Committees: Each Staff Senate Committee selects a chairperson and a recorder from the membership of that committee. Each committee prepares minutes of each meeting and sends a copy to the Staff Senate secretary to be included in the annual records.

Duties of Senators: Elected senators attend an orientation to acquaint them with the responsibilities of the position. As an elected representative from his/her respective area, each senator has the responsibility to take an active part in each meeting and to communicate the proceedings to those whom they represent. As a representative at any function in which the Staff Senate is involved, each senator discharges his/her responsibilities as specified in that section of the Constitution of the University Assembly, which pertains to committees.

Duties of the Staff Senate President: The president presides at each Staff Senate meeting. The president represents the Staff Senate at other functions as required, including Executive Committee meetings and meetings specified elsewhere in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) Constitution. The president calls meeting of the Executive Committee on a regular basis to prepare meeting agendas and to plan and prepare for the smooth operation of each office and the Staff Senate as a whole. The president attends the first meeting of each committee and any other meeting as requested by the committee. The president meets with the president of the Faculty Senate at least once each academic year. The president stays abreast of campus concerns and issues and brings these to the attention of the Staff Senate through the appointment of committees or other methods deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee. The president and the Executive Committee, as members of the Committee on Committees, attend the first meeting and establish membership for those committees on which the Staff Senate has representation. The president seeks advice from past presidents to ensure continuity in the office.

Duties of the Staff Senate Vice President: The vice president presides at Staff Senate meetings in the absence of the president. The vice president presides over meetings as designated by the president or in the absence of the president. The vice president chairs specified committees and assists the president as requested. The vice president is responsible for fulfilling the duties as specified in the Constitution.

Duties of the Staff Senate Secretary: The secretary records detailed minutes of all Staff Senate and Executive Committee meetings. The secretary transcribes the minutes of the Staff Senate meetings and distributes copies to all staff not later than ten (10) working days before the next meeting. Minutes of the Executive Committee meetings are recorded and placed in the records. The secretary performs other secretarial duties as specified in the UALR Constitution. The secretary compiles papers and documents concerned with Staff Senate matters and transmits them to the UALR Archives in the Ottenheimer Library or to specified storage at the end of each year.

Duties of the Staff Senate Parliamentarian: The parliamentarian advises the Executive Committee and members of the Staff Senate on questions of procedure in order that the business of the Staff Senate be transacted correctly, efficiently, and impartially. The parliamentarian assists Staff Senate members in developing motions to be placed on the agenda and in preparing them for presentation.

Duties of the Fall Open House Committee: This committee is responsible for all decisions regarding the Open House. The committee selects a date during the first two weeks of November for the function, makes room reservations and prepares and distributes invitations. Subcommittees are appointed to assist with food setup and cleanup. The kickoff for the food campaign, under the direction of the Helping Hand Committee, is announced during the Open House. A checklist is available to assist this committee. (Appendix A.)

Duties of the Helping Hand Committee: This committee organizes the helping hand project by providing information on the project to the UALR community with flyers going out early in the month of November. Large boxes wrapped in Christmas paper are placed throughout the buildings on campus for the collection of food. The committee may purchase additional items needed for the baskets using cash donations. Names of families are submitted by individuals using the established form (Appendix B). Families from the campus community are given first consideration. A serious family illness or other misfortune will be considered in the selection process. If an individual is not willing to complete the helping hand form, the family is not eligible to receive a basket. Thank-you notes must be written to off-campus contributors.

Duties of the Nomination Committee: This committee is responsible for the annual election of Staff Senators and for the election of Staff Senate officers. The committee members fulfill the duties stated in the UALR constitution under "Composition of Staff Senate." They begin this process by determining, as of March 1 each year, the population eligible for voting and election. Numerical representation is based on the fiscal year July 1 through June 30. A list of current personnel is available from the Office of Human Resources to determine the count. The Staff Senate general election takes place in April of each year. The election of officers is the order of business for the first meeting of the fiscal year.

Nonclassified, Nonfaculty Grievance Committee: This committee reviews grievances brought by the nonclassified, nonfaculty staff. The process will be developed under the guidelines provided by the Office of Human Resources.

Orientation Committee: This committee, composed of the vice president and one member of the Staff Senate, assists the staff of the Human Resources office in scheduling staff senators to present an overview of the functions of the Staff Senate at new employee orientations.

Duties of the Staff Achievement Award Committee: This seven member committee with the Staff Senate vice president serving as chairperson prepares and distributes information on nominating persons for outstanding achievement awards in three categories. Information on this process is circulated on campus the first week in January of each year. The vice president, along with the president, meets with the Chancellor regarding funding of these awards. The committee works closely with the Staff Awards Ceremony Committee for the presentation of these awards at the annual awards ceremony. Applications are reviewed and selected following the guidelines established (Appendix C.)

