March 2021 Campus Updates

Update Provided By:

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Update Provided By: Heidi Hauf

  • We are having our Spring Vendor Show on April 17th as a fundraiser for scholarships.
  • Vote has been conducted for the Student Graduation Speaker to present to Faculty Senate for final decision.

Update Provided By: Josh Nichols

  • Next Meeting April 7, 2021 @ 1:00pm via Zoom.
  • Elections will be conducted soon. Staff should watch their email for instructions on casting votes.
  • The Staff Emeritus committee is being formed and nominations will be open soon.
  • 2021 quarter one Above and Beyond recipients are:
    • Staci Green – Head of Library Operations
    • Mari Kovash – Office Manager for SOAR and TRHLP
    • Jacqueline Vielman – Accounts Payable Technician

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Update Provided By: Alyson Beckman

  • We discussed our Adopt-a-Highway project – event will be arranged through the Events Planning Committee. Staff Senate is planning to complete this project on Earth Day.
  • Communication Officer Position – it was decided that instead of creating a new communication officer role, the secretary will take care of the website updates (meeting announcements, minutes) with other secretary related roles.
  • Invitation from President Van Horn extended to join Staff Senate to provide more information on budget update. Consensus to have him join our April Staff Senate meeting provided he does not need to be in Bismarck for legislative reason.
  • Staff Senate discussed pushing back our Spring Staff Association Meeting until June.
  • Current projects include: Monthly Events, Mini Series, Adopt-a-Highway, Spring Break Care Packages.
  • Our next Staff Senate meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 13th at 2pm in EDUC 114.

Update Provided By: Lindsey Benson

  • Joseph Gray, Facilities Management, was named Minot State University’s Staff Senate’s February High Five Award winner.
  • President Benson lead a Staff Senate meeting inviting all staff to participate in conversation about the restructuring proposals brought forth by Faculty Senate.
  • Professional Development committee will be hosting a customer service training on March 25, Service with a Smile: Maintaining Positivity and Positive Customer Service in Tough Times presented by Jim Sturm, Director of the Looyenga Leadership Center at MSU.
  • Minot State will host Joseph Flynn Jr. an award-winning author of “White Fatigue” and professor at Northern Illinois University will lead a discussion on systemic and institutionalized racism, titled “Protests aren’t Parades: Moving from Resistance, to Ally, to Accomplice.” Joseph will meet with students on April 14 and with staff and faculty on April 15.
  • Staff Senate Scholarship 50/50 raffle is under way and tickets are on sale through May 7, grand prize is $500. Money raised will be put towards our Staff Senate scholarship.

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Update Provided By: Brian Schill

  • Staff Senate Pres. Wasylow continues attending weekly for the NDUS Smart Restart and Pandemic Briefing meetings. 
  • Continuing to present U-Shines to one staffer/month. 
  • March Mtg UNDSS hosted presentation by Major Michael Humble entitled “Finding Success in Failure.” 
  • Senate Legislative Comm. Is still meeting and coordinating with University Senate Leg. Comm on higher ed bills tracking in ND Legislative Assembly. Discussed SB 2030, 2003, others. 
  • Senate leadership held its monthly meeting with UND Pres. Armacost. 
  • Senate VP Schill leading State Staff Senate Tuition Waiver Working Group; held first mtg.  
  • Community Relations Committee continues to run Jeans Give Back every Friday, donating to local nonprofits.
  • Elections coming up: have some VP candidates and good number of new senator nominations.
  • Planning distribution of SS certificates, “SS of the year” award, and celebrations of senators leaving SS.
  • April events include our Spring Fling, staff recognition via food service, and an event speaker– Barry Brode on “Optimism 101.”

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Updates Provided By: Benjamin Ford

  • Doing a spring trivia afternoon in April. Prizes are going to be awarded.
  • Another of our bi-monthly coffee chats the end of March.
  • Our scholarship committee is finalizing the winner of our scholarship.
  • Online auction fundraiser in February was a huge success, we funded an entire scholarship.
  • Nominations for new senators coming soon.