Professional News

University Staff Senate Now Accepting Nominations

Staff Senate group photo.
Mark Cornelison l UK Photo.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 1, 2019) — Nominations for University of Kentucky Staff Senate are now open through 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 26. 

By contributing to the overall mission, vision and values of the university, senate members play an integral role in shaping the university campus culture for its employees. Representing over 15,000 UK employees, Staff Senate acts as a liaison between members of staff and the administration.

"Staff Senate is the voice of the staff. UK’s administration, including President Capilouto and the Board of Trustees, want to know what we think," said Jon Gent, Staff Senate chair. "We want to keep staff engaged and informed about what is available already, and what change is coming. Lastly, we strive to find ways to make things even more engaging for staff, through the development of new programs (both within the Senate and on campus) and recognitions."

Through current support programs like C.R.I.S.I.S. and the Shared Leave Pool and events like Appreciation Day and Outstanding Staff Awards, Staff Senate strives to equip employees with the resources they need to succeed and show gratitude for the work they do on campus. 

"We ask questions about issues staff encounter, from safety issues on campus to food insecurity for staff. We push for greater recognition of a job well done, and we find new ways for staff to develop themselves professionally. Last year, we had first year senators work to increase visibility of this campus for potential students and revitalize some of our processes for UK Appreciation Day," Gent said. 

To be eligible to run, one must be a regular, full-time staff member (FTE of 0.75 or greater). 

For more information on the election guidelines and the self-nomination form, click here.