Duties of the Staff Awards Ceremony Committee: This committee selects a date and place for the staff awards ceremony and confirms the time with the Chancellor and Vice Chancellors. The Staff Senate president and the chairperson discuss the funding of the ceremony with the Chancellor. This committee also verifies dates on which staff members are hired and prepares certificates to recognize staff for years of service. (Appendix D.) Regular updates are to be presented to the Staff Senate during the planning process.

Staff Professional Development Committee: This committee encourages the development of a program of service excellence using the "Pledge of Professionalism" as a major guideline. This committee communicates UALR policy, goals, and objectives to the staff, thereby encouraging them to become involved in the overall campus mission.

Duties of the Staff Senate Governance Committee: This committee is responsible for incorporating into the UALR Constitution all adopted amendments to Article V of the Constitution. (Adopted amendments shall be submitted to the committee in written form.) The committee meets at least twice each year, or as often as deemed necessary by the Staff Senate president, to update the Constitution.

Full-time classified, nonclassified, nonfaculty employees are eligible to serve on the following Assembly Committees:

University Health and Wellness Committee: This committee shall monitor campus health issues and recommend policies to the University Assembly and to appropriate administrators to ensure a save and supportive atmosphere in which to work. The committee shall formulate, review and recommend policies concerning campus public health and wellness issues, including health promotion, health education, and disease prevention. The committee shall also deal with specific issues such as AIDS, wellness and environmental health and safety, and shall monitor the development of programs designed to implement the campus health policies and wellness programs approved by the University Assembly and appropriate administrative officers.

The committee shall consist of four faculty members and two staff members appointed by the Committee on Committees, one undergraduate student appointed by the Student Government Association, the director of Health Services or designee, the director of the Environmental Health Sciences Program or designee, the director of the Office of Human Resources or designee, and the vice chancellor for Educational and Student Services and Dean of University College or designee. Faculty and staff shall serve two-year staggered terms and students shall serve one-year terms.

Traffic Committee: This committee shall recommend parking and traffic rules and improvements in parking facilities to the Assembly, the Faculty Senate, and the chancellor. It shall hear appeals concerning traffic violations from individuals who are not students at UALR. Membership shall include four faculty members and two staff members named by the Committee on Committees and two student representatives named by the Student Government Association. Faculty and Staff shall serve staggered two-year terms and students shall serve one-year terms. Members shall elect a chairperson annually. The administrative officer in charge of parking facilities and the chief security officer shall serve as nonvoting members.

Catastrophic Leave Committee: The purpose of this committee is to review applications from employees for catastrophic leave, and in turn, make recommendations to the Chancellor relating to such leave. The committee shall be composed of five members, three staff members and two faculty members. The staff members shall serve two-year staggered terms.

Environmental Impact Committee: The purpose of this committee shall be to ensure maximum protection of the natural environment of the UALR campus consistent with reasonable growth and development of the campus and to promote campus beautification through a continuous review of landscaping practices. The committee shall review all plans for on-campus construction, including periodic reviews of the Campus Master Plan; and shall report to the Assembly or the Faculty Senate concerning potential impact that proposed new facilities or construction will have on the natural environment of the campus; and shall recommend, if necessary, steps that should be taken to protect the natural environment.

The committee shall consist of five Assembly members, one of whom shall be a staff member, two students appointed by the Student Government Association, the administrator in charge of planning buildings and grounds, and the director of Physical Plant as ex officio members without vote. The nonstudent members with vote shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees, with the nonstudent members serving two-year staggered terms and the student members serving one-year terms.

Fringe Benefits Committee: The responsibility of this committee shall keep the quality and scope of the fringe benefits offered faculty and staff under continuous review. The committee shall periodically initiate detailed reviews of major programs such as health insurance or retirement benefits; it shall recommend changes or additions when they are deemed desirable. The committee shall recommend to the chancellor names of people to represent UALR on the Fringe Benefits Committee of the University of Arkansas System. The committee shall consist of the members of the Faculty Development and Benefits Committee, five staff members appointed by the Committee on Committees; the director of the Office of Human Resource Services; and the vice chancellor for finance or that person's designee (as ex officio member without vote). The staff members shall serve two-year, staggered terms.

System Relations Committee: This committee shall be responsible for monitoring all system policies and procedures with reference to their impact on UALR. The committee shall outline the advantages and disadvantages of each policy to UALR faculty, staff, and students and make recommendations to the appropriate representative body or bodies that have been established under the authority of the Assembly.
Membership shall be composed of the Assembly president, who shall serve as chairperson of the committee, the vice president of the Assembly, the president of the Student Government Association, and the president of the Staff Senate. In addition, the Committee on Committees shall select one college/school dean, one other administrator, four faculty members, and two staff members to serve on the committee.

If you are interested in serving on any of these committees,
please contact the president of the Staff Senate or a Senator.