Page 1 of 3 STAFF SENATE MEETING MINUTES Note to Senators: Please share the senate agenda, minutes, and any other enclosures with your colleagues prior to the scheduled meeting. Senate meetings are open to all staff. Agendas, minutes, and attendance rosters are available on the Staff Senate website at http://www.etsu.edu/stsenate/default.asp PRESENT: Gwen Bays, Lisa Belcher, Lisa Bell, Brian Bennett, Lisa Booher, Kristy Buchanan, Lorena Burton, Barbara Chamberlain, Chris Collins, Tim Dills, Ann Eargle, Shelly Higgins, Tom Hill, Sean Hoyle, Pam Marston, Butch Massey, Candy Massey, Joe Miller, Laura Morin, Dianne Pittarese, Debra Roberson, Lisa Rowland, Kristi Smith, Karen Sullivan [P&A], Josh Whitlock, Amanda Worley, and Connie Wyche. EXCUSED: David Collins, Donna Cox, Carshonda Harris, Katie Jeter, Helen Jones, Chris Loveday, Diana McClay, Pat Myrick, Linda Raines, Sandra Ritchie, David Robinson, David Smith, Karen Sullivan [Adv], and Carla Warner. UNEXCUSED: Stefanie Murphy. I. Call to Order President Lisa Belcher called the meeting to order at 2:35pm. II. III. Approval of Minutes The meeting minutes of July 14, 2014 were approved as distributed. President s Report President Lisa Belcher A. Town Hall Meetings with President Noland President Belcher shared that both town hall meetings with President Noland were successful. There was good dialogue throughout the time allotted and feedback from the meetings determined that the meetings were a success. An additional town hall meeting will be scheduled on the VA campus in an effort to allow folks on that campus an opportunity for dialogue with President Noland. Hopefully, the town hall meeting on the VA Campus will occur sometime in October. B. University Disclosure Review Committee Vacancy President Belcher shared that there is a vacancy on the University Disclosure Review Committee. Interested Senators should forward a brief statement regarding their reason of interest, and skills/experience which would qualify them as a good candidate, etc., to President Belcher. Detailed questions about the committee may be forwarded to Ms. Diana McClay, who chairs the committee. C. Annual Shelbridge Dinner for Staff Senators Hosted by President Noland and the First Lady President Belcher announced that the Annual Shelbridge Dinner for Staff Senators is scheduled for Monday, September 8 th at 6:30pm. Senators planning to attend should send their intent to President Belcher as soon as possible. She will forward an email reminder as well. D. New Staff Senate Office President Belcher announced that the Office of Staff Senate has officially moved. The office will remain in the Campus Center Building, and the new room number is 206. Staff Senate and Faculty Senate will share a common conference room. E. Annual Committee Reports President Belcher reminded all committee chairs that annual reports are due by the end of August. She instructed chairs to send annual reports to Senator Eargle, Secretary, at earglea@etsu.edu. F. Executive Committee Elections for 2014-2015 Election for Executive Committee Members for the 2014-2015 year will be held very soon. President Belcher encouraged Senators to consider who they would like to represent them on the Executive Committee.
Page 2 of 3 G. Higher Education Resource Office (HERO) President Belcher shared that President-Elect Whitlock and she, along with several other university staff members, faculty members, and administrators attended a lunch meeting hosted by the Office of Equity and Diversity and the Office of Government Relations on August 8, 2014 for the purpose of introducing the newly appointed Higher Education Resource Office and Officer, Ms. Nneka Norman-Gordon. Ms. Norman-Gordon is housed within the Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury and the position was established to improve state government s responsiveness to faculty, staff, and employees of Tennessee s higher education systems. Tennessee s faculty, staff, and employees are encouraged to contact the office of the Tennessee Comptroller when they have questions about the operational and financial workings of the higher education systems or if they are experiencing difficulties working within a higher education institution. Ms. Norman- Gordon has been invited to the October Senate meeting. More information about the HERO Program can be found at http://www.comptroller.tn.gov/hero/about.asp. H. Thank You from President Belcher President Belcher thanked those Senators whose terms will be ending today. She shared that the years of service and hard work throughout terms has greatly been appreciated and how appreciative she is to have a hard-working Senate who is involved in affairs. She also commented that new Senators will be present at the next meeting. IV. Treasurer Report Senator C. Massey reported the general account balance as $7,900; the Holiday Drive account balance is $172.48; and the balance of the Community Benevolence account holds a balance of $4,481.25. V. Report on Standing Committees A. Committee on Elections Senator Bennett, chair, shared that it will soon be time for Senators to vote for the new Executive Committee. Senator Bennett echoed President Belcher s encouragement in election of new Executive Committee members to represent the Senate, as a whole, in the upcoming year. B. Staff Awards Senator Burton, chair, shared that the voting time frame for the Career Award begins today and will close on August 22, 2014. She noted that there is a new question and answer document on the Senate webpage which will explain the reason for the presentation of two awards in 2014, and a new fillable nomination form is available on the webpage as well. The committee plans to meet, gather and discuss the information received, and present the recipient to the Executive Committee early September. Senator Burton distributed forms for the Outstanding Staff Senator Award and noted that the form is not mandated to nominate Senators, and nominations can be emailed to any Senator on the committee. A list of committee members is included on the form. Voting for the Outstanding Staff Senator opens today and will close August 25, 2014. VI. VII. Report on Project Committees No reports. Old Business There was no old business to discuss. VIII. New Business There was no new business to discuss. IX. Announcements A. Senator Hill announced that again this year Bucky s Food Pantry will be joining efforts with the Counseling Center in the collaboration of a winter coat drive. Senator Hill noted that racks for coats would be very helpful and anyone having access and willing to donate or lend racks for use would be appreciated. He also shared that a secure location for the donations has been identified. A firm date for the drive has not yet been determined and more detailed information will be presented as they unfold.
Page 3 of 3 Adjournment There being no other business to discuss, a motion was made to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:50pm. Submitted by Senator J. Ann Eargle Secretary Attachment Outstanding Staff Senator Award 2014 Form