July TUSS News for Staff

Published by on July 27, 2021 1:01 am Comments Off on July TUSS News for Staff in General

The Towson University Staff Senate (TUSS) is the advocate body for all university staff employees. All TU staff are general members of the staff senate and are encouraged to attend meetings. 

Highlights from the recent TUSS Meeting 

  • Concerns: Connect with your HR Partner regarding concerns about the transition back to the office, interpreting university policies and procedures, vaccination verification, FMLA, etc. 
  • Parking: Beginning August 2, 2021, parking permits will be required, though the cost of parking during the month of August will be included in the fall 2021 permits at no additional charge. Parking permit sales will begin July 26, 2021. From August 2 – August 31, free parking permits will be available through pay stations and ParkMobile (transaction fee of $0.60). Re-enrollment for payroll deductions will take place July 26 – August 13. See the parking website for more information. 
  • Budget: There has been no news about additional budget cuts.
  • VP searches: Two Vice President searches have been started with consultants, for the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity and the Division of University Marking and Communications. These will hopefully be completed in December. 
  • Pay Study: A video of the presentation will be posted soon. HR is currently working through pay adjustments identified as part of the study. The next step is an equity analysis. See the Market Assessment and Pay Study website for more information. 
  • Hiring: Hiring is not on hold but all requested positions will continue to be evaluated closely. TU is currently recruiting for 50 open full-time and 15-20 contingent positions. 
  • COVID: August 9, 2021, is the deadline for verification as vaccinated or to obtain approval for an exemption from vaccination. Those vaccinated will be set free from sentinel testing and the daily QuickScan. See the COVID Response and Planning website for more information or by reaching out to asktu@towson.edu for questions. 
  • Telework: Wanting flexibility is a worldwide topic. Telework can still be requested, and requests will be evaluated. A task force will be established in the fall to review and update the policy. 
  • Buildings: Several capital building projects were shared. Dedication of the Science Complex $200M will take place in September. We have moved into the Armory and will likely have a ribbon-cutting in September/October. The new CHP building is moving forward. The Union renovation is moving to completion and ribbon cutting will likely be in spring 2022. 
  • Annual Leave Carryover: There is a temporary exception to the annual leave carryover limit through calendar year 2022. More information can be found at:   https://www.usmd.edu/usm/adminfinance/20200915_annual_leave.pdf. 

Awards 

Top Tiger 

Join us in congratulating June’s Top Tiger Award winners: 

  • Kelly Kraft, OTS Blackboard Administrator 
  • Jesse Herche, Classroom and Computer Lab Tech Coordinator 

TU faculty, staff and students can nominate staff members for the Top Tiger award by submitting the Top Tiger Nomination Form.  

TU Impact Awards 

The deadline to nominate staff for the TU Impact Awards is August 1, 2021. To nominate an exceptional staff member, submit a PDF nomination letter to TUSS@towson.edu. More information can be found at https://www.towson.edu/about/administration/staff-senate/staff-awards/impact-awards.html. The TU Impact Awards have been established to recognize staff for impactful contributions to Towson University, the community, and beyond. 

Mark Your Calendar 

Town Hall: July 29, 9 a.m.
Join President Kim Schatzel and other TU leaders for the next live faculty and staff Virtual Town Hall. It’s your chance to learn the latest information on TU’s COVID response and participate in a live Q&A.
Details: https://www.towson.edu/coronavirus/town-hall.html 

TU Holiday: August 6
TU will be closed on August 6, 2021. This replacement university holiday will not recur annually. 

TUSS Meeting: August 18, 1 p.m.
Dr. Schatzel is scheduled to attend this meeting. Send questions to tuss@towson.edu by August 12.
Location: Liberal Arts, Room 3150
Virtual: Zoom Direct Link: https://towson-edu.zoom.us/j/98702752003?pwd=N05Id3JZTEhxM2Z4ZUNBRk5OSDAvUT09
Meeting ID: 987 0275 2003
Passcode: TUSSZoom 

Senator Spotlight: Robert Karp

  • How long have you worked at TU? In December I will be beginning my 16th year at TU!
  • What is your department and what does your position entail?  Academic Advising. I advise students, manage our Student Academic Advisors, and coordinate advising technology across the University.
  • What does a typical workday look like for you? A typical day involves meeting with students based on various needs, training staff and faculty on advising technology, and collaborating with  campus partners on enrollment initiatives.
  • What do you enjoy the most about your job? I love our students. They are committed to the university, they are diverse, and they are inspired.
  • What is your favorite place to eat on or around campus? Burger Brothers or Kyodai Rotating Sushi Bar both in Towson.
  • What do you do to relax? I love to spend time with my children, watching a good TV show or working out.
  • If we were to create a TU playlist, what song would you want to include and why? Won’t Let You Down by Hilltop Hoods. Throughout my 16 years here the dedication to the success of students has been consistent throughout the university and as such, the sentiment “we won’t let you down”, resonates for me.
  • What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I was born in South Africa and I’m an avid rock climber (if you go to Earth Treks, hit me up).
  • What’s one thing you wish you had known when you were a teenager? Don’t work out incorrectly even at a young age. You will pay for it later in life!
  • If you could have any one skill or talent that you don’t already have, what would it be? I would love to be able to speak a language fluently.
  • What’s the proudest moment of your life? The birth of my children.
  • Why did you decide to get involved with the TUSS?  I wanted to serve the community and advocate for fellow staff members. I also enjoy collaborating with various campus partners.
  • Describe what you have learned (or hope to learn) during your time in TUSS? I’ve developed an understanding of the different experiences of other staff members at the university and how, although they are all unique, we have a common goal which is the betterment of the TU experience for staff and other members of the community such as faculty and students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This post was written by Karp, Robert J.