Join Staff Senate

Who is eligible to become a staff senator?

All regular staff employees with a .50 or greater FTE are eligible.  Nominees must have no less than three (3) months of continuous employment at the university and have the approval of their supervisor.

What does Staff Senate do?

Staff Senate provides a forum for staff to work together to promote their common interests, needs, and concerns.  We work closely with all staff, faculty, administrators, and students to find solutions that are beneficial to all groups and the university.  Senators will communicate regularly with their sector, attend all regular Staff Senate meetings, serve on a committee, and uphold the Bylaws of Staff Senate.

How long is a Senate term?

Senators are elected for terms of three (3) years.

What amount of time does a Senator need to commit to Staff Senate?

Each Senator will serve on a committee.  Committee meetings are typically one (1) hour per month. Committee meetings are scheduled according to member availability.

All Senators are expected to attend the monthly main body session.  The main body Staff Senate Meeting is held on the second Thursday of each month and is scheduled for three (3) hours per month. 

There are also other events and activities that will have volunteer opportunities that are optional but encouraged.

Nomination period: 4/27 through 5/8

Voting period: 5/15 through 5/29

Elected candidates notified: Early June

How do Staff Senate general membership elections work?

Based on the timeline listed above, nomination forms will be reviewed for eligibility by the Staff Senate Elections Committee and Program Coordinator. All eligible nominees will be posted on a ballot sent to all staff at the university. Each staff member will be allowed to cast five (5) votes for individual candidates. Membership will be determined by the number of votes received. Messages will be sent to the campus and nominees to announce voting results.

What are the general election guidelines?

Be honest in your nomination form. Do not pay or otherwise incentivize votes in your favor. Follow the timeline listed above. 

How much time will a senator be away from work?

Senators are obligated to attend the main body session and their committee meeting each month. The main body session is approximately three hours and meets on the second Thursday of each month. Committee meetings are held once a month for an hour - they are scheduled depending on the committee's availability. These hours are considered a normal part of the employee's working time - they should not take vacation leave, TDL, or other forms of leave to attend these required meetings.

How does having a Staff Senate representative benefit your department?

Senators are representatives of the university employee population that they serve.  Having a senator from your department gives your team a voice and access to information about issues that are in the works. While they represent the university staff at large, the information they learn can help inform your departmental decision-making.

Is Staff Senate beneficial to your employee’s professional development and goals?

Staff Senate is an opportunity to create inter-departmental contacts, participate in large-scale projects, and pursue leadership opportunities in the body. There are many opportunities to pursue professional development and gain leadership experience in the body, its committees, and its university workgroups.

Does the department need to pay anything for an employee who is on Staff Senate?

Regularly scheduled main body sessions and committee meetings are paid like normal working hours. There is no cost for membership in Staff Senate. 

Will my employee need to leave work to participate in Staff Senate?

Senators can attend meetings either in-person or online via zoom. It is expected that participants joining on zoom set aside the time specifically for Staff Senate and try to avoid stepping away from the meeting if possible, even if they remain in their normal work location.

Is there somewhere I can get more information about supervising a Staff Senator?

Yes, you may join any of our meet and greets, submit a contact us form question, or reach out to our current senators and leadership to chat one on one.

The UK Wildcat Forum is also accepting nominations for new members.  Visit their site to learn more about membership or contact them at ukwf@uky.edu.