Since 1994, the UMB Staff Senate has advised the President’s Office and senior leadership on policies, procedures, and issues that affect your quality of life as a UMB staff member.

Besides salary, many issues affect quality of life on campus for staff. These include, but are not limited to:

1. Campus security
2. Parking
3. State policies affecting campus staff
4. Affordable child care
5. Campus life
6. Sustainability
7. Community outreach
8. Work-life strategies

Every spring, UMB staff can vote for representatives across campus. Your elected staff senators and alternates also serve on or are liaisons to various campus committees. We meet on a monthly basis and our meetings are open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

Currently there are 24 voting members and 4 alternate members of the Staff Senate, with representation from all the schools and administrative offices on campus. 

Our Executive Committee consists of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Communications Officer, Equity and Action Officer, Member at Large, Operations Officer, and Past President.  

Staff senators work on your behalf in a variety of subcommittees to research, advocate, and advise senior leadership as they make decisions regarding sustainability, child care, parking, safety, and more. We have several standing committees, including Community Outreach, Communications, Policy/Legislation, and University Life. For more information on all Staff Senate committees and Universitywide committees we serve on or have liaisons to, please click here.

Connecting with the Staff Senate is a good way to make your voice heard.

1. “Like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/umstaffsenate
2. Follow us on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter): @UMStaffSenate
3. Join our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12728045/ 
4. Email us at https://www.umaryland.edu/ssenate/comments-concerns-or-questions/ 

Most staff are automatically added to an email list upon employment at UMB, but it helps to connect more informally on Facebook, etc., where other staff also are connected.

Please note that it is acceptable for staff to be on Facebook in moderation, and your personal profile is not made any more visible to us nor others when you “like” us.

You can be involved informally or formally in these ways:

1. Participate and engage in conversations on Facebook and Twitter pages, “like” our posts, and spread the word to your colleagues so they can be connected.
2. Volunteer for one of our events or contribute to our community outreach projects.
3. Be involved as a Staff Senate volunteer — this is a great way to try us out, do something positive to serve our campus, and meet people all over the campus.
4. Nominate yourself for election as a staff senator and join the fun! Anyone can run for the Staff Senate, although there are more exempt seats than non-exempt/excluded seats. Staff senators serve two-year terms.