Staff Senate Newsletter • April 16, 2021

 

At Home Academy: UNT’s Climate Survey Summary

The next At Home Academy is the UNT Climate Survey Summary on April 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please join Shani Barrax Moore, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Equity and Diversity and Director of Diversity & Inclusion, as she discusses the summary.

All employees are invited to attend the Staff Senate At Home Academy events. Use your UNT email to register in advance.

 

 

2021-22 Faculty and Staff Annual Parking Permits

The 2021-22 Faculty and Staff annual parking permits will be available for purchase starting on April 21. Purchase permits online at transportation.unt.edu. Permits can be paid in full or via monthly payroll deduction. Permit prices will be the same as the 2020-21 annual rates.

You can call Transportation Services at 940-565-3020, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m.–5 p.m., or use the online chat on the Transportation Services website.

Neurodiversity Professional Network

The UNT Neurodiversity Professional Network serves employees who identify as Neurodivergent, as well as allies, and focuses on the following three areas.

1. Support neurodivergent employees so that they can contribute to the university's mission as effectively as possible;
2. Educate allies so that they can support the work of neurodivergent colleagues from a basis in current, accurate information;
3. Represent neurodivergent employees to the university community so that their value and contributions are recognized.

Meetings are held every third Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Join them on Zoom!

For more information, contact Linda Holloway, professor emeritus, Rehabilitation and Health Services.

To receive announcements and communications, subscribe to the unt-neurodiversity email listserv by sending an email to unt-neurodiversity-join@lists.unt.edu.

Clothing Drive

Heels on the Move to Heal is a non-profit organization that brings awareness and assists families affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Heels on the Move to Heal is currently accepting donations for the rest of this month. The clothing donation box is located outside of Suite 411 in the Union.

 

 

 

Call for Staff Senate Nominations

Nominations are open for the UNT Staff Senate and the deadline has been extended! If you’d like to help advance the university’s mission, particularly on issues that impact you and your fellow UNT staff members, then consider nominating yourself or someone else* for this important role today.

Once elected, Senate members will hold a two-year term, represent a pool of staff constituents and serve as their voice to ensure that their needs are addressed.

Responsibilities:

• Attend Monthly Meetings: Learn about current initiatives that may impact staff, report on the concerns of constituents, and create legislation to improve the staff experience.
• Communicate with Constituents: Share what they have learned about the university with their colleagues and regularly seek feedback regarding the issues they want the Senate to address.
• Serve on at least one Staff Senate Committee: Each Senator serves on a committee; the committees are Bylaws and Elections, Policy and Benefits, Communications and Public Relations, Staff Development, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. More information can be found on the Staff Senate Committees web page.

Eligibility requirements:

• Nominees must be full or part-time benefits-eligible staff employed by UNT for a minimum of one year.
• The following employee positions are excluded from serving as a Staff Senator.
  • President, Provost, Vice President/Associate Vice President/Assistant Vice President, Dean/Associate Dean/ Assistant Dean, Teaching Fellow/Teaching Assistant/ Research Assistant/Graduate Student, individuals in positions classified as student positions, faculty/lecturers/professional librarians/adjunct professors/special appointed faculty, employees of the UNT System and its other member institutions.

Complete the nomination form today!

Nominations and Supervisor Approval Forms will now be accepted through April 30.

Elections will be held May 10 – 14.

*Please note that a Supervisor Approval Form is required with each nomination. If you are nominating yourself, please submit a completed form with your nomination. A form will be requested from all other nominees if the nomination is accepted.

Staff Senate Spotlight

Katie Hebert

Office Support Associate, College of Health and Public Service

Learn more about Katie!

 

 

John Elder Robison Presentation

The Neurodiversity Professional Network in partnership with the division hosted John Elder Robison on March 30th for an afternoon of dialogue, perspective, and empowerment for UNT’s neurodiverse community. Robison addressed topics such as reducing the stigma surrounding neurodiversity and appreciating the gifts of those who are neurodiverse, and how to create an institutional culture that supports and affirms neurodiverse students and employees.  After a moderated panel discussion, a presentation by Assistant Vice President of Equity & Diversity and Director of Equal Opportunity & Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Eve Shatteen Bell, and Assistant Director of Human Resources, Kate van Saaze, provided information regarding employee and student rights and responsibilities under the law. Mr. Robison spent the rest of the afternoon with neurodiverse students and employees for an informal discussion.

2022 Equity & Diversity Conference

At the closing session, the Equity & Diversity Conference Planning Committee shared exciting news: the 2022 Equity & Diversity Conference will be held on March 23, 2022, presented by Fidelity Investments, who will follow in Hilti’s footsteps as both the Dr. Bertina H. Combes Inclusive Excellence sponsor and presenting sponsor! Pre-register and become a conference insider!

 

 

Join Us at Our Next Meeting!

Meetings are open to all UNT staff members. The next meeting is May 11, 2021, at 3 p.m.

For meeting agendas, minutes and recordings, please visit the Agendas and Minutes page.

Contact Us!

If you have an article, announcement, or suggestion relating to this newsletter, email Staff Senate to have it included.