Civil Service Committee update, November 2004
Supporting the U at the legislature, Senate restructuring, and updating civil service rules
From Brief, November 10, 2004
The upcoming Minnesota legislative session will have a huge impact on the future of the University. Declining state support has forced the U to make tough decisions over the past few years. You can make a difference by joining members of the University community in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and the Twin Cities to build support for the U at the capitol.
The Civil Service Committee (CSC) is leading the way to keep staff informed and involved in legislative activity. Civil service staff members are beginning to organize within their campuses and departments to get other staff members involved.
MORE CSC NEWS
Senate restructuring
The University Senate voted in September to include civil service
and academic professional and administrative staff in the
University Senate. A request will be presented to the Board of
Regents for final approval November 11. After approval, the Civil
Service Committee will determine the process for electing civil
service representatives. Early in 2005, the CSC will send
information on the election process and how to apply to become one
of the 25 civil service representatives of the Senate beginning
July 1.
Rules update
The Rules Subcommittee of the CSC met Wednesday, November 3, in 240
Donhowe. It reviewed changes made to the rules since the last
publication in 1999 and discussed discrepancies and
inconsistencies--especially Rule 11 and Rule 14.
November CSC meeting
President Bruininks will speak at the next CSC meeting about the
2006-07 biennial budget request. November 18, 9 a.m. to noon, 510
Morrill Hall; the President is scheduled for 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Here are three ways for you to get involved today.
- Go online and sign up to be part of the Legislative Network. This coalition of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members is committed to educating elected officials and the community about the importance of the University to the state. The network sends updates and information on contacting your legislator. Sign up to at http://www.umn.edu/groots/join.php. "The Legislative Network gave me an easy way to look at the issues, and it also made it very, very easy to send a message to a legislator," says Matt Bowers, a civil service staff member who participated in the network last year. "The most daunting part for people is often that it's hard to get involved, hard to find out who to write to. For me, the Legislative Network took all those issues away and made it a no-brainer to get involved and have a voice."
- Legislative Network staff would like to stop by your office and talk to staff and faculty members about the budget and the network. Whatever your campus, if your unit or department has a regularly scheduled meeting, civil service staff can help by getting a network staff member on the agenda. Contact CSC member Peg Wolff at wolff002@umn.edu or 612-624-6504.
- Help to form a grassroots civil service group to discuss ways to reach other civil service staff during this important legislative session. Contact Peg Wolff at the e-mail address or phone number above.
- Peg Wolff is a civil staff member in University Relations, Twin Cities, and also a staff member for the Legislative Network.