Inauguration Happy Hour


The ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ Staff Senate is the formal body of elected individuals representing the staff of ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥. It serves to communicate and advocate for the needs and concerns of the staff to the administration of the university. It supports the mission of ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ and further the goals of ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ by its dedication to the ideals of higher education. The Senate represents all staff employees through a broad cross-section of elected representation that commits to the following:
 

  • Facilitating and maintaining communication between staff and the university community
  • Serving as an advocate for staff
  • Disseminating information to staff
  • Promoting and encouraging community engagement for staff
  • Promoting a healthy, safe, and equitable working environment for staff
  • Participating in initiatives that are instrumental in helping to make decisions that impact all staff
     

What We Do

  • Meet once a month with an all staff meeting twice a year
  • Discuss issues that concern staff as a whole
  • Seek ways to build communication and collegiality across departments
  • Bring concerns or issues to Senior Leadership Team and welcome them to come speak at our meetings
  • Committees discuss different items brought to staff senate for ideas and resolutions
  • Staff Senate members bring issues or concerns from their constituents to the Staff Senate for discussion
     

Staff Senate Officers for 2024-2025

  • Chair: Lynn Gano
  • Vice Chair: Jon King
  • Secretary: Hillary Saylor Schulze
  • Parliamentarian/Treasurer: Catelyn Ballard

 
Please see the organizational chart of officers and representatives.
 

Staff Senate Members

Staff Senate representatives bring issues or concerns from their constituents to Staff Senate for discussion. The Staff Senate shall consist of Representatives from each division based on the following:
 

President & Provost Division
  • 4 Representatives (1-Library, 1-ASC/Student Support, 1-O’Pake Institute, 1-Academic Staff)
Chief of Staff Division
  • 3 Representatives (1-Athletics, 1-Campus Operations, 1-Finance/Admin)
Institutional Advancement Division
  • 1 Representative (IA / Alumni)
Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
  • 4 Representatives (1-Undergraduate Admissions, 1-Student Financial Services, 1-University Life, 1-Marketing/Communications)
Mission, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • 1 Representative (Mission & Ministry / Holleran Center for Community Engagement)
Graduate and Adult Education
  • 2 Representatives (GRAE)
Human Resources
  • 1 Ex Officio
Senior Leadership
  • 1 Ex Officio
In This Section

Faculty & Staff

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Definition of Staff
All regularly scheduled full-time and part-time ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ Staff are eligible for consideration of service. For this Senate, the following employee groups are NOT eligible: graduate assistants, student workers, part-time coaches, volunteers, contracted services, and temporary/seasonal services.

 

How Can I Be a Part of Staff Senate?

All regularly scheduled full-time and part-time ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ Staff are eligible for consideration of service. For this Senate, the following employee groups are not eligible: Graduate Assistants, student workers, part-time coaches, volunteers, contracted services, and temporary/seasonal services. To be on staff senate, each division will canvas nominations and will report those names to the current Vice Chair. Any staff employee may submit written nominations. Nominations must be made no later than May 1st of each academic year (for vacant seats). The final step in the successful nomination process is to secure the support for your direct supervisor to serve the term of your position.


Elections of representatives shall take place no later than June 1. All representatives shall be elected by secret ballot. The persons receiving a majority of votes cast shall be declared elected. In case of a tie vote, a runoff election shall be held. Only staff employees may vote in the election. New representatives shall assume their duties at the final Staff Senate meeting of the academic year, which will be in June.
 

Committees of Staff Senate

There are four committees chaired by each officer. All members of staff senate must serve on one of these committees:
 

Executive Committee
  • Meet prior to Staff Senate Meetings as necessary.
  • Prepare the agenda for meetings.
  • Make decisions requiring immediate action when a quorum of Representatives cannot be assembled, subject to the requirement for prompt notification thereafter to all Representatives of such action as may have been taken.
  • Resolve conflicts of jurisdiction between committees.
  • Communicate to Chief of Staff any ideas or concerns that arise.
Compensation and Benefits Committee
  • Be chaired by the Parliamentarian/Treasurer of the Staff Senate.
  • Present and discuss proposals with the Staff Senate concerning salary, benefits, and other conditions of employment.
  • Support and promote ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ fundraising initiatives (i.e. ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ Day of Giving, CollegeTowne Initiatives).
  • Ensure any expenditure from the Staff Senate Budget, from internal or external sources, is pre-approved by the Executive Committee of the Staff Senate.
  • Human Resources ex-officio member will serve on this committee.
Professional Development Committee
  • Be chaired by the Vice Chair of the Staff Senate.
  • Plan and execute STAFF development opportunities.
  • Consider the creation and implementation of a Staff Senate Leadership Award.
Mission & Community Engagement Committee
  • Be chaired by the Secretary of the Staff Senate;
  • Provide opportunities for spiritual & physical wellness, recreational, social & cultural activities for the University community;
  • Unite with other campus constituencies to promote service and mission to the ÃÄÄïÖ±²¥ and Reading, Philadelphia and Schuylkill County communities;
  • Assist with Assisi Pilgrimage process for STAFF.
  • Mission & Community Engagement may take up other initiatives as assigned by the Staff Senate Executive Committee


For more information, .