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June 2022 Staff Council Newsletter

Respect, Diversity, Inclusion and Caring Minute

One of ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½â€™s five strategic goals is to embrace and grow a culture of respect, diversity, inclusion and caring. Ronnie would like to highlight the ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ strategic plan for inclusive excellence. It states sustainability is incorporated into all practices across the ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½, and the university is seen as a leader in both climate research and climate change prevention. That brings us to recycling at ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½, the Office of Sustainability handles most of the recycling on campus and a couple of weeks ago the Center for Student Engagement team went to the eco dump on campus to help sort the plastic and aluminum recycling. The plastic and aluminum recycling is all picked up and sorted by one student employee. Who is funded by the student sustainability fee. This one student picks up about 200 bins all across campus, brings the aluminum and plastic to the eco dump on campus and hand sorts it all. Thank you Chis Tolver for your recycling efforts across campus. As an act of caring for Chris please remove your lids and make sure items are free of food waste. We take plastics 1 and 2. Thank you to our students who voted to fund the recycling and sustainability program. /sustainability/recycling.php
 

Officers’ Reports

President Ronnie Houchin

Ronnie Houchin had the opportunity to participate in the search for a new executive assistant for the Chancellor. They were able to find two really great candidates. We have hired Amy Cyr as the Chancellor’s Executive Assistant and Claire Baalke to serve as the Provost’s Executive Assistant. 

Ronnie states he has been working on the orientation and onboarding committee that was put together by Vice Chancellor Queen. The charge for that committee is to make recommendations to improve onboarding and orientation specifically for ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½. They have been having conversations with Ahmbra Austin, the UAA onboarding manager. They plan to send out a survey to anyone hired in the last five years to collect recent feedback. 

The Staff Alliance recently discussed staff recognition and development day and opportunities to coordinate additional activities across the UA system. 

Staff alliance submitted a proposal on strengthening shared governance within the system. A recommendation to adopt a common table model was suggested. President Pitney is proposing putting together a working group of faculty, staff, and student stakeholders to work with President Pitney and Vice President Layer to start these conversations and provide input. 

As we are nearing the end of the fiscal year we would like to acknowledge Raina Collins for managing the allocation of the Staff Development funds this year. Staff Development funds are included in the budget for next year as well and staff alliance will start having conversations on how to best utilize these funds. If you have ideas, comments or suggestions please email those to uaf-staff-council@alaska.edu. 

Vice President Kari Mellmer

Kari Mellmer states she is getting settled in her new position at the Office of Finance and Accounting. She has been coordinating her efforts as the new Staff Council Vice President and is looking forward to working more closely with all the staff council committees.  If you have any questions Kari can be reached at kamellmer@alaska.edu. 

 

June Meeting Highlights and Announcements

  • New Business:
  • Staff Council Year in Review:
    • Michael Szidloski states we remitted a resolution for annual leave cash in. This would allow for a supplemental cash in for FY22 up to 40 additional hours. This was a beneficial opportunity for staff.
    • Janene McMahan states it has been a joy to work with staff council and putting faces to names.
    • Kari Mellmer is glad to have the breakout and planning sessions for Staff Recognition and Development Day. It is important to recognize our staff and hope they feel appreciated.
    • Deana Fitzgerald would like to say she is grateful to be part of staff council . She enjoys how the group works together to bring items to the table and propose solutions.
    • Alda Norris would like to mention the opportunity for the staff tuition support and how that benefited her work professionally. This allowed her to take a science writing class and she went on to have a publication in her unit's forestry newsletter.
    • Ronnie Houchin would like to mention the staff council unit restructure and how this large revision has been successful. As well as the rural staff spotlight, that allows us to highlight our staff in our community campuses and the work that they do.
    • Felicia Burud is excited to announce she took a new position on campus as the Alumni Relations Manager. She will now be representing her new unit and they are glad to have involvement in staff council. 

 

Vice Chancellor Queen

Thank you to everyone that worked together to help facilities services with flower planting day here on the Troth Yeddha campus in Fairbanks.  

We are near the end of the FY22 fiscal year, and the FY23 budget is still under review at the state level. Once the budget is transmitted to the governor’s office he will have a time period to review. The governor retains the authority to do line item vetoes. We are eager to see the budget outcome. The university is in a great spot for much more stable footing than we've seen in prior years with an operating budget increase that supports some fixed costs as well as some staff compensation increases and a capital budget that includes deferred maintenance. As well as other research centered projects here in Fairbanks but several across the US system that really directly support initiatives at the State of Alaska and help fuel the state economy. 

In respect to annual leave our leadership teams have been sending out reminders to those that may be near their annual leave cap of 240 hours. Please consider using those hours before the end of the fiscal year. You may be eligible to cash out some of your acquired leave hours. This year an additional 40 hours were approved for the cash out opportunity if you meet those conditions.