Staff Council News Archive
Spring Egg Hunt for Faculty, Staff, and Students held March 28, 2015
The 25th annual Spring Egg Hunt was held March 28, 2015 and in Lynn Eusan Park. The event began at 10 a.m. and will included a free hot dog lunch (thanks to Central Texas BBQ) for the hundreds of attendees after the eggs were gathered. See the Spring Egg Hunt page for a full schedule of the festivities.
Staff Focus, March 31, 2015
President Renu Khator addressed staff members at our Staff Focus event March 31, 2015 in the Student Center South Ballroom 210. President Khator commented on the state of staff life at the University of Houston and took questions from staff members regarding their specific concerns.
Conversations with Staff Council
We held our annual Conversations with Staff Council on Tuesday, November 11, 2014, 10 a.m.-12 noon, in the Rockwell Pavilion of M.D. Anderson Library. We will have a wrap up of our informal sharing of information and discussions of issues concerning staff very soon.
2014 Sock & Blanket Drive
The 2014 Staff Council Sock & Blanket Drive, benefiting Star of Hope Mission and Harris County Protective Services Guardianship Program, ran Friday, October 31, through Friday, November 21.
We gathered 375 bags of donated gently used items for Star of Hope Mission and over 20 bags and boxes of new items for the Harris County Protective Services Guardianship Program. Thank you to all of the faculty, staff, and students who helped to make this event a major success.
Special thanks:
Simon Bott provided his students with some kind of classroom consideration in return for bringing in donated items. As a result, we saw an increase from 75 bags of donated items last year to 375 this year, due in large part to the efforts of Dr. Bott and his students.
Jesus Aguirre, Joseph Carter, Jose Gamez, and Baldemar Pinal were instrumental in moving the items collected from Dr. Bott's students from Fleming to the sorting room at ERP. These Plant Operations employees volunteered their time and two pickup trucks, making two trips each in the rain.
To these people as well as all who donated, sorted, collected, or otherwise participated in the 2014 Sock and Blanket Drive, THANK YOU!
2014-2015 Staff Council & University Commission on Women Scholarships
Scholarship Applications Due April 14, 2014
The joint application for the 2014-2015 University of Houston Staff Council and University Commission on Women Scholarships is now available online. Applicants must be employed in a benefits-eligible position on the University of Houston campus for at least one year as of March 1, 2014; have completed at least 6 hours of undergraduate or graduate credits for evaluation; have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher; and demonstrate strong commitment to academic excellence and potential to succeed. The deadline for submission of the application is April 14, 2014. For more details, see the scholarship application page.
UH Staff Council 2014-2015 Strategic Plan
The work of the University of Houston Staff Council (SC) is based on the principle initiatives taken from its charter, below. The following strategic plan outlines the initiatives and goals of the Staff Council committees that have been determined to successfully achieve the Council’s purpose for the 2014-2015 year. Although some aspects of the Council’s success can be measured through quantitative data, much of the work is accomplished through the collaborative relationships established among staff, faculty and students, which cannot always be quantified. This strategic plan will provide a basis for determining how well we have achieved our aims. The Council is proud to represent the staff members who carry out the mission of the University, contribute to the entire UH community and our students’ success.
See the full Strategic Plan here.
Annual Staff Focus, Friday, April 4
Staff Council invites all UH staff to its annual meeting with UH President Renu Khator. President Khator and Paula Myrick Short, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, will both speak. Refreshments will be served following the event.
The Annual Staff Focus will be held on Friday, April 4, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the M.D. Anderson Library, Rockwell Pavilion.
This is an opportunity for staff to come and increase their knowledge of university issues, and to learn about impactful ways of making UH a destination university.
UH Gives Back in February
During February, you and your coworkers will receive a mail and email request for support during the Annual UH Gives Back Faculty and Staff Campaign. See the Giving page for full information on the three Staff Council priorities in this year's Campaign: the Rodger Peters Staff Scholarship; the Students of Staff Scholarship; and the Professional Development Award.
Please donate to the Sock and Blanket drive!
The Staff Council Sock and Blanket drive is underway. Please visit one of the drop-off locations to donate any of the wide variety of resources which Staff Council will donate to needy families through the Star of Hope Mission.
See the Press Release for more details.
Check Out the 2013-2014 Staff Council Election Results Here!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the process!
2013 Staff Appreciation Event, Friday, June 7
University of Houston President Renu Khator and UH Staff Council invite all UH staff members to the 2013 Staff Appreciation Event, to be held Friday, June 7, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., at the Cougar Woods Dining Hall (near the corner of Cullen and Wheeler). RSVP to the UH Contact Center at 713-743-2255. Your UH ID will be required for admission.
In an effort to contribute to the community, a non-perishable food item would be greatly appreciated. Donated items will be sent to the Houston Food Bank.
Further details will be posted here when available.
Conversations with Staff Council held May 7
The Conversations with Staff Council event was held Tuesday, May 7, 2013, 2-4 p.m., in the Farish Hall KIVA, featuring guest speaker President Renu Khator. Roundtable discussions between participants resulted in suggestions on a variety of topics important to UH staff members. Please check back here for information about the suggestions made.
Faculty Assembly with Houston Mayor Annise Parker, March 26, 2013
As part of Staff Council's community outreach, members of the Staff Council Executive Committee participated in the Spring 2013 Faculty Assembly on March 26, which featured keynote speaker Houston Mayor Annise Parker. From left: Sawsan Shatleh, Rebecca Szwarc, Ron Gonyea, B. Renae Milton, Martha Hayes, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Dawnelle Prince Parks, Troy Christensen, and Christian Backstrom. Photo by Thomas Campbell.
