LSA Exec - Annual Report - 2020-2021

LFSA/LFA/LSA Committee Final Report

Committee Name: LSA Executive Committee

Committee Chair: Chris Bohling (2019-2021)

Members (with terms):

                                            Mary Raple (vice-chair/chair elect, 2020-2022)

                                            Rebecca Schroeder (secretary, 2020-2021

                                            Meghan Misenhelter (2020-2021)

                                            Sharon Riley (2020-2021)

                                            Julie Woodrick (2020-2021)

Fiscal Year: FY2021

Standing Charges:                                           

  • Ensures the orderly and effective operation of LSA
  • Is the first point of contact for any matters referred to the attention of LSA, save those which are specifically assigned to standing committees in the Code, and where appropriate, assigns such matters to standing or ad hoc committees
  • Brings governance issues concerning all faculty and staff to the LFSA Executive Committee
  • Designates a liaison to the Organizational Development Unit and an ex officio liaison to LFA to ensure communication and information sharing
  • Monitors KU governance issues that may affect LSA, including the Staff Senate and the University Senate Committee on Libraries
  • Takes no action contrary to the desires of the LSA

 

Standing Charges Progress Summary (please include progress and/or accomplishments related to Standing Charges):

  • The committee advocated to the administration on behalf of the staff with regards to the unique challenges faced by both on-site and in-person staff during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
  • The LSA executive committee worked alongside the LFA and LFSA executive committees to craft a response to the Libraries’ Fall 2021 re-entry plan
  • The committee explored options for a potential “bottom-up” review of supervisors
  • Chris Bohling served as ex officio liaison to LFA
  • Mary Raple served as LFSA liaison to the Committee on Research and Scholarly Activities

 

 

 

 

Special Charges:

  • Continue to host Staff Development Day (or Month, if necessary) and explore the suggested programming, proposed scheduling modifications, and possible improvements
  • Explore more effective ways to encourage and increase participation in KU Libraries’ governance and its events

Special Charges Progress Summary (please include progress and/or accomplishments related to Special Charges):

  • In lieu of a single staff development day, which would have been difficult due to the ongoing pandemic, the committee hosted a series of online staff development sessions throughout the year.
  • The online, periodic format seemed to increase participation and kept staff engaged with LSA throughout the year.
  • The committee increased the number of reminders and communications sent out to staff regarding LSA events. Various staff reported that the increase in the number of reminders helped them to remember to attend LSA events.
  • The LSA advocated to the Dean and the Administration regarding several specific issues that were brought to us by individual staff members, with the potential side benefit of helping the staff to view the LSA as more directly useful to them.

 

 

Progress on Previous Year’s Recommendations (if applicable, please describe any progress or work towards last year’s committee recommendations):

n/a

Other Activities or Accomplishments:

  • The LSA executive committee began the process of archiving and migrating our existing web presence over to the new content management system, leading to the formation of the current LFSA Web Migration working group.

 

 

Recommendations:

  • Continue to work towards the establishment of a form of bottom-up review.
  • Continue to work alongside the LFSA executive committee to monitor the administration’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Potential Charges for Future Committees :

  • Work with the administration to develop a plan for special recognition of Libraries staff who were designated as on-site essential workers during the pandemic.

Prepared By:

LSA Executive Committee