Staff Senate Standing Committee Roles
Quick guide to Standing Committees
- Provide staff with tools and share opportunities for engaging in learning and advocacy.
- Share and create spaces where staff can exchange ideas, share perspectives, and learn from and with each other.
- Create multi-modality opportunities for staff to gather in community and connect with each other.
https://staffsenate.ku.edu/care-committee
AY 2025-2026 Chair: Trina Weekly; Chair-Elect: vacant
- Coordinates annual Staff Senate elections, including recruitment of candidates.
- Coordinates election of Executive Committee officers.
- Maintains records of election results and terms of office.
- Coordinate all changes to Staff Senate code.
- In January of each year, work with Governance Office and Human Resources to obtain a list of current KU staff in each of the HR Job Families to determine the number of Senate seats needed for the next year.
https://staffsenate.ku.edu/elections-committee
AY 2025-2026 Chair: Chris Wallace; Chair-Elect: Candace Bond
- Provides an avenue for the regular exchange of ideas on employee benefits, University policies and procedures, and other matters that relate to University staff.
- Review staff-related survey results and incorporate in Personnel Affairs Committee work during the academic year.
- Incorporate and evaluate IRISE and institutional values across all initiatives.
https://staffsenate.ku.edu/personnel-affairs-committee
AY 2025-2026 Chair: Ashley Kalatusha; Chair-Elect: Ian Adkins
- Facilitates the interaction and professional development of all staff by sponsoring educational workshops and programs involving managerial skill building, networking, training, and such other areas as may prove of interest.
- Serves as a clearinghouse for professional development opportunities on campus and off campus.
https://staffsenate.ku.edu/professional-development-committee
AY 2025-2026 Chair: Willisha Thompson; Chair-Elect: Brian Alfers
- Creates and disseminates the Senate newsletter at least twice a year.
- Monitor the activities of the state government on matters that relate to University staff.
- Raise public awareness of the vital role performed by University staff.
- Observe and report on the works of the Kansas Board of Regents to facilitate the exchange of information, ideas, and mutual support.
https://staffsenate.ku.edu/public-relations-committee
AY 2025-2026 Chair: Michelle Wilson; Chair-Elect: vacant
- Provides a strategic avenue for discussing and resolving issues that impact staff on KU-Lawrence and Edwards campuses
- Supports Staff Senate in adhering to all policies and procedures as outlined by the University of Kansas Information Technology Office.
- Liaises with the Staff Senate Executive Committee, Staff Senate, Staff Senate Committees, and any other Staff Senate events to provide technical support as needed.
- Assists University Governance staff with maintaining the Staff Senate website, MS Teams channels, and email distribution lists.
- Represents Staff Senate in campus and regional committees around technology issues for the university.
- Facilitates collaboration and open communication between Staff Senate, KUIT, technology end users, and KUIT Governance.
Webpage coming soon
The particulars
What is the purpose of Staff Senate's Standing Committees?
The Standing Committees function as focused working groups within Staff Senate that address specific topics, initiatives, or concerns relevant to staff members. They provide a structured avenue to voice ideas, raise issues, and contribute to solutions that directly impact staff roles and work environments.
Who can join a Standing Committee? What are the expectations for members?
Standing Committees are open to all KU staff members, not just elected Senators!
Members will participate in periodic (usually monthly) committee meetings separate from Staff Senate's full monthly meetings. These meetings are conducted virtually, organized by the Standing Committee Chairs, and scheduled with committee members' availability in mind. Many Standing Committees have also established Action Team subcommittees that members can join to focus even more closely on particular topics.
Who can serve in a Chair/Chair-Elect position on a Standing Committee? What are the expectations for these leadership roles?
Elected Senators (not already serving in a Staff Senate Executive Committee officer role) are eligible to serve in Chair and Chair-Elect positions. The nomination and election process is conducted in the context of Staff Senate full monthly meetings.
Staff Senate Code, Article VIII, Section 2 describes the expectation of the roles, as follows:
- Each standing committee shall have a Chair and a Chair-Elect.
- The person elected to the Chair-Elect position shall serve one year in that position and the following one year as Chair. Chairs and Chairs-Elect must be currently elected Senators. Chairs-Elect of the standing committees shall be nominated and elected by the incoming Senate at the transition meeting in April. Chair-Elects may be in the final year of their Senate term, provided their term is extended to allow them to serve the full term as Chair.
- Officers are not eligible to be elected as a Chair or Chair-Elect of standing committees.
- Nominees for the Technology Committee Chair and Chair-Elect are encouraged to have experience in the Technology job family or a related functional area (e.g., Functional Systems Analyst), but this is not a requirement.
- The chair of each standing committee shall preside over committee meetings and deliver reports of committee activities at all Senate and Executive Committee meetings. The Chair and Chair-Elect shall coordinate responsibilities for all other administrative functions for the committee, such as making arrangements for meetings, taking minutes, communicating with members, and ensuring work of the committee is completed. The Chair and Chair-Elect of each standing committee shall also submit an annual report to the Senate President due no later than the April meeting of the Senate.
- The Chair-Elect shall assume the duties of the Chair in the event of the latter's inability to serve the remainder of their term, in which case the Chair-Elect would serve out the term of the Chair and continue on as Chair during the term in which they were originally elected to serve.
- In the event of a vacancy in the Chair-Elect position, it shall be filled by majority vote at the next Senate meeting, with the person elected serving the remainder of the unexpired term.
- Tenure in these positions is contingent upon continued service as a Senator.
How can I join a Standing Committee?
Simply contact the Chair of the Standing Committee(s) you are interested to join and they will send you the details about monthly meetings and answer any questions you may have. Contact Chairs via the Standing Committee links listed in the sidebar
The best way to gauge whether or not a Standing Committee is a good fit for you is to attend their meetings and observe. There is no limit to the number of Standing Committees you can participate in at once, so feel free to sit in as many committee meetings as you like and encourage colleagues to do the same!