AP Faculty Senate Newsletter Vol. 1

Welcome

Welcome to the first issue of the Administrative and Professional Faculty Senate newsletter. Our goal is to update A/P faculty members on their senate's work and to build relationships. We want to hear your feedback and concerns. I encourage you to connect with your senator(s) to share ideas and concerns. You can use the links in the roster on the A/P Faculty Senate webpage to find your constituent group's senators.

We also want to encourage A/P faculty to participate in University Shared Governance. If you want to get involved as a senator, commission, or committee member, please let us know by filling out our interest form. A/P faculty are welcome to attend senate meetings. You can join the A/P Faculty Senate Meetings Google group to receive updates including upcoming meeting agendas.

I am honored to serve as your A/P Faculty Senate President and want to hear from you. I will be hosting office hours starting on January 10 at 801 University City Blvd. Suite 21, Room 2138 from 4 to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Meetings will recur on the second and fourth Tuesdays. If you want to meet via Zoom or phone, contact me at holli@vt.edu or 540-231-3682.

Thank you to the Senate Communications Committee for their work curating the content. Please submit ideas for future newsletter topics.

Respectfully,
Holli

December Survey Results

In December 2022, we sent out a survey to all AP Faculty Senators and asked just a few questions.  One of the questions was “Why do I want to be a senator?”  Here are the most common answers to the question: Serve the university in governance, be a voice in the process, improve community, be more involved and engaged, shaping the future, to be an advocate, represent my constituents, to be a voice, amplify AP voices, be a conduit of info to my constituents, help the university execute its mission.  All of the answers were good so we included them in this word cloud.

Another question on the survey was “What is one thing that you would like to do, one change you would make, or one policy you would like to influence as an AP Faculty Senator?”  Here are some of the most common answers to the question: Equity between all classifications of employees, consistency among AP Faculty positions/roles across campus, rethinking leave the week the university is closed during winter break, more transparency, more involvement and information about in University Governance, raise awareness about Extension, supervisor ratios, benefits, professional development and career advancement, and support for caregivers.  There were so many good answers with much more detail.  This group of senators seem to be involved, ready to listen to constituents, and help problem solve with others.

The last question asked on the survey was “if you could only eat one thing the rest of your live and your only choices were the items below, what would it be?  Their choices were Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans, Chili Limon Hot & Spicy Port Rinds, Lemon Flavored Skittles, or Sardines and Mustard.  Where do you stand on these culinary masterpieces?

Get to Know Your Senators

Each newsletter, we will highlight a few of the A/P Faculty Senators so you can get to know them.  Feel free to reach out and ask any questions, bring up any concerns, or see if they want to join your banjo band.

Senator Holli Gardner Drewry representing General Professional

Why did you want to be Senator?
When I converted from classified staff to A/P Faculty I quickly noticed that A/P faculty had limited representation in university shared governance. I wanted to be a senator so that I could expand my understanding Virginia Tech governance while representing the needs of A/P faculty.

What is one thing that you would like to do, one change you would make, or one policy you would like to influence as an AP Faculty Senator?
I've been lucky to accomplish my initial goal of helping to set up an A/P Faculty Senate. Going forward, I want to spend time listening to the thoughts and concerns of A/P faculty members. One idea I have already heard is to work with the other employee senates to explore possible updates to leave practices

What is one thing that most people don't know about you?
I worked with the Hokie Passport Office to design the Hokie Passport ID.

If you could only eat one thing the rest of your life and your only choices were the items below, what would it be?
Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Contact Holli:  hgdrewry@vt.edu

Senator Nikeshia Arthur representing Student Affairs

Why did you want to be Senator?
To help amplify voices of A/P faculty employees

What is one thing that you would like to do, one change you would make, or one policy you would like to influence as an AP Faculty Senator?
Support for caregivers

What is one thing that most people don't know about you?
I am a 2007 graduate of Virginia Tech

If you could only eat one thing the rest of your life and your only choices were the items below, what would it be? Lemon Flavored Skittles

Contact Nikehia:  nikeshia@vt.edu

Senator Chad Proudfoot representing Extension

Why did you want to be Senator?
I wanted to help give a voice to my constituency, and to serve as an advocate for A/P faculty.

What is one thing that you would like to do, one change you would make, or one policy you would like to influence as an AP Faculty Senator?
I would like to work to try and equalize the benefits and status of A/P Faculty with the T&R Faculty and the Staff.

What is one thing that most people don't know about you?
As extroverted as I seem, I'm actually an “extroverted introvert” which is surprising to most people.

If you could only eat one thing the rest of your life and your only choices were the items below, what would it be?
Lemon Flavored Skittles

Contact Chad:  cnproudfoot@vt.edu