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Staff Senate Committees

Committee rosters for the 2022-2023 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

  • Lynetta Morris, Co-Chair
  • Veneta Fricks, Co-Chair
  • Paige Dutton
  • Nadia Eslinger
  • Travis Johnson
  • Julia Robison
  • Robyn Smith
  • Tina Wells
  • Whit Ables

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

  • Jenny Ruud, Chair
  • Audreka Peten
  • Carlos Herrera
  • Lynetta Morris
  • Jennifer Olson

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

  • Courtney Bryant, Co-Chair
  • Nadia Eslinger, Co-Chair
  • Tajaro Hudson
  • Veneta Fricks
  • Jessica Taylor
  • Richard Hammond
  • Paige Dutton
  • Sherita Kern

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

  • Julia Robison, Co-Chair
  • Tajaro Hudson, Co-Chair
  • Melanie Watson
  • Richard Hammond
  • Sherita Kern
  • Myron Kuykendall
  • Ricky Harris
  • Danielle Kraus

Communications Committee

Charge

Develop and implement a communication plan for Staff Senate.

Members

  • Christy Dade, Chair
  • Robyn Smith, Courtesy
  • Melanie Watson
  • Robby Burton
  • Jessica Taylor
  • Paige Dutton
  • Elizabeth Gayfield

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

Elections Committee

Charge

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

Members

  • Carlos Herrera, President
  • Jenny Ruud, Vice President
  • Christy Dade, 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

  • Angela Jackson, Chair
  • Jessica Taylor
  • Audreka Peten
  • Robyn Smith
  • Alison Taylor
  • Natalie Shock
  • Tina Wells

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
  • Lynetta Morris, Co-Chair
  • Julia Robison
  • Angela Jackson
  • Jennifer Day
  • Natalie Shock

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
  • Christy Dade, Co-Chair
  • Audreka Peten
  • Lynetta Morris
  • Carlos Herrera
  • J.W. Calvery
  • Ricky Harris

Professional Development Committee

Charge

To assist staff employees in pursuing opportunities for professional development.

Members

  • Carlos Herrera, Co-Chair
  • Richard Hammond, Co-Chair
  • Angela Jackson
  • Elizabeth Gayfield
  • Alison Taylor
  • Ricky Harris
  • Eric Fulton
  • Charlotte Strickland (University Training representative)

Reynolds Ushering Committee

Members

  • Danielle Kraus, Co-Chair
  • Jennifer Ruud, Co-Chair
  • Angela Jackson
  • Jennifer Day
  • Julia Robison
  • Ricky Harris
  • Robyn Smith

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
  • Jessica Taylor
  • Courtney Bryant
  • Elizabeth Gayfield
  • Eric Fulton
  • J.W. Calvery

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

  • Myron Kuykendall, Co-Chair
  • Melanie Watson, Co-Chair
  • Sherita Kern
  • Danielle Kraus
  • Alison Taylor
  • Travis Johnson
  • Tina Wells
  • Nadia Eslinger
  • Veneta Fricks
  • Whit Ables

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
  • Jennifer Olson
  • Whit Ables
  • Cassandra Ward

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

  • Richard Hammond, Co-Chair
  • Melanie Watson, Co-Chair
  • Jennifer Olson
  • Courtney Bryant
  • Robby Burton
  • Veneta Fricks
  • Tajaro Hudson
  • Danielle Kraus
  • Tina Wells
  • Sherita Kern
  • J.W. Calvery
  • Whit Ables