USAC serves as 'voice' of staff members to administration
One of the first recommendations implemented from the University's 10-year Strategic Plan was to organize a group that would represent staff members' concerns to the administration.
The University Staff Advisory Council was formed in 2000 and has been serving as a "voice" for staff members ever since.
Whether it's exploring possible new benefits, studying the feasibility of having a jogging trail on campus, or implementing a program to donate sick or vacation time to other employees in need, USAC has been the liaison between staff and the administration.
"We look at anything anyone has a question about," said Christie D'Amour, the 2005-06 USAC chair. "The issues we deal with vary," but in all cases, "we serve as staff advocates."
Last year, USAC studied the possibility of an early retirement plan, and this year, the members asked for and received input into a new bonus plan for staff. Initially, USAC was asked simply to communicate the plan to the staff, but when they took a look at it, "We liked the premise but wanted some input," said Scott Tilghman, a USAC member.
Largely due to that work, "the administration is ready to bring us to the table on more issues," Tilghman added.
For example, in November President Bill Cooper asked to meet with the council to discuss staff needs. From that meeting, the council and the president agreed to several action steps. Among them are designating a member of the president's office staff to serve as a liaison to the council and offering open-door monthly office hours for staff with the president.
The council also agreed to study the Harvard model of an Office of Work, Life and Family Resources as well as similar offices at universities more closely matched to Richmond. USAC will serve as a steering committee to look at implementing benefits that can affect departments positively, such as flex time and job sharing. In addition, the president asked the council to present him with the top three needs identified by the staff.
In order to identify staff needs, D'Amour said that USAC will administer a staff satisfaction survey in January. "We will bring suggestions from the survey to President Cooper," she said. The survey will be Web-based, with paper copies for employees who do not have access to a computer.
D'Amour said anyone on the University's staff can approach a member of USAC with a concern, or they can post a question or concern on the council's Web site at http://oncampus.richmond.edu/staff/usac/. Here staff also will find summaries of USAC's monthly meetings, a list of members, meeting schedules and summaries of various actions.
USAC membership includes representatives of three job categories: managerial/ administrative, clerical/support services and service/maintenance. Up to 19 members, who are nominated and elected by staff, serve on the council. Representation for each job category is based on the number of staff in each category at the time of the election. The associate vice president for human resource services and the vice president for business and finance serve as nonvoting, ex- officio members of the council.
After spending some time organizing itself after its fall 2000 inception, the council "got down to business by implementing a benefits comparison study," said Susie Reid, who served as chair from 2000-03. "Overall, the benefits at the University rated very high in all categories" with peer/aspirant institutions, she said. An early recommendation was that tuition benefits to staff be increased, which was approved. USAC also endorsed the UR Healthy Program and benefits for same-sex domestic partners, both of which were approved by the administration.
Even when recommendations are denied, Reid said, "We at least gain a better understanding as to why something is not possible." As members of USAC, "we have all done our best to look at the issues objectively and with an open mind."
D'Amour stressed that the council's work is confidential and meetings are closed. Summaries are posted each month so staff members can read about what was discussed and acted on.
"We want feedback and comments," she said. "We are all very proud to serve on the council. It's hard work, but we're trying to make a difference."
For more information on USAC or to read meeting summaries, please visit http://oncampus.richmond.edu/staff/usac/.
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