Staff Senate Newsletter | Spring 2026

The committee ACTION teams continue to do important work for the Staff Senate by engaging, educating, and communicating to the campus community committee initiatives and accomplishments.  

The Engagement and Collaborative LED Solutions ACTION Team focuses on engagement and connecting with Staff Senate and other staff members. The committee is hosting a Staff Caring for Each Other Virtual Series on March 24th and May 19th at lunchtime. Contact Noemi Villegas for sign-up details. 

The Communication ACTION team publishes a committee newsletter, The Lens, twice a year in the Fall and Spring. The most recent issue was published in February.    If you wish to receive a copy of the Lens, please sign up using this link: https://kusurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6xMYG7daHs56J0y.

The Education ACTION team focuses on the development and facilitation of presentations, workshops, and lunch & learns for Staff Senate and other staff.  The team is currently hosting a book club which meets every other week to discuss the book On Tyranny by Tim Synder.  If you wish to join the book club, please email Kim Conard or Tanya Spacek. 

Trina Weekly | FY2026 CARE Committee Chair 

Caroline Sloan | FY2026 CARE Committee Chair-Elect 

We encourage you to participate in Staff Senate for the 2026-2027 year! The Spring 2026 elections have wrapped up and we have a roster of committed senators for the 2026-2027 term. The elections filled 15 seats for a new three-year term.

KU Staff Senate is a great way to meet people, network, and participate in shaping the future for Staff at KU. We encourage anyone interested in participating in KU Staff Senate to join a committee by contacting staffsenate@ku.edu.

Angela Robb | FY2026 Elections Chair

Chris Wallace | FY2026 Elections Chair-Elect

This spring, the Personnel Affairs Committee has focused on enhancing organizational transparency regarding docking institute implemented initiatives, and streamlining the transition process for incoming Staff Senators. Our efforts have been centered on advocating for staff and creating operational clarity to better serve the university community. 

One primary focus this season was the Docking Survey. The Nature of Work ACTION team submitted formal requests to staff senate leadership to seek clarification regarding items marked as "implemented." The objective is to ensure awareness, accountability, and transparency. The ACTION team investigated that the improvements listed as completed are effectively serving staff as intended. By submitting the requests to staff senate leadership some of the feedback was shared in the 2025 Docking Institute Recommendations Report.  

Additionally, the committee finalized new Staff Senator onboarding recommendations tailored for the upcoming April transition meeting. These guidelines were developed to eliminate historical confusion surrounding the transition process. The submitted documentation would provide new senators with a clear roadmap for their first initial meeting.  

Compensation and Benefits ACTION Team:  

Co-Leads: Annette Delaney & Aaron “Quiz” Quizenberry 

The Compensation and Benefits ACTION Team investigated the process for staff getting headshots through the University. KU Marketing shared that departments could work with Marketing or photography students to get headshots. This ACTION Team shared frequent updates with the OneKU Alignment as it was being shaping through facilities, parking, etc. Additionally, the ACTION team began looking into benefits that all staff have at the University.  

Nature of Work ACTION Team:   

Co-Leads: Aaron Howard & Jordan Wade 

Over the past year, the Nature of Work Action Team continued advancing initiatives aimed at improving the staff experience and increasing transparency around workplace policies and professional development. The team finalized proposed updates to the university’s inclement weather policy, incorporating feedback from Staff Senate committees and campus partners to ensure the policy better supports weather-essential employees and fully remote staff while maintaining clarity around existing hybrid work policies. In addition, the action team began exploring a career pathways initiative in collaboration with Human Resource Management to better understand how staff can navigate advancement opportunities at KU. This work included reviewing existing resources such as the job title table, learning about HRM’s emerging mentorship and supervisor development programs, and gathering feedback on staff concerns related to professional growth and job mobility. The team also engaged in a detailed review of campus employee satisfaction survey findings to better understand recurring themes around career advancement, transparency, and workplace support, with the goal of informing future recommendations and ensuring staff perspectives remain central to conversations about the evolving nature of work at KU. 

Leadership, Appreciation, and Recognition ACTION Team:   

Co-Leads: Kelly Bellmyer & Mishelle Denton 

The Leadership, Appreciation, and Recognition ACTION Team Co-Leads took the information they learned from their 2024 Staff Leadership Summit breakout sessions with mentors and mentees regardingwhat staff would value in a mentoring program to shape their future work. They took this feedback and investigated mentoring opportunities that aligned with staff needs and interests. The Leadership, Appreciation, and Recognition (LAR) ACTION Team met with various vendors for this implementation including KU Alumni for their Mentoring+ Platform. Additionally, this team began creating an onboarding process for new staff senators. The goal being to ease the confusion around the transition meeting and ensure staff are set up for success.  

If you are interested in getting involved on the 2026-2027 Staff Senate Personnel Affairs Committee, please contact Ian Adkins, iadkins@ku.edu.  

Ashley Kalatusha | FY2026 Personnel Affairs Chair

Ian Adkins | FY2026 Personnel Affairs Chair-Elect

The Staff Senate Professional Development Committee is committed to supporting staff growth by funding opportunities that strengthen skills and knowledge. We believe investing in our employees not only builds confidence and enhances job performance but also broadens professional networks, opening doors to valuable industry insights. Our mission is to foster career development and long-term success for all staff members.  This fiscal year the committee has received 47 applications and awarded $11,379 in financial assistance. 

Willisha Thompson | FY2026 Professional Development Chair

The Staff Senate Public Relations Committee has hit the ground running this spring with a focus on two priorities: Staff Senator Engagement and Staff Senate Visibility. 

In partnership with KU Athletics, the committee is exploring exciting opportunities to recognize staff at KU athletics events, including a program modeled after the Professor’s Recognition Game Day, along with developing athletic incentives designed specifically for KU staff members. 

On the professional development front, the committee is planning a session centered on leadership skills and career transitions. This session aims to foster mentorship and unity between staff and Student Senators, while spotlighting the unique experience of building a career at a university. 

This semester, committee members will also be out and about across campus. Be on the lookout for us at: 

• Thank Goodness It’s Thursday (TGIT) 
• Staff & Faculty Rapport Program 
• Mocktails & Mingle 
• KU Employee Wellness Fair 
• Professional Development Conference for KU Staff 

Stop by, say hello, and learn more about how Staff Senate is working for you! 

 If you are interested in getting involved on the Staff Senate Public Relations Committee, please contact Michelle D. Wilson, Chair, michellewilson@ku.edu. Chair-Elect: Vacant (must be a Staff Senator). 

Michelle D. Wilson | FY2026 Public Relations Chair

The Staff Senate Technology Committee is officially off the ground and has completed its first year of meetings. Over the past year, the committee has discussed a wide range of technology related topics, including AI, procurement processes, and evolving staff needs. Through these conversations, we’ve identified several areas for improvement and look forward to collaborating with campus leaders to help address the concerns and priorities of the staff community. 

We welcome anyone who would like to share ideas, comments, or concerns. Our goal is to ensure staff voices are heard and to actively seek avenues to elevate the topics brought before the committee. If you or someone you know has thoughts or feedback to share, please feel free to reach out.  

 We hope you have a wonderful rest of the semester and a great summer ahead! The Technology Committee looks forward to continuing to represent staff perspectives on technology issues. 

Jeremy McLeod | FY2026 Ad Hoc Technology Committee Chair