Staff Senate Minutes - November 15, 2005
10:30 a.m., Room 310, Nebraskan Student Union
Employee of the Month: Laure Smith, Associate Director of Athletics
Department of the Month: Department of History
Present:
Administrative: Schroeder
Managerial/Professional: Morehouse, Newton
Service: Asay, Uden
Office: Beerbohm, Larson, Weed
Ex-Officio: Lakey
Absent:
Administrative: Bressington, Kauders
Managerial/Professional: Benitz
Service: Rinaker
Presentation by Lee McQueen, Director of Facilities Management and Planning – Presentation by Lee McQueen, Director of Facilities on Residence Hall Project - Mr. McQueen updated the members on the status of the project. Information about the start of the project, areas to be fenced off, tree planting, removal of trees, tree transplants, design of the new buildings, interior design, and proposed timeline of project. The project is scheduled to begin during the first week of March 2006 with proposed finish date of August 2007.
I. Call to order - President Newton
II. Adoption of Agenda - Larson/Uden
III. Minutes of October 11, 2005 meeting approved - Beerbohm/Schroeder
IV. Financial Report – Newton reported for Kauders on balance of accounts. An additional flag purchase has been made since this report was printed. Mr. Lakey noted the expense of the pickup for Homecoming. Deb offered to loan a pickup for next years' event.
V. Correspondence - None
VI. Unfinished Business None
VII. Committee Reports
A. Election – No Report
B. Employee Recognition Committee – Newton reporting for Moorhouse EOM meeting scheduled for this coming Thursday. Reported that at the last meeting the committee received enough nominations to select through November. No Report
C. Performance Management Committee – No Report
D. Procedures Committee – No Report
E. Professional Development Committee – Newton reporting for Bressington -Wilma Heinowski, Public Safety, and Wade Willey, Facilities, have been selected to take part in the New U Makeover. The makeover will begin in November and continue for six months at the Human Performance Lab. Linda Johnson's Office, Graduate Admissions, has been selected as the Loper Office Makeover winner this year! Starting in January Dr. Phyllis Markussen's Class - Interior Design Studio -Small Commercial Projects Class will design several makeovers from which the winner can select. The Loper Office Makeover winner was the Graduate Office Reception Area. A sub-committee will be determined to keep the Loper Office Makeover on track. The Staff Recognition Day is scheduled for January 4. For the Mentoring and Professional Development, Dee Ellingson will continue to apply for Pepsi funds for a number of activities hosted by Professional Development as well as Mentor Advantage.
F. Office/Service Dependent Scholarship – Lakey encouraged members and staff to participate in the Recycling Drive going on currently! You can drop your cans off at the trailer East of the Union. The results of the Foundation campaign were not yet public.
G. Making a Difference – Larson reported Making a Difference Day was held on October 18th. Because of the hours of work and money invested in planning and hosting past Making a Difference training sessions with fewer participants each year, we tried a new format this year - one speaker with both a morning and afternoon presentation. Juli Burney's topic was Gender Benders, and although the evaluations were very positive from those who attended, the number of participants continued to decline. Total attendance has dropped from 139 in 2002 to only 86 this year. This event which is hosted by the Public Sector Cooperative and Staff Senate includes participants from Kearney Public Schools, City of Kearney, Buffalo County, ESU 10 and UNK. The Making a Difference Day committee will now have to decide their next step. Ideas that have been discussed previously include changing the event to an every other year format or changing the date (not during fall break - although parking for off-campus attendees could be an issue if it is held at UNK).
H. Mentoring – Newton reporting for Benitz the November 9 event with John Hanson was very successful with 53 people attending. Very positive feedback. Funding was received in the amount of $300.00 which covered most of the cost. Staff Senate will fund the rest of the amount.
I. Information Technology Advisory Committee – No Report
J. Strategic Planning Committee – Schroeder reported at the last meeting a list was compiled of “what matters”. At the next meeting the lists will be shorten to 6 - 8 goals and objectives.
VIII. New Business
A. Executive Meeting - The Executive Committee met with Chancellor Kristensen last month to discuss the role he sees for Staff Senate. Chancellor Kristensen is very supportive of Staff Senate and would like to encourage the senate to continue to offer Professional Development activities. He feels these activities are very beneficial for the staff. He is very aware of the concerns about salaries and benefits and will continue to make it a priority. He would like continue the communication link by meeting with the Executive Committee on a quarterly basis.
B. Nuflex - Mr. Lakey encourage everyone to use the new Electronic System to make changes on your Nuflex. Even if you have no changes you will still need to complete the Tobacco/Nicotine Designation Form (not required for minimum life insurance amount but encouraged).
C. Sympathy -Newton on behalf of Senate expressed sympathy to families of Jan Beerbohm, Rodney Ostreicher, Kristie Anderson and Louise Erpelding.
IX. Announcements
A. Next Meeting – December 20, 2005, 10:30 a.m., Nebraskan Student Union 310. Meetings are open to all UNK employees.
X. Meeting Adjourned - Larson/Uden