December TUSS News for Staff

Published by on December 18, 2023 12:00 am Comments Off on December 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 Senate and are encouraged to attend general meetings. Our meetings are opportunities for all staff employees to be involved in institutional planning and amplify staff input. Join us! 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE RECENT TUSS MEETING: 

  • Academic Senate highlights were shared 
    • Deans Council working on continuation of operation plans and reviewing off-matrix course offerings to ensure they allow students to complete degrees in a timely manner. 
    • SGA completed their annual safety walk with Facilities Management. Graduate Studies will offer online orientation for all graduate students starting this spring.  
  • Stratus 
    • Three new requisition reports were released. 
      • All Requisition Report 
      • Requisitions Not on PO 
      • Requisitions Not on PO and Not Approved 
    • About 85 total reports have been rolled out since launch of Stratus. 
  • TU Business Travel has a Webex Meeting Room available during business hours if you need to ask questions while traveling. TU Today announcement forthcoming.  
  • Travel Lab will be launched in January 2024. Will offer drop in training and questions for both existing and new travel. Beginning January 9th on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-10 a.m. and 2-3 p.m.  
  • More information will be shared in the January TUSS newsletter.  
  • Audit of fiscal year-end financial statements is close to being completed.  
  • Catering Checklist: If you plan to make a catering or food purchase through invoice, procurement card, or personal card, and seek reimbursement, please use the Catering Policy Checklist to help ensure you have all supporting documents required when it is time to submit your invoice or expense report in Stratus. This checklist will help guide you through the supporting documentation that is required in accordance with the University’s recently updated Catering Policy.  Contact finservehelp@towson.edu if you have any questions. 
  • AVP of Admin and Finance search completed. Michael Palmer will start on January 3rd. Michael comes to us with USM experience, having worked at UBMC before his current position as an AVP at a University in Maine.  
  • There are a number of open positions and employees are encouraged to take advantage of the referral bonus.  
  • Public Safety continues to review ways to improve campus safety. There are over 2,200 cameras on campus.  
  • Spring 2024 enrollment numbers are currently 3% ahead of Spring 2023. Fall 2024 applications are at a record level, surpassing the record set for Fall 2023.  
  • Four Towson students named CAA players of the week. Congratulations! 
    • India Johnston, Women’s Basketball and Christian May, Men’s Basketball 
    • Cristal Cuervo, Women’s Track & Field and Manie Mevo, Men’s Track & Field 
  • Parking Services needs additional volunteers for commencement. Email upark@towson.edu to volunteer.  
  • VP Jones shared about water line break in the Hawkins and Psychology area. A temporary fix was installed to allow classes to continue. A permanent fix will be conducted after classes end as it will require digging up the lines. Contractors are evaluating the situation, but a permanent fix is expected before Spring semester begins. No power outages are expected. Water will not be restored to the lecture hall until the permanent fix is complete.  
  • Information from the Engagement Survey is being shared with Deans and other Leadership to identify how we can address challenges.  
  • Currently in Phase 3 of the Market Assessment and Pay Study.  
  • University General Counsel Sara Slaff is retiring. CONGRATULATIONS, Sara! Thanks for being such a great colleague and advocate for TU. 
  • Amazon package lockers were installed in University Union Garage and West Village Garage. Amazon has run into software issues with notifications to recipients they are working to resolve. Lockers are expected to be installed in 10 West Garage next. 
  • Discussion was held to clarify mail delivery protocols between TUNE and Main Campus.  
  • VP Jones presented about revenue and expenses for parking and transportation services.  
  • TUSS Chair shared from RPAC meeting:  
  • Signs of a healthy campus — increased applications, increased community college enrollment and increased student group formation. 
  • Many active searches for faculty, including some R2 budgeted positions. Budgets for FY25 are beginning, now is the time to advocate for positions.  
  • TU Impact Award nominations will open in February 2024.  
  • TUSS Executive Board working with Academic Senate during their review of committees.  
  • August 2024 TUSS general meeting date has been moved to August 14, 2024, due to the start of the semester timing.  
  • CUSS reps reported they met recently and are continuing their ongoing projects including the role of an ombudsperson at various USM institutions and how fees are assessed for faculty/staff using tuition remission.  
  • Discussion was held on ideas and suggestions for flexible work scheduling.  

