Staff Senate Minutes
University of Nebraska at Kearney
June 17th, 2008
10:30 a.m. in the Sandhills Dining Room
in the Nebraskan Student Union
Present:
Administrative: Ballenger, Kauders
Managerial/Professional: Schaffnitt, Benitz, Petersen
Service: Geiger, Lester
Office: Williams, Wardyn, Meier
Ex-Officio: Lakey
Absent: Heinowski, McQueen
Recognition of Employee of the Month
Juan Guzman
Director, Office Multicultural Affairs
Recognition of Department of the Month
Chartwells
Guest Speaker- Timothy Hruza
Student Body President, Student Regent
Tim spoke to the Senate about the Student Government regarding the upcoming year. They are currently researching the possibility of implementing a recycling program that would coordinate and expand recycling services across campus. Student Government is also attempting to launch a working relationship with Chartwells and the students. A program called “I Love UNK, but…” may be implemented to incite feedback regarding issues on campus. Tim also talked about a collaborative effort with his colleagues at UNO & UNL. They have partnered with the Nebraska Secretary of State, John Gale to produce a coordinated campaign across all three universities to increase the level of civic engagement among college students nationwide. The final stages of implementing the USA Today Collegiate Readership Program will be seen in the fall.
Call to Order
I. Introduction of All Members
A. Welcome to New Members
II. Open Floor – Staff members are welcome to have open discussion with Senate
III. Adoption of Agenda
IV. Approval of Minutes – from May 20th meeting
V. Financial Report – Laura Wardyn
VI. Correspondence – Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Thank You
VII. Unfinished Business
A. Staff Senate Goals for 2008
1. Update & Utilize Blackboard/Staff Senate Website
2. Enhance Staff Senate Exposure & Awareness
3. Mentors for new Senators/Officers
4. Set 2008-2009 Budget
5. Develop campus awareness of University online calendar
B. UNK Day 2008 – July 1st, Welch Hall, speaker John Lakey
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 reported
F. Mentoring Committee – No Report
G. Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee – John Lakey
H. Information Technology Advisory Committee – No Report
I. Strategic Planning Committee – No Report
IX. New Business
A. New Leadership UNK Class being selected
B. Funding of TIAA-CREFF Safe Award
X. Staff Senate Roundtable – Staff members update the Senate on events happening in their offices/departments
1. Wardyn-Finance is busy and they have a new employee
2. Meier-ELI has 43 new students
3. Lakey-there is a new replacement for Verna Cope who is retiring 7/7
4. Kauders-Lou Maxson has been hired as Administrative Associate in University Relations
5. Geiger-five of the halls are being occupied by summer camps/international students.
6. Lester-SAE is still going on and there are repairs due to tornado damage at the student union.
7. Benitz-Kudos to John Lakey and the EOT for their efforts during the tornado and after. The move in day for fall will be one day early this year for academic reasons
8. Kauders-is the recipient of the KUDOS award
9. Williams-Admissions has hired 2 new counselors to start 7/7
10. Schaffnitt-Gail Zeller is the new Interim Director for Student Life replacing Peter Longo.
XI. 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 – July 15th@ 10:30 a.m. at MONA.
D. Guest speaker – Nate Blazek
XII. Adjourn