Events Survey
What events and service opoortunities would you like to see Staff Senate organize? Complete this quick survey to share your ideas, and be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card!
Submit Q&A Questions
Michael Crowley, who joined the Santa Clara community in February 2018 as the Vice President for Finance and Administration, will be attending the November 15th Staff Senate meeting to share his story and answer questions about his role.
All staff members are welcome to join the meeting and participate in this Q&A. Please email any questions you may have for Michael Crowley to staffsenate@scu.edu by Thursday, November 8th.
Share Feedback with Staff Senate
Send comments, concerns, feedback, questions, or suggestions to Staff Senate by emailing us at staffsenate@scu.edu or using the form linked on our website.
Staff Senate and Faculty Senate Council invite all faculty and staff members to a lunchtime mixer after the Staff Senate meeting. Meet with colleagues from across campus, and find opportunities to better collaborate and communicate between faculty and staff. Lunch will be provided.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
12:00 p.m - 1:30 p.m.
Williman Room, Benson Center
To ensure adequate refreshments are available, please RSVP using this link.
Staff Member Added to the Presidential Search Committee
Based on Staff Senate's request, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees agreed to include a member of the staff in the Presidential Search Committee. We are pleased to let you know that Eva Blanco, Dean of Undergraduate Admission, will be joining this important endeavor. We thank her in advance for her participation.
The Staff Senate is grateful to the Executive Committee for its commitment to inclusion. We are also gratified by our efforts to channel the concerns of the Staff Community which, in this particular case, were promptly expressed.
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Eva Blanco Masias |
Donate to the One Warm Coat Drive!
The Staff Senate is working with One Warm Coat, a national non-profit organization that works to provide a free, warm coat to any person in need. Help us meet our goal of 300 coat donations. All SCU staff, faculty and students are welcome to participate from November 1st-16th, in coordination with One Warm Coat Day on November 15th.
Drop your new or gently worn children's or adult's coats in the One Warm Coat boxes found across campus, including in Admission & Enrollment Services, Benson Memorial Center (East and West lobbies), Charney Hall, Kids on Campus, Learning Commons and Library, and Loyola Hall.
Thanks for supporting our goal across campus to help spread the warmth to the 15% of American families who live in poverty and cannot afford the budget "extra" that is a warm coat.
Key Updates
- Staff will officially have representation on the Presidential Search Committee
- Staff Affairs Open Position has been filled by Leah Nakasaki-Peterson
- Next Month:
- Vice President for Finance & Administration, Michael Crowley, will attend Staff Senate to answer questions and share his story.
- Gayle Bandy, Assistant Director of Housing Communications & Billing, will present updates from the Staff Housing Task Force.
Campus Climate Survey: The Staff Perspective
- Ray Plaza shared staff-specific information from the Campus Climate Survey.
- Updated data from the campus-wide forums is now available in the meeting minutes.
October 18, 2018, meeting minutes are saved on the Staff Senate Google Drive
In an effort to get to know each other better and to identify areas of collaboration, senators will take turns during every meeting to share three personal facts about themselves, and a highlight and challenge in their area or department. This month's featured senators come from the Staff Senate Executive Committee.
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Leah Nakasaki-Peterson, Assistant Director, Student Centers
Events and Service Committee Chair, Staff Senate
Three Things about Me
- I love to bake, especially for our student staff
- I’m a proud mama bear to my 21-month-old daughter, Kya
- I met my husband of 9.25 years, Sean, on Craigslist
Area Highlight
- The Division of Student Life received a generous donation of $50,000 to support late night programming initiatives.
- Campus Recreation also secured funding from several generous parents and were able to offer free fitness classes to students for the 2018-2019 academic year.
Area Challenge
- The lack of event space across campus to support the growing needs of departments and student groups is always a challenge. I witness this first hand when I have to turn away customers because we simply do not have enough space in the buildings that I manage to support all programs.
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Sarah Tesconi, Assistant Director of Graduate Employment & Adjunct Professor
Three Things about Me
- Born on the east coast, used to have a Boston accent, but shortly after moving out here my teacher sent me to speech therapy class thinking there was something wrong because I did not pronounce my "R"s. (If I get mad enough, the Bostonian accent comes out.)
- I love to run long distances and am currently training for my 7th marathon.
- Like Andrew, I too have a motorcycle and like to go riding along bay area backroads on the weekends.
Area Highlight
- Of course the biggest highlight is the new law school itself-Charney Hall! Within the Office of Career Management itself, one of our recent highlights is the creation of the Career Kickstart Series during the first few weeks of law school. It is geared towards engaging the new first year law students (1Ls) and fostering a relationship between the office and the new students. I consider it was a success based on the turnout and the fact that we’ve had very eager 1Ls signing up to meet with us for 1-on-1 advising sessions.
Area Challenge
- Big challenge is getting those students into the office who need the most assistance, yet are the least likely to initiate contact. Reaching those students continues to be a challenge and we are constantly brainstorming how to do so. We hope that by engaging the 1Ls early this year with the Career Kickstart Series it will build a bridge and promote utilization of our office by all students and not just the most proactive.
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Kori Lennon, Resident Director, Modern Perspectives Residential Learning Community
Communications Committee Co-Chair, Staff Senate
Three Things about Me
- I am a Super Bronco, and met my partner Drake when we were both Community Facilitators in Graham. We are getting married this coming May in Bozeman, Montana.
- I love to cook, and have focused on one cuisine per month this year. November will be focused on Indian food.
- On October 30th from 4:30-6:30, we hosted Trick-or-Treating in Dunne Hall for Faculty, Staff, and local families.
Area Highlight
- The construction of the new Finn Residence Hall will be complete in fall of 2019, and will be home to the new Cura Residential Learning Community, focusing on well-being and care for the whole person.
- Santa Clara becoming a JED campus helps us better focus on and support students in terms of their emotional welfare and mental health.
Area Challenge
- Meeting the increasing needs of students in terms of their emotional welfare and mental health continues to be challenging in Student Life, as we look to provide them individualized care and support with limited staff members.
- Managing the bandwidth of staff and student leaders who support their peers, and protecting them from burnout, can also be challenging as we continue to grow the student body and meet their needs.
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November 15, 2018 at 10:30am
Nobili Dining RoomAll staff are invited to attend Staff Senate Meetings.
Hear updates, share your ideas or concerns, and connect with staff from across campus. November's meeting includes a visit from Michael Crowley, Vice President for Finance and Administration, a presentation by Gayle Bandy from the Staff Housing Task Force, and a preview of the new Staff Senate Video.
Following the meeting, please join us in Benson's Williman Room for the Faculty/Staff Mixer, starting at noon. All Staff members are invited.
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