REMINDERS: 

 

QUESTION FOR STAFF:  

What does staff appreciation look like to you? Send your feedback to tuss@towson.edu   

 

AWARDS: 

Top Tigers 

Congratulations to Top Tigers Matt Curio and Ray Monczewski! 

Top Tigers receive a recognition certificate and a lunch credit in honor of their work in making TU a great place! If you have received exceptional service from a staff member, please nominate them for a Top Tiger Award. TU faculty, staff and students can nominate TU staff members by submitting a Top Tiger Nomination Form: https://www.towson.edu/about/administration/staff-senate/staff-awards/top-tiger-award.html  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 

TUSS Meeting: January 17, 2023, 1 p.m.
Zoom Direct Link: https://towson-edu.zoom.us/j/98702752003?pwd=N05Id3JZTEhxM2Z4ZUNBRk5OSDAvUT09
Meeting ID: 987 0275 2003
Passcode: TUSSZoom 

Annual Faculty & Staff Recognition: February 22, 2024, University Union  

Council of University System Staff Meeting hosted at TU: April 9, 2024

 

Senator Spotlight: Rebecca Halaney ( she/her/hers) | Freshman Admissions Counselor | Admissions. 

How long have you worked at TU? 

For one and a half years, almost two admissions cycles. 

What is your department and what does your position entail?

 I am the current territory manager for Montgomery County and Prince George’s County public schools. These counties produce a large percentage of our applicant pool annually, so I visit as many public schools in these counties as possible, at least twice per year each. Admissions counselors additionally participate in college fairs and community events outside of school hours to build connections with potential applicants. Currently, we are reviewing applications for the Fall 2024 semester and assisting students with completing any unfinished applications. On a daily basis, we speak to campus visitors, manage the admissions phone lines and email communications, and work on additional campus projects. I am the liaison for the Freshman Transition Program (FTP) in partnership with the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), so my ‘additional project’ at the moment is planning ahead for the 2024 FTP cohort; this program is invitation-only and provides freshman students who may need additional support with an alternative pathway to becoming TU Tigers. 

What does a typical workday look like for you? 

The ‘admissions cycle’ means that our duties change throughout the year. Winter is application review season, so we are currently reviewing applications for admission all day, every day.  

What do you enjoy the most about your job? 

It’s incredibly meaningful getting to connect with students in their communities. As counselors, we get to watch them grow from when they first start considering schools in junior year of high school through their enrollment at TU as college freshmen—these students trust us to be responsible and informed resources presenting opportunities that could change and fulfill their life goals. Seeing students that I first connected with a year before coming to Admitted Student Day events and recognizing our admissions team never loses its magnitude.  

What is your favorite place to eat on or around campus? 

The Halal Shack on campus in the Union is always delicious, but I have to be careful, because it will put me to sleep on my desk after lunch.  

What do you do to relax? 

I love cross-stitching and reading books. Admissions counseling as a field is dominated by extroverts, so I enjoy any opportunities to recharge after a day full of important conversations with students and their families.  

Why did you decide to get involved with the TUSS? 

Advocacy is an important part of the admissions office as we try to lower systemic barriers for students accessing higher education. We are always working to improve our processes and procedures based on feedback from applicants, school administrators, community-based organizations, other departments on campus, and in accordance with global events. The staff senate presented an opportunity for me to further exercise these skills—advocacy, active listening, persuasive writing, and analysis—within and between campus departments. I wanted to give back to my team members by amplifying their needs, opinions, and observations in a forum where tangible change can be made. I also saw this as an opportunity to connect with and learn more about other departments and divisions within the larger TU staff. 

Describe what you have learned (or hope to learn) during your time in TUSS? 

Participating in the senate has allowed me to meet staff from offices all across campus, which facilitates greater communication and collaboration between different parts of the University organism that may not directly meet each other often. Every TUSS meeting, I learn responsibilities and needs of other offices that directly impact my own division in ways I would not have considered. I am grateful for the time and advocacy of the other senators and meeting attendees because collaboration between staff makes concrete differences in the experiences of students we serve. I look forward to learning more and working together toward a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.  

___________________ 

Please visit our website for more information about TUSS, details about upcoming meetings, the list of senators, and details about staff awards: https://www.towson.edu/tuss. 

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This post was written by Primrose, Greg