Staff Senate Minutes
University of Nebraska at Kearney
March 18th, 2008 - 10:30 a.m. in the
Nebraskan Student Union – Sandhills Room
Present: Administrative: Kauders, Bressington, McQueen
Managerial/Professional: Schaffnitt
Service: Geiger, Heinowski, Gilbertson
Office: Meier, Wardyn,
Ex-Officio: Lakey
Absent: Benitz, Beerbohm
Guests: Member of the Leadership UNK 2007-08: Don Wellensiek – Facilities and
Geraldine Stirtz – Teacher Education
Recognition of March Employee of the Month
Linda Lunden,Custodian, Memorial Student Affairs Building
Recognition of Department of the Month
Music and Performing Art
Guest Speaker – Doug Kristensen
Chancellor Kristensen talked to Staff Senate at length about both the current and future budget allocations for the university. He said that UNK will find out how much our allocation funding will be in June but he is expecting the 2009 budget to be substantially less than last year. The Chancellor explained how the lack of budget funds might impact our university. The Chancellor also talked to Staff Senate about student recruitment/retention, the new utility plant project, the SIS project, and renovations of the residential halls.
- Call to Order – Schaffnitt
- Open Floor– Staff members are welcome to have open discussion with Senate
- Adoption of Agenda –Theagenda was adopted with the following changes - Fauneil Meier will report for the Employee Recognition Committee; Laura Wardyn will report for the Information Technology Committee. Kauders, Wardyn
- Approval of Minutes – Geiger, Heinowski
- Financial Report – Kauders presented the March financial report to Senate members. Bressington, McQueen
- Correspondence– None
- Unfinished Business
A. Update on Power Outages – McQueen – The dates for the power outages on campus have changed. The new dates are Saturday, May 10, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m; and Sunday, May 25, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Lee encouraged everyone to check the Facilities’ website for construction updates.
- Committee Reports
- Election Committee – Schaffnitt – E-mails were sent out to all employees about the Staff Senate elections. There were 56 nominees for Office; 24 nominees for Service; 46 for Managerial/Professional; and 8 for Administration. The Election Committee is currently contacting each of the nominees and asking if they would like have their name appear on the final voting ballot.
- B. Employee Recognition Committee – Meier - The Employee Recognition Committee met recently with John Lakey about the SAFE Award case located across the hall from the Registrar’s Office. It was decided by the committee that each year as the new recipient’s pictures are hung in the case – two of the older pictures will be removed. The SAFE Award case will display the recipient award pictures from the last five years.
- C. Performance Management Committee – Bressington – The Performance Management Committee did meet via electronic means. They were asked to review the Employee Performance Evaluation tool. Some minor changes were made from last year - hopefully to help them out. The link to Employee Performance Evaluation went out yesterday.
- D. Procedures Committee – No Report
- E. Professional Development Committee – Bressington – The training session for “TUMS: The Prescription for Burnout” will be next Wednesday. If you have not signed up for the workshop, please do. The Loper Designer’s Challenge, which is in Admissions this year, is on target. There should be an open house on April 23, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The Poker Walk is on August 7.
- F. Mentoring Committee – Gilbertson – The Mentoring Committee will be selling candy jars for Administrative Professional Day on April 23. Candy jars can be bought empty for $6.00 or filled with candy for $8.00. With the first 50 UNK candy jars ordered, the gift recipient will also receive a complimentary ticket to the Cinema 8 Theatre in Kearney.
- G. Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee – Lakey – John said that he recently spoke with the Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee about the funding for the $1000 scholarship awarded every year. He said that he is concerned about the dwindling revenue from the recycling and the foundation drive. John said that he made a proposal to the committee that we only give scholarships in the amount of interest earned year from the Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund. He then said revenue earned from recycling, the Friday Afternoon Club, or the Foundation drive will be transferred to the endowed account so it continues to grow. John recommended that the expendable account be eliminated.
A motion was made by Kauders/Bressington “to have the Expendable account be rolled into theEndowed account.” The motion carried.
After a lengthy discussion, a motion was made by Bressington/Kauders that says “For the purposes of this account we only expend no more than the interest earned on the endowed account each year.” Motion carried.
A motion was then made by Kauders/Wardyn that says “Staff Senate shall review, every February, the status of the endowed account to determine if Staff Senate adds to the amount available for scholarships.” Motion carried.
- Information Technology Advisory Committee – Wardyn – The Information Technology Committee met last Friday, March 14. The purpose is the annual recommendation to the Chancellor. Some of the things discussed in the meeting were smart classrooms, web changes, computer labs, reviewing what is going well with technology on campus and/or what is in need of improvement.
- I. Strategic Planning Committee – No Report
- J. Fundraising Committee (ad hoc) – No Report
- New Business
- Staff Senate Roundtable – Staff members update the Senate on events happening in their offices/departments
Fauneil Meier – The International Food Festival was held on Sunday, March 2, in the Health and Sports Center. The students really did a great job with the festival.
Mike Geiger – Some of you might have seen the residential hall remodeling plan posted. The Mantor Hall remodel is going to be the first big project being completed. We are looking forward to getting that done. We are starting to plan for summer.
Wilma Heinowski – Fences are going up around construction- losing part of parking lot west of Randall Hall for construction; Lot #10 will be closing on Tuesday for the Elite 8 tournament and special guests; new parking software has been purchased.
Audrey Kauders – We are very busy at MONA right now – we are getting ready to host our biennial fundraising event. There will be a wonderful array of art displayed – 72 artists featured and 133 artworks. All of the art will be for sale.
Cheryl Bressington – Next Tuesday night, if you are wondering what to do for supper, go to Runza north between 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. – eat in, don’t drive through – part of the proceeds is going to the Child Care Center for sod for the playground. Anything that you could do to help out, we would appreciate it.
Jami Schaffnitt – Quiet in our office; April 3 is the Student Talent Show; the Fun 5K Run is April 19 with proceeds going to a student scholarship fund.
John Lakey – E-mail went out regarding employee evaluations yesterday. Cheryl & I will be hosting a Spot Check on employee evaluations in Copeland Hall on Wednesday, April 2, at 3:00 p.m.
Lee McQueen – We are excited Elite 8 is right around the corner.
Laura Wardyn – Quiet this week in the Finance Office, getting some projects done that need our attention – planning for summer – March 31 starts early registration.
Deb Gilbertson – Planning our summer –we just had our meeting this morning and Rick Larsen spoke about the different buildings closing and going off line.
Guest:
Geraldine Stirtz – Service learning is component that faculty build into the curriculum in the classroom and it provides service to the community. It also enhances students’ knowledge about their coursework and it provides civic engagement for them.
XI.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 – April 15th @ 10:30 a.m. in the Sandhills Room of the Nebraskan Student Union.
XI. Adjourn – meeting was adjourned at 12:19 p.m. – Kauders, McQueen