Letter from the President | Fall 2025

Dear Colleagues, 

As the semester unfolds, we have continued to enter a challenging, demanding, and unpredictable environment in which our collective efforts continue to strengthen the staff experience and elevate the voices who make our university thrive. While we work towards broader accomplishments, it is important to pause and recognize our wins, no matter the size. (Shout out to the Staff Leadership Summit breakout session with Gail Tiemann and Jeff Stolz for this line). 

This fall, I'm happy to highlight several key accomplishments: 

• Staff Leadership Summit: We hosted a breakout session focused on collaboration, personal/professional growth, and resiliency through the lens of Shared Governance. It was a wonderful opportunity to share our story and encourage employees to get involved, break down silos, and share what can be accomplished when you consistently work together. 
• Staff Senate Code Amendments and Revisions: After review, we have revised and updated the University Staff Senate Code to reflect our commitment to transparency and operational clarity. We recently established the Technology Committee, which will provide a strategic avenue for discussing and resolving issues that impact staff on campus. We believe collaborating with IT administration will lead to greater transparency, a better understanding of our IT structure, and provide a forum for continuous discussion.  
• Docking Institute USS-UPS Staff Climate Survey: We have established an Ad-Hoc Docking Institute USS-UPS Survey Review Committee to follow up on the results of the Docking Institute Survey. We appreciate those that provided feedback on this survey. Your feedback has guided our conversations with university leadership, and we are organizing inclusive staff forums to share results while gaining insights that will be turned into action. 

These accomplishments support the dedication and collaboration of our Senate members and broader staff community. As you read on, you will find several highlights and updates from our standing committees. Looking ahead, we remain focused on advancing equity, recognition, and professional growth. I encourage you to stay engaged, attend meetings, and share your ideas.  

I thank you all for making our campus a better place. Your voice matters.

Marissa Marshall

Staff Senate President