Committee rosters for the 2023-2024 fiscal year:
- Angel Bear Tree Committee
- Appointments Committee
- Basketball Committee
- By-Laws
- Compensation Committee
- Communications Committee
- Courtesy Committee
- Elections Committee
- Emergency Fund Committee
- Employee Recognition Committee
- Football Committee
- Professional Development Committee
- Reynolds Committee
- Scholarship Committee
- Spring Social Committee
- Staff Grants
- Staff Handbook Committee
- Winter Feast Committee
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
- Veneta Fricks, Co-Chair
- Jasmine Driver, Co-Chair
- Sherita Kern
- Shalia Delph, Non-Senator
- Tina Wells
- Jessica Taylor
- Nadia Eslinger
- Shelly Vangsnes
- Robyn Smith
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
- Whit Ables, Chair
- Travis Johnson
- Sherita Kern
- Richard Hammond
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
- Nadia Eslinger, Co-Chair
- Veneta Fricks, Co-Chair
- Emily Hall
- Sherita Kern
- Robby Burton
- Richard Hammond
- Jasmine Driver
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
- Melanie Watson, Co-Chair
- Nadia Eslinger, Co-Chair
- Travis Johnson
- Dylan Richardson
- Jennifer Day
- Shelly Vangsnes
- Trisha Clark
- LeSha Smith
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
- Ricky Harris, Co-Chair
- Natalie Shock
- Jennifer Day
- Angela Jackson
- Veneta Fricks
- Dylan Richardson
- Tina Wells
- Christy Dade
Communications & Outreach Committee
Charge
Develop and implement a communication plan for Staff Senate.
Members
- Veneta Fricks, Chair
- Melanie Watson
- Brittany Bartlett
- Millie Goins
- Emily Hall
- Jessica Taylor
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
- Robyn Smith
Please complete this form to complete a courtesy card request.
Elections Committee
Charge
Determine upcoming vacancies on the Senate and fill appropriately within the constraints of the approved constitution.
Members
- Jennifer Ruud, President
- Whit Ables, Vice President
- Veneta Fricks, Secretary
- Melanie Watson, Parliamentarian
- Angela Jackson, 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
- Carlos Herrera, Co-Chair
- Christy Dade, Co-Chair
- Angela Jackson
- Audreka Peten
- Natalie Shock
- Alison Taylor
- Nadia Eslinger
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
- Shelly Vangsnes, Co-Chair
- Natalie Shock
- Robby Burton
- Whit Ables
- Millie Goins
- Trisha Clark
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
- Travis Johnson, Co-Chair
- Audreka Peten, Co-Chair
- Carlos Herrera
- J.W. Calvery
- Joe Hooker
- Trisha Clark
- Millie Goins
- Eric Fulton
Professional Development Committee
Charge
To assist staff employees in pursuing opportunities for professional development.
Members
- Carlos Herrera, Co-Chair
- Alison Taylor, Co-Chair
- Angela Jackson
- Shelly Vangsnes
- Christy Dade
- Jessica Taylor
- Eric Fulton
- Charlotte Strickland (University Training representative)
Reynolds Ushering Committee
Members
- Whit Ables, Co-Chair
- Dylan Richardson, Co-Chair
- Bryttani Barlett
- Jennifer Olson
- Ricky Harris
- Jennifer Day
- LeSha Smith
- Jennifer Ruud
Scholarship Committee
Charge
Make applications available for the three Staff Senate scholarships and decide which applicants will be awarded how much money for each of the scholarships based upon the provided guidelines.
Members
- Alison Taylor, Co-Chair
- Angela Jackson, Co-Chair
- Trisha Clark
- LeSha Smith
- Audreka Peten
- Jessica Taylor
- Joe Hooker
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
- Tina Wells
- Alison Taylor
- J.W. Calvery
- Whit Ables
- Jasmine Driver
- Robby Burton
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
- Joe Hooker
- 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
- Whit Ables, Co-Chair
- J.W. Calvery
- Jennifer Olson
- Richard Hammond
- Emily Hall
- Robby Burton
- Tina Wells
- Millie Goins
- LeSha Smith