In attendance:
Kileene Collins, Bronwen Madden, Mary Kellum, Karla Bean, Sharath Rongali, Grayson Gordon, Alice Smith, Sheila Barton, Amanda Niemotka, Alyssa Collins, Caitlin Crouse, Lu Adams, Mary Maupin, CJ Collins, Sylvia Kuhlmeier, Kris Brinkerhoff, Michelle Branton and Chulapol Thanomsing
Agenda
I. Updates
Chancellor: Dr. Bennett shared a “Year in Review” video, highlighting Missouri State University-West Plains activities and accomplishments last year, with the Chamber of Commerce this week. On October 7, 2014, in the West Plains Civic Center theater, Clif Smart and Dr. Bennett will be giving the State of the University Address. We have had a 3.3% enrollment increase while most other 2-year universities are down. In the last 7 years, our enrollment has increased 25% and state appropriations have increased 3%. Our new STAR (STudent Access and Retention) program is an important effort for our campus. We have doubled the number of ethnically diverse staff and faculty and we’ve had a significant increase in student diverstiy on our campus. Dr. Bennett will be taking 6 students to China this year. He also shared this thought: If we look at our students as “The future” and look at ourselves, whether faculty or staff as, “Mentors” and follow this philosophy, we will keep students happy and successful.
Welcome New Employees:
- Glenda Ochoa, Assistant to Bronwen Madden at the Small Business Incubator.
Open Positions:
- Coordinator, Mountain Grove Branch campus (full-time staff). Internal. Conducting interviews.
- Dean of student services (full-time staff). On-campus interviews scheduled.
- Director of information technology services (full-time staff). Offer extended.
- Assistant dean of academic affairs (full-time staff). Application deadline 10/31/14
- Accounting & entrepreneurship instructor & assistant professor (full-time faculty). First date of consideration is 10/31/14
- Part-time technology & social media support (part-time TAACCCT). Advertised in West Plains Daily Quill 10/3/14
- Instructor of history (full-time faculty). To be posted 10/10/14
- Food services manager (full-time staff). To be posted 10/10/14
- General buyer, Drago College Store (full-time staff). To be posted 10/10/14
Upcoming Searches
- Per-course faculty postings to be posted soon.
Sylvia Kuhlmeier asked if the Staff Senate can have an open forum to meet with candidates on some of the new positions to be filled. Emily Gibson reported there will be an open forum for staff, with the dean of student services candidate and we should be receiving an email regarding the dates, soon.
Capital Projects: Scott Schneider not present for report.
- TRiO has a new parking lot, handicapped accessible.
Upcoming Events:
Flu shots will be given to Missouri State University-West Plains campus community members on the following dates:
- Friday, Oct. 24 – 12:30 to 4:00 PM, Looney Hall Room 203
- Thursday, Oct. 30 – 9:00 AMto 12:30 PM, Looney Hall Room 203
- Mountain Grove – TBA
Departmental Updates:
- Financial aid – Scholarship application deadline 10/17/14
- TRiO is still taking applications for students.
- UCP – October 21, 2014 – 7:00 – 9:00 PM – “The Lady With All The Answers”
December 7, 2014 – 2:00 – 4:00 PM – The Polar Express
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December 11, 2014 – 7:00 – 8:00 PM – Bah! Humbug!
Approval of Minutes:
- Motion to approve: Grayson Gordon
- Second: Becky Craig
- Approved: All
II. Old Business
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Habitat For Humanity is asking for Staff Senate volunteer group to help on November 1st. Mary Kellum will be sending out the detailed information.
Staff Dedication Wall:
- Looking for a vendor to make the plaques.
Book Club Common Reader “Garbology”:
- There is a link on the Staff Senate Blog page.
Battery Recycling Effort:
- Lu will be compiling the information on three options and an email will be distributed to Staff Senate to vote online.
III. New Business
Staff Emeritus :
- Sue Ingram has been nominated. Lu Adams made a motion to approve; seconded by Peggy Stacy; All approved.
Campus Chili Cookoff: Thanks to all that participated and contributed. It was a great success and we all enjoyed some really good chili and desserts! We collected $195 worth of donations!
- First place went to Rita Gordon
- Second place went to Grayson Gordon
- Third place went to Kathy Mann
Lee Denim Day:
- The group agreed to make our donations in honor of Veronica Mays. Chulapol is going to follow up to see about having that posted on our American Cancer Society team page, along with the total amount of contributions. Total amount will be shared as soon as it is all collected.
Staff Senate Chair:
- Alyssa Collins has been the West Plains representative for the past 2 years and asked if anyone else would like to volunteer for the next 2 years. Becky Estes stepped up and volunteered.
IV. Next Meeting:
- November 7, 2014 10:30-11:30 AM in the Cass Hall conference room.