Be engaged in the Augsburg community by serving on Staff Senate! For the upcoming 2019–20 school year, there are four Staff Senate seats available: three elected positions and one at-large position. If you’d like to become a senator or nominate a colleague, complete the nomination form by Friday, March 29. Nominees will be contacted by April 3rd and the election will be live from April 4–11.
All nominees will be contacted before a selection is made. The selected candidate will be notified by April 30 and announced at the Spring Social on May 21.
Augsburg University Staff Senate is composed of six members who are nominated and elected by their peers for a two-year term and two at-large members to be chosen, in every instance, by Staff Senate. All Staff Senate members have the option to serve a third year.
Election Procedures
Nomination Rights: Nominations are collected through the online form. An online survey will be distributed for the election of the two open positions and Staff Senate will select the at-large member. Composition of Staff Senate: It is recommended that members be at least .75 FTE, regardless of exempt or non-exempt status.
Join the Augsburg community in celebrating the work of its staff during the past academic year. Food and drink will be provided and door prizes will be given away.
Staff Spring Social
Tuesday, May 21
3-5 p.m. | The Quad
If raining the location will change to the Hagfors Center Lobby/150. Email staffsenate@augsburg.edu with any questions. Add this event to my calendar.
The winners of the 2019 Outstanding Staff awards are:
Outstanding Newcomer Award:
Stewart Van Cleve, Library
Outstanding Staff Awards:
Kristina Fruge, Christensen Center for Vocation Bryan Massich, Facilities Management Lisa Raetz, Biology Jennifer Simon, American Indian Student Services Ann Marie Yacobucci, Education Department
Staff Senate thanks all of the nominators for their work in gathering nominees and recommendation letters. We also thank those who were nominated and recognize the great work that all 19 staff have exhibited to be nominated by their peers.
[L to R]: Ann Marie Yacobucci, President Paul C. Pribbenow, Stewart Van Cleve, Kristina Fruge, Bryan Massich, and Jennifer Simon. [Not pictured]: Lisa Raetz
Tuesday, April 23 | 1–2 p.m. Christensen Center, Marshall Room
Scott Brownell will be following up on the December 2018 DPS presentation and will be giving updates to wrap up the academic year. If you miss the presentation from December you can see the event recap here.
This is the second of this year’s two part series to help allow more time for questions. Half of the sub-committees presented this fall (read our event recap). We look forward to seeing you there!
Congratulations to John Weirick, Marketing Copywriter, for receiving the January Auggie Pride Award. The large job he took on, on top of his regular day-to-day, to help improve consistency across communication will impact the university and beyond. Staff Senate admires his outstanding work and are honored to award him with this month’s Auggie Pride Award.
John Weirick
Congratulations John for receiving the January Auggie Pride Award
Nomination: John recently completed a massive project—developing a comprehensive editorial style guide to make sure the university is able to be consistent in our written communication across media (print publications, Augsburg Now, the website, etc.). This is a valuable tool for our department, but also for partners across campus who need to communicate with our key audiences: students, prospective students, alumni, donors, and more. Developing it took a tremendous amount of work and discussion both in the office and with others on campus.
Congratulations to Christine Berkenpas, Associate Registrar, and Maggie Sotos, Enrollment Communications and Event Specialist for receiving the December Auggie Pride Awards. The service they provide to the entire Augsburg community has an unmeasurable impact on not only the people they encounter but the institution as a whole. Staff Senate admires their outstanding work and are honored to award them with this month’s Auggie Pride Award.
Christine Berkenpas
Congratulations Christine for receiving the December Auggie Pride Award
Nomination: Christine, Associate Registrar for Transfer and and Graduation, has worked tirelessly this term to advocate for our transfer students. She spent countless hours reviewing the new General Education proposal and its potential impact on Augsburg’s transfer student population. Christine pays attention to detail, uses data to demonstrate a need, and provides well-constructed responses for consideration. Christine identifies issues but always bring possible solutions to the table. Her research, collaboration, and follow-through have led to many meaningful conversation with the General Education Design Team. Christine’s work will have a positive impact on the Revised General Education Proposal which ultimately will benefit our transfer student population. Beyond this specific example, Christine is one of the most dedicated individuals I have worked with. She cares about our team, has high ethical and moral standards, and always puts our students first!
Maggie Sotos
Congratulations Maggie for receiving the December Auggie Pride Award
Nomination: The Auggie Pride Staff Recognition Program honors staff members who go above and beyond on behalf… Augsburg’s mission statement leads with its dedication to creating informed citizens. These past few months, Maggie volunteered her time to engage both the admissions and admissions operations teams to participate in the November elections. Maggie regularly shared information on polling places, how to register, challenged the teams to research candidates and ballot issues, and brought in treats (and humor!) to incentivize the teams to vote. She challenged us to engage in the process in a thoughtful and meaningful way. I have to stress that Maggie didn’t care HOW we voted politically, but rather that we leverage our individual agency to affect collective community engagement. Maggie’s endless team spirit, motivation, and advocacy resulted in a 100% voter turnout among our departments! If her efforts don’t embody the very core of informed citizenship and thoughtful stewardship, I don’t know what does! Maggie brings passion to her work and lives out the University mission in her day-to-day connections with those around her, and I am thankful for the experience and vigor she brings to the University.
Staff Senate is hosting a tour with the Center for Learning and Accessible Student Services (CLASS Office) and welcomes you to join us to learn about what resources are available that may be helpful to you and students you may work with.
Tuesday, February 26 11:30 a.m.–12 p.m. | Lindell Library, Gage Desk (floor 2) Add to calendar
Following the CLASS tour, please join Staff Senate for an informal “bring your own lunch” at the Christensen Center, Commons.
Staff Senate is getting a tour of the Center for Wellness & Counseling (CWC) and welcomes you to join! Learn about CWC services, see their space, meet their team and more.
Wednesday, January 16 12–12:30 p.m. | Anderson Residence Hall, Suite 100 Add to my calendar
Staff Senate is hosting a Library Tour and welcomes you to join us! Learn about what Library services Staff can utilize and more during a tour with Mary Hollerich, Library Director.
Tuesday, January 8 11:30 a.m.–12 p.m. | Lindell Library Add to my calendar
Please meet at the Library Circulation Desk on the first floor of Lindell Library. The tour will be followed by an informal “bring your own lunch” gathering in the Commons.