May 19, 2026 Minutes

University Staff Senate

May 19, 2026 | Virtual Meeting Materials Distributed in Place of Meeting

Call to Order
1. Approval of Minutes – Electronic
  1. Due to the cancellation of the meeting, the April meeting minutes were approved electronically by the Senate.
2. Announcements
  1. Faculty and staff were invited to participate in two new summer wellness opportunities hosted by Wichita State University CAPS, Human Resources, and Staff Senate:
    1. Faculty & Staff Mindful Meditation Group held Tuesdays from 10:15–11:00 a.m.
    2. Faculty & Staff Running Wellness Group held Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m.
  2. Both wellness programs will be hosted at the Rhatigan Student Center North Patio near the chapel and are intended to support balance, connection, movement, and stress reduction throughout the summer. No prior meditation or running experience is required. Programs will run from June 2 through July 29.
  3. Questions regarding the wellness programs can be directed to Benjamin Flowers.
New Business
1. Retreat Overview and Plan (July)
  1. Jacob shared a high-level overview of the upcoming July Staff Senate Retreat agenda and structure as part of the virtual meeting materials.
  2. The retreat is expected to be divided into both morning and afternoon sessions to allow time for onboarding, networking, Senate business, strategic planning, and teambuilding activities.
  3. The morning session is tentatively planned from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and is intended primarily for new senators, though all senators will be welcome to attend. Topics will include introductions, shared governance, Staff Senate structure and responsibilities, policies and procedures, and onboarding resources for senators.
  4. The afternoon session is tentatively planned from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will focus on networking, teambuilding activities, strengths and advocacy discussions, Senate priorities for the upcoming year, committee planning, installation of new senators, executive officer elections, and additional Senate business.
  5. Emails and Outlook calendar invitations with additional retreat details are expected to be distributed during the upcoming week.
2. Open / As Arises
Old Business
1. No additional business.
Senate Committee Updates
1. Awards and Recognition
  1. No updates
2. Communications and Website
  1. No updates
3. Elections
  1. The Elections Committee announced the results of the 2026 Staff Senate Election for both Non-Exempt and Exempt positions. Appreciation was shared with all individuals who assisted with the election process, including members of the Elections Committee, for their work and support throughout the election cycle.
  2. Newly elected Non-Exempt Senators include:
    1. Joseph Asbridge
    2. Monica Bergkamp
    3. Anne Marie Brown
    4. Caitlin Bruner
    5. Raven Garrison
    6. Zachary Hendrich
    7. Brady Marzolf
    8. Megan Steele
  3. Newly elected Exempt Senators include:
    1. Ana Abente Rodriguez Alcala
    2. Katie Austin
    3. Christopher Leonard
    4. Caitlin Nolen
    5. Kimberly Sandlin
    6. Rani Somers
  4. Information regarding Staff Senate Executive Board elections will be distributed following the next Senate meeting.
4. Policy Review
  1. Policy 13.20 / Out-of-State and International Travel: The policy is being updated for the limited purpose of clarifying the University’s current practice of limiting exceptions to the 21 consecutive day limitation on performing work for the University, using University assets, and accessing University systems during international travel to extraordinary circumstances. The updates are intended to ensure compliance with risk and security requirements related to international travel.
  2. Policy 11.03 / Unmanned Aircraft Systems: The policy is being revised to ensure compliance with governing laws and regulations and to clarify requirements and approval processes for operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems consistent with current practices. Additional formatting updates were made to align with the University’s standard policy format.
  3. Policy 13.22 / Payment of Professional Dues or Licensing Fees: Revisions are being made to ensure compliance with State of Kansas requirements related to payment or reimbursement of professional licenses, certifications, and organizational memberships. Additional updates were made to align the policy with the University’s standard policy format.
  4. Policy 19.04 / University Web Sites: The policy is being revised to ensure compliance with content, privacy, accessibility, and security requirements for official and unofficial University websites connected to University systems. Additional revisions were made for clarification purposes, to reflect current practices, and to align with the University’s standard policy format.
