In July of 1974, upon the recommendation of a University-wide governance committee composed of administrators, faculty, and staff, the Staff Senate of the University of Louisville was formed and met for the first time. THE REDBOOK Chapter 5.

In July of 1975, the Chair of the Staff Senate was invited to sit at all meetings of the Board of Trustees of the University, both open and closed.

In October of 1977, the Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution supporting staff representation on the Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville.

In January of 1978, the Board of Trustees adopted the revised version of the University Redbook which gave full credence to the University of Louisville staff as a partner in the governance process of the University.

In March of 1980, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation (House Bill 412 now included in KRS 164.820) giving the staff official representation on the University of Louisville Board of Trustees.

The Staff Senate Chair, Carolyn Cochran, became the first voting staff member of a state University Board of Trustees in May, 1980.

The first edition of the Staff Senate Fact Book was published and distributed in May of 1983, with the direction of the Plans and Policies Committee and the Staff Senate Chair, Robert Cochran.

In October of 1983, the Staff Senate began distribution of the Staff Senate Minutes to all staff. The Minutes were replaced by the Staff Senate Highlights in October, 1984, to provide a more timely and concise communication to the staff.

During the next twelve years, the Redbook, Article 5.7.1. and KRS 164.20 allowed the Staff Senate to responsibly and faithfully administer, review, and make recommendations on policies and objectives affecting the needs, concerns, and interests of all staff while representing staff in all aspects of University governance.

In January of 1995, the Board of Trustees recognized the need to establish a direct line of communication with representatives from the Staff Senate and charged them to craft a document that outlined staff issues and concerns and included possible solutions. The document crafted became the Improving Staff Morale Document (ISMD) which provided an opportunity for the Board of Trustees to do just that: help the Senate improve staff morale. The document lists 29 recommendations focusing in the areas of compensation, human resources, retirement, staff development/recognition, and tuition remission.

As of 2011, the Vice President for Human Resources (VPHR) has been delegated the responsibility and authority to act as the President's liaison to the Staff Senate and to act for the President, as appropriate, in day-to-day management of operations and communications with the Staff Senate.

Elected Chairs of the Staff Senate