Due to COVID-19, fall governance meetings will continue to take place over Zoom. A decision if spring semester meetings will be able to be held in person, will be made in late fall 2021 based on current/projected health and safety protocols. Find the most up-to-date COVID-19 information at pacificu.edu/coronavirus.
Staff Senate
Staff Senate meetings are held monthly on Wednesdays, 3-5 p.m., by Zoom video conferencing. Two hours of meeting time are scheduled, but we will work to hold meetings to one hour if possible. Please email staffsenate@pacificu.edu to request the meeting link. Please allow 24 hours for a response.
Staff Senate Themes for 2021-2022
- Build community and connection amongst the staff by supporting efforts to create a culture of comprehensive health, wellness, and resiliency.
- Promote programs and opportunities for professional growth, life/work balance, and safety in the workplace.
- Commit to responsible stewardship of university resources through innovation, forward-thinking, process improvement, and the adoption of technologies.
- Strive to serve, speak, and act in a way that honors every person in the Pacific University community and actively pursue Pacific’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Recognize the challenges and changes of the past year, celebrate the perseverance of the staff, and take time to center the goals and commitments of the Staff Senate.
Sponsored Events and Announcements
7 Weeks of Boxer Fun – Opportunities to meet new people & learn about Forest Grove
The McCall Center for Civic Engagement is hosting four activities every week from now until Halloween. These are great opportunities to drop in and meet new friends OR reconnect with the ones you already have (e.g. pick one to attend as a group/club/athletics team). These events are designed to be a nice break from your daily routine, ideal for team bonding, and guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face. View description of events.
Halloween Extravaganza
Dress up with your colleagues and the Pacific University community! Join in the annual Halloween costume, pumpkin carving, and decoration competition. Individuals, staff groups, and families can participate. In-person judging will not occur this year; instead, photos are submitted between October 27 and November 2. View printable flyer in English and Spanish.
Flu Shot Clinics
Kaiser Permanente sponsored flu shot clinics will be held on the Forest Grove campus on Monday, October 25 and the Hillsboro campus on Tuesday, October 26. Flu shot clinics are open to Faculty and Staff employees and their covered family members age 9 and over. Children under 18 must have parental consent. You do not have to have Kaiser insurance to participate. Get more details on the Employee Wellness webpage.
Coming Up: Open Enrollment
Pacific University’s annual Open Enrollment period for benefit-eligible employees will be from Monday, October 25 through Friday, November 5.
Open Enrollment is a benefit-eligible employee’s annual opportunity to do the following:
• Change medical or dental plans
• Elect a benefit that you previously waived
• Re-enroll/Enroll in your flexible spending plan (REQUIRED)
• Add or remove dependents outside of a valid family status change
More details will be available in the coming weeks via email and on the Benefits webpages. Visit pacificu.edu/benefits and pacificu.edu/openenrollment for the latest information.
Virtual Wellness Fair, October 26-29, 2021
In lieu of the annual in-person Health and Benefits Fairs, there will be a Virtual Wellness Fair for Faculty and Staff employees! Schedule and registration details will be available on the Employee Wellness webpage soon.
Fall Supervisor Training Sessions
Human Resources wants supervisors to have the tools and resources to create work environments that facilitate overall well-being, a sense of fulfillment, and the ability to uphold our university mission every day. Such environments positively serve employees, supervisors, and students.
All supervisors are invited to join Human Resources for a series of Fall Supervisor Training sessions that will explore a number of areas that can help build healthy, inspired environments for all. Topics will include Leaves of Absence, Onboarding, Employee Wellness and more.
Live sessions are scheduled for Thursdays from September 2, 2021-October 21, 2021 from 10-11:30 a.m. Recordings will be available to those who cannot attend live. All supervisors are encouraged to attend live or watching the recordings. Take time to mark those times out on your calendar now. More details to come via Employee News and email.
Resources
OEDI Lending Library – More Titles Added!
The Staff Senate recently donated $2,000 to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to further expand its anti-racist lending library. Twenty-two different types of books, with multiple copies of each, were purchased from Third Eye Books, a local Black-owned bookstore in Portland. These books are available just in time for summer reading! Feel free to reach out to Jennifer Teeter at teeterj@pacificu.edu to set up a time to stop by or for more information.
Shop and Eat Local
The Staff Senate has compiled lists of many local, small businesses in Forest Grove, Eugene, and Hillsboro to encourage our communities to support these local businesses. Although the majority of these businesses don’t provide Pacific employee discounts, we hope you’ll consider patronizing them when possible to invest in their continued success. Please double-check their website or give them a quick call to ensure they are still open, and what methods are available for shopping and pick up, as this may change from week to week. Thank you for helping our local business partners!
Forest Grove SHOP LOCAL.pdf (company only)
Hillsboro SHOP LOCAL.pdf (company only)
Eugene SHOP LOCAL Businesses.docx.pdf (company only)
Mental Health First Aid Training
Mental Health First Aid is a training — like regular First Aid or CPR — designed to give people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Through funding from the Human Resources Department and a grant from Nonstop Wellness, the training is being offered free to Faculty and Staff on an ongoing basis. Visit the Employee Wellness webpage for more information and to sign up.
Free, Confidential Support Resources
The Employee Assistance Program by Cascade Centers provides a variety of free, confidential support resources that range from 24/7 crisis counseling to home ownership assistance. Cascade Centers has also created a customized list of dependent care resources specifically for the Pacific University community. Learn more about the Employee Assistance Program and how to access tools that fit you and your life today.
Join the Pacific University Lunch Club!
Meals for staff and faculty can be bundled on your Boxer Card. 14 meals for $90. To add meals please stop by the Bon Appetit Business Office UC103 between 10-12:30 or 2:30-5 p.m. Debit/Credit card only please. Meal swipes can be redeemed in the Pacific Café during all meal periods for the Boxer Card holder only (no guest swipes).
TIAA Financial Support
Confidential, one-on-one consultations are available to everyone with a TIAA retirement plan. Get tailored guidance for your specific financial circumstances, including insight on investment options, budget approaches, and retirement planning. TIAA also offers a variety of webinars on an ongoing basis. Find out more on the Retirement Planning webpage.
Send Your Suggestions to the Staff Senate
The Staff Senate serves as the official representative body of the University staff community by actively participating in campus governance. The Staff Senate shall foster a spirit of unity and cooperation, providing representation of non-faculty personnel in coordination with the faculty and student governing bodies. The Staff Senate shall also provide a forum for the exchange of information between members of the staff, administration, faculty and students.
— from the University Handbook
Staff Senate exists to serve you. We care about the quality of your life relative to campus and the larger global community. We are committed to openness, collaboration and inclusiveness. Any issues or concerns you have are welcomed by the Staff Senate. Email us any time at staffsenate@pacificu.edu or submit a suggestion.