Your Staff Council representatives continued to work diligently on behalf of staff employees and the St. Edward's community more broadly throughout the summer and fall of 2021. We invite you to review this mid-year summary of our work. Spring 2022 Executive Summary
A lot has happened on the Hilltop this Spring and Summer, and through it all Staff Council has continued working on behalf of our staff and our community in general. Please review our Summer 2021 Executive Summary to see what we've been up to.
We are excited to announce SEU's first Employee Community Groups. The Coalition of Black Staff and Faculty, LatinX on the Hilltop, and Staff and Faculty New to HigherEd. We hope this is just the beginning of many to come. Allies are encouraged to attend meetings as well! Look for meeting information on the Employee Community Groups Workplace page!
Staff and Faculty New to Higher Education
Co-Leader: Lionel Lopez LLopez14@stedwards.edu
Co-Leader: Minh-Thi mnguye19@stedwards.edu
New employees can face challenges as they begin their time in new institutions. The New/Entry Level Professionals in Higher Education Community Group is meant to support new, incoming employees at St. Edward’s University as they transition to the Hilltop. The group will incorporate a diversity based foundation in order to embrace a more inclusive environment and create solutions to new challenges. Dialogues will be structured to support members' mental, physical, spiritual well-being. The purpose of the group is to create a community of employees that can share common experiences and build strong colleague connections. These components will work towards improving employee retention and overall satisfaction. Members can expect to have structured dialogues that revolve around intro to adulting, healthy tips in full-time work, as well as providing a safe space for members to communicate their wants and needs in their current position.
Latinx on the Hilltop
Co-Leaders: Gilbert Contreras gilbertc@stedwards.edu
Co-Leader: Homer Huerta homerh@stedwards.edu
Co-Leader: Maribel Tostado maribelt@stedwards.edu
Mission is to promote cultural awareness in the workplace and give the Latinx family on the Hilltop a community by which to attract, develop, retain and promote their advancement. We aim to provide members with a variety of connection opportunities including volunteering, professional development, recruiting events, networking events and an increased understanding of cultural norms and differences. This group serves as a cultural resource and support to minority community members, staff, faculty and students.
Coalition of Black Faculty and Staff
Co-Leader: Sirritta Roundtree sirritta@stedwards.edu
Co-Leader: Aneasha Lawrence alawren2@stedwards.edu
Mission to connect, celebrate, and advocate for Black colleagues across campus.
Staff Council has become an important part of university planning and engagement. We want to share our accomplishments and keep you updated on how we are representing our constituents.
●As proposed by Staff Council last year,the University has implemented a new Annual Leave accrual schedule based on years of service. Employees with 5 -15years of service now accrue 18 days per year and those with 15+ years of service accrue 20 days per year. Full details on the Annual Leave policy can be found in the Employee Handbook.
●The Staff Council Engagement Committee, led by Gilbert Contreras and Frank Saucedo, has developed an informative and interactive welcome segment for the virtual New Employee Orientation session held monthly by HR (see above).
●Staff Council members continue to participate in and contribute to meetings for the Board of Trustees,Institutional Oversight and Academic Affairs (IOAA) Committee, Budget Council, University Planning Council (UPC), Space Management Committee, President’s Advisory Council (PAC), and President’s Task Force on Systemic Racism.
●The Engagement Committee published an Employee Engagement Survey to gather information and guide development of future engagement activities. We look forward to offering opportunities soon.
●Council members worked with HR and our Executive Sponsors to provide feedback on the Employee Community Group policy and University Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
●The Staff Council sub-committees -- Communication, Engagement, and Governance -- established committee goals to guide Council work and objectives.
●Council members participated in University Presidential Candidate interview sessions and contributed to feedback on each candidate.
●The Staff Council Chair and Chair-Elect continue to meet and collaborate with our VP Executive Sponsors and HR staff to provide feedback on policies, promote University activities and events,resolve issues, and monitor workplace and employee trends.
●The Chair and Governance Committee worked with VPs to fill mid-year vacancies on the Council and welcomed two new members, Jennie Sutherland and Darrel Teaver. See our updated membership list.
The success of the Staff Council relies on engagement with the staff it represents. If you have an idea or a concern you'd like to raise, you can submit it using our Staff Community Input Box. We will review every submission and post any actions taken or recommendations on our public suggestion log. We are committed to St. Edward’s University, our Holy Cross Mission, and the efforts to become an employer of choice. We continue to strive to engage our Hilltop community and promote programs and policies that will allow all employees to contribute to the university’s goals and success.
Elma Cantú Aldrete
Staff Council Chair, 2020-2021
Staff Council has become an important part of university planning and engagement. During this challenging period, we want to share our accomplishments and keep you updated on how we are representing our constituents. We value you as colleagues and look forward to continuing our work together!
