December 6, 2010

PARKING

At this evening’s Senate meeting, Chief Mark Sparks (Chief of UMBC Police) and Terry Cook (Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance) came to discuss parking with the Senate. 

Some points Sparks and Cook said were:

• There are about 500 spots daily vacant (according to a study on 3 different days in October 2010 between the hours of 11-1). He said that there are usually a lot of empty spots in lots 23 and 25. 

• Goal: Have uniform and easily identifiable parking signs across campus. 

- Next year: They are going to build a new lot between lots 1 and 2. 

- They are trying to find cost-effective ways to please as many people as possible. 

Parking Map:

http://www.umbc.edu/aboutumbc/campusmap/pdf/2010Map_Parking.pdf

^These are PURELY the facts that Sparks and Cook stated, In no way, do these points reflect the ideas of the SGA or the SGA Senate. 

Did you know that the Wave ‘n ride also exists?

Check out the following site for information about it:  

   http://www.umbc.edu/transit/Wave.html

Some Other Topics

1. Everyone is working hard on their initiatives.
2. Did you know that a close to a thousand students are currently Undeclared and that this proportion is actually larger than any other proportion? One of the Senators is thinking about creating a Undecided Major Organization.
3. Next semester, hopefully if everything goes well: There will be a swipe access, 24/7 arts lab for arts majors in the Fine Arts Building. There will be a two to three week trial period. 
4. Thinking about creating a blog on myumbc where students who are interested in an initiative can post their initiative on the blog. Other students who are interested in those initiatives can tag them selves in those posts so they can work with the students on these aspects. There will also be a counselor to help these students work on their initiative(s). 

We need your input! 

1. If anyone has ideas or feedback regarding parking or any  of the other topics addressed above,  please state your comments below. 

2. Some other questions for you (please answer honestly): What do you think about and know about SGA? 

November 29, 2010

Senate had a very productive meeting today. Below are some of the topics that were discussed at the Senate meeting this evening. 

1. 

Remember that list of issues I told you the Senate will be working to improve? Well they have. Here is a gist of some of the plans discussed at this evening’s meeting:

The Senate prepared for a meeting with Cheif Sparks (The Chief Police) and Terry Cook (Associate Vice President for Administrative Services)

who will provide the Senate with updates regarding parking. They also discussed how to find out more information regarding parking and how to get more student input regarding parking.  After learning and finding out more students’ thoughts regarding parking, the Senate plans to use those issues in order to attempt to improve parking. The issue of  the lack of visitor spots was also presented by residents. 

Senate plans to get student input regarding what will keep them on campus and then use that input to make the commons more lively on weekends.

Senate plans to get more sanitary napkins in bathrooms.

Senate plans to get more furniture for the Retriever Learning Center (the 24/7 portion of the library.) After getting an estimate they will discuss the issue with Finance Board.

Is in correspondence with other organizations such as Black and Gold Council and Office of Student Life for how to increase and improve UMBCSpirit. Some ideas: a rock for organizations to express their spirit, statues with dogs, jackets, school drink, and a wall to spray paint on. 

2.

Naimoi from Student Organization Support gave an update on the works of the Student Support Organization Support Staff:

The SOS is currently:

• Working on creating  club tutorials (mini youtube videos which outlines basic steps describing to start events and clubs
• Creating constitutions for new clubs
• Are in contact with presidents of clubs to see if they need assistance
• Are planning on doing for dinners for representatives of different clubs
• Creating a Wall of Fame
• Creating a template for clubs wishing to get money
• Creating a Catering Policy

and MORE!

GOOD WORK SENATE! 

If you have any ideas, questions, concerns, or comments regarding any of the above issues or other aspects of community (ex. parking, school spirit, library furniture, school safety, sanitariness..etc.), feel free to comment below.

See you next week.

Stay tuned for more information regarding strives made to improve our campus.....

, Anisha Khandelwal

The Professional Staff Senate (PSS) provides a forum for discussing issues involving or of interest to exempt staff members. Such matters include academic and administrative policies that affect exempt staff. The senate is an active member in UMBC’s system of shared governance, presenting the interests and concerns of its constituents to the University Steering Committee and seeking improvements for the mutual benefit of staff members and the university. PSS works diligently to maintain and contribute to community life at UMBC.

Access the PSS Blackboard siteto view meeting minutes and governance documents.

Members of the Professional Staff Senate (PSS) represent all members of the Professional Staff is by serving on various committees and task forces. For details about these committees and their functions, and to find out who among your Senators is serving on which committees. A full listing can be found in our documents tab labeled 2012 - 2013 Staff Senate.

