Category: Campus Updates

Update Provided By: Matthew Giddings

• New Business
• Propose a staff senate representee to sit on Parking Appeals hearing panel.
• President Comprehensive Eval feedback

Committee Reports/Updates
Professional Development – Planning for all staff training in June of 2024 Employee Success – Planning for Winter festival door decoration event.
By Laws – review of charter and by laws to be completed by April of 2024

Update Provided By: April Abrahamson

• Staff senate hosted a bake sale to provide a scholarship for PTK membership. Staff senate raised enough to support 1 full scholarship for a student entering PTK.
• The Leaderjacks (student organization) hosted a toy drive. The toy drive was help to support teens and children affected by domestic violence during the holiday season.
• The DCB Foundation and Alumni Associate hosted a holiday open house where they drew names for winners of their fundraising raffle. Returning students are awarded scholarships based on the fundraising done by the Alumni

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Update Provided By: Mike Wozniak

• Staff Senate has utilized Vevox to assist with hybrid voting.
• Many new leadership roles are being hired at UND, with the search for the new Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences coming soon.
• The Student Fee Advisory Committee has met to discuss student fee allocations to those service units.
• Bylaws were updated to more accurately reflect the roles of the Executive Committee members.

Update Provided By: Kelly Spanier

• Door Decorating event throughout the month on December.
• Had Holiday sweater day(ugly/festive sweaters), cookie exchange and Secret Viking (Santa) gift exchange.
• Wrapped up Thanksgiving Turkey Bingo Professional development session on Making Positivity a Habit.

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Update Provided By: April Abrahamson

• DCB celebrated Arbor Day on October 13th in recognition of the appreciation and commitment to trees on campus.
• The DCB Foundation hosted the Athletic Hall of Fame and Alumni Awards Banquet on October 21st. Recipients of the alumni awards were Allan Fredrickson, Penny Dolbeare, and Reed Loucks. Athletic awards were given to Jason Harris and the 2010-2011 Women’s Basketball Team.

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Update Provided By: Mike Wozniak

• November 9th was our most recent Coffee with Kathy, where staff could meet with the First Lady for some casual conversation.
• Staff Senate marched in the Homecoming Parade on October 7th.
• We are in the process of cleaning up our bylaws and working to increase our voice on campus.
• Met with marketing to develop a promo video for Staff Senate that will be used during staff orientations.
• Working to partner with a local manufacturer to develop new Staff Senate attire for Senators to purchase.
• An outside parking consultant is evaluating UND’s parking situation and plans to suggest new efficiencies and improvements by the end of the year.

Update Provided By: Kelly Spanier

• Attended local high school homecoming parade. College parade cancelled due to rain. Planning to do holiday parade in Nov/Dec.
• Staff recognitions for each month getting more noticed on Facebook posts by the University. Monthly recipient receives a framed certificate, pen and notebook.
• Planning a Halloween costume /decorating event for office/department staff to be a part of. Will award a traveling trophy to winner that is voted on by staff, faculty and students.
• Looking at hosting various professional development sessions for all staff.

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Update Provided By: April Abrahamson

• New students arrived to campus on August 18th for first year experience activities.

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Update Provided By: Mike Wozniak

• Plans to hold our annual State Employee Recognition Week events are complete! We will be having a variety of events, capped by our luncheon, featuring massages and therapy dogs!
• The UND LEADS Strategic Plan Implementation Team has been working towards ways for campus entities to report progress on many initiatives across campus. We are working to find the best way to tell our story!
• UND HR has been working on a new onboarding program for new employees. This will point the focus towards belonging, things to do outside of work, and less about basic HR and job duties. Staff Senate will be supporting this effort through a short video and engagement with new staff upon their hire.
• We have elected 7 interim Senators to help fill empty seats. We are now nearly full!

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Update Provided By: Roni Martin

• Dr. Leingang talked about Department chairs are changing titles. Will be Assistant Dean’s.
• Nicole Mikkelsen discussed how Market Salary Review will work and the time frame.
• Voted on new officers for the next term that starts June 2022
• Enrollment goals were talked about.

Update Provided By: JaLee Lynnes

• Staff Senate will hold their elections for our upcoming year.

Update Provided By: Laura Fetting

• Elections have been conducted for the 2022-23 term. Senators will begin their term on July 1, 2022.
• DSU will be hosting the North Dakota State Staff Senate face-to-face meeting in June.  We will be welcoming members from Staff Senate’s across the NDUS system.
• DSU Staff Senate is hosting a Couch to 5K walking program.
• DSU Staff Senate Fundraising Committee is preparing a fundraiser to raise money for the Staff Senate Scholarship, Professional Development sessions, and other Staff Senate activities. 

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Update Provided By: Teresa Agnes

• Mayville State University held an Employee Recognition Banquet where they honored employees for their years of service. Special recognition was given to those serving 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of service.
• Staff Senate was able to honor an employee with the Orville Johnson Meritorious Service Award.
• On May 17th, President Van Horn held a Town Hall Forum. He gave some budget updates and allowed some time to answer any questions from the attendees.
• Academic and Student Senate Awards Program was held on May 2nd.
• A Comet Kudos award winner was selected for the spring semester.

Update Provided By: Katy Allers

• Congratulations to our April High Five Award Winner: Deb Ringham!
• Our Staff Senate Raffle went over very well
• We also held a silent auction in April. Proceeds from this auction went to Minot’s Second Story Club. Second Story Club is a social club for adults with developmental disabilities. It offers its members an opportunity to participate in social, educational and recreational activities, to acquire basic social skills, and provides experiences that promote independence and self-sufficiency to better integrate into the community.