● Coordinated 2/12/2020 professional development activity from Health Fair raffle.
● Researched, drafted, and submitted Paid Time Off (PTO) Ad Hoc committee proposals for Annual and Sick Leave policies to reflect years of service and implementation of a donation bank.
● Continued to support New Employee Orientation with campus tours by Council members and monthly emails to new staff from Chair.
● Began participation in meetings for the Board of Trustees, Budget Council, Space Management Committee, and President’s Advisory Council. Continuing to pursue collaboration with the Student Government Association and the Faculty Senate regarding shared governance policies and procedures.
● Hosted Spring Q&A Session with Dr. Martin which welcomed over 60 staff members to informal conversation with our President on 3/5/2020. Continuing to review how to best utilize this event and maximize access to the President.
● Collaborated with the Office of Human Resources to establish and develop the COVID oriented Workplace group Remote Work Resources .
● Revised the Staff Council Community Input Box to promote claimed [non anonymous] submissions for better followup and support of staff employees.
● Augmented Kickball event for COVID Remote option, held the week of 4/27/2020 as a virtual scavenger hunt in a new temporary Scavenger Hunt-Wellness Challenge Workplace Group to promote community building. Success of this online event resulted in extension into a second week.
● Requested of administration and facilitated the Staff Council Forum: Employee Updates on 5/6/2020 to allow for shared governance approach to communication during COVID remote response, mirroring similar sessions for faculty, students, and alumni during that time period. Welcomed over 200 participants.
● Conducted elections for new staff council members (Kelly Brigance, Gilbert Contreras, Cynthia Darling, Gaby Ferreiro-Chavez, Lionel Lopez, Liza Manjarrez, and Frank Saucedo) and new office of Treasurer (Clint Jones).
● Engaged in collaboration with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative and proposed activities for 2020-2021.
Our Executive Committee and all Council members are committed to St. Edward’s University, our Holy Cross Mission and the efforts to become an employer of choice. We look forward to participating in conversations regarding the future of higher education and our Hilltop in this unpredictable and challenging time of COVID19. Serving as your Staff Council Chair during this last term was a high point of my 20 year career on the Hilltop. Getting to see our staff become increasingly engaged while we are physically apart was a proud experience for us all. I am honored to continue on as an Ex Officio member to help guide the Council’s continued support of our Staff constituency.
With pride and gratitude -- Lindsey Taucher, ‘94
Staff Council Chair, 2019-2020
Now, more than ever, our voices, ideas, and input is needed. The sense of community and connection that has continued to thrive, even in the midst of social distancing and remote work, has been an inspiration. Together, we will continue to rise to the challenge, support each other, and live up to our Holy Cross values.
Un abrazo virtual -- Elma Cantú Aldrete
Staff Council Chair, 2020-2021
Thank you to everyone in the campus community that participated in this year's nominations and elections including the Staff Council Governance Subcommittee, Elections Team, and all those who voted in the Staff Council 2020 elections.
Staff Council is excited to announce the newly elected Staff Council members that will join the currently serving members of Staff Council for a two-year term beginning on July 2, 2020. Please join the Staff Council in congratulating them.
Academic Affairs:
Cynthia Darling - Undergraduate Programs and Policies
Gilbert Contreras - Academic Counselor CAMP
Finance and Administration:
Frank Saucedo - Business Process Specialist-University Operations
Kelly Brigance - Assistant Director of Event and Conference Services
Office of the President:
Liza Manjarrez - Associate Director of Campus Ministry
Student Affairs:
Lionel Lopez - Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion
University Advancement:
Gaby Ferreiro-Chavez- Assistant Director of Alumni Relations
Staff Council wrapped up its fall term and has moved fully into the spring. I am excited to take this opportunity to review our activities from the last few months and provide a preview of our plans for the next phase of service. Staff Council operates from our four committees that guide and advocate for the needs expressed by our colleagues. These needs are expressed through conversation, listening sessions and ourStaff Community Input Box. See below for highlights of accomplishments, including both policy oriented issues AND community building experiences.
●Participated in the Health Fair and encouraged colleague attendance. The Staff Council booth provided information regarding Staff Council membership, achievements, and the council's website. Awarded a professional development activity through event raffle.
●In order to strengthen community engagement and visibility we have secured participation and membership on the Board of Trustees, Budget Council and the Space Management Committee. We are also initiating collaboration with Student Government Association and the Faculty Senate.
