Legislative Issues

Even though KU unclassified staff are university employees, many issues that affect unclassified staff are decided at the state level. Those issues include pay levels, health insurance and other benefits. Unclassified Senate members visit the Kansas Legislature each year in early spring to help inform legislators about the roles of unclassified staff. We also share our opinions on current issues that affect us. .

What Happens During the Visit:
Appointments with local and key legislators are scheduled in advance. Most volunteers carpool to Topeka. Everyone meets at the State Capitol and then we break into small groups of three or four. If other universities are participating you may also have someone from another university in your group. The schedule is split up among the groups and each group visits with the legislators assigned to them. You hand them our brochure, talk about the role of unclassified staff, the importance of higher education to the state, and any other previously identified key issues. Each appointment is about 15 minutes.

In the past, volunteers' time at the Statehouse ranged from two to six hours. Unclassified staff must use vacation or discretionary day leave for their time spent on this Legislative visit.

2008 Legislative Visit:

The 2008 legislative visit occurred on February 12, 2008. Here are a few photos from the 2008 Visit.

Alexander Garrett and Phil Wilke share a laugh at the Unclassified Senate’s lobbying day at the Kansas Statehouse.		From left, Bill Parrott, Aaron Quisenberry and Martha Hodgesmith joined the lobbying effort.
Susan Corrigan, left, and Jeannette Johnson pitched in during the day-long trip to Topeka.		Unclassified staffers Mahboob Ahmed, left, and Paul Farran, right met with Representative Don Dahl, Republican from Hillsboro.

All 18 volunteers took time out for lunch at a Mexican restaurant.	Phil Wilke, chair of the Government and Representation Committee, organized this year’s lobbying day.