Each May, the Staff Advisory Council throws a weeklong celebration of MU’s more than 8,000 administrative, service and support employees. The council hopes the 34th annual Staff Recognition Week held May 20–24 will be the most successful one yet.
This year’s theme is “Reaching Out to Staff,” a mantra council members embrace.
Kicking off the week is the Chancellor's Outstanding Staff Awards Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. May 20 in Jesse Hall Auditorium.
The ceremony honors staff members who have passed a major anniversary in service with MU and recognizes the winners of the Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Awards, the Barbara S. Uehling Award for Administrative Excellence, the Mick Deaver Memorial Award and the Mizzou Alumni Association’s Award for Alumni Relations Excellence.
All are invited. See profiles of award winners here.
New this year is Activity Day. Seeing the successful turnout the Missouri University of Science and Technology had by holding a host of staff events all day, MU's staff council organized for May 22 on Lowry Mall a full day of fun activities, including live music, a photo booth, bicycle tours, washers and a dunking booth.
That day also features a 7:30 a.m. appreciation breakfast and a lunch overseen by Healthy for Life, the University of Missouri System wellness program for faculty and staff.
“We wanted to switch things up a little bit this year,” Staff Advisory Council Chair Becky Stafford said.
The council hopes more staff will be able to attend and still leave their offices covered.
“Everyone feels like they’re getting work done in their office, but they still have a stress reliever by coming out and joining us,” Stafford said.
Staff artists will display their works at the Arts & Crafts Showcase noon to 3 p.m. May 21 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 22–23 in Ellis Library.
Tours of Laws Observatory, the Butterfly Garden, Mizzou Arena and Mizzou Athletics Training Complex will be offered in the morning and afternoon on May 21.
Human Resources Services is partnering with Staff Advisory Council for training workshops. Topics include “Understanding Retirement,” “Civility in the Workplace” and “Parenting Challenges and Success.” Visit hrs.missouri.edu/training to register and learn more about training opportunities.
Staff can also participate in the sixth annual online auction, with proceeds going to the MU Staff Education Awards. Bidding goes live at staffcouncil.missouri.edu at 8 a.m. May 20 and ends at noon May 24.
Items up for auction include a one-night stay at the Fairfield by Marriott, a free semester of parking, a $100 Buchroeder’s gift certificate, two tickets to see the Carolina Chocolate Drops at The Blue Note, a Déja Vu office party and an autographed basketball from Coach Frank Haith.
For a complete schedule of activities and more information, visit staffcouncil.missouri.edu.
The Staff Advisory Council strives for a creative approach when organizing staff events and wants to be accessible to MU staff, Stafford said.
On the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, the council meets typically at the MU Student Center. It also has hosted several meetings at various locations across campus, from the Sinclair School of Nursing to the Agriculture Building. The various sites enable more MU staff members to attend council meetings.
— Kelsey Allen