UA Staff Advisory Council addresses community outreach, campus issues

By MAXWELL J. MANGOLD Published January 9, 2013 at 12:09am Updated January 9, 2013 at 12:09am

The Staff Advisory Council addressed matters affecting staff and University of Arizona campus-goers this upcoming semester at their monthly meeting.

A variety of faculty department representatives meet the first Tuesday of each month to discuss pressing matters, in addition to informing others of happenings in their sectors. Tuesday’s meeting marked the first of spring 2013, where the topics ranged from community outreach, the SAC conference to suggestions for new restaurants in the Student Union Memorial Center.

“It involves complex discussion,” said Amy Morris, the associate editor for the chemistry and biochemistry department. “Voting or not to let this person over here have authority to move ahead and do something, so that’s shared governance. That’s a concept that’s important for the University of Arizona.”

Business matter discussions included a tri-university meeting, CatTran, the SAC website layout and preliminary talks of a parking garage behind Circle K on Sixth Street. Community outreach events discussed included “Cats in the Community Day,” an event for staff, students and faculty to better the area through helping a non-profit organization.

Additionally, members also discussed “On Our Own Time,” a staff art exhibit displaying artistic works created by an employee or family member of one from the University of Arizona.

“We’re like a small medieval town,” Morris said. “We have services, we have administration, we have sources of income, we have expenses … so the staff advisory council is an example of the kind of things that staff is concerned about.”

Several of the delegates said SAC’s yearly conference is what excites them most for this upcoming semester. The event, which takes place in June, consists of several seminars classified staff members can attend, in addition to guest speakers, opportunities to network and lunch.

“It gives people a chance to feel pampered for the day,” said Julia Rudnick, the appointed professional advisory council representative. Rudnick added that last year’s event left her feeling “overwhelmed,” being that it was her first and that it’s an exciting occasion for faculty.

Richard Salazar, the Parking and Transportation services representative, said he is also looking forward to the event and added that, no matter the program, SAC plans are always in the making and something is always going on.

“I think in general it’s good to cruise around for students to see the Staff Advisory Committee,” Morris said. “See what we’re doing, see what the issues might be. Not that they’re directly relevant to any given Tuesday, but that’s the larger picture of the university as an institution.”

For students interested in voicing ideas to better help staff, meetings are held in the Pima room in the student union on the first Tuesday of each month.