Staff Senate Newsletter • Feb. 13, 2020
RecycleMania!
The UNT We Mean Green Fund is hosting several great events on campus in February and March for RecycleMania!
UNT Campus Litter Clean Up
This Friday, Feb. 14 is the UNT Campus Litter Clean Up! Employees and students are welcome to participate. There are many routes for people to choose from and they can do this on their lunch hour. We encourage employees to come out with their colleagues. Space is limited, so don't hesitate to register for this Valentine’s Day volunteer effort! Register here.
Upcoming February Events
- Feb. 18 and 21 – Denton and UNT Recycling Facility Tours (Space is limited – Register today!)
- Feb. 26 – UNT Merch Swap Donate your unused UNT swag or merch items for the swap by 2/17 in Union 376. The event will be free and is a means of redistributing school spirit to folks who want to change up or add to their mean green gear. The purpose of this event is to prevent outdated/unused UNT merch from sitting in closets or reaching the landfill if unused. We’re encouraging the “Reuse Movement” by challenging UNT community members to contribute UNT Merch items to this event to allow the communal swap of UNT swag items that need a new home. When’s the last time you asked “Does this shirt bring me joy?”
Ongoing Event
- Feb. 2 - March 28 – Weekly Plastic Bag Recycling Competition at the Union (Team Staff/Faculty won the week 1 RecycleMania competition by bringing the most plastic bags to our recycling station in the Union! Over 550 bags were recycled last week through this program! Keep the bags coming!)
English for Staff: Citizenship Class
The President's EDGE is offering an ESL/ Citizenship Class on Friday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the President's EDGE office. Tutors will work with employees to understand the answers to the 100 potential questions, practice interviewing and prepare for the English test.
If anyone is interested or has any questions, please call 940-565-4320 and leave a message or come by in person to the President's EDGE office at North Texas Lofts #110, 217 North Texas Blvd., Denton, TX 76203.
This is a free service, as always, with The President's Edge office!
Email: COE-EDGE@unt.edu
Featured Staff Senate Spotlights
Abby Crow-Walker
Assistant Director for Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
Kayla Green
Director of Marketing and Communications for the College of Engineering
Senate Bill 212 February Training
Senate Bill 212 requires employees of public and private higher education institutions to report sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking against a student or employee to the institution’s Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
Employees have always been required by UNT Policy to report instances of sexual misconduct, but this policy requirement is now a state law. Most importantly, as of January 1, 2020, the law requires the university to terminate any employee (including tenured faculty members) who is found to have failed to satisfy the mandatory reporting requirement. Additionally, failure to report sexual misconduct is a misdemeanor criminal offense.
Sexual misconduct is a violation of university policy and is inconsistent with the caring, creative community we value at UNT. The entire UNT community should understand the law, as it is currently interpreted. More information about the law may be found here.
All types of misconduct can be reported at report.unt.edu or via email at TitleIX@unt.edu. Contact information for Title IX Coordinators can be found online, along with additional information on sexual misconduct. They can be contacted to file a report or to answer questions regarding reporting requirements.
In an effort to better inform the University community of the requirements of the law, UNT’s Title IX Coordinator, Eve Shatteen Bell, is hosting a training session regarding Senate Bill 212 on Thursday, February 27, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Gateway Center, Suite 132.
Questions regarding Senate Bill 212 or the scheduled training sessions may be directed to 940.565.2759 or OEO@unt.edu.
Thank a Staff Member
Recognize a staff member for excellent work and great service by filling out the Thank a Staff Member form and submitting it by Friday, March 6. Excerpts will be displayed at the Staff Appreciation Luncheon, which will be presented by DATCU on Wednesday, March 18, and shared with the staff member, supervisor and vice president. Update: Staff Appreciation Luncheon will be held on Thursday, Apr. 2.
You are Invited: Come to a Meeting!
Staff Senate meets once a month at 3 p.m. The next meeting is Mar. 10, 2020 at 3 p.m. in Union room 332. Meetings are open to all UNT staff members. Please come and see what we are doing and get involved!
Be sure to check the website for meeting agendas and minutes.
Contact Us!
If you have an article, announcement or suggestion relating to this newsletter, contact Lisa Cuevas or staffsenate@unt.edu to have it included.