Update Provided By: Leslie Shirek

• NDSCS is hosting a Staff Senate retreat in June for incoming members. A chance to listen and learn from the outgoing senators on their years of service. We are also hosting a campus wide picnic the end of June as a thank you for a successful academic year.

Update Provided By: Al Bernardo

• Elections were held at the May 4th Staff Senate Meeting.
• Policy 325, Academic Freedom, has been updated to include language applying academic freedom to staff performing research.

Update Provided By: Paula Cox

• Senate leadership held its monthly meeting with UND Pres. Armacost.
• Community Relations Committee continues to run Jeans Give Back every Friday, donating to local nonprofits.
• Events: May 17, 2022, Coffee with Kathy was held at the Memorial Union, we had 11 people in attendance.
• Continue with the Monthly UShine awards. UShine winner of the year was Elaine Erickson.
• Still working on assigning staffers to various University Senate committees and Staff Senate Committees.
• New leadership is in place for the UND Staff Senate.

Update Provided By: Kelsie Carter

• Completed the VCSU Employee Award Banquet.
• Looking for nominations for 2 professional and 1 TPOS position.
• Elections for staff senators will take place in June Staff Senate Meeting.
• Our event committee completed a Viking Swap ~ staff were encouraged to bring any old VCSU gear and office supplies to “swap” with other employees on campus.

Update Provided By: Kristina Kitchens

• Graduation was a success!
• We will start our Summer Lunch BBQ’s on Wednesdays.

Updates Provided By: Ramona Breuer

• Staff Senate is currently seeking nominations to fill the vacancies for the 2022-23 year. Nominations will close on Wednesday, May 25th, and an election will follow.

Update Provided By: Roni Martin

• Dr. Mensah gave a report on the Community College Survey of Student Engagement
• Student success committee had a St Patrick’s day party for Staff that was a success
• Campus training will be in June, date is still being determined

Update Provided By: JaLee Lynnes

• Dakota College at Bottineau has a vendor show coming up on April 9th. We hold the event in our Woodshed (gym). Local artists and crafters sell their products. We raise money with the event by charging for a table space. The money raised is used for our student scholarship from Staff Senate.

Update Provided By: Laura Fetting

• DSU Staff Senate hosted a St. Patrick’s Day themed potluck during spring break. It was a well attended event that provided an opportunity for fellowship amongst employees.
• Staff Senate is looking for staff employees who are interested in assisting with committees.
• An email for elections for the 2022-23 FY has gone out allowing staff members to opt-out of having their name on the ballot if they choose to do so.
• Congratulations to the Quarter 1 Above & Beyond Award Recipients:
  • Kayla Noah – Dean of Students, Student Affairs
  • Tammy Krebs – Budget/Accounting Specialist, Business Affairs
  • Todd Hauf – Chief Information Officer, Information Technology Services
• This month’s Staff Spotlight was Jaci Kolm, Transfer Evaluation Specialist for Academic Records. Some fun facts were shared about Jaci in the monthly newsletter.

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Update Provided By: Teresa Agnes

• NDUS Chancellor Dr. Mark Hagerott visited our campus as part of his Executive Engagement Program. He met with various representatives from our campus as well as held an open forum with all faculty, staff and students.
• Mayville State hosted an Active Shooter Simulated Event which included local Emergency Response Teams.
• Staff Senate put on a potluck during Spring Break week which was well attended.
• A food drive was organized by Staff Senate before spring break for our Campus Pantry.
• There was Stress Relief Fair held on campus. Staff and Faculty had the opportunity to participate in a self-defense course, puppy yoga, and a gardening class.

Update Provided By: Janese Lehman

• Harold Rose, local Papa John’s franchise owner, came and gave an engaging professional development session on Customer Service for our employees!

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Update Provided By: Al Bernardo

• The NDSU Day of Honor was held on February 16. The event was recorded, and the video is available at the Day of Honor website. This is the first time the employee event was held in conjunction with the student event, and indications were that the event was a success.
• NDSU Staff Senate welcomed one new senator.
• The Staff Development Committee offered a Financial Check-Up session on March 23rd.
• Two “Ask Me Anything” events are planned ahead of the upcoming Staff Senate election, one in March and one in April. These events will be hour-long sessions in which experienced senators provide information and answer questions about serving on staff senate.
• The Campus Engagement committee has organized a blood drive to be held in April.
• In response to concerns about the ongoing lack of clarity regarding remote work, an ad hoc committee has been formed to research this issue and develop recommendations to be shared with NDSU’s incoming president.

Update Provided By: Paula Cox

• Senate leadership held its monthly meeting with UND Pres. Armacost: discussed employee recognition, mask mandate recission.
• Community Relations Committee continues to run Jeans Give Back every Friday, donating to local nonprofits.
• Events: Next “Coffee with Kathy” is scheduled for May. Staff trivia night postponed. Dinner with the Armacosts will be April 12. “Spring Fling” event for staff April 7, includes lunch or breakfast for various staff shifts. Faculty and Staff social at Archives Coffee House set for April 21, 2022.
• Tuition Waiver Committee mtg. scheduled, but fell through
• Continue to award monthly UShine awards.
• Recruiting staff for various University committees, including Parking, Memorial Union Advisory, Strategic Planning Committees, and Safety Committees.
• SS Leadership and other senators working hard to recruit staff for next iteration of SS, starting in May. Exec Team interest looking good. UND SS Elections for Vice President/Officers in April 2022.

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