Senate Committees

Jayhawk Blvd.

The Staff Senate standing committees comprise at least three members. The committees include Elections, Legislative Affairs, Personnel Affairs, Professional Development, Public Relations and Diversity and Inclusion.

All KU staff members are welcome to serve on committees! Committee membership isn't restricted to Staff Senators. If you would like to join a committee, please use our feedback form to contact its chair and chair-elect!

Join a Committee

Diversity and Inclusion

  • Organizes diversity, equity and inclusion training opportunities for committee members and staff senators
  • Collaborates with standing staff senate committees and counterparts in student, faculty and university senate
  • Represents staff senate in campus and regional committees and workshops around diversity, inclusion and equity
  • Works to recruit a diverse and inclusive senate body through outreach and cooperation with relevant campus offices, departments and organizations
  • Supports and promotes campus-wide diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives

Elections

  • Coordinates annual senate elections, including recruitment of candidates
  • Coordinates election of officers at March meeting
  • Maintains records of election results and terms of office

Legislative Affairs

  • Monitors the activities of the state government on matters that relate to university staff
  • Reports matters of interest to the public relations committee for dissemination
  • Works with the Kansas Board of Regents to coordinate the exchange of information, ideas and mutual support
  • Works with the university legislative liaisons to support university initiatives and clarify uncertainties about legislative intent or potential legislative impact
  • Coordinates all changes to senate code

Personnel Affairs

  • Provides an avenue for the regular exchange of ideas on employee benefits, university policies and procedures and other matters that relate to university staff
  • Forwards matters of interest to the public relations committee for dissemination
  • Plans and coordinates professional development activities for university staff

Professional Development

  • Coordinates interaction and professional development of all staff by sponsoring educational workshops and programs involving managerial skill building, networking, training and more
  • Serves as a clearinghouse for professional development opportunities on campus and off campus
  • Forwards matters of interest to the public relations committee for dissemination

Public Relations

  • Creates and disseminates the senate newsletter at least twice a year
  • Maintains the senate website
  • Coordinates all mass communication
  • Raises public awareness of the vital role performed by university staff

Ad Hoc Committee on Roles & Responsibilities (2021-2022)

  • Reviews and revises our shared mission, vision and values
  • Reviews and revises our committee charges to align with our mission, vision and values, all through a D&I lens
  • Reviews and revises our committee chair and chair-elect responsibilities to align with committee charges
  • Standardizes monthly committee reports to address how committees are fulfilling their charges

Ad Hoc Committee on Engagement (2021-2022)

  • Revises the staff senate handbook for use by senators and committee members
  • Creates a communication network for senators to engage with their respective job categories
  • Creates a monthly touch-base meeting with staff who work 2nd and 3rd shifts

Ad Hoc Committee on Technology (2021-2022)

  • Reviews how Zoom meetings are conducted and how we can broadcast to a wider staff audience
  • Reviews the use of Microsoft Teams for staff senate and committee work, including document repository
  • Reviews the current website and determinse what will be modified/migrated to the new Sunflower platform