Staff Senate Committees

Committee rosters for the 2024-2025 fiscal year:

Angel Bear Tree Committee

Charge

To provide assistance with the holiday expenses for UCA employees. Specifically, this is done through administering the Angel Bear Tree program on campus to gather, wrap, and distribute gift donations.

Members

  • Shalia Delph, Co-Chair
  • Veneta Fricks, Co-Chair
  • Audreka Peten
  • Garrett Rimmer
  • Jasmine Driver
  • Jessica Taylor
  • Lucee Lugo
  • Robyn Smith
  • Sherita Kern
  • Lyn Gayfiels, Non-Senator
  • Tiffany Turner

Appointments Committee

Charge

Make recommendations to Senate of appointments to university and Staff Senate committees; make recommendations to Senate to fill vacant Senate positions.

Members

  • Veneta Fricks, Chair
  • Emily Hall
  • Jennifer Olson
  • Ricky Harris

Basketball Committee

Charge

Acquire and equip workers to work as ushers for each home basketball game. These volunteer positions raise money for Staff Senate to use to benefit as many UCA staff members as possible through Staff Senate sponsored programs.

Members

  • Jasmine Driver, Co-Chair
  • Richard Hammond, Co-Chair
  • Garrett Rimmer
  • Kendra Erickson
  • Shalia Delph
  • Sherita Kern
  • Tiffany Turner
  • Veneta Fricks

By-Laws

Charge

Acquire and equip workers to work as ushers for each home basketball game. These volunteer positions raise money for Staff Senate to use to benefit as many UCA staff members as possible through Staff Senate sponsored programs.

Members

  • Travis Johnson, Co-Chairs
  • Dylan Richardson, Co-Chair
  • Emily Hall
  • JW Calvery
  • Kendra Erickson
  • Lizzie Langston
  • Tiffany Turner

Compensation Committee

Charge

Develop a 5-year plan for addressing salary concerns of staff within the budget and make recommendations to the Strategic Budget Advisory Committee (SBAC).

Members

  • Richard Hammond, Co-Chair
  • Whit Ables, Co-Chair
  • Adam Crain
  • Dylan Richardson
  • Jennifer Olson
  • Ricky Harris
  • Shelly Vangsnes
  • Tiffany Turner
  • Trisha Clark

Communications & Outreach Committee

Charge

Develop and implement a communication plan for Staff Senate.

Members

  • Sherita Kern, Chair
  • Travis Johnson (Historian)
  • Teresa Burton (Courtesy Chair)
  • Alexandria Smith-Todd
  • Emily Hall
  • Melanie Watson
  • Robby Burton
  • Veneta Fricks

Courtesy Committee (Sub Committee)

Charge

Receive notification of staff and faculty members who are suffering significant loss or who are celebrating a significant milestone, and send Congratulations, Get Well, Goodbye, New Baby, Retirement, Sympathy, or Thinking of You greeting cards.

Members

  • Teresa Burton

Please complete this form to complete a courtesy card request. 

Courtesy Card Form

Elections Committee

Charge

Determine upcoming vacancies on the Senate and fill appropriately within the constraints of the approved constitution.

Members

  • Whit Ables, President
  • Veneta Fricks, Vice President (Chair)
  • Sherita Kern, Secretary
  • Travis Johnson, Parliamentarian
  • Sherita Kern, Treasurer

Emergency Fund Committee

Charge

To serve as responsible stewards of the Staff Senate Emergency Fund. The committee shall administer all activities related to review, approval, and fund disbursement related to all Staff Senate Emergency Fund applications.

Members

  • Lucee Lugo, Co-Chair
  • Ricky Harris, Co-Chair
  • Melanie Watson, Non-Voting (Treasurer)
  • Jessica Morgan
  • Jessica Taylor
  • Trey White

Employee Recognition Committee

Charge

Award deserving UCA staff members by recognizing an Employee of the Quarter for each quarter, as well as two Employees of the Year (one classified and one non-classified).

Members

  • Eric Fulton, Co-Chair
  • Teresa Burton, Co-Chair
  • Jennifer Olson
  • Jessica Morgan
  • Kendra Erickson
  • Lucee Lugo
  • Robby Burton

Football Committee

Charge

Acquire and equip volunteers to work as gate attendants, ticket takers, and ushers for each home football game. These volunteer positions raise money for Staff Senate to use to benefit as many UCA staff members as possible through Staff Senate sponsored programs.

Members

  • Eric Fulton, Co-Chair
  • Trey White, Co-Chair
  • Audreka Peten
  • JW Calvery
  • Lizzie Langston
  • Shelly Vangsnes
  • Trisha Clark

Professional Development Committee

Charge

To assist staff employees in pursuing opportunities for professional development.

Members

  • Jessica Taylor, Co-Chair
  • Lucee Lugo, Co-Chair
  • Melanie Watson, Non-Voting (Tresurer)
  • Alexandria Smith-Todd
  • Eric Fulton
  • Garrett Rimmer
  • Tiffany Turner
  • Charlotte Strickland (University Training representative)

Reynolds Ushering Committee

Members

  • Emily Hall, Co-Chair
  • Kendra Erickson, Co-Chair
  • Adam Crain
  • Jennifer Olson
  • Jessica Morgan
  • Ricky Harris
  • Robyn Smith
  • Teresa Burton
  • Whit Ables

Scholarship Committee

Charge

The Committee is responsible for reviewing the electronic applications received for the following scholarships: Staff Employee, Staff Dependent, and Lily Harmon. After application review is complete, the Committee will notify the recipients of the award per semester.

Members

  • Jessica Taylor, Co-Chair
  • Robyn Smith, Co-Chair
  • Garrett Rimmer
  • Jasmine Driver
  • JW Calvery
  • Kendra Erickson
  • Trey White

Spring Social Committee

Charge

To organize a luncheon open to staff and faculty that is sponsored by the President’s Office and Staff Senate.

Members

  • Melanie Watson, Co-Chair
  • Sherita Kern, Co-Chair
  • Alexandria Smith-Todd
  • Adam Crain
  • Jasmine Driver
  • Lucee Lugo
  • Richard Hammond
  • Shalia Delph

Staff Handbook Committee

Charge

This committee is charged with keeping the Staff Handbook current and relevant to the needs of staff which includes the following: review board policies to ensure the most current policy is reflected in the handbook; make suggestions for revisions and updates to policies; work with HR to make any revisions needed; compare manual and policies to other universities our size to ensure we are current and transparent with all information that should be covered by asking committee members to research policies and table of content information in staff handbooks.

Members

  • Robyn Smith, Chair
  • Alexandria Smith-Todd
  • Cassandra Ward, Non-Senator
  • Hannah Hanshaw, Non-Senator

Winter Feast Committee

Charge

To organize a fundraiser luncheon open to staff and faculty that is sponsored by the President’s Office and Aramark, the donations of which will go to the Angel Bear Tree Fund.

Members

  • Melanie Watson, Co-Chair
  • Richard Hammond, Co-Chair
  • Audreka Peten
  • Emily Hall
  • Jennifer Olson
  • Lizzie Langston
  • Lucee Lugo
  • Robby Burton
  • Shalia Delph
  • Shelly Vangsnes
  • Teresa Burton
  • Ashley Berry, Non-Senator