The P&A Senate is the voice of around 6,500 Academic Professionals and Administrators (P&A) at the University of Minnesota. The senate is an elected representative body that acts on behalf of all P&As, and enables P&As, through shared governance, to exercise their right to participate in the University's governance.

The senate is an advocate for P&A views on University planning, governance, resource allocation, and all other University of Minnesota policies and practices. We are key partners in University governance; to that end, the senate works in four primary areas: benefits and compensation, communications, outreach, and professional development and recognition, as well as providing representatives to relevant University committees and task forces.

P&As work in all 20 job families throughout the University system. P&A job functions include conducting research, teaching students, directing programs, counseling faculty, staff, and students, managing budgets, overseeing departments, and reaching out to citizens in all 87 Minnesota counties. In 1980, P&As constituted six percent of the University employee population. Currently, P&A make up about 25% of University employees.

All P&As are welcome to attend and participate in discussions at P&A Senate meetings. 

All P&As are also encouraged to submit issues for consideration by the P&A Senate.

P&A Senate Chair 

Kit Breshears
Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing
UMN Twin Cities
[email protected]
612-625-8164

P&A Senate Chair-Elect

Toni Abts
Graduate Educational Policy Office 
UMN Twin Cities
[email protected]
612-626-8045

Staff

Geanette Poole
University Senate Office
UMN Twin Cities
[email protected]
612-301-2634