Current Initiatives & Accomplishments

Hamline University Staff Association (HUSA)

2018–2019 Initiatives

Submitted to the Board of Trustees by the Executive Committee

Tammie Shepherd Hertz, President

The Executive Committee of HUSA appreciates the opportunity to update the Board of Trustees on its planned activities for 2018–2019. As in previous years, HUSA's plans are based on feedback from previous All-Staff Surveys, concerns identified via other means such as in-person conversations or comments submitted via HUSA's website, and discussions within the Executive Committee about developments on campus. A tentative list of initiatives to be addressed will be presented to President Miller and to the staff at the Fall 2018 All-Staff Meeting. Based on previous discussions, we propose the following activities for the upcoming year.

• HUSA chats. Small-group discussions with university leaders or office directors on key initiatives or topics, intended to promote information-sharing and community-building.

• Sample comment:  “Great idea. In addition to the benefits staff would receive from this, I think this would increase staff engagement and connection with the university.”

• Participation in strategic planning. The HUSA President represents staff in the university strategic planning sessions, and the HUSA Executive Committee will work to gather and propose initiatives for inclusion in the plan.

• Sample comment: “It is important that staff have a voice in strategic planning. I'm happy to read that ULT recognizes the need for representation from HUSA.”

• Support creation of learning outcomes for student workers at Hamline. Collaborate with Human Resources, the Career Development Center, and the Center for Teaching and Learning to identify expected transferable skills from student employment and establish a resource bank for supervisors.

• Sample comment: “This can be a good idea, including how student employment teaches transferable skills.”

• Collaborate with Hamline Faculty Council on campus-wide initiatives. Create a more deliberate collaboration between organization to foster community building across campus.

• Continue to host weekly HUSA lunch tables in Anderson. Encourage staff to take advantage of the $5.50 lunch special on Wednesdays and join HUSA to promote information sharing and community building.

• Sample comment: “This is a great initiative. Would like more direction on where to find the table, perhaps.”

• Continue to partner with Human Resources. Build on previous year’s work on performance reviews to address areas of interest to staff, including feedback on the performance review process, staff access to general employee resources (e.g., policies affecting staff, organizational charts), and examination of benefits package.

• Collaborate with the Office of Inclusive Excellence. Work began on building a collaborative partnership with the Office of Inclusive Excellence.  Ongoing efforts include participation at All-Staff events, staff specific listening sessions, and continued dialogue regarding campus wide efforts.