The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Staff Senate is embarking on a collaborative, Senate-wide effort to fortify its internal structure and institutional memory. The initiative centers on developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for every committee, a shared goal that will increase clarity and efficiency across the board.
The Vice President for Internal Affairs, Jerri Harner facilitates this work through crucial monthly meetings of the Committee Chairs. These sessions are essential not only for discussing best practices and engagement but also for collectively nurturing the leadership pipeline—since serving as a Chair or Co-Chair is the vital first step toward joining the Executive Committee. Even as they work hard to ensure important governance tasks are completed, the committee chairs make time for fun and community-building.
The recent pivotal meeting focused entirely on the unified task of SOP creation. By establishing these written procedures, the chairs are working together to clearly define and standardize the practices and purposes of the Staff Senate at every level. This ensures that the entire Senate—from new members to leadership—operates with consistency and shared understanding.
The initiative was kicked off with a "phenomenal training" session on SOP creation, presented by Casey Seger-Franklin. The training provided committee chairs with the necessary framework and tools to draft comprehensive procedures tailored to their specific committee's needs.
This is truly a cooperative undertaking: Each committee chair is now engaged in drafting their unit’s SOP, with the collective goal of having drafts submitted by the end of the semester. This commitment reflects the Senate's dedication to continuous improvement and its shared responsibility for organizational excellence.
Staff members interested in viewing the resources used for this collaborative work can access the training recording by Casey Franklin-Seager here: Zoom Training Recording
This united effort by the Committee Chairs is set to create a more resilient, transparent, and defined Staff Senate, reinforcing the organization's ability to serve and represent the UNL staff community effectively.
More details at: https://staffsenate.unl.edu/meet-your-senators/