Staff Senate Provides Service, Leadership to UK Community

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 26, 2015) — The University of Kentucky Staff Senate is an excellent opportunity for UK’s employees to contribute to the greater university good through leadership and service. But how exactly are staff senators impacting UK?

In addition to serving as the administrative voice for the more than 17,000 full and part-time staff at UK, the senate also administers several key activities for the university community, such as the CRISIS financial assistance program and the annual UK Appreciation Day.

The annual UK Appreciation Day is a large undertaking, involving nearly a year of planning by the Appreciation Day Committee, about 200 volunteers to assist in delivery of the event, a free meal for all employees who attend, and coordination with myriad UK departments and local vendors who participate.

“It is important that staff are represented in university matters,” said Senate Chair Mike Adams. “Staff bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and the Staff Senate is where we can contribute to the betterment of each other and the university as a whole.”

Staff Senate also organizes the monthly Conversation with the President, which gives rank and file staff members opportunities to discuss issues of importance to them with President Eli Capilouto during an informal meeting at his Maxwell Place home.

“Staff always appreciate the opportunity to connect with the president in his home,” said Fadyia Lowe, who organizes the event through the Senate’s Public Relations Committee. “The amount of positive feedback we receive from participants is very encouraging!”

Staff senators are also involved in a variety of university activities and shared governance responsibilities, such as service on strategic planning committees, coordination of the Outstanding Staff Awards ceremony, membership on search committees for upper level administration, and input on employee benefits.

The CRISIS program is an excellent example of how the senate serves UK employees. It was developed by senators in conjunction with UK Human Resources and is now fully administered through the senate office. The program provides one-time financial support of up to $500 for UK employees who are experiencing financial difficulty.

For instance, payments have been made to help with utilities or rent when a UK employee is struggling to pay bills due to unexpected loss of income or unforeseen expenses. CRISIS is supported through employee contributions, which are tax deductible, and a five-member committee of staff and faculty, which reviews and approves applications for assistance.

Staff senators serve three year terms, are full-time employees, and are elected by staff who are at least .75 full-time equivalent. The typical time commitment for senators is about four hours a month, but many volunteer their time to the university community well beyond that.

“Empowering staff is part of the Staff Senate mission. Creating avenues to serve is one way we can serve the University community, and the Staff Senate helps create those opportunities. CRISIS, Shared Leave Pool, and UK Appreciation Day are just a few examples of how the Senate advances our shared interests,” Adams said.

For more information about Staff Senate, visit the program Web site at www.uky.edu/staffsenate or contact Holly Clark, office coordinator, at hclark@uky.edu or 859-257-9242.