●Hosted Q&A Session with Dr. Martin which welcomed over 70 staff members to informal conversation with our President. Continuing to increase participation in a now semester tradition to encourage the expression of ideas and concerns of SEU staff. Items from this session that will be/are being followed up on:
○Creation of Staff Council’s PTO ad hoc committee to research and recommend policies related to peer institutions
○OfferedWorkplace trainingto provide staff better use of our official campus communication tool
○Addressing campus lighting and safety with Jim Morris
●Collaborated with the Office of Human Resources to establish two Lactation Rooms on campus.
●Created a Staff Council task in MyHilltop for ease of access.
●Worked in Committees to support Staff Council goals, including: formalizing Operating Procedures to compliment By-laws, facilitated Jingle Baskets for the Christmas Party and Campus Ministry’s fundraising efforts, collaborated with the Office of Human Resources to refresh the New Employee Orientation,beginning to develop Fundraising activities and guidelines for staff development support.I have enjoyed serving as the Chair of Staff Council and look forward to a productive and community driven spring. Our Executive Committee and all members are committed to St. Edward’s University, our Holy Cross Mission and the advance of the university’s efforts to become an employer of choice.
-Lindsey Taucher
Staff Council is wrapping up its first year and preparing for the upcoming year, which begins July 1. We want to take this opportunity to recap the activities of this initial year and talk a little about what comes next.
In February 2018, Staff Council formed four subcommittees to address common themes and priorities in response to initial feedback from the staff community. Below are highlights of the yearlong completed efforts by the council and its subcommittees.
Used Staff Council survey results as a guide to shape the council's priorities and initiatives.
Created the Staff Council website and relevant content for sharing Staff Council information with the staff community.
Reviewed established practices for onboarding and orientation of new staff employees and provided recommendations to Human Resources.
Identified and planned activities to provide staff with community-building opportunities across campus.
Hosted a follow-up Q&A to the spring President's Meeting for staff members.
Developed and approved the Staff Council bylaws to guide the future work of the council.
The new bylaws will go into effect July 1. In preparation, the council has begun establishing standing committees as outlined in the bylaws. The standing committees are Communications, Governance and Staff Engagement.
The Governance Committee soon will implement the election and nomination processes outlined in the bylaws. Be on the lookout in Workplace for further information on nominating your staff colleagues to serve on Staff Council.
We have enjoyed serving as co-chairs during the inaugural year of Staff Council. We are dedicated to the success of Staff Council and look forward to the upcoming year.
-Lindsay Goff and Cheri Sullivan
Over the summer, Staff Council released a survey to the staff community. The results of the survey have been used as a guide to shape the council's priorities and initiatives. Below are the key findings from the survey, grouped by our areas of interest.
82 percent of staff prefer in-person professional development opportunities over online opportunities.
Professional development on technical skills had the best average rank, and the highest percentage of staff select it as the most important professional development.
Professional development opportunities for leadership skills was highly ranked by several groups.
Internally created professional development programs were chosen as the most compelling reason to attend by the highest percentage of staff.
40.5 percent of staff members use Workplace on a daily basis.
Workplace and specific department channels are the two most heavily used communication channels among staff members.
In terms of communication from Staff Council, staff do not prioritize receiving updates concerning the schedule and agenda.
Overwhelmingly, in terms of events, staff are most interested in having a staff picnic.
Staff are least interested in forming a bowling league, participating in kickball or doing trivia.
Administrators are most interested in having a Staff Day in athletic events.
Managers and more tenured staff expressed interest in volunteer opportunities.
75.4 percent of staff feel engaged in the St. Edward's community.
The majority of staff are happy with their level of engagement in the university community.
Staff prioritize receiving updates about future initiatives of Staff Council.
Upon formation, Staff Council identified four areas of focus: Engage and Serve, Communication, Community Building and Staff Development. Subcommittees were formed to support each focus area and a staff-wide survey was created to elicit feedback. The subcommittees used this feedback to create the following year-one initiatives.
Develop process for staff to share issues, concerns and ideas to the council
Research and develop structure for Staff Council representation on key university committees and initiatives and further define the roles and responsibilities of the council and its members
Identify possible work groups for Staff Council initiatives to support subcommittees
Create a Staff Council website and support communication efforts for all subcommittees
Identify gaps in employee communication campus-wide and work to address those gaps — including what channels of communication the university uses
Create and share supporting material that outlines best practices for each university-supported communication channel
Identify and plan activities to provide staff with community-building opportunities across campus
Partner with Human Resources for event development to enhance and increase staff community engagement
Plan a Staff Council-sponsored social event for the fall
Support Human Resources in their efforts to develop innovative staff development opportunities based on staff goals and needs
Contribute to the development of an improved onboarding, orientation and development continuum for staff members
Work collaboratively with Human Resources to create a Workplace campaign to highlight the importance of staff professional development