Section 1: Purpose, Role & Scope
What is the UNL Staff Senate?
The Staff Senate is recognized on campus as a shared governance body. It serves as an advisory body on issues, institutional policies, and practices that relate to the staff. It promotes the exchange of ideas, champions common interests among the staff, and advocates for staff welfare and development. Additionally, it proposes revisions and initiatives to improve staff policies, and to participate in the formulation of institutional policy and governance.
What issues does the Staff Senate advocate for?
The Staff Senate addresses key focus areas that impact the workplace culture of employees of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Including benefits, parking policies, workplace safety, professional development, and employee onboarding.
Can the Staff Senate change HR policies or overturn decision-making?
The Staff Senate’s authority is advisory, so no, we cannot overturn HR policies. The Senate reviews campus policies, recommends changes, and partners with leadership rather than enacting policy directly.
Can I file an individual HR dispute, grievance, or ticket appeal with the Staff Senate?
The Staff Senate does not directly engage with individual HR disputes, grievances, or parking issues. Individuals with HR disputes or grievance should contact the University Human Resources Office. Those with parking concerns should reach out to Parking & Transit Services.
How does the Staff Senate interact with University Leadership and the Faculty Senate?
The Staff Senate has been recognized as a shared governance partner by the Chancellor and as an important partner by the University President. The Staff Senate President is invited to regular meetings of leaders across campus by the Office of the Chancellor, and the Staff Senate Executive Committee has been invited to leadership meetings about campus-wide initiatives. The Chancellor’s Chief of Staff regularly attends Staff Senate meetings and connects with Staff Senate leaders. The Staff Senate Vice President for External Affairs regularly attends Board of Regents meetings. The Staff Senate Executive Committee has been invited to meetings with the University President, and the University President has met with the leadership of staff organizations from UNK, UNMC, and UNO as well. The UNL Staff Senate and the staff organizations at UNK, UNMC, and UNO are looking at ways to make our connections to leadership more official while continuing to serve in an advisory capacity.
The Staff Senate President regularly attends Faculty Senate meetings and has been invited to Faculty Senate Executive Committee meetings. The Staff Senate and Faculty Senate Presidents meet with student leaders and the Office of the Chancellor on a regularly basis. The Staff Senate President and Vice President for Internal Affairs have seats on the Academic Planning Committee (APC) of Faculty Senate and have been invited to subcommittee meetings of the APC. The Staff Senate is currently looking at ways to encourage more regular engagement between the Staff and Faculty Senates.
How does the Staff Senate inform University policy?
While the Staff Senate does not have the authority to independently change or make policy, there are three ways that the Staff Senate can inform university policy: by investigating the current policy and suggesting a change, by providing the opinion of staff when existing policies are being changed by university leadership, and by providing the opinion of staff when new policies are created.
For the first method, the Staff Senate Internal Affairs and Workplace Culture Committees have investigated policies concerning leave during the annual holiday shutdown and staff representation during disputes with HR. These committees worked to figure out what has been done and what current staff would like to see done. Then, they developed a possible pathway forward that was shared with university leadership, and they continue to work with university leadership to see that change is made.
The second and third methods involve being invited to participate in discussion when new policies are created or existing policies are updated. The Staff Senate has been recognized as a shared governance partner by the Office of the Chancellor, so senators are getting invited to these discussions. Most recently, the Staff Senate President was invited to meet with HR about employee classification and compensation.
Section 2: Eligibility & Representation
What is the Staff Assembly?
The UNL Staff Assembly shall be comprised of any employee of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska Extension, and the University of Nebraska System not explicitly represented by the UNL Faculty Senate or other organized University of Nebraska entity, the graduate student assembly, or Association of Students of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (ASUN) whose role supports the activities and mission of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has at least a 0.25 FTE, and does not have on-call status.
Who is eligible to serve as a Staff Senator?
A candidate for election to the Staff Senate must be a member of the UNL Staff Assembly and a member of the constituency they seek to represent at the time of election, have an appointment of 0.25 FTE or greater, have at least six (6) months of service at UNL at the time of nomination, and not have temporary employment status. Any individual with less than 0.5 FTE must have written approval from their supervisor to accept a nomination.
Are both Exempt (salaried) and Non-Exempt (hourly) staff represented?
The Staff Senate is comprised of senators whose roles at the University of Nebraska are classified as both Office/Service and Managerial/Professional, which includes both exempt and non-exempt employees. The Staff Senate encourages any staff member who is interested in the Senate to run for election during the spring election cycle. Those who are not elected may apply to serve as an affiliate member to gain experience engaging with the Senate.
I work for System Administration (nebraska.edu) or a specialized unit—am I eligible?
Central Administration staff whose employment directly focuses on the UNL campus are eligible to run for Staff Senate if all other requirements are met – i.e., have an appointment of 0.25 FTE or greater, have at least six (6) months of service at UNL at the time of nomination, and not have temporary employment status.
How is my department or unit represented by the Staff Senate?
