Staff Senate Blog

August 18, 2010 Newsletter

by

In This Issue:

Welcome President and Mrs. Cofer!

Staff Senate would like to welcome President and Mrs. Cofer to Missouri State University! At our August meeting, President Cofer was presented with a basket full of local tastes and treats to help and Mrs. Cofer become acclimated to the Ozarks.


New Tobacco Free Campus Policy

Missouri State University strives to ensure a healthy learning and working environment by promoting a culture of health and wellness. As of August 15, 2010 Missouri State began its first step toward becoming a tobacco free campus. To learn more about the policy, designated smoking areas and programs to help you become tobacco free, go to www.missouristate.edu/tobaccofree.

Tobacco Free Campus Ambassadors Training

This interactive workshop will prepare you to support the University’s new Tobacco Use/Smoking policy as a “smoke free ambassador.” This workshop will provide information on the new tobacco policy, which takes effect on August 15th and disallows smoking on campus except in designated areas, and will prepare you to take an active role in promoting a healthy campus environment by helping to spread the word about the new policy in a respectful way.  Click on the link below to register for one of several training sessions being offered.

https://www.secure.missouristate.edu/idp/courses/IDP5100.asp?Code=THWC500&who=THWC

Senator Spotlight – Janelle Melton

I worked in the Career Center working with the students helping them get ready for that big real job interview for the career opportunity they have worked so hard for for 4 years.  I have been here at the University for 7+ years now: 2 years in the Bursar’s Office and 4 1/2 years in the Career Center, and now 9 months in the Honors College.

My undergraduate studies were completed in Santa Cruz, CA, at Bethany College and I earned a degree in Office Administration. I worked for corporate America as Executive Secretary for many years, but got burned out on that.  So, I decided to work somewhere where I could make a difference.  I love working in the school environment and cycle of the school calendar because of the variety of the job. Watching the students develop over the 7+ years here has been a very rewarding experience.

I have been working on my degree in Horticulture here for a few years now and have made the Dean’s List each semester with my 4.0 GPA.  I was awarded the ASHS Collegiate Scholars Award in 2005, which was my first year as a student, again. My focus is on Natural Landscape Designing that specializes in MO Native horticulture.  I have been the Treasurer for the MSU Horticulture Club for 6 years now and love it.

I have a son, Andy Eaton, who has completed his Master’s Degree in Creative Writing at the St. Andrew’s University in Scotland, and he graduated November 30, 2009. Andy graduated from MSU May 2008 with his degree in English with Creative Writing emphasis.  He is now teaching English at OTC (Ozark Campus) and at the ELI (English Language Institute) for MSU.

I am married to a Union Carpenter (retired) who gave 34 years of his life to that vocation.  We live in Marshfield, MO and he is my partner in my landscape business named Naturally Scaped. It’s great because I design it and he builds it!

Denim Day 5K

The Staff Senate Philanthropy, Lee National Denim Day for Breast Cancer Awareness, is the first Friday of October and will be here before you know it! The Annual Denim Day 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 8:00am at Nathaniel Greene Park. All proceeds from the 5K go toward breast cancer awareness with 75% of those proceeds staying in the local area! For more information or an entry form, email us at StaffSenate@MissouriState.edu.

Check the Staff Senate Denim Day website for additional Denim Day Week activities to be posted soon!

Did you know…

  • The Library Archives hold historical information about Staff Senate. If you are interested in learning more about how Staff Senate came to be and the work it has done over the years, stop by the Archives department and take a look.
  • The tuition waiver for credit classes was increased from 12 credit hours to 15 credit hours per academic year
  • Taylor Health and Wellness offers tobacco cessation assistance for those interested in kicking the habit. Contact THWC at 836-4000 for information.

Join us for our next Staff Senate meeting on September 2, 2010 at 1:30pm in Plaster Student Union, 313.