University of Nebraska Kearney

Staff Senate Minutes
University of Nebraska at Kearney
September 18, 2007 - 10:30 a.m. in the
Nebraskan Student Union – Sandhills Dining Room

Present:          Administrative:  Bressington

                        Managerial/Professional:  Schaffnitt, Benitz, Morehouse

                        Service:  Geiger

                        Office:  Meier, Beerbohm

                        Ex-Officio:  Lakey
                      
Absent:           Wardyn, Gilbertson, Osmanski, Kauders, Heinowski

Recognition of Employee of the Month
Marilyn Karsh,Computer Operator, ITS

Recognition of Department of the Month
E-Campus 

Guest Speaker – Gordon Brooks of the Nebraska Safety Center

Gordon Brooks said that the Nebraska Safety Center was mandated by the Nebraska legislature (LB 693) in 1978.  He said that the Safety Center exists to conserve human life and economic resources for Nebraska and that it has four purposes under the law:  to teach safety education, to conduct educational research , to promote anything happening in Nebraska of a safety nature, and to develop safety education for teachers.  He then spoke about the programs that the Safety Center offers such as beginning and advanced driver’s education, van driver training, STOP diversion program, agricultural safety, pupil transportation, and mine safety.   Gordon also told Senate members about some of the future plans he hopes to implement at the Nebraska Safety Center.

Guest Speaker – Anita Kucera of the University-Wide Benefits Committee

Anita Kucera gave Staff Senate an overview about the recent University-Wide Benefits meeting she attended on September 13, 2007.  She said that the employer contribution for the university’s medical plan was increased by 6% on July 1.  The NuFlex enrollment period will be November 19 – December 7, where employees will have a chance to add to or delete from their current plan.  She did note to the Senate that there is a two-year lock in period for the dental and vision plans.  Employees will again be asked to go online and complete a form stating whether they are a smoker or non-smoker. The cost of over-the-counter and prescription drugs for smoking cessation will be added to benefits plans as January 1.  Also, the cost of vision care will increase by 4% on January 1, 2008.  Anita encouraged Senate members to talk with their co-workers about the university benefit plans and if there are any questions or concerns let her know and she will forward them to the committee in April for discussion.  The University of Nebraska Kearney’s representatives on the U-Wide Benefits Committee include:  Mary Heater, Trudy de Goede, and Anita Kucera.  Ex-Officio members from UNK include John Lakey and Linda Clark.

1. Call to Order– Benitz
2. Open Floor– Staff members are welcome to have open discussion with Senate
3. Adoption of Agenda –(with one correction – Cheryl Bressington will report on the Professional Development Committee activities)  Bressington, Schaffnitt
4. Approval of Minutes  - Bressington, Beerbohm
5. Financial Report – John Lakey presented the current financial reports to the Senate.  Beerbohm, Schaffnitt
6. Correspondence – A thank you note from Bev Mathiesen was circulated among Senate members.
7. Unfinished Business

• Friday Afternoon Club – Brandon stated that Staff Senate will host on February 8, 2008, at the Alumni House.
• B.     Approval of changes to officer descriptions in by-laws – Bressington, Morehouse 

8. Committee Reports

• 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 – Cheryl Bressington –

Cheryl said that e-mails were sent out regarding the Loper Designers Challenge and the New U Makeover – the deadlines will be October 31.  The recent Poker Walk had 101 participants involved in it this summer – this was up from 85 participants the previous year.  On September 25, there will be an open house celebrating Jon McBride’s successful participation in the New U Makeover and showcase the face lift at the Human Performance Lab.  There will be two workshops this year for employees to attend.  Lee Elliott, HR Director from St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, will be visiting campus on October 30, 2:00 p.m., doing a presentation.  Dale Sunderson, from EAP, will be on campus on March 26, 2008 at 2:00 p.m., to do a presentation entitled “Tums:  A Prescription for Burnout”.

• Mentoring Committee – No Report
• G.    Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee – No Report
• H.    Information Technology Advisory Committee – No Report
• I.       Strategic Planning Committee – No Report

J.   Fundraising Committee (ad hoc) – Schaffnitt - We have received $50 in flag sales with an additional $120 coming from Athletics. 

9. New Business

• Administrative/Faculty Retreat – item tabled until October meeting

10. Potential Replacement of Senator – Discussion was held among Senate members whether a replacement should be sought for Teresa Osmanski’s Senate position.  It was the general consensus among members that Administrative personnel should be well represented on the Senate.  Audrey Kauders and Cheryl Bressington will look for a replacement among the Administrative staff.
11. Staff Senate Roundtable – Staff members update the Senate on events happening in their offices/departments

Fauneil Meier – Our office is pretty quiet now.

Cheryl Bressington – Gearing up for searches – resurveying faculty, staff and students employees for race and ethnicity. 

Mike Geiger – School year started out as a rush – things have leveled off really fast.

John Lakey – Busy time for payroll getting all the new employees into the system – it is also that time of year when we do a lot of reporting.

Jami Schaffnitt – Wrapped up Blue & Gold last week with some follow up meetings.  Homecoming is right around the corner – October 6.  Family Day will be held after Homecoming.

Jan Beerbohm – Our office is very busy this week because we are collecting tuition and fee payments.

Brandon Benitz – We had the most successful Blue & Gold Welcome Week that we ever had– 205 booths, 3900-4000 people that attended the picnic, between 6000-7000 people on campus.

X.       Announcements

• 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 – October 16^th @ 10:30 a.m. in the Sandhills Dining Room of the Nebraskan Student Union. 

XI.       Adjourn – meeting was adjourned at 11:59 a.m. – Schaffnitt, Beerbohm