The Academic Staff Executive Committee discussed ways to improve awareness of the committee for both faculty and other shared governance factions at a meeting Thursday.
The committee was originally established as a means to give representation to both faculty and staff and allow them to communicate to administration for matters they believe to be important, according to the group’s website.
Communications Committee Co-Chair Peter Kleppin said this purpose has gotten slightly lost in the shuffle, and there has been recurring confusion concerning what Academic Staff’s purpose is as an entity.
Kleppin made the argument that if there are members of Academic Staff committees who do not understand the role of the shared governance group, which he said he believes there are, then the general public will not understand.
“One of the most important things that this group does… is we have a collective voice that has an ear,” Kleppin said, touching on the representative purpose of shared governance groups that Academic Staff encompasses.
Kleppin suggested the idea of providing a description of the duties of Academic Staff, as well as its intended purpose and most notable accomplishments, so that faculty, students and other community members have a better idea of what to expect from the group.
Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Steve Stern discussed the search to replacing his position, since he will vacate his seat at the end of the semester.
Though the search for replacing his role has not yet begun, Stern said he hopes to see a decision made by the end of April, so that continuation on projects and duties can resume as quickly as possible.
Stern also noted experience is not necessarily the most important thing to look for in a replacement.
“You’ll want someone who is a really good listener and a really good learner,” Stern said. “The person’s learning is not going to be intuitive based on their own experience.”
