Employee Events and Outreach
Involves USI’s administrators in university-wide events; sponsors events that recognize the service and achievements of administrators at USI. Develops productive partnerships with university groups such as the Faculty Senate, the Staff Council, and student groups; works with HR to welcome new staff and increase awareness of the Senate in the larger community.
Chair: Lesley Groves
Vice Chair: Mary Biever
Employee Relations and Benefits
Reviews salaries and benefits and makes annual recommendations for changes; works with Human Resources regarding employee concerns and the process to address those concerns; recommends promotion and progression steps; addresses the relationship between administrators and the University as an employer; reviews, studies, and recommends Senate action regarding performance, evaluation, professional leave, and policies and procedures which affect administrators’ ability to function in their positions.
Chair: Michelle Kirk
Vice Chair: Trista Lutgring
Professional Development
Addresses efforts to provide and encourage professional growth and development of administrators; assists in developing training for administrative staff, specifically during fall and spring meeting activities; reviews, studies, and recommends Senate action regarding such matters as professional leave and continuing education.
Chair: Spence Farmer
Vice Chair: Jennifer Roberts
Nominations and Elections
Composed of three continuing Senators appointed by the Executive Committee and chaired by the Past Chairperson, the Elections Committee manages and oversees the annual elections process for Senators and Senate officers. In addition, the committee shall monitor the number of administrators in each Senate district to ensure adequate and equitable representation. If it is necessary to reconfigure the composition of districts (in response to university restructuring or other changes in the number of department administrators), then the Elections Committee shall also carry out that duty.
Chair: Jenny Garrison
Bylaws
Ad Hoc Committees: The chair and/or the Senate Executive Committee shall appoint ad hoc committees as needed. The Bylaws Committee will examine changes and additions to the Administrative Senate Constitution and Bylaws.
Chair: Jenny Garrison
Employee Events and Outreach
Develop a new administrator onboarding experience - cards, check-in emails, potential buddy system
Connect more with current administrators by hosting more events - i.e., BYOLs, employee walks, etc.
Monthly administrator emails
Employee Relations and Benefits
Flexible Work Arrangements - Explore standardized flexible work options, including remote and hybrid schedules where job duties permit.
Sick Leave Donation Program - Evaluate the feasibility of a sick leave donation bank to support employees during extended medical needs.
Childcare Support - Assess opportunities for on-campus childcare and community partnerships to support employees and students.
Competitive Compensation - Continue advocating for market-competitive wages to support employee recruitment and retention.
Vacation and Leave Benefits - Review vacation accrual and carryover policies to better recognize employee tenure and service.
Dress Code Flexibility - Consider flexible dress guidelines that support employee comfort and reduce workplace expenses.
Expanded Workplace Flexibility - Explore additional flexible work options to enhance recruitment, retention, and work-life balance.
Professional Development
Set-up Infrastructure
Get the Administrative Senate Professional Development website live and ready to host resources.
Establish session dates and cadence.
Build out communications pipeline (e.g. USI Today) that outlives the members.
Listen to the Constituents
Survey/ask administrators to check if priorities have shifted.
Pull risk-factor data from other universities to inform proactive topics.
Consider open listening sessions, including at the spring meeting.
Build Content
Vary modality - Short videos, in-person sessions, lunch-and-learns, digital resources.
Use early attempts as "guinea pigs" to test what formats actually get engagement.
Leverage members interest in content creation and presenting.
Nominations & Elections
Increase election participation (# of votes) by 5%
Utilize Past Chairs to promote elections
Review the election process to ensure user-friendliness
Engage constituents throughout the year to increase top-of-mind awareness
Bylaws
N/A