Senators, who are elected by their peers, represent one of eight districts defined by the university’s overall organization. Those districts are Business and Finance; Chancellor; Academic Colleges; Student Affairs; EVC Academic Enterprise; Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR), Research and Innovation; and University of Nebraska System. To see current senators representing each district, please click here.
Are Faculty members or Student Employees eligible for the Staff Senate?
Staff Senate membership is not open to faculty or student employees. Faculty members’ primary interests are served by the Faculty Senate, which holds open monthly meetings throughout the academic year. Student workers are not eligible to serve on the Staff Senate, as their primary role on campus is that of a student. On campus, student interests are represented by both the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska (ASUN) and the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA).
Section 3: Elections, Terms & Open Seats
How do nominations and elections work?
In the second week of January, the Staff Senate shall advertise that nominations will be accepted for any open seats in the Senate. Nominations for vacancies shall be sent by electronic form no later than the end of the third week of February. Both nominations of by others and self-nominations will be accepted. Those who are nominated by others will be asked if they will accept the nomination.
When do elections take place and how long are Senator terms?
Ballots will be electronically distributed to all Assembly members after the Staff Senate meeting in March and voting will be open for three weeks. Voting shall be online and anonymous, with the voters casting votes for the people in their district equal to the number of open seats available in the district at the time of the election. The candidates with the most votes for the number of seats available will be elected. Newly elected Senators will be announced before the May Staff Senate meeting. Senate terms begin in July following the election and are three years in length.
How are unexpected vacancies filled if a Senator resigns or changes departments?
Senate vacancies due to early removal or resignation, or when a Senator proactively takes a job in a different district, shall be filled by the alternate from the same district who received the next highest number of votes from the previous election. The alternate will serve for the remaining term of that seat. If less than six months remain in that term at the time of appointment, then that time is not considered a full term of office. If the alternate declines the seat or no alternate is available, the President shall appoint an assembly member from the district to serve until the next election.
Can non-elected staff members serve on Senate committees or commissions?
Affiliate members include a staff person recruited on an as-needed basis for Staff Senate endeavors requiring expertise outside of the current Senate membership. Affiliate members do not have voting privileges and are ineligible to hold elected or committee chair positions. Affiliate members are chosen as needed by the appropriate committee chair and approved by the Executive Committee. Staff may also request Affiliate status by reaching out directly to the Staff Senate at staffsenate@unl.edu.
Section 4: Time Commitment, Work Hours & Participation
Do I have to take leave or adjust my work hours to attend Senate activities?
Staff Senate service for Senators and Affiliates is recognized as official university business/paid work time with administrative backing. Members of the Assembly who do not serve on the Staff Senate will want to speak to their supervisor to determine how attendance at the meetings will be addressed.
What is the typical time commitment expected of a Senator?
Senators attend full Staff Senate meetings six times a year, which are held every other month beginning in July. The July meeting, which serves as onboarding for new members and the annual Staff Senate meeting, is a full-day event. The remaining bi-monthly meetings last 90 minutes. Each senator also serves on a standing committee, which meets either monthly or every other month, based on the committee’s specific goals and project timelines. These meetings are usually 45-60 minutes long. Senators may engage in other Staff Senate activities based on their personal and professional capacity. For instance, they may participate in district-specific opportunities, including district meetings and town halls with their constituents.
How does participation work for hourly staff or those working non-8:5 shifts?
The Staff Senate is sensitive to the fact that not all staff work 8-5 shifts. Senators and Affiliates who work second or third shifts should work with their supervisors to find a way to accommodate participation in Staff Senate – i.e., adjustment in one’s schedule to allow participation, a shift adjustment, or a solution that is mutually acceptable.
Section 5: Getting Involved & Submitting Feedback
Are Staff Senate meetings open to all UNL staff?
Yes, the Staff Senate meetings are open to all staff, the full campus community, and the public who would like to attend. In-person attendance is preferred, but meetings are conducted in hybrid fashion to accommodate those unable to attend in person. Dedicated time will be set aside during each meeting for staff to ask questions, raise concerns, and share observations. The meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of January, March, May, September, and November from 2:30-4:00. Meetings rotate between City Campus and East Campus. The July meeting is closed for onboarding new members.
How can I submit concerns, an idea, or feedback to the Senate?
Staff who would like to bring a specific topic to the Senate’s attention may email staffsenate@unl.edu, contact us through our website at any time by using the Contact Us feature, attending a Staff Senate meeting to share your feedback directly, or by communicating with a Senator.
How do I stay updated on what the Senate is working on?
There are several ways that you can learn what the Senate is working on. First, you can attend the Staff Senate Meetings in January, March, May, September, and November. You can subscribe to the Staff Senate Newsletter, which will go out monthly starting in the fall of 2026. You can read the archived meeting minutes, which are usually posted 2 weeks following each meeting. You can reach out to the Senate by emailing staffsenate@unl.edu to ask what we are working on. You can attend District meetings led by Senators. Finally, you can reach out directly to a senator who you know.