University of Nebraska Kearney

UNK
Staff Senate

 

Committees and Members

 

COMMUNICATIONS

The Communications Committee coordinates Staff Senate elections as outlined in the Election Procedures section of the Staff Senate Bylaws.  Also, this Committee is responsible for helping welcome new employees to campus; producing the Staff Senate newsletter; and recommending appointment for standing and ad hoc committees.

  • Lori Skarka, Chair
  • Diana Jones
  • Elizabeth Stout
  • Dixie Larson
  • Paul Swenson

EXECUTIVE  

The Executive Committee--composed of the Senate President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer—is responsible for:  reviewing all committee reports; planning the agenda for Senate meetings; making recommendations to the Senate; reviewing performance management issues relevant to staff mission, compensation, and evaluation; reviewing nominations for and selecting winners of the Staff Award for Excellence (SAFE); coordinating advocacy on behalf of all staff; serving in an ad hoc capacity if matters of professional conduct arise—to ascertain facts, interpret standards of professional conduct, and to address concerns applicable to staff.

  • Dusty Newton, President
  • Diana Jones, Vice President
  • Paula Fuestman, Treasurer
  • Lori Skarka, Secretary

POLICY  

The Policy Committee annually reviews Regental bylaws, Staff Senate bylaws and the Employee Handbook for Managerial/Professional and Office/Service Staff to recommend revisions as appropriate.  Also, this Committee manages the funding related to the scholarships awarded to the dependents of Office/Service employees. 

  • Cheryl Bressington
  • Mary Daake
  • Jane Sheldon
  • Mary Heater
  • Billy Rayburn

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT  

The Professional Development Committee supports participation in education/training opportunities that enhance job performance and wellness.  The Mentoring Program is conducted by this Committee. 

  • Dee Ellingson, Chair
  • Bryce Abbey
  • Scot Fransk
  • Dianne Holcomb
  • Deb Huryta
  • Audrey Kauders 
  • Glenda Wilson
  • Michelle Smidt

 

RECOGNITION 

The Recognition Committee promotes programs for rewarding excellence in employee performance and services.

  • Brenda Marker
  • Kimberely Orcutt
  • Chelsea Swarm 
  • Shelly Fleck 
  • Julie Smith
  • Joni Weed
  • Jolene Williams
 

 

 

 

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Staff Senate

Staff Senate Minutes - September 20, 2005
10:30 a.m., Room 310, Nebraskan Student Union

Employee of the MonthFauneil Meier, Staff Secretary III, International Center

Department  of the MonthSigma Lambda Beta Fraternity

Present:
Administrative:  Bressington, Schroeder
Managerial/Professional:  Benitz, Morehouse
Service:  Asay, Rinaker, Uden
Office:  Beerbohm, Larson
Ex-Officio:  Lakey

Absent:
Administrative:  Kauders
Managerial/Professional: Newton
Office:  Weed

I.   Call to order - Vice President Benitz

II.   Adoption of Agenda - Bressington/Morehouse

III.   Minutes of August 9, 2005 meeting approved - Rinaker/Uden

IV.   Financial Report –  No Report

V.   Correspondence - Thanks yous from SAFE Award winners   

VI.   Unfinished Business

a. Homecoming Parade Float - Bressington reported that children from the Child Care Center will be riding in the float again this year.  Riders and walkers are needed to help distribute candy. A truck from facilities will be used again this year.  Bressington will be sending out a “recruitment e-mail" the week prior to the parade.
b. Date for Staff Recognition and Celebration in January - Benitz announced a request from Dee Ellingson, Chair of the Mentoring Subcommittee that this event be combined with a mentoring recognition.  The event will be held on January 4, 2006 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m

VII.   Committee Reports

A.  Election – No Report
B.  Employee Recognition Committee – Morehouse announced that the committee had met and selected Employee and Department of the Month winners.  Lakey announced that Tim Danube was recognized as a KUDOs recipient at the Board of Regents meeting held Friday, September 16, 2005.
C.  Performance Management Committee – No Report
D.  Procedures Committee – No Report
E.  Professional Development Committee – Bressington advised that Loper Office Makeover and Personal Makeover Information would be coming in October.  Bressington further reported that the Personal Makeover will include health and wellness as part of the makeover.  The contest would begin soon so that the winners would have the option to participate in an exercise/weight control regimen.
F.  Office/Service Dependent Scholarship – No Report
G.  Making a Difference – Bressington reported that Julie Burney will be speaking at a morning and afternoon session on October 18th.  The subject will be Gender Benders.  Bressington encouraged members and asked supervisors to encourage their staff members to register and attend.  Brochures should be coming out in the next week.
H.  Mentoring – a. Benitz - Mentoring Committee is looking at some new promotional items to promote the Mentoring program and UNK.  Benitz also announced that due to scheduling conflicts the Mentoring Committee will not be doing a Boss's Day Promotional Activity.
I.  Information Technology Advisory Committee – No Report
J.  Strategic Planning Committee – No Report
K.  Centennial Committee – No Report

VIII.   New Business

A.   Faculty Staff Club - Staff Senate will host Faculty Staff Club on April 7, 2006. Details will be planned closer to the event.
B.   Professional Conduct Committee of Faculty Senate -  Lakey stated that since the Professional Conduct Committee is designed to represent administrative, faculty or managerial/professional staff members, the members are to be from those service groups.  Therefore Joni Weed (an office representative) will have to be replaced on the committee.  Weed will continue to serve until a current issue is resolved. Lakey will ask Anita Kucera to serve.  If she does not, Asay volunteered to serve. Asay is eligible to serve as his position was recently upgraded to managerial/professional and according to Staff Senate by-laws, Asay will serve out the remainder of the Staff Senate year.
C.   Open Floor - Bressington asked Staff Senate members to complete the recently mailed Climate Surveys and return them in the envelope provided.  Results should be ready by the end of the year.

IX.   Announcements

A.  Next Meeting – October 11, 2005, 10:30 a.m., - Nebraskan Student Union 310.  Meetings are open to all UNK employees.
B.  Student Government/RHA Forum - Open Forum on new residence halls is scheduled for September 21, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room
C.  Centennial Gala - September 20, 2005 6:00 p.m. Ponderosa Room
D.  Homecoming - October 1, 2005 - UNK vs Adams State.  Beerbohm invited Senate members to support the Fire Hall Pancake Feed beginning at 7:00 a.m. that day.

X.   Meeting Adjourned - Beerbohm/Morehouse