Early Bird

Staff Senate recap

Members discuss alternative work arrangements, Professional Development Conference, return to on-campus operations.

By Lindsey Coulter

May 18, 2021

The May 11 meeting of the Metropolitan State University of Denver Staff Senate began with a discussion and vote on the Staff Alternative Work Arrangements Policy. Prior to the meeting, the policy had undergone two readings (with no revisions after the second reading).

Staff Senate President Rebecca Reid noted that the policy codifies greater accessibility to alternative work arrangements. She added that supervisors and staff are eagerly anticipating direction on alternative work arrangements as the University prepares for the fall return to campus. Several members spoke in support of the policy and the development of a related guide for supervisors, noting the need for consistency and structure and adding that the policy language was appropriately broad.

Senators and officers voted unanimously to advance the policy to the University Policy Advisory Council.

Professional Development Conference

The Professional Development Conference Team invites all employees to participate in the virtual 2021 Professional Development Conference, Caring for Our Community, on Monday through May 27. 

The keynote speakers are Travis Heath, Ph.D. (May 24), and President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. (May 27). The centerpiece of the event will be 29 workshops led by MSU Denver faculty and staff members. The sessions will be recorded and can be viewed live.

Please visit the PDC website to view the schedule in its entirety and reserve space on your calendar to attend these exciting events. Employees are also invited to join the committee for next year’s event.

Roadrunners Safe Return updates

Leone Dick, chair of the Roadrunners Safe Return Committee, visited the meeting to share important updates on the University’s plan for a full return to campus for the fall semester.

The committee has issued a new operations-planning tool and webpage to help the University community transition back to campus. The site includes information on timelines, Information Technology Services support, how to access a cleaning kit, procedures regarding Covid-19 positives and more. Per the May 6 email from Davidson, the high-level return-plan section of this document must be completed by May 26, submitted by each office or department to the appropriate vice president or associate vice president and emailed to Edward Brown, chief of staff, Office of the President.

Roadrunners should also stay tuned for more information on Regional Transportation District passes for students. Currently, the University does not have a transportation solution in place for members of staff and faculty, which the Administration branch is continuing to pursue together with the Auraria Higher Education Center.

Other return-to-campus updates:

• Food vendors have also closed or reduced hours of operation during the pandemic, and the Administration branch is working with vendors to help them return to campus as well. Degree and several other vendors remain open.
• Look for more information on building ventilation systems and air-quality improvements spurred by Covid-19 as well as continuing health protocols with regard to cleaning high-touch spaces and surfaces.
• The RSR Events team is working hard to keep up with constantly evolving health and safety protocols and capacity restrictions at the federal, state and local levels.
• Stay tuned for more information on the vaccine requirement, a wellness survey and events.
• The RSR Communications team is working on a campaign to encourage all students to get their first vaccine by July 1 to ensure that they are fully vaccinated by the beginning of the fall semester.
• MSU Denver is cross-referencing student vaccination rates with the Colorado Immunization Information System to see aggregate percentages of vaccinated students to support planning and communication efforts.
• Email the RSR Committee with additional questions.

Staff Senate committee updates:

• Read the Board of Trustees Special Finance Committee meeting recap.
• See the Policy Tracking document to learn more about policy progress.
• The Staff Employment and Support Committee continues to discuss the compensation project, and members are drafting a statement in support of merit-based pay increases, the new performance-management system, using base-salary increases as opposed to stipends and creating systems for structural advancement.
• The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee invites new members.
• The Staff Senate is now represented on the Faculty Workload Taskforce. The next meeting is Thursday, and work will continue through fall.
• Voting for Staff Senate senator and officer positions will begin in June. Anyone nominated should please return their information as soon as possible to Brandi Rideout.
• Staff Senate officers will consider a change to bylaws to address ties in elections.
• The Mug Club is happening in person again beginning this month.