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K-State Today

November 12, 2015

University Support Staff Senate November meeting highlights

Submitted by Brittany Green

Highlights from the K-State University Support Staff Senate Nov. 4 meeting from 12:30-2:30 p.m. The complete minutes are posted on the University Support Staff Senate website.

Tara Pfaff is the new liaison for administration and finance and will be attending all monthly Senate meetings. Brian Sheaves is a new senator. He is replacing Maria Thurmond as a representative from administration and finance.

University Support Staff Senate President's Report
Senators discussed the pros and cons of changing our current reporting structure. University Support Staff Senate currently reports to the vice president of administration and finance, however the vice president of human capital services asked the senate to consider reporting to the vice president of human capital services instead.

Administration and finance reports to the Council of Business Officers, which in turn reports to the Kansas Board of Regents. Because of this connection, senators felt that more change could be effectuated for university support staff employees by continuing to report to administration and finance. Janice Taggart moved that University Support Staff Senate remain under Administration and finance. Michael Seymour II seconded the motion. Motion carried, unanimously.

Human capital liaison
The movement challenge has ended. Motor Pool was the overall winner.

The compensation and organizational effectiveness department is still working on reviewing job families, and will present their findings to the President's Cabinet in February. Their findings will be shared with campus shortly after.

Administration and finance liaison
The 2015 Legislature has authorized the Board of Regents to establish vacation leave for university support staff. It's anticipated that the Council of Presidents will request the Board of Regents to change the leave policy so that university support staff vacation leave is comparable to that of unclassified professionals, effective fiscal year 2017. Unclassified professionals receive 176 hours per year of vacation leave.

Senate standing committees
University Affairs Committee — After reviewing the questions received from the benefits expo, the committee met and developed 10 different questions to ask at the open form today. Carol Marden, the committee chair read the questions to senate.

Communication Committee — No report.

Governmental Affairs Committee — Kerry Jennings attended the University Support Staff Council meeting, see section D, under Presidents Reports. Kerry will look through the university support staff bylaws to see if it's necessary to vote on the addition of an administration and finance liaison. Cats in the Capital will be Feb. 17. Senators are encouraged to go to Topeka to promote K-State.

Recognition Ceremony Committee — Employee of the Year nomination requests will be sent out within the next week or so. Announcements will appear in K-State Today, the University Support Staff website, Human Resources website and the university calendar.

University Support Staff Employee Opportunity Fund — Four Meritorious Service Awards were given out. The recipients were Carrie Roberts, Lori Plummer, James Smith and Raymond Deiser. A $1,500 donation was received from Bruce and Megan Weber.

Upcoming events

  • University Support Staff Open Forum with President Schulz, Vice President Cindy Bontrager and Vice President Cheryl Johnson, will be from 2–3 p.m. March 29, 2016, in Forum Hall in the K-State Student Union.
  • University Support Staff Recognition Ceremony will be at 2 p.m. April 27, 2016, in the K-State Student Union.

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