03.04.21 Meeting Minutes

by | Apr 2, 2021 | 2021, Minutes

Thursday, March 4, 2021, 9-10 a.m.

Samantha Adkins, Arthur Brant, Amber Bunton, Crystal Cox, Cara Flanders, Karen Gililland, Susan Hardcastle, Krista Heath, Randy Motz, Deborah Niccum, Sherita Nickerson, David Scott, Tamaria Tuttle, Titus Vesel, Sheila Barton, James Scudder, 

  • Call to Order 9:04 AM
  • Prayer- 
    • Randy Motz daughter pregnant – due March,
    • Tamaria – daughter finally got a job after a year!  Praise! 
    • Tamaria had covid but is still fighting against symptoms. 
    • Spring break traveling, students and staff – hopefully to come back healthy 
  • Approval of Minutes:   Arthur Brandt and Karen Gililland-approved. 
  • Old Business
    • Executive Committee 
    • SLT Updates   
      • Chapel each Tuesday at Siggie Pavillion
      • No change to mask mandate on campus
  • Committee Updates
    • Nominations and Elections 
      • 101 nominated and notified by email.  50% have responded as of today.  Deadline is March 19th.  
      • Erika Lambert will be put on the ballot since she has replaced a senator who would be rotating off in May.
      • Conversation arose around grant-funded employees. Due to the scope of their grant pay, they are unable to serve as senators. James asked that we advocate for these staff members.(Conversation was tabled and more will be discussed at the April meeting.) 
    • Communication
      • Staff Senate Webpage 
      • Current members link updated so that staff will know the term for each senator
      • changes to bylaws  (will discuss in April) 
      • An agenda form was added to the website so that staff could have items added to the agenda
    • Benefits and Advocacy
      • No updates
    • Service
      • Discussed that they would like to do something for each staff member instead of a large event.  Will meet with Sam to discuss further.
    • Development and Recognition
      • No updates
  • New Business
    • Kevin Campbell joined to discuss – How we can better support and encourage our staff?
    • Appreciative of university in how they handled the snow week with no power and no water and the inclement weather week. 
    • In this pandemic, we have all realized that our work can be done in different ways. We need to continue the flexible environment with zoom mtgs, working remotely, etc. 
    • Staff senate has tried intentionally for a year to come up with ideas of how to appreciate and encourage the staff.  We would like to plan something for May to let staff know that they are seen and appreciated. 
    • Students and faculty are looking forward to a week off during spring break.  Staff get one day for Spring break – would it be possible for staff to have an extra day off to just have time to breathe. 
    • Staff are missing physical interaction with the campus community.  This can affect the well-being of each employee and our work output. 
    • Community is what makes ACU special and one of a kind.  Not sure how we could do this, but meet once a week at a different department.  
    • We have to be able to respect people’s opinions and boundaries in daily life in our community. 
    • Offer a mental health day to the staff – one or two days a year that they can take when they need.  (one per semester) 
    • What about vacation hours?  We all have lost hours because of covid and non-travel.  (we need to encourage all people to use their sick days and vacation days!  That is what they are there for to use.  Give people permission to use them. But right now, people are hoarding their sick days because they just don’t know when they will need them.) Permission needs to be communicated from top-down. Supervisors need to encourage their staff. 
    • Feeling overworked by “not normal job duties”.   Communication is key to all of this.  SLT could write a personal note to staff members. Dr. Schubert could comment to staff and appreciate their work, we have sprinted for 11 months now, don’t give up, keep going!
    • Kevin – we long and desire for a “normal” Fall.  What will August look like?  The next few months will continue to look as they have for the past few months. 
  • Staff Event
    • Will move the discussion to April 
  • Updated bylaws
    • Will update and send out in April for staff to speak into and with a form to fill out 
  • Day of Giving – April 27
    • Would love for staff senate to say 100% involvement and challenge the faculty senate to the same 
  •  Announcements
    • Spring Break Day – March 12
    • Good Friday – April 2
    • Vaccines – 
      • Civic center will host leftover vaccine in the afternoons
      • Not on campus yet. 

Dismiss at 10:01AM