The Unclassified Senate is conducting a brief survey in order to identify and address the most relevant issues of the unclassified professional staff at the University of Kansas. Issues identified through this survey will help build future agenda and influence policy, both on campus and in Topeka. Participation in this survey is strictly voluntary. Please be assured that all responses will remain strictly confidential. No one will be individually identified with responses. The survey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The survey will be available through Friday, March 9. We appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey.

We need unclassified staff members to volunteer for our annual “Hawks on the Hill” visit to the Kansas Statehouse Tuesday, Jan. 31. For the past several years, members of KU’s unclassified professional staff and university support staff have visited Kansas legislators to talk about our role at the university and to encourage their support of higher education.

Time commitment

There will be a briefing session for anyone interested in learning more about this event from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24 in the Olympian Room of the Burge Union. The date of the legislative visit is Jan. 31. In the past, volunteers’ time at the Statehouse has ranged from two to six hours.

Volunteers must use vacation or discretionary day leave for their time on the day of the visit.

If you have questions, contact:

Amanda Ostreko
Chair, Unclassified Senate Governance and Representation Committee
amandao@ku.edu
864-2932

Lea Chaffin
Chair, University Support Staff Legislative Affairs Committee
lchaffin@ku.edu
864-5899

Unclassified Senate and the University Support Staff Senate will host a panel of legislators for a brown bag lunch session from 12 to 1 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 6. The purpose of the session is to give KU employees a chance to consult with their elected legislators about the upcoming legislative session. The session will take place in the Relays Room of the Burge Union. The Pulse Coffee Shop will stock extra sandwiches for lunch that day.

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter spoke about the role of Unclassified Staff at KU.
If you were unable to attend, you can view the provost’s presentation here. See the handout Provost Vitter references here.