Campus Life

University Staff Advisory Council hosts second annual summit

Judy Grant, regional vice president of Health Advocate Solutions, delivers a presentation entitled "Working through Stressful and Changing Times" at the University Staff Advisory Council's second annual summit. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The University Staff Advisory Council (USAC) hosted its second annual summit on April 16. More than 50 Penn State staff members representing Staff Advisory Councils across the Commonwealth convened for a day of networking and learning. 

Nicole Sturges, chair of USAC’s Commonwealth Campuses Committee and lead organizer, said the summit “was created as a way to connect staff advisory councils or similar staff organizations from across the University. Our hope was to encourage communication, networking, and provide a forum for an exchange of ideas. It also gives us an opportunity to promote and share information about USAC and how staff can get involved. ”

Jeannine Hanes, USAC Chair, opened the event by welcoming all attendees from across Penn State campuses.

“We want to open up the line of communication between various Staff Advisory Councils so we can help each other and learn," Hanes said.

Judy Grant, regional vice president of Health Advocate Solutions, Penn State’s employee assistance program (EAP) provider, kicked off the presentations with an overview of the programs and services offered through the EAP as well as tips for working through stressful and changing times. Grant advised attendees that “change is constant and change creates stress which accumulates in a rapidly changing environment” and that the key is to create “change hardiness, in that you can’t help being affected by change — but you can learn to have control over how you react and respond to it.”

All attendees then had the opportunity to share lessons learned and best practices from their own Staff Advisory Councils. Members of the Eberly College of Science Staff Advisory Council shared their plans for an upcoming staff engagement fair in their college, hosted in collaboration with the college’s United Way Committee and sub-committee on climate and diversity. Staff from Penn State Hazleton have started a mentoring program; the College of Engineering Staff Advisory Council hosts “lab tours” for staff; and the Corporate Controller’s office hosts coffee and connect sessions to network staff across their different buildings. Penn State Harrisburg