University of Kansas Support Staff Senate
University Support Staff Senate Committee
Membership
USS Senate Executive Committee
The Senate Executive Committee ensures that all functions of the Senate are carried out expeditiously and in accordance with the provisions of the Code. It arranges for and calls meetings and sets the agenda of the Senate. It verifies the results of each Senate election. The Senate Executive Committee acts on the behalf of the Senate in those situations and on those matters requiring immediate attention, and any action taken by the Committee is considered as if passed by the Senate itself. The Executive Committee reports any such action at the next Senate meeting, and its action will be over-ridden only by a majority vote of the Senate. The Executive Committee is comprised of the USS Senate officers, EEO reps, chairpersons of USS Senate standing committees, the representatives to University Senate and the USS Senate liaison to the Unclassified Senate.
There are four standing committees in the University Support Staff Senate and every member is expected to join at least one of them. The president is generally considered to be an ex officio member of all committees and should be notified regarding their activities. These committees are:
Communications and Public Relations
The Code states that the president shall appoint membership to these committees but in practice individual members have chosen the committee in which they wish to participate at the first meeting of the year. Except for the work done by the executive council and the president, these committees do the real nuts and bolts work of the senate. For most members, the more involved she or he becomes in committee work, the more satisfying the time spent in University Support Staff Senate will be.
Communications and Public Relations Committee
Creates and disseminates the senate newsletter at least twice a year.
- Solicits articles from the president of the senate, the chairpersons of senate committees, senators and others with news and information of interest to the USS electorate.
- Consults with Public Affairs, Human Resources, and Institutional Opportunity and Access to keep university support staff informed regarding new or changed university policies and benefits and Kansas state initiatives.
- Maintains, updates and archives the University of Kansas Support Staff Senate website (http://www.uss.ku.edu/).
- Handles all mass communications.
- Raises public awareness of the vital role performed by university support staff in the success of the university.
- Ensures that all senate meetings are listed on the university calendars.
- Disseminates information related to university support staff welfare to the senate in a timely manner.
1. Monitors the activities, including legislative bills, of the state government as they relate to matters affecting university support staff.
2. Forwards matters of interest related to university support staff welfare in a timely manner to the Communications and Public Relations Committee for dissemination.
3. Works with the Classified and Support Staff Council of the Kansas Board of Regents for exchange of information, ideas, and mutual support.
4. Works with the university legislative liaisons:
- To support university initiatives;
- When uncertainties about legislative intent or potential legislative impact arise;
- When the senate has a legislative guest on campus;
- When a member of the senate is going to testify before a legislative or governmental committee.
1. Addresses issues related to employee benefits, university policies and procedures, and other matters that the Senate may determine to be appropriate.
2. Forwards matters of interest related to university support staff welfare in a timely manner to the Communications and Public Relations Committee for dissemination.
3. Follows Article II of the code, which states, "The senate will not act in an advocacy role in any specific employee/employer dispute within the university, nor will it assume the role of arbitrator in any such matter."
Voting members include the USS Senate president, four other USS members, appointed by the president to staggered three-year terms so that no more than two members change in a given year. The Director of Human Resources and the Vice Provost for Administration and Finance or their designees serve in an ex-officio, non-voting capacity. The committee meets regularly, on a monthly basis if needed, but at least quarterly. The committee
1. Provides an avenue for the regular exchange of ideas on policies and procedures that affect university support staff.
2. Addresses specific issues at the request of the USS Senate Executive Committee, the USS Personnel Affairs Committee, the Director of Human Resources, or the Vice Provost for Administration and Finance.
3. In accordance with Article VII, Section 1 and Article IX, Section 2 of this Code, the committee chair is a member of the USS Senate Executive Council and is responsible for communicating with the Executive Council and the USS Senate about committee activities.
top