcasting as it is a great way to obtain information on what is happening on campus. The Chancellor commented that this year we are going to start marketing UNK more – let’s tell people how great UNK really is. He also encouraged Staff Senate to continue to recognize and do professional development for the staff.
I. Call to Order – Schaffnitt
II. Open Floor – Staff members are welcome to have open discussion with Senate
III. Adoption of Agenda – Teresa Osmanski informed Senate members that she has accepted an adjunct instructor position this fall and will be teaching a class on Tuesdays/Thursdays. Because of this, she will not be able to attend meetings this semester. John said there is nothing in the by-laws that addresses this situation – Senate members will need to discuss if this is an issue or not. John Lakey proposed that the Executive Committee look at this and decide the result. Morehouse, Kauders
IV. Approval of Minutes - Kauders, Osmanski
V. Financial Report – Audrey Kauders reported that we do have a budget for the year and no expenses have been taken from it as of now. She also has received access to the Foundation account. Morehouse, Heinowski
VI. Correspondence – A sympathy card for Jan Beerbohm was circulated among Senate members to sign.
VII. Unfinished Business
A. S.A.F.E. Award Nominations – The Executive Council met and the selections were made for the 2007 S.A.F.E. award. Those selected for the award will be announced at the Fall Convocation. Kauders commended John Lakey’s efforts to keep the S.A.F.E. award at the university. John encouraged Senate members to personally thank the TIAA/CREF representatives who will be at the convocation.
B. 2007-2009 Goals Update -
1. By-laws/Officer Duties Update – Over the last three or four months, Benitz has had the Procedures Committee look over a potential update to Senate by-laws with reference to the duties assigned to each member of the Executive Committee. The Procedures Committee has now met and proposed certain changes to the by-laws. Brandon first distributed copies of the “old” list of Senate officer duties to Senate members. He then distributed the proposed changes to the Senate by-laws from Rochelle Krueger, Chair of the Procedures Committee. Benitz noted that the proposed changes to the Executive Council member duties are highlighted in red. In following by-law procedures, changes to the by-laws can be introduced at one meeting and then voted upon at the next.
2. Benitz also distributed to Senate members an updated list of Staff Senate Committees.
VIII. Committee Reports
A. Election Committee – No Report
B. Employee Recognition Committee – No Report
C. Performance Management Committee – No Report
D. Procedures Committee – No Report
E. Professional Development Committee – No Report
F. Mentoring Committee – Deb Gilbertson – Leadership UNK will begin on September 26. Fundraising possibilities were discussed for Bosses’ Day and Administrative Professionals Day.
G. Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee – John Lakey – Last month it was announced that the recipients for the Office/Service Dependent Scholarship was Mary Holoubeck and Danielle Schultz. Financial Aid contacted John Lakey that Mary Holoubeck will be graduating in December. As per the agreement with the Foundation, the scholarship money is distributed by semester. John contacted the Executive Committee on what should be done with the remaining amount. The Executive Committee decided that as the recipients of the scholarship have already been announced for the year, the remaining $250 will be returned to the endowed account at the Foundation.
H. Information Technology Advisory Committee – No Report
I. Strategic Planning Committee – No Report
J. Fundraising Committee – Schaffnitt
The Fundraising Committee met to brainstorm some ideas. On the Staff Senate website, there is now a picture of the UNK flag that is on sale with a link to either Jami or Brandon Benitz’s e-mail. The flags will be on sale for $5.00 and there are around 50-60 flags available. Another thought the committee had is to have a Senate member either purchase a flag or display a flag somewhere to solicit it a little bit more. Brandon will be sending an e-mail on behalf of Staff Senate announcing the flag sales. Other fundraising ideas include doing a photo collage of campus.
IX. New Business
A. Friday Afternoon Club – Staff Senate will be hosting the Friday Afternoon Club on Friday, February 8, in the Alumni House.
B. Administrative/Faculty Retreat – The Administrative/Faculty Retreat will be held on Wednesday, April 29, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room of the Student Union.
Staff Senate Roundtable – Staff members update the Senate on events happening in their offices/departments
Teresa Osmanski – The locker rooms have been updated.
Laura Wardyn – Finance has been taking a lot of telephone calls regarding direct deposit for financial aid refunds – so far 600 students have signed up for direct deposit. Finance has also been doing a lot for the UNK Card and Loper Dollars Marketing.
Audrey Kauders - MONA will be showing a lot of glass art
Fauneil Meier – International Education has 90+ new international students coming in.
Mark Morehouse – New sod has been planted around Antelope Hall and new caps will placed on the posts – the ribbon cutting for Antelope Hall will be at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 23. The new sign is up near University Drive and the landscaping has been done with native plants.
Wilma Heinowski – Selling parking permits – will start ticketing on August 27th
Deb Gilbertson – Every custodian is over working in Antelope Hall today to get it ready for move-in day. They have been asked to start at the top and work their way to the bottom.
Jami Schaffnitt – We are working on Blue & Gold Day – there will be 189 vendors.
John Lakey – Preparing for influx of new employees (faculty and students) – HR is not doing a faculty orientation this year as over one-half of new faculty have already been in their office to sign up for benefits.|
Announcements
C. 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
D. Anyone in the UNK community is encouraged to attend Staff Senate meetings
E. Next Meeting – September 18th @ 10:30 a.m. in the Sandhills Dining Room of the Nebraskan Student Union.
X. Adjourn – meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. – Kauders, Osmanski