Professional Staff Senate Roster 2012-2013

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Carrie Sauter, President

Laila Shishineh, Vice-Preseient

Steve Bowers, Treasurer

Keisha Campbell, IT Officer

Alison Ginder Secretary

Stanyell Bruce, Past President

SENATORS

Steve Bowers, Financial Services, bowers@umbc.edu, 5-1496

Stanyell Bruce, Alumni Relations, bruce@umbc.edu, 5-2632

Keisha Campbell, Office of the Registrar, campbelk@umbc.edu, 5-5770

Dayna Carpenter, dayna@umbc.edu, 5-3377

Hans Cooper, Office of the Registrar, hcooper@umbc.edu, 5-1886

Joel DeWyer, Commons Administration, dewyer@umbc.edu. 5-1446 (CUSS)

Alison Ginder, Residence Life, alisong@umbc.edu, 5-3575

Ben Goldberg, Off Campus Student Services, beng@umbc.edu, 5-5672

Delana Gregg, Sondheim Publ. Affairs Scholars, delana1@umbc.edu, 5-2916

April Householder, McNair, Scholars Progam, aprilh@umbc.edu, 5-3057

Joshua Lubben, Undergraduate Admission, jlubben@umbc.edu, 5.1224

Michelle Massey, Int'l Education Services, massey@umbc.edu, 5-6705

Jenny O'Grady, Institutional Advancement, jogrady@umbc.edu, 5-1711

Michael Oettel, Shriver Center, moettel@umbc.edu, 5-5655

Jerron Peatson, Athletics, jpearson@umbc.edu, 5-6797

Matthew Poland, Sponsored Programs, mpoland@umbc.edu, 5-8155

Alison Rohrbach,  University Heatlh Services, arohrbach@umbc.edu, 5-1599

Carrie Sauter, Interdisciplinary Studies, csauter@umbc.edu, 5-2037

Laila Shishineh, Undergraduate Education, lailams@umbc.edu, 5-3737

Brian Souders, International Educations Services, souders@umbc.edu,5-2624

Kristin Waters, Office of the Registrar, kwaters@umbc.edu, 5-8121

Beth Wells, Provost Office, bwells@umbc.edu, 5-8907

UMBC Professional Staff Senate 2011-2012 Action Plan

1. Support University efforts to create a healthier campus community

• Identify and develop complimentary avenues to support the HR Wellness Initiative
• Promote and educate staff about healthy lifestyles via PSS events and other campus events/initiatives
• Encourage departments that have created health initiatives to share broadly with other staff
• Explore and promote health subsidy opportunities

2. Identify ways to increase staff morale

• Promote opportunities for professional development
• Work with campus leaders to address the issue of an increased workload
• Continue to promote telecommuting and carpooling policies and opportunities
• Advocate for increased leadership training for supervisors to increase staff morale and retention
• Pilot PSS mentoring program

3. Continue to advocate for merit and COLA increases and address disparities in compensation packages

• Work with campus and CUSS leaders to advocate for merit and COLA increases and how they will be distributed
• Examine issues related to changes in health and retirement benefits for new employees, existing employees and retirees
• Address issues related to salary inequity, compensation and promotion

4. Increase communication with professional staff

• Make better use of PSS communication vehicles (listserve, groups page, etc)
• Encourage better two way communication (share information broadly and quickly with staff and encourage staff to bring concerns to the senate)
• Continue to work with campus leaders to strengthen communication with professional staff
• Increase communication with staff as it relates to budget issues and decisions

5. Advocate for the establishment of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Monday, October 25, 2010

5:30 pm - 8 pm

            The meeting began with the senators discussing ideas for how to better improve the UMBC undergraduate experience. The senators created a list of 17 ideas. Each senate member then chose a flaw of UMBC they wanted to improve, pursue, and take initiative on. 8 flaws were chosen to be pursued, which include: lack of school spirit and social events, lack of liveliness of the Commons on weekends (a.k.a. “Death of the Commons”), the purell dispensers in the RAC are empty, there are not enough parking lots and the price of parking tickets is too high, meal plans should be improved, perhaps there should be rollover meal plans from week to week, inadequate security, more shuttle transportation to Baltimore/BWI, and there should be free printing in the library. Over the next few weeks, the senators will further investigate these flaws and will ponder about solutions to these flaws.

            After that, Samy Rabb, FYA of Student Organization Support Staff (SOS) told the senators about this year’s SOS. To find out more information about SOS and/or to find out EXACTLY what Sammy discussed, check out the followings sheets he handed out, attached below.

            After Samy left, one of the Senate members presented a proposal to revise the Undergraduate Academic Conduct Policy, representing Academic Conduct Committee (ACC). The Senate then discussed their views of the proposal and the proposed academic conduct policies, and came up with questions to ask the faculty advisor of the ACC when she visits the Senate next Monday.

Stay tuned for next week’s blog to find out about the conversation with the ACC advisor, what the Senate members discovered about their initial research regarding the flaws of UMBC they wish to improve, and more!

Or even better, come to a senate meeting! They are on Mondays at 5:30 pm in Commons 318.  

                Take Care,

              Anisha Khandelwal

 p.s.

. 

 Dr. Antonio R. Moreira, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, visited the Senate. He discussed the Retriever Learning Center, the 24/7 learning center which should be ready by August 2011. The Retriever Learning Center will be located inside the library. In order to maintain a safe and secure area, there will be video camera surveillance and a swipe key access in order to enter the room. In order to make the room interactive and fun, he is also considering the idea of walls you can write on. He aims to make the study room very cozy and comfortable, just like if one was to study at home. The idea of security for students walking from dorms or from parking lots at night to this learning center was also discussed. Construction of the place is planned to begin in December. Please state your idea(s) regarding the design of the room or what you hope the room to be like, in the comment box below. He is really trying to get student input and feedback in the design of this room, as this room is for students. His goal is to make a cozy, safe, secure, and active learning place where students will actually go in order to study.