UMBC Professional Staff Senate

2012-2013 Action Plan 

1. Enhance communication with professional staff

• Continue communication with staff through our listserve and myUMBC group page
• Explore dissemination of PSS newsletter
• Invite professional staff members to attend PSS meetings to increase exposure and encourage engagement with shared governance
• Promote PSS at our sponsored events to increase visibility
• Encourage better two-way communication by broadly and quickly sharing information with staff as well as bringing their concerns to the senate
• Continue to work with campus leaders to strengthen communication with professional staff

 2. Direct attention to professional development, job satisfaction, and the working environment for professional staff

• Continue to advocate flexible schedule and telecommuting policies and opportunities
• Promote a campus culture that encourages and supports existing training and development opportunities for professional staff
• Advocate for management and leadership training for senior administrators and supervisors
• Examine first year of PSS mentoring program and explore ways to expand the program and partner with other departments on campus
• Work with campus leaders to address the issue of an increased workload
• Ensure our Personnel Review Committee meets regularly with Human Resources regarding ideas and concerns (online timesheets, staff knowledge of their exempt/non-exempt status, etc)

 3. Support University efforts to create a healthier campus community

• Identify and develop complementary avenues to support the HR Wellness Initiative
• Promote and educate staff about healthy lifestyles, including choices that may not be obvious,  via PSS events and other campus events/initiatives
• Assist in the dissemination and implementation of forthcoming non-smoking policy

4. Continue to advocate for merit and COLA increases and address disparities in compensation packages

• Work with campus and CUSS leaders to advocate for merit and COLA increases and how they will be distributed
• Maintain communication with administration related to salary inequity, compensation and promotion

 5. Assess results from the Spring 2012 questionnaire and determine how results are utilized

Celebrate Extraordinary UMBC Public Service

The Senate Roster has been updated to reflect the results of the executive board elections held at the meeting on 8/16/2012.

Just a reminder that the Professional Staff Senate (PSS) elections will remain open through Wednesday, May 2. The PSS is an important part of UMBC shared governance and is a representative body for you.

In order to vote, please follow these instructions:

1. Log onto the PSS myumbc groups page (http://my.umbc.edu/groups/ pss/home) and look for the documents sections. Click on the link that reads "2012 Professional Staff Senate Candidates" to open documents about each candidate. I encourage you to review information about each candidate that includes information about their UMBC service and what they feel the PSS should address next year.

2. After you have reviewed the candidate data, scroll down on the page and click on the link that reads "Vote Here". This will take you to Blackboard where you will select Professional Staff Senate in your list of "My Organizations". Then, on the left hand side, you will see a link to "PSS Elections 2012-2013". Click on the link and begin the voting process.

3. You can vote for up to seven (7) senator candidates.

Thank you in advance for participating in the PSS 2012 Election! Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at 410-455-2037 or csauter@umbc.edu.

Carrie Sauter

Vice President, Professional Staff Senate

We are pleased to announce that we have seven candidates for Senator positions this election season! Elections begin today and will run through Wednesday, May 2, 2012.

I encourage each of you to participate by voting during the election timeframe. The PSS is an important part of UMBC shared governance and is a representative body for you.

In order to vote, please follow these instructions:

1. Log onto the PSS myumbc groups page (http://my.umbc.edu/groups/ pss/home) and look for the documents sections. Click on the link that reads "2012 Professional Staff Senate Candidates" to open documents about each candidate. I encourage you to review information about each candidate that includes information about their UMBC service and what they feel the PSS should address next year.

2. After you have reviewed the candidate data, scroll down on the page and click on the link that reads "Vote Here". This will take you to Blackboard where you will select Professional Staff Senate in your list of "My Organizations". Then, on the left hand side, you will see a link to "PSS Elections 2012-2013". Click on the link and begin the voting process.

3. You can vote for up to seven (7) senator candidates.

Thank you in advance for participating in the PSS 2012 Election! Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at 410-455-2037 or csauter@umbc.edu.

Carrie Sauter

Vice President, Professional Staff Senate