  5. A meeting with General Counsel will be scheduled to discuss the Senate’s role in the policy review process, including concerns regarding timely communication, collaboration, and engagement on policy matters impacting staff.
5. Professional Development and Service
  1. The committee shared that planning efforts are currently underway for the upcoming garden tour event.
6. STRIVE Conference
  1. No updates
7. Scholarships
  1. No updates
8. Chair Policy and Procedures Ad Hoc Committee
  1. No updates
Campus/University Business Updates & Discussions
1. Advisory Budget Committee
  1. No budgetary updates were shared since the last Senate meeting.
2. Human Resources (Joint with Faculty Senate)
  1. Review HR or People-Related Policy Changes:
    1. Working with General Counsel to update the Paid Parental Leave policy to better support employees who are close to the one-year eligibility requirement but have not yet reached eligibility at the time of the qualifying event.
  2. Updates on HR Initiatives with Campus-Wide Impact
    1. Meeting with the President next week to finalize FY27 compensation funding goals; additional communication will be forthcoming.
      - Launched the Level Up Your Leadership program.
      - Piloting ComPsych (EAP) professional development programs.
      - Discussed creating an annual “Celebration of Life” event and considering incorporating recognition of employees who have passed during the Employee Recognition event.
    2. Discuss Emerging Faculty and Staff Senate Concerns and Questions
      - SHEP has decided to retain both BCBS and Aetna but is considering a tiered pricing structure for BCBS. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
      - Staff Senate has received employee concerns and questions regarding Marche’s departure.
      - Questions were raised regarding Leave and ADA processes for student employees. HR is working to include additional information in New Employee (NBE) onboarding and Leadership Orientation.
    3. Share Progress and/or Actions Supporting Employee Surveys and University Culture
      - Campus Climate is regrouping and has developed a strategy to evolve the employee engagement survey process and strengthen overall efforts related to university culture.
3. Legislative Update + KBOR Briefing
  1. The Kansas Board of Regents reviewed tuition and fee proposals from all six state universities during the May board meetings, including Wichita State University’s proposed 3.5% tuition increase for FY27.
  2. Wichita State leadership identified inflation, compensation pressures, and rising operational expenses as key factors contributing to the proposed tuition increase.
  3. Regents materials continued highlighting workforce alignment initiatives and partnerships involving Wichita State, WSU Tech, and the aviation industry.
  4. KBOR also continued statewide discussions focused on enrollment trends, student retention efforts, and strategies to improve graduation outcomes across Kansas higher education institutions.
4. Parking Appeals + Traffic Appeals
  1. No updates
5. President’s Meetings
  1. No updates
6. RSC Board of Directors
  1. No updates
7. Admins Coming Together
  1. No updates
8. UPS/USS Presidents Council (KBOR)
  1. No major updates were shared following the May meeting of the UPS/USS Presidents Council.
  2. Representatives shared updates with peer institutions regarding recent Staff Senate initiatives and campus discussions at Wichita State University.
  3. Staff Senate recently completed campus listening sessions with employees across the university. Major themes identified included communication gaps, budget uncertainty, increased workloads, Human Resources policy confusion, and course availability concerns impacting both students and staff.
  4. Human Resources shared that discussions are ongoing regarding the future of remote work, though no formal decisions have been made at this time. HR is also planning to launch a new “Stay Interview” initiative this summer focused on employee retention and employee feedback.
  5. CAPS shared plans for upcoming employee wellness initiatives, including a campus running group and meditation group.
  6. It was announced that Gabriel Fonseca will assume the role of Staff Senate President in July 2026, and preparations are beginning for upcoming Executive Committee elections.
  7. Updates were also shared regarding the completion of annual awards processes and celebrations.
  8. A meeting with General Counsel will be scheduled to discuss the Senate’s role in the policy review process, including concerns regarding timely communication, collaboration, and engagement on policy matters impacting staff.
Adjourn/Upcoming Meetings and Events/Shoutouts
1. The next Staff Senate meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
2. Senators were encouraged to continue monitoring the University events calendar for additional upcoming campus events and activities.