Staff Senate Newsletter • May 7, 2021
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! API cultures form an important part of not only our history as a country but also who we are as a people. Understanding this part of our cultural heritage can help underline the fact that despite small differences, we are a country of immigrants bound together by the marriage of cultures. Check out the PBS documentary series Asian Americans which premieres on May 11, 2021, and explore the contributions and challenges of APIs.
Additionally, view a variety of related resources, including streaming/online films and e-books, through the UNT Libraries Multicultural Center guide.
Mental Health Awareness Month
This last year we have faced unprecedented challenges, and now, new obstacles lie ahead as we slowly resume what was once "normal" life. What is "normal" through all this is to feel stress, anxiety and fatigue. If you missed last week's email from UNT System Chief Human Capital Officer Sheraine Gilliam-Holmes introducing our UNT World HR #wellbeing webinar series in collaboration with staff and faculty at the UNT, UNT Dallas and UNT Health Science Center, please watch the video. Then view our schedule of daily webinars, discover topics that resonate with you and plan to join us. These sessions were created by us, for us. We've come a long way, now let's help each other refresh, refocus and go the distance.
Intersections of Identity: Racial, Academic and Christian
Join the UNT Christian Network Employee Resource Group for a virtual faculty and staff Lunch & Learn titled Intersections of Identity: Racial, Academic and Christian. Submit your lunch order for pick-up by May 6, 2021. You can read more about the two speakers online through the NT Fellowship website.
Leading Change for Supervisors
Change is present in every aspect of our lives and has become the norm within organizations. This session will provide supervisors with a clearer understanding of what happens to people when change occurs. It also introduces the tools and techniques you can use to effectively supervise through change, ultimately allowing you to be prepared to address the myriad of changes that come your way.
When: May 12, 2021, 2:30 p.m.
Intended Audience: Supervisors
Register through UNT World Learning
Diversity & Inclusion Available Training
The Division of Institutional Equity & Diversity has updated its training listings for May and June and launched a new workshop open to any faculty or staff member: Interrupting Microaggressions. Read the full descriptions and register through UNT Bridge on our website.
Annual Spot Bid Fair
The UNT Historically Underutilized Business program, HUB, is participating in State Senator Royce West's annual Spot Bid Fair on May 24–26, 2021, which will be a virtual expo. The fair allows HUB vendors statewide to bid on goods and services from state organizations, such as UNT — and may help save money on purchases your area already intends to make. Please review your upcoming expenditures from now through the end of the calendar year and email Greg Obar, UNT System HUB coordinator, for assistance.
UNT receives national award for its sustainable campus forestry efforts
UNT is committed to environmental stewardship and has once again been honored by the Arbor Day Foundation for its care of campus trees.
“We are fortunate to have such beautiful trees all over campus, and we work hard every day to care for them,” said Erik Trevino, grounds manager at UNT and a certified arborist by the International Society of Arboriculture. “Receiving the Tree Campus Higher Education recognition for the 13th consecutive year is a great honor that we take pride in.” Read more on this distinguished recognition
Emergency Preparedness Training
We are so excited that it is summer! There’s no better time than right now to hone your emergency response skills through training! The office of Emergency Management and Safety Services offers a wide array of free training opportunities to the UNT campus. Some opportunities can be provided live via Zoom or MS Teams; other opportunities are offered on UNT Bridge and can be completed at your own pace. Check out the attached interactive Training Catalog document to learn about available training. Email Emergency Management with questions or visit this link to sign up.
Staff Success Stories Winner
Congratulations to Cathy Turner, assistant to the Associate Dean in Mayborn School of Journalism, who is this month’s Staff Success Stories award winner! We appreciate all you do, Cathy! 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!
Newsletter Scheduling
Due to a slowdown in events and activities over the summer, the Staff Senate newsletter will be distributed bi-weekly rather than weekly, starting this summer semester.
Join Us at Our Next Meeting
Meetings are open to all UNT staff members. The next meeting will be held on May 11, 2021, at 3 p.m. For meeting agendas, minutes and recordings, please visit the Agendas and Minutes page.