MSU’s Staff Senate and Classified Employees

Facts: MSU Classified Employees

• Classified employees (CEs) include both union and non-union bargaining unit affiliations.
• Fall 2011 data shows 1,103 CEs at MSU in five categorized groups:
  • Classified Professional, 233
  • Secretarial/Clerical, 258
  • Technical/Paraprofessional, 274
  • Skilled Craft, 50
  • Service/Maintenance, 288
• 84.5% of CEs work full-time; 15.5% work part time.
• The average CE has been working at MSU for 8.4 years. 
• 27% will reach MPEA retirement age within the next 4 years.

Staff Senate and Its Mission

Staff Senate is a results-oriented peer organization that enhances the role of classified employees in shared governance by creating a culture of optimism, teamwork, creativity, resourcefulness, and by dealing with everyone in an open and ethical manner.

The Staff Senate was established by MSU’s President in 1976 as a means of facilitating communication and cooperation among classified staff, and communication with administration in the development of general decisions and policies which affect classified employees.  The Senate is intended to promote collaborative efforts by classified staff with others on campus in mutual efforts to effectively and efficiently carry out the land-grant mission at Montana State University, Bozeman.

Shared Governance

Shared governance at MSU is a dynamic set of processes in which input from all campus constituencies provides advice, direction, and perspective to the institution’s administrative leadership about issues, policies, and procedures that impact the direction and quality of the University’s instruction, research/creative activity, and service programs.   Staff Senate is an enthusiastic leader in shared governance.  We meet frequently with our partner organizations - ASMSU, Faculty Senate, and Professional Council – and with the President and Administration whenever necessary.  Our interactions are strongly collaborative and provide a medium for resolving problems and pursing mutual goals.  Staff Senate is a shared governance leader, and focuses on tying classified staff priorities into the mission, goals and strategies of MSU, the Montana University System, and the Board of Regents. 

Staff Senate and Your Participation

Staff Senate meetings are on the third Wednesday of each month and are open and all are welcome. Agendas and minutes are available on the web at www.montana.edu/staffsenate.

Staff input is essential to Staff Senate's ability to convey the classified voice. We encourage you to attend Staff Senate meetings, participate in surveys and other feedback media, and become involved in Shared Governance activity.