2003-04 Staff Council elections are this spring

In accordance with the Staff Council's bylaws, about half of the council seats are up for election each year as members serve two-year staggered terms. The council is made up of representatives from five job categories: 1) Administrative/Professional, 2) Paraprofessional/ Technical/Police, 3) Office Support, 4) Service and 5) Skilled Crafts. A member can be elected for a maximum of two consecutive terms and then must take a minimum two-year absence before being eligible for re-election. The terms of office for members begin Sept. 1 following their election and end Aug. 31 at the end of their two-year term.

The Staff Council's Election Committee handles the nominations and election process each year. Nominations have been accepted and the Elections Committee is handling the preparation of the ballot. Five different ballots will be prepared, one for each of the five job categories. Staff members will vote for the nominees from their specific job category. All staff members should be receiving their ballots toward the end of April.

I encourage all staff members to take the time to complete the ballot and vote for the individuals they would like to serve as their Staff Council representatives. The candidates have been nominated, received their supervisors' support and are planning to represent the staff to the best of their abilities if elected. The decision of who to vote for should not be taken lightly.

Staff members who are elected to the Staff Council need to be dedicated and active members of the university community willing to serve their constituents. When voting, staff members should remember that the Staff Council works closely with the UNT administration on various timely topics, such as UNT's smoking policy, the Adopt-A-Spot program and child care needs for UNT employees. The Staff Council has been asked several times to review policies that will affect not only the staff, but also the whole university community.

Each council member is required to serve on at least one of the Staff Council's committees. Besides the Election Committee, these include the Executive Committee, the Human Resource Advisory Committee, the Staff Development Committee and the Communications Committee. All of the Staff Council's committees work to serve the UNT staff and foster communication within the campus community.

With these thoughts in mind and all of us participating in the process, the Staff Council will continue the tradition of serving the UNT community and representing the UNT staff.

Lt. Jim Coffey of the UNT Police Department is chair of the Staff Council. A Staff Council column runs in InHouse every other month.

Other featured articles in this issue

• Board of Regents authorizes $31.5 million to finance residence hall
• EDS contributes $6.25 million software to UNT
• UNT's International Week begins April 7
• Parking lot 10 scheduled to close in May
• UNT departments on the move
• Staff Council elects replacement officer
• Nutrition course assisting U.S. Army Reservists
• Outstanding staff, department awards presented at March 5 sack lunch
• Rafes gives Faculty Senate a campus development report

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