Staff Senate masthead, photo of the UNT University Union with the words UNT Staff Senate Newsletter Aug. 7, 2020 across the photo

Staff Senate Newsletter • Aug. 7, 2020

Staff Safety Survey

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Thank you to everyone who participated in our staff survey on the topic of staff safety as we return to campus. We support and appreciate every frontline staff member who has remained on campus during the partial campus closure and kept the buildings safe, clean and available for those that needed them. And, we are proud to represent staff voices and advocate for the safety of all staff members.

We fully recognize that the responses are not representative of all staff members, as there are many who do not have immediate or easy access to their email or may not have had a chance to respond. Thus, the results of our staff safety survey are merely a sampling of staff perspective on the Return to Work plan.

Aug. 4 Reopening Update Town Hall

In case you missed it, you can view President Smatresk's Reopening Update Town Hall on YouTube.

In this town hall, you will find out information about the fall semester, how we are preparing campus and what processes we will follow to help keep our community safe and healthy.

School Supply Pantry

black and blue pens beside red colored notebook The Learning Center is happy to introduce our School Supply Pantry as an option for students struggling with affording school supplies for the fall semester. Students must complete the School Supply Pantry Request Form located at https://learningcenter.unt.edu/school-supply-pantry. Students can request up to ten supply items a semester. Please note that a form must be completed to ensure safety measures as drop-in requests for supplies are not currently available. A flyer is attached to share.

Staff Awards

Seventeen staff and presidential award winners will be honored at Staff Recognition: Going the Distance while Socially Distant, presented by DATCU, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 11. The virtual event also includes door prizes and a Q&A with President Smatresk.

Volunteer to be a Student Organization Advisor

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Are you a staff member looking for ways to be involved with UNT students? How about serving as an advisor to a registered student organization?

You must be a full-time UNT faculty or staff member, at least 22 years of age and not pursing an undergraduate degree at UNT, to serve in this capacity. Submit the Volunteer to be a Student Organization Advisor form and we will use this information to match you with student organizations in need of an advisor. Student organizations may contact you to ask you to serve as their advisor. You are encouraged to meet with the organization to decide whether you would like to accept their request.

Please email DiJai Dowling at DiJai.Dowling@unt.edu for more information.

Discovery Park COVID-19 Testing

Photo of the outside of the Discovery Park building at UNT

Denton County Public Health (DCPH) is providing free drive-thru COVID-19 testing at UNT Discovery Park on Fridays beginning Aug. 7. Preregistration is required and appointments are available starting at 8 a.m. Eligible community members are those who have had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past seven days, essential employees, individuals 60 years and older, as well as individuals who have had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19.

All community members must call to pre-register for testing at 940-349-2585.

UNT System COVID-19 Information

World Town Hall on HR and COVID-19 Safety Issues

Illustration of the state of Texas with star on the north texas region. Text on image says UNT System.

Chancellor Roe will host a virtual UNT World Town Hall: HR and COVID-19 Safety on Aug. 10 at 10:30 a.m. The town hall will feature a moderated Q&A with Vice Chancellor & Chief Human Capital Officer Barbara Abercrombie, as well as the HR leaders for UNT, UNT Dallas, UNT Health Science Center and UNT System Administration. The Town Hall will also include remarks from Chancellor Lesa Roe and a safety briefing from Vice Chancellor Steve Maruszewski, who is leading our system-wide efforts to mitigate coronavirus.

If you have specific work-related questions you would like addressed during the Town Hall, please email communications@untsystem.edu.

Faculty and staff from all UNT System institutions and system administration may watch the Town Hall live at https://www.untsystem.edu/covid-19-town-hall. Once the Town Hall is complete the video will remain posted at the same URL, so faculty and staff may watch on-demand.

UNT System COVID-19 Updates

The UNT System leadership teams have spent significant hours preparing to safely begin reopening aspects of our campuses and office facilities. Read more on the UNT System COVID-19 updates web page.

UNT COVID-19 Information

Health Alerts

For UNT Coronavirus updates visit the UNT Health Alerts website: healthalerts.unt.edu. Information for staff is available on the UNT Health Alerts for Staff web page.

COVID Questions

Call the UNT COVID hotline at 1-844-366-5892 or send an email to COVID@unt.edu.

Join Us at Our Next Meeting!

Meetings are open to all UNT staff members. The next meeting will be held via Zoom on Aug. 11, 2020 at 3 p.m.

Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

If you are unable to attend, please feel free to share any concerns, views, and/or feedback by contacting your Staff Senate representative or email staffsenate@unt.edu.

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 staffsenate@unt.edu to have it included.