'An Inclusive and Informative Team': College of Sciences Creates Staff Advisory Council

A series of meetings within the College of Sciences has resulted in the creation of the college’s first Staff Advisory Council, a group whose vision will be dedicated to the promotion of a “positive, diverse, collaborative, and professional working environment within the College of Sciences.”

The Staff Advisory Council website is now live, and nominations for the first group of council members will open June 9. A nomination form will be available on the council website at that time.

The council’s origins stem from a series of staff listening sessions during fall 2019 and early spring 2020. Between March and May, a small group of staff met to establish the foundations of this council, including the general mission, vision, core values, and overall duties.

Visitors to the Staff Advisory Council website will be able to learn more about how the group will work to enhance staff members’ working lives, as well as the logistics around time requirements and expectations for the first council.

The features of the council website include: 

Mission

The Staff Advisory Council in the College of Sciences represents and advocates for the diverse collective body of staff within the college and interacts directly with the Dean of the College of Sciences. The Council serves as a liaison between the staff and COS leadership, providing an avenue for a significant contribution of staff expertise. The Council aims to use these perspectives to provide recommendations to the Dean of the College, as well as to inform leadership members within each independent school regarding staff matters.

Vision

To promote a positive, diverse, collaborative, and professional working environment within the College of Sciences.

Core Values

The Staff Advisory Council aims to serve as an inclusive and informative team, with members from all units within the College of Sciences who engage with their constituents, contribute to the betterment of the college, promote opportunities, and advocate for their members.

• Contribute – Build a collaborative, engaging environment and make recommendations regarding programs and policies that directly impact staff.
• Advocate – Be the voice of the staff by bridging the gap between executive leadership and staff, in the smaller setting of the College of Sciences.
• Communicate – Provide important information regarding staff concerns to the COS leadership.
• Promote - Promote staff achievements and other types of employee recognition activities; disseminate information on professional development opportunities
• Engage – Build a collaborative environment where staff within the college can develop, grow, and participate as a member of the GT community.
• Inform – Become the avenue in which staff receive information concerning Institute and College priorities and initiatives.

As a member of the first College of Sciences Advisory Council, members will work to create bylaws for future councils, set up executive committee leadership amongst council members, establish committees that will consist of members-at-large from the College of Sciences staff, and meet regularly to discuss the needs of the College of Sciences staff members.

 Council members will be asked to commit a few hours a month to the council in the form of:

• Meet once per month as a council
• Meet once per month with their established committee
• Lead or co-lead one event per year 
• Rotate regularly scheduled virtual office hours 

Nominations Timeline

June 9^th

Nominations Open—to self-nominate or nominate a colleague

June 23^rd at 5pm

Nominations Close

• Nominees will receive an email to confirm their interest in serving on the council

September

New Staff Council Announced!

 

E-Newsletter

Sign up for the Staff Advisory Council e-newsletter.