Chadron State establishes Staff Senate

The Staff Senate replaces the Professional Staff Association and Support Staff Association with a unified organization representing eligible professional and support staff across campus.

Amanda Medaries, administrative assistant and Staff Senate vice president, said the reorganization is intended to strengthen staff representation and create new opportunities for collaboration across the college.

The Staff Senate will support the college’s strategic plan, provide a forum for discussing issues affecting staff, encourage civic engagement on campus and in the community, and serve as an advisory body within the college’s shared governance structure, providing staff with a formal channel to offer advice and recommendations to the college president and the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees. Additionally, Staff Senate will collaborate with Faculty Senate and other college groups on matters affecting institutional operations and the educational and workplace climate.

Jessy Roberts, office assistant II with the School of Business, Mathematics and Science, serves as Staff Senate president. Pat Mracek, office assistant III with Physical Facilities, serves as secretary, and Kate Pope, project coordinator with Justice Studies, serves as the Staff Senate representative to Faculty Senate.

The organization also will review and manage funds appropriated by the college for staff development. Professional and support staff will continue to have separate development grant committees and funding processes.

Keith Crofutt, Information Technology lead, chairs the professional staff grant committee, while Stacie Mittleider, office assistant with the School of Business, Mathematics and Science, chairs the support staff grant committee.

All eligible professional and support staff will automatically become members of the Staff Senate. More information about the Staff Senate is available online.