Mizzou Weekly

The Staff Advisory Council had an easy time choosing the theme for the annual Staff Recognition Week, kicking off May 19. This year it’s “175 Years of Mizzou.” The council wants to celebrate not only MU’s more than 8,000 administrative, service and support employees but also the university’s 175th birthday. 

Starting the week is the Staff Recognition Awards Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. May 19 in Jesse Auditorium. The ceremony honors staff members who have reached a major anniversary in service at 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 Award for Alumni Relations Excellence. The ceremony will include a slideshow featuring 175 faces and 175 places of Mizzou. 

“Our goal was to seek out 175 different people and locations of MU because we have the tendency to forget we’re not all right here on campus,” said council President Becky Stafford. “The university is spread [throughout Columbia].”

All are invited.

New this year is a partnership between the staff council and MizzouRec, which from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 22 will host at the MizzouRec complex a Fun Day of activities, including live music, Frisbee, washers, sand volleyball, a bungee run and dunking booth 

“Chancellor Loftin has graciously agreed to sit in the dunking booth,” Stafford said. 

Staff members can also make use of the pool and Tiger Grotto, the 35-foot Scrogg’s Peak climbing tower and the basketball courts.

MizzouRec will offer free 50-minute cycling, Zumba, pump and yoga classes and access to Brewer Fieldhouse basketball courts. Visit mizzourec.com for hours and availability. 

Members of the MU administration will serve lunch — pork tenderloin from the MU Meat Market and two side dishes — from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 22 at the MU Student Center. “Last year we did hot dogs, so we really stepped it up a notch,” Stafford said.

Also taking place is the Arts & Crafts showcase, where nearly 30 staff artists will display their works from noon May 20 to 3 p.m. May 22 in Stotler Lounge in Memorial Union. In addition, staff council is offering tours of MizzouRec, Mizzou Arena, the Mizzou Botanic Garden and a history of the Quad. 

Throughout the week, Human Resources Services will host training workshops on topics including “Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft and Fraud,” “Show Me Respect in the Workplace” and “Using Mindfulness to Boost Productivity.” Visit hrs.missouri.edu/training to register and learn more about training opportunities. 

Staff can also participate in the online auction, with proceeds going to the MU Staff Education Awards. Items up for auction include a one-week stay at a beach home in Gulf Shores, Ala., during the last week of August 2014; a set of four Cardinals tickets; a set of four Royals tickets; an autographed Jeremy Maclin football; and various gift cards. Bidding goes live at staffcouncil.missouri.edu at 8 a.m. May 19 and ends at noon May 23. 

Of the week of events, awards and festivities, Stafford said, “It’s a really great way for the administration to personally say thank you to the staff and get involved in what we’re doing with Staff Recognition Week.” 

For a complete schedule of activities and more information, visit staffcouncil.missouri.edu. 

— Kelsey Allen