Staff Council Action Items

Overview

This page features Staff Council active and past action items with brief statuses on each item.

Active Action Items

Item Initiated Subcommittee(s) Status
Run Staff Council and Executive Board election for 2024-25. January 2024 Elections and Governance and Executive Board New 2024-25 Staff Council members appointed. Executive Board election to be held in early May.
Pilot inviting staff-at-large to join a Staff Council subcommittee, based on interest. December 2023 Executive Board w/ Subcommittees Interest form created and circulated to Staff Council members the week of January 22, 2024. Form circulated in the Feb. 12th Staff Council newsletter; follow up to come.
Explore the possibility of a dedicated Accessibility Office for staff and faculty. November 2023 Campus Accessibility and Safety Staff Council discussed and subcommittee will research and gather data on the possibilities.
Research current shared governance opportunities/committees for staff across the campus community. August 2023 Elections and Governance Ongoing.
Research remote work policies and expectations during an emergency closure. August 2023 Campus Accessibility and Safety In progress.
Research USF history of staff sabbaticals. August 2023 Professional Development Subcommittee actively doing research.
Based on a staff web form suggestion, write recommendation that staff can be released at 4 pm on Holy Thursday, to parallel faculty and student end-time. April 2023 Executive Board To be followed up on.
Check on status of Cabinet meeting minutes webpage updates. March 2023 Executive Board Cabinet meeting minutes have not been updated since October 2022. Executive Board has checked in multiple times, including in Spring 2024.

Past Action Items

Item Initiated Subcommittee(s) Status
Requested a permanent option for new or replacement physical One Cards for staff. March 2023 Campus Accessibility and Safety New hires can now secure physical One Cards if desired. Current staff may replace physical One Cards for a fee.
Participate in shared governance meetings with President Father Fitzgerald, Provost Fung, and other stakeholders. October 2023 Executive Board First meeting attended in October 2023 and second meeting attended in February 2024. Final spring semester meeting held in May 2024.
Create proposal for a spring staff social event to both raise staff morale and help recruit for the 2024-25 Staff Council. July 2023 Executive Board Proposal was sent to Father Fitzgerald on January 24, 2024 and was refused funding, as any extra resources go to student emergencies. Staff Council will host "Bring Your Own Sip" event in the Staff/Faculty Lounge on 5/21/24, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
Touch base with and update list of USF staff affinity groups. August 2023 Inclusion, Diversity for Education and Accountability (IDEA) Completed April 2024.
Compile a list of awards/forms of recognition enacted by the different divisions and schools. September 2022 Awards and Recognition, Professional Development Complete and on Staff Council shared drive in subcommittee folder. Will continue to be updated, as needed.
Address staff compensation and advancement concerns. October 2023 Executive Board The Executive Board addressed staff compensation and advancement concerns in post-Staff Survey recommendation letter that was sent to Father Fitzgerald April 1, 2024.
Consult with Human Resources about including a Staff Council welcome letter during onboarding process. September 2023 Professional Development Subcommittee completed letter and letter distribution has begun.
Small revisions to bylaws, including striving to ensure Unionized staff are represented on the Executive Board. February 2024 Executive Board with Staff Council Amendments passed and bylaws updated March 2024.
Write and submit State of the Staff report for the Board of Trustees March meeting. February 2024 Executive Board State of the Staff report submitted and posted on website.
Develop and circulate staff survey to help refine Staff Council priorities, awareness, and effectiveness. June 2023 Executive Board with Staff Council Completed. Report published in December 2023.
Inquired about the nature of the Staff Pay Equity survey focused on non-represented staff that was budgeted for FY23. October 2023 Executive Board The Executive Board sent an email to Staff Council liaison Associate Vice President of HR Diane Nelson about the Pay Equity survey in December 2023. Counsels Donna Davis and David Philpott sent answers to the questions via Diane Nelson on 2/1/24, which was shared at the 2/14/24 Staff Council meeting. Full email will be cited in minutes for February 14, 2024 Staff Council meeting when approved and published at next meeting in March.
Request budget for Staff Council activities and recruitment for 2024-25. January 2024 Executive Board Father Fitzgerald denied request due to financial concerns.
Create, distribute and analyze Staff Survey about USF staff priorities, Staff Council effectiveness, and shared governance. Write report and share with President Father Fitzgerald and USF staff community. August 2023 Executive Board with Staff Council Completed December 2023
Follow up on status of working/non-working accessible building entrances. May 2023 Campus Accessibility and Safety Subcommittee confirmed that access points reported to the Staff Council have been fixed.
Send recommendation for increased staff mental health benefits to Human Resources. March 2023 Inclusion, Diversity for Education and Accountability (IDEA) As of August 1, 2023, Human Resources increased the number of Concern therapy sessions from eight to 10 sessions per issue, per year, for staff and eligible family members. Staff who have already started a series of sessions before Aug. 1 will only be eligible for eight sessions. The increased number of sessions is not retroactive.
Amend Staff Council bylaws. March 2023 Executive Board with Staff Council Staff Council bylaws amended, approved, and updated on website May 2023.
Secure representation at the Board of Trustees plenary meetings. December 2022 Executive Board with Staff Council Starting Fall 2023, the President of the Staff Council will start attending Board of Trustees plenary meetings.
Provide input regarding updating the current USF on-campus masking policy, as requested by Human Resources. September 2022 Executive Board with Staff Council Sent recommendations to Human Resources on September 30, 2022.
Produce a monthly Staff Council newsletter. June 2022 Communications A monthly Staff Council newsletter has been produced since Fall 2022.