Staff Senate minutes and agendas are archived in Google Drive. Staff Senate Minutes & Agendas Archive Terms run from the first day of June through the last day of May the following year. Accomplishments Since its inception in 1992, The University of Alabama in Huntsville's Staff Senate has served as a voice for the UAH staff community to bring forth improvements in employee policies and procedures, employee benefits and initiating events that recognize the dedication, contributions and commitment of UAH staff members. 2019-2020 Coordinated a school supplies donation drive for UAH’s Early Learning Center (August 2019) Partnered with UAH Student Life and the Madison County Board of Registrars on a Voter Registration Drive. Registered over 100 people to vote. (September 2019) Volunteered at the Early Learning Center’s Fall Festival (October 2019) - Drafted and designed a one-page Staff Reference Guide (with physical and digital iterations) to be included in onboarding of new staff employees (Fall 2019) Established regular working relationship between the other UA System campuses (UA and UAB) and their Staff Senates/Councils/Assemblies. (Fall 2019) Met with UAH President, Dr. Darren Dawson, to discuss staff priorities (February 2020) Organized and hosted the Staff Senate’s second annual Take Your Child to Work Day on February 17, 2020. Forty-nine children of UAH employees took part in the event. Awarded our fourth Staff Senate Scholarship to Ryan Driver. (March 2020) Contribute to the Staff Senate Scholarship Fund - Want to be considered for the Staff Senate Scholarship? Submit the UAH Scholarship Application Conducted research related to: Faculty/Staff Clinic staffing Paid Family Medical Leave Codifying the inclusion of non-exempt employees on the Staff Senate - Campus/Building Safety Social/networking events Reviewed the following policies per Administration’s request: - Academic Misconduct Policy (Feedback submitted November 2019) - Online Course Policy (Feedback submitted January 2020) - Electronic Signature Policy (Feedback submitted April 2020) - Authorship and Classroom Material Selection Policy (Feedback submitted May 2020) Represented UAH staff on the following committees: Search Committee for Vice President for Diversity Equity and Inclusion Search Committee for Vice President for Research and Economic Development Search Committee for Vice President for University Advancement - Budget and Planning Advisory Council UAH Return to Campus Task Force Met with UA System representative to discuss the inclusion of a Staff Update at regular UA System Board of Trustees Meetings (May 2020; Decision pending) 2018-2019 Awarded our third Staff Senate Scholarship to Larry Frost in the Office of the Dean for the College of Engineering. Administered Voter Registration during Week of Welcome (August 11-18). Coordinated with SGA and Madison County Board of Registrars to host a voter registration drive on Wednesday, August 15th. Will continue efforts with SGA and MC Board of Registrars to include voter registration events during future WoW events. Partnered with Human Resources and Facilities to identify all nursing rooms on campus to ensure they are up to standard as well as designed signage and identified a system for use. Many of these were completed in May - more information will be located on the HR and Staff Senate website. Established Faculty/Staff and Family Day for Athletic events. Amended the Staff Senate Scholarship agreement to include degree-seeking students in the College of Professional Studies (CPS). The scholarship will still not apply for non-credit courses in CPS. Identified projects/areas of concern that needed to be addressed, such as building safety drills and ADA compliance. Organized and hosted the Staff Senate’s first annual Take Your Child to Work Day on February 18, 2019. Over 45 children of UAH employees took part in the event. Made the employee picnic on May 8, 2019 a more efficient process by eliminating the need to stand in line for a ticket. Had representation on the following committees: UAH Presidential Search Advisory Committee Budget and Planning Advisory Council Indirect Cost Recovery Task Force Worked to establish a relationship between the other UA System campuses and their Staff Senates/Councils/Assembly. Reviewed the following University Policies per the Administration’s request: Interim Registration and Schedule Adjustments Policy Interim Visiting Faculty-Visiting Scholar Policy Academic Appeals Policy Telecommunications Policy Makerspace Lab Policy Code of Conduct Policy Academic Misconduct Policy Met with incoming UAH President, Dr. Darren Dawson, to discuss staff priorities. 2017-2018 Awarded our second Staff Senate Scholarship to Karen Brennan in the Alumni Office. Represented UAH at Higher Education Day in Montgomery, AL, on Feb. 22, 2018. Inventoried and updated the list of lactation rooms on campus. Sent two proposals to the Administration: one to establish a “Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day,” which will be implemented in the 2018-2019 session, and the other to request an expansion of the Faculty/Staff Clinic with the addition of another RN, which was declined due to budgetary concerns. Conducted a campuswide survey to ensure all UAH stakeholders were adequately represented and to solicit feedback on areas of interest to staff. 2016-2017 Awarded our first Staff Senate Scholarship to Fathia Hardy in the College of Professional Studies. Lobbied the administration for an increase in the number of paid holidays, which resulted in the addition of four more holidays during the spring break. 2015-2016 Established the Staff Senate Scholarship to support and encourage employee development through formal education. 2014-2015 Developed and provided to the UAH community a list of Channels of Communication and a Staff Reference Guide to help with intra-organizational communication. 2013-2014 Created a Staff Senate Inquiry Form to allow campus staff members to submit inquiries through this form, along with our SS UAH email address. Pursued expansion of the tuition assistance policy beyond the current UAH provisions (pending). Evaluated the 2014 4-Day Summer Work Schedule proposal, collected UAH colleague responses, and presented findings to President. Schedule was implemented for Summer 2015. 2012-2013 Launched a Staff Senate email address (staffsenate@uah.edu) to allow for ease in communication from the UAH campus community to their Staff Senate representatives. Reviewed and worked on revisions to the Staff Sick Leave policies, in coordination with HR on the UAH campus. 2011-2012 Increased training and development opportunities for UAH staff. Provided lunch hour seminars for personal and professional development. Instrumental in promoting a political action committee for the university as well as the entire University of Alabama System. Pre-2011 Originated UAH Foundation Annual Staff Awards that recognize outstanding staff achievements and contributions to the university. Restructured employee benefits committee to include equal representation for Staff Senate and Faculty Senate. Encouraged the development of emergency plans for each building on campus. Encouraged the concept to install emergency sirens on campus. Helped the university in several major transitions - from quarterly to semester grading periods and from a monthly to a bi-weekly payroll. Tell us how we can better serve the UAH staff community. Send your suggestions, opinions and feedback regarding Staff Senate activities to the Senate's Staff Relations Officer at staffsenate@uah.edu.
