Staff Senate Minutes
University of Nebraska at Kearney
October 16th, 2007
10:30 a.m. in Room 310
of the Nebraskan Student Union
Present: Administrative: Kauders, McQueen
Managerial/Professional: Schaffnitt, Benitz, Morehouse
Service: Geiger, Gilbertson, Heinowski
Office: Meier, Beerbohm, Wardyn
Ex-Officio: Lakey
Absent: Bressington
Recognition ofSeptemberEmployee of the Month
Marilyn Karash,Computer Operator, ITS
Recognition of October Employee of the Month
Ismael Torres,Peer Health Coordinator, Counseling and Health Care
Recognition of Department of the Month
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Facilities Development and Planning
I. Call to Order– Benitz
II. Open Floor– Guests included Morgan Kenney (Student Government) and Jean Mattson (Budget Office)
III. Adoption of Agenda –Kauders, Morehouse
IV. Approval of Minutes – Schaffnitt, Beerbohm
V. Financial Report – Audrey gave the financial reports for October. Geiger, Heinowski
VI. Correspondence – None
VII. Unfinished Business
1. Replacement of Senator
New Senator – Lee McQueen, Facilities Director, will complete the remaining Senate term for Teresa Osmanski . Kauders, Morehouse
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 – Kauders – The Professional Development Committee met on October 4. The deadline for the Loper Designer’s Challenge and the New U Makeover is October 31. The Staff Recognition Day will be Thursday, January 3, from 9:00 – 10:00 in the Ponderosa Room of the Student Union. The Poker Walk will be held on August 7. Lee Elliott will present a program entitled “How to Work with Your Boss/Co-Workers: Just Engage Realistically & Kindly” on Tuesday, October 30, at 2:00 p.m. in the Nebraskan.
F. 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 sold 24 flags to the
Athletic Department.
IX. New Business
A. UNK Pandemic Flu Town Hall Meeting – Brandon told Senate members that UNK will host a Town Hall meeting for Pandemic Influenza Awareness on Wednesday, November 7, at 5:30 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room of the Nebraskan Student Union. The town hall meeting will also debut an educational DVD made by UNK and Two Rivers Public Health Department about the pandemic flu. Among those speaking at the event include Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy, Senator Joel Johnson, Kearney Mayor Stan Clouse, and Dr. Finnie Murray. Brandon encouraged Senate members to attend the town hall meeting.
B. Announcement of funding and labor for future Loper Designer’s Challenge – Barbara Johnson, Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance, has established a permanent budget allocation for the Loper Designer’s Challenge. The amount will be $3,000 annually and 60 hours of labor. Senate members expressed their thanks to Lee McQueen for the part he played in this allocation.
X. Staff Senate Roundtable – Staff members update the Senate on events happening in their offices/departments
Fauneil Meier – Jerry Fox and Dr. Finnie Murray left this morning for China
Mike Geiger – No major projects going on – in routine of daily custodial and maintenance duties.
John Lakey – Reviewing campus food sales policy; NuFlex enrollment will begin on November 19.
Mark Morehouse – Getting ready for athletic events on campus; preparing equipment for snow removal.
Wilma Heinowski – Also getting ready for athletics events
Jami Schaffnitt – Thank you to Jan Beerbohm and everyone who helped with the homecoming float. UNK will host a Family Day on November 3.
Audrey Kauders – Quarterly board meeting was held yesterday.
Jan Beerbohm/Laura Wardyn – Today is National Bosses’ Day so we are honoring our bosses in the Finance Office.
Brandon Benitz – Residence halls will be locked down at 5:00 p.m. the day of the UNK/Chadron State football game. NET2, the Altitude Sports network, and CSTV will all broadcast the football game.
Lee McQueen – Currently we have under contract three of the major campus construction projects – utility plant, residential halls, and Bruner Hall of Science.
Morgan Kenney – Student Senate is in the process of implementing “Campus Cares”. Also, Nate Garst, Director of Community Relations for Student Government, is working with the Kearney City Council creating bike lanes in the city.
X. 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 – November 20th @ 10:30 a.m. in the Sandhills Room of the Nebraskan Student Union.
XI. Adjourn – meeting was adjourned at 11:52 a.m. – Kauders, Morehouse