Staff Senate Newsletter • April 23, 2021

Staff Senate Special Election Results

The Special Election results for the Division of Finance & Administration and Division of Enrollment are in, and Staff Senate would like to welcome three new members!

• Jamie Brand – Division of Enrollment (term ends 8/31/21)
• John Tannert – Division of Finance & Administration (term ends 8/31/21)
• David Causey – Division of Finance & Administration (term ends 8/31/22)

Congratulations to the newest Senators, and thank you to every dedicated staff member who participated in elections!

Celebrate Trails Day

Calling all trail lovers! Mark your calendars for April 24 for Celebrate Trails Day, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s annual spring celebration. The DCTA has come up with fun and safe activities to enjoy and celebrate the A-train Rail Trail.

• Free A-train rides all-day
• Visit the DCTA booth in Denton for snacks, water and ther trail guide
• Win prizes through the trail scavenger hunt

Make sure to stop by the Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC) from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. to talk with the staff who will be distributing free water, rail trail-friendly snacks and a print copy of the new rail trail pocket guide.

NEH Awards and More: Learn About Funding for Digital Projects

NEH Awards and More will take place on April 27 at 10 a.m. This session will give attendees the opportunity to learn from NEH Senior Program Officer, Jennifer Serventi, about the many funding opportunities offered by the Endowment. She will cover the programs offered by the Divisions of Research Programs, Education Programs, Preservation and Access, Public Programs, and the Offices of Digital Humanities and Challenge Grants.

In her presentation, Serventi will address two related topics:

1) Opportunities that are available to faculty and staff, with a particular focus on support for digital projects; and

2) Strategies faculty can employ to take advantage of the opportunities.

Serventi also will discuss ways that faculty and staff can participate in NEH projects and special initiatives beyond applying for an award directly from NEH. Examples of these opportunities include serving as a peer review panelist, advising documentary films or podcasts, evaluating archival collections as an advisory board member, participating in educational seminars and institutes, conducting research with support of a fellowship from an independent research institution, or becoming involved in the work of your state humanities council. Register for this session today!

Rec Center Summer Memberships

Beginning May 1 Plus One, Dependent and Retiree memberships to the Pohl Recreation Center will be available again! Current UNT Faculty and Staff can purchase a membership at any time. During the month of May they’re also offering a Try Before You Buy: 5 Day Free Trial for all non-student, new, or returning memberships. Contact Wendy Comfort (wendy.comfort@unt.edu) for more information and to set up your free trial.  

Update from the Neurodiversity Professional Network

Many people with hidden disabilities, such as those who are neurodivergent, are not aware that there are strategies and tools that can assist them in performing better on their job. The Department of Labor has a website, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), that is a wonderful tool for identifying potential solutions to assist with disability accommodations. AskJAN is easy to use and can provide information not only about specific disabilities but also accommodations that others have found useful. Faculty, staff, and student employees may also contact their unit’s HR representative to discuss potential accommodations. You don’t have to know what you need to start the conversation, only that you think your disability may be impacting your performance. Be advised that documentation from a physician will need to be provided before an official accommodation can be implemented. If you need assistance, please email HRAdministration@unt.edu, call 940-565-2281 or visit the office, Suite 120R in the Support & Services Building. 

Staff Success Stories Winner

Congratulations to Nausheen Qureshi, Student and Program Assistant, who is this month’s first Staff Success Stories award winner! We appreciate all you do, Nausheen! Check out the UNT Staff Success website to learn more about this amazing UNT staffer!

Do you know of a fellow staff member who embodies the caring, creative and resilient spirit that makes the UNT community so amazing? Nominate your colleague for recognition on the Staff Success website!

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.