Monthly Archives: February 2012

Time for Staff Senate Nominations!

It is time once again to consider yourself and/or fellow staff members for service on the Staff Senate. 
 
The purpose of the Staff Senate is to conduct activities on behalf of Puget Sound staff, to enhance our campus environment, and to recognize the integral role of staff in our community.  To fulfill its purpose, the Staff Senate serves as a means of communication and liaison between staff, faculty, students, and administration.  Staff Senate provides information and makes recommendations to decision-making bodies at Puget Sound.  Recent examples of the Senate’s work include the recommendation of the floating holiday in support of diversity, providing book scholarships for staff members or their dependents who are enrolled in classes, and coordinating the annual Staff Recognition Luncheon.
 
Please submit your nominations via e-mail to staffsenate@pugetsound.edu or click and print out this form (link requires authentication from off-campus locations) and return it via campus mail to CMB #1036 by Monday, March 5.

Benefits Task Force to host forums, Feb. 14, 15

The Benefits Task Force was charged with reviewing and recommending budget-neutral updates to the university’s benefits program. Recommending a meaningful education benefit is an important part of that charge and has been the focus of the task force following the June 10, 2011, announcement that the Northwest Independent Colleges (NIC) Tuition Exchange Program will sunset effective with students entering college in fall 2016. You are invited to review BenTF’s current best thinking about this important topic and to provide feedback via this feedback form by Feb. 24 to BenTF@pugetsound.edu. Additionally for those who wish to discuss the recommendation in person, we will be holding open forums in Murray Boardroom at the following times:

  • Feb. 14: 1–2:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 15: 11 a.m.–noon

After considering campus input, a final recommendation will be submitted to the president’s cabinet on March 1, and cabinet will make a final recommendation to the board of trustees for action at its May meeting.

February Meeting Cancelled

Since the Staff Senate had both a regular meeting on January 11 and a special meeting on January 23 to hear a presentation by the Budget Task Force, Chair Rusty Horton has elected to cancel the group’s regular meeting originally scheduled for February 8.

The next Staff Senate meeting will be March 14, when Sherry Mondou, vice president for finance and administration, will speak about protocol for staff layoffs and will answer questions about previous layoffs. Staff Senate meetings are open to all staff members.