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Be a voice for USI through Administrative Senate

April 10, 2019

Ingrid Lindy '90, Britney Gentry-Orth '03 and Maggie Carnahan '13 M'18 serve very different areas of the University-Lindy works in Human Resources, Orth in the Dean of Students Office and Housing and Residence Life and Carnahan with the USI Foundation-but they've formed a common bond through their mutual service on USI's Administrative Senate.

"It builds collegiality," says Lindy, who serves as chair of Administrative Senate. "It builds a sense of family, which I've always felt the University strives for."

"We serve as a liaison between the [USI administrative employee] community and University leadership so they truly feel like their voice is heard whenever they have concerns or ideas about things that can positively affect USI or change USI," explains Carnahan, one of two at-large senators and vice chair of Administrative Senate's employee outreach committee.

Now at the end of her two-year term, Carnahan admits she never gave much thought to joining Administrative Senate-until she found out she'd been nominated by a colleague. With a new round of nominations now open, she hopes to inspire other employees to get involved. "It's just a wonderful way to feel more connected to the University," she says.

Administrative Senate is comprised of 14 administrative staff members: four hold officer positions and 10 serve as senators, representing the University at-large or through its four districts. The group meets once a month to discuss issues important to USI's administrative body, such as employee relations and benefits, professional development, campus outreach and employee events.

The organization also provides a communications link to the president, often weighing in on potential University policy changes that affect administrative staff.

"I've seen so many changes with the University, and I was excited to be able to make a difference," Lindy says. "I feel like it has allowed me, as a person, to grow and me, as an employee, to grow. I've gotten to integrate myself [within the University], even though I've been here 40 years."

So, what makes a good administrative senator?

"I think someone who's not afraid to voice their opinions, someone who's not afraid to ask questions," says Gentry-Orth, a District I senator and former USI Student Government Association president. "Being able to listen to your colleagues-that's part of what we're doing."  

All eligible administrative staff, regardless of length of employment at the University, may apply for open Administrative Senate positions or be nominated by a co-worker by emailing adminsenate@usi.edu with the subject line "Nominations." The nomination must include which position is being sought. Nominations will remain open until April 13, 2019, and all nominees will be made public.

Additionally, interested administrative employees who do not want to run for an official position but still want to be involved may join an Administrative Senate committee or subcommittee. Contact Andrea Gentry, chair of Administrative Senate's Nominations and Elections Committee, at agentry@usi.edu or 812-464-1997 with any questions.

Faculty Senate and Staff Council provide similar involvement opportunities for the University's faculty members and support staff.

Open Administrative Senate positions

 

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