Spring Egg Hunt, Saturday, March 23, 2013
The 23rd annual UH Staff Council/Faculty Senate Spring Egg Hunt was held Saturday, March 23, 2013. The Staff Council Events Committee would like to thank UH faculty and staff who brought their families out for the event and the many volunteers, including Staff Council members and families, UH student workers, and Omega Delta Phi, Inc. The event would not have gone as smoothly without the great volunteer support. The Events Committee also thanks all of the donors, who provided over 1000 gifts for the Egg Hunt. The Spring Egg Hunt was a great success, and the Events Committee thanks everyone involved.
See the Spring Egg Hunt page for complete information.
2013-2014 Staff Council & University Commission on Women Scholarships
Scholarship Applications Due March 8, 2013
The joint application for the 2013-2014 University of Houston Staff Council and University Commission on Women Scholarships is now available online. Applicants must be employed in a benefits-eligible position on the University of Houston campus for at least one year as of March 1, 2013; have completed at least 6 hours of undergraduate or graduate credits for evaluation; have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher; and demonstrate strong commitment to academic excellence and potential to succeed. The deadline for submission of the application is March 8, 2013. For more details, see the scholarship application page.
Cougar First Impressions, Monday-Tuesday, January 14-15
The Spring 2013 Cougar First Impressions (CFI) was held Monday-Tuesday, January 14-15. CFI is sponsored by Staff Council and offers students a chance to receive campus maps, directions to class, and a warm welcome from UH staff members stationed across campus during the first two days of the semester.
The Fall 2013 CFI will be held Monday-Tuesday, August 26-27.
25 Staff for 25 Years
Staff Council believes that all University of Houston staff are Tier One staff. As part of the Staff Council 25 Year Celebration, Staff Council is highlighting 25 meritorious staff as representatives of the diversity and the broad range of positions and talents that support the University's missions.
Staff members were nominated in early to mid 2012 from across the university community, self-nominations included. In addition, Staff Council considered nominees of the 2012 UH Staff Excellence Awards who were not acknowledged through that program. See the 25 Staff for 25 Years page for the highlighted achievements and broad range of talents of those selected to represent UH Tier One staff.
UH Staff Council Featured in NACUBO Business Officer Magazine
Staff Council programs and progress were highlighted in the the July/August 2012 issue of Business Officer, the magazine of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). In "Breaking the Communication Barrier," Staff Council representative and current President-Elect Pam Muscarello outlines the process the Council used in 2011-2012 to identify and resolve communication problems and the impact this has had on its programs, so that other institutions can learn from the experience at UH. You can read the article at the NACUBO Business Officer website.
2012 Staff Council Sock & Blanket Drive
Staff Council thanks everyone who contributed to its 2012 Sock & Blanket Drive, held October 29 - November 14 and benefiting Star of Hope Mission and Harris County Protective Services Guardianship Program. See the Sock & Blanket Drive page for more information.
Conversations with Staff Council
Staff Council held its annual "Conversations with Staff Council" in the M.D. Anderson Library, Rockwell Pavilion, from 2-4 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2012. Speakers this year included Dr. Carl Carlucci, Executive Vice Chancellor/Executive Vice President of Administration and Finance; Tom Ehardt, Associate Vice Chancellor/Associate Vice President for Finance; and Sandy Coltharp, Director, Training & Development, Human Resources.
The speakers were followed by several moderated roundtable discussions on communication and professional development. See the presentation for more information.
Staff Morale Survey Final Report Released
Staff Council has released the findings from the UH Staff Morale Survey conducted in November-December 2011. Complete information can be found in the Executive Summary and Final Report documents.
2012 Staff Appreciation Picnic, Friday, June 15
University of Houston President Renu Khator, the Department of Human Resources, and Staff Council hosted the 2012 Staff Appreciation Picnic, celebrating 25 years of Staff Council service. The Picnic was held Friday, June 15, at the UH Pavilions. For more information, see the HR Communications e-Newsletter.
ePerformance
Staff Council forwarded a series of questions regarding ePerformance to the Human Resources Department and HR has responded. For more information, see the list of the questions and responses. For additional questions regarding 2011-2012 goals, evaluations, and reviews you may contact your HR Generalist.
2012 Spring Egg Hunt
Staff Council and Faculty Senate hosted its 22nd Annual Spring Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 24, 2012. The Events Co-chairs: Dawnelle Prince-Parks, dsprince@central.uh.edu or 713-893-0655 or Tommie Trevino, tctrevino@uh.edu or 832-842-8747, would like to thank everyone who participated and found time to have a day of fun.
Spring into Spring Break Social
Staff Council hosted a Spring into Spring Break social March 8, 2012, between 5pm and 7pm. We hope to encourage staff members to meet, mingle and make new friends. Eric's at the UH Hilton Hotel has graciously provided us with appetizer and drink specials for the inaugural event. To find details of the specials click here.
Spring Welcome 2012, Jan. 17-18
UH Staff Council hosted Spring Welcome the first two days of the Spring 2012 semester, Tuesday-Wednesday, January 17-18. The event was very successful, with over 3800 student questions answered, thanks to the efforts of 80+ volunteers and generous donations from several campus departments and offices. For more information, see the Spring Welcome 2012 website.