March TUSS News for Staff

Published by on March 26, 2024 12:00 am Comments Off on March 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: 

  • The Albert S. Cook library staff shared OneSearch and catalog change project. https://libraries.towson.edu/ils-migration 
  • Dean of Honors College search is progressing well.  
  • FY24 deadlines have been posted: https://www.towson.edu/financialsystems/stratus/documents/2024_pre_close_guidance.pdf  
  • Stratus Support Requests are moving to Techhelp in April. This will allow the campus community to track requests and monitor updates. More information will be sent via Email and TU Today.  
  • Mid-year reports were submitted to USM and Towson University expects to end the year with a balanced budget with some opportunity for strategic growth.  
  • Fiscal year-end is coming! Deadlines have been posted https://www.towson.edu/financialsystems/stratus/ 
  • Towson University honored Women’s History Month: https://www.towson.edu/news/2023/womens-history-month.html 
  • “Be Pronoun Proud” campaign begins March 25, 2024.  
  • Campus Climate survey high level information was presented. Survey received a 24% response rate among faculty/staff.  
  • Discussion was held on participation in Campus Climate survey.  
  • Recruitment for General Counsel is ongoing.  
  • College of Health Professions building is on time and on budget to open. Classes will be taught in the building over the summer in preparation for fall.  
  • Smith Hall renovation site will continue to increase in activity over the coming months. 
  • Annual Mandatory Training (from Safe Colleges) needs to be completed. Mandatory training is an expectation of all employees and non-completion will have consequences. In addition to affecting university accreditation, federal funding, etc., non-completion may impact performance evaluations and application of any merit-related increase of pay. We are currently at approx. 60% completion. If you have not completed your training, please complete it right away as the deadline has already passed. Link: https://towson-md.safecolleges.com/  
  • 2,200 packages went through the Amazon lockers on campus in February 2024. 1,400 of the 2,200 went through West Village. Discussions are being held about expanding capacity at West Village for Amazon and expanding capacity for non-Amazon packages as well.  
  • As requested in a previous senate meeting by a senator, data was presented showing totals of revenue streams for TU Parking Services. 
  • Discussion was held about Friday’s Administrative Leave Day.  
  • Discussion was held about how Towson vs other University System of Maryland (USM) schools schedule the three University Holidays they are allotted. USM allows TU discretion on when to schedule them. TU uses them the day before Thanksgiving and during Winter Break. Some other USM schools allocate differently to allow for a spring day off. Look for a question about this in a future newsletter. 
  • Summary report of telework status and previously collected feedback was offered by HR partner Esty Goodman. As of March 2023, there were 1,048 employees in telework-eligible positions.  
  • Towson University achieved a 54% recycling rate. 
  • Towson University is now using 100% renewable electricity.  
  • Towson was recertified as a Tree Campus. https://www.arborday.org/programs/tree-campus-higher-education/ 
  • Arbor Day celebration is planned for April 3, 2024.  
  • Exec Board collected from senators and responded to feedback request for Employee Celebration date. 
  • Exec Board responded to the request for participation in the Inauguration of President Ginsberg.  
  • Senators are invited to CUSS Meeting on April 9th during the morning session. Former CUSS representatives are invited as well. 
  • CUSS reported on community engagement with USM schools.  
  • Discussion held on addressing duplicate fees to employees when using tuition remission at home institution.  
  • Discussion was held on adding UStore Gift Cards and Dining Dollars as options for Service Awards Gifts. A motion was put forward for TUSS to advocate for this. Motion passed.  
  • Discussion was held on Events and Engagement committee’s proposals to begin a Walking Club and Book Club. 

REMINDERS: 

TUSS Elections: 

Nominations for staff senators close on March 28 at 5 p.m. Nominate today: https://towsonu.tfaforms.net/1218669 

QUESTION FOR STAFF:  

Would you be interested in joining a Staff Book Club or Walking Club? If so, would you prefer a consistent or variable meeting time? Send your feedback to tuss@towson.edu 

AWARDS: 

Top Tiger 

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  

Congratulations to these recent Top Tigers: 

  • Pam Mathias-Event and Conference Services 
  • Shemiah Dickens-Student Activities 
  • Stephanie Faison- Philosophy and Religious Studies 
  • Theresa Jenkins- College of Liberal Arts 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 

TUSS Meeting: April 17, 2024, 1 p.m.
Zoom Direct Link: https://towson-edu.zoom.us/j/98702752003?pwd=N05Id3JZTEhxM2Z4ZUNBRk5OSDAvUT09
Meeting ID: 987 0275 2003
Passcode: TUSSZoom 

Council of University System Staff Meeting hosted at TU: April 9, 2024 3

 

Senator Spotlight 

Bianca L. Thornley| Operations Supervisor | Parking & Transportation Services

How long have you worked at TU? 

I’ve been with TU since 1/25/23 

What is your department and what does your position entail? 

Parking and Transportation – Parking Supervisor, patrolling campus for any parking violations, overseeing and completing event set ups and breakdown. Among a plethora of other things.  

What do you enjoy the most about your job? 

Freedom to see the entire campus, along with interacting and educating all the diverse individuals across the entire campus. 

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

The Den

What do you do to relax? 

Embroidery stitching is my favorite along with diamond painting. I love arts and crafts. 

If we were to create a TU playlist, what song would you want to include and why? 

This is a hard one because I love music! I think I would add the song Jerusalema by Master KG – I believe it speaks greatly to TU’s immensely diverse culture and in my opinion it’s just a feel-good song that makes you want to dance and feel happy in embracing the moment.  

What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you? 

I am actually very shy, but my outgoing personality would fool you.  

What’s one thing you wish you had known when you were a teenager? 

I wish I would have known how precious time is, taking more time to enjoy the simple things and work harder to perfect things I don’t really have time to do now. Teenage years are the steppingstones for a successful adulthood.  

If you could have any one skill or talent that you don’t already have, what would it be? 

I honestly wish I knew how to sew on a sewing machine effortlessly. I struggle tremendously with simply setting the machine up. Lol  

What’s the proudest moment of your life? 

The proudest moment in my life outside of becoming a mother was being able to purchase my mother a car so that she would no longer have to catch public transportation. That was the best feeling in the world!  

Why did you decide to get involved with the TUSS? 

I joined the Staff Senate to become more involved with TU and help make a lasting mark because I’m here to stay! 

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

So far being here at TU I’ve learned that my potential is endless! Being extended the opportunity to be an employee here has been life changing for my family and myself. This opportunity, if nothing else, has given me great optimism for the potential that I hold. I plan to continue to cultivate this knowledge and strength in the coming years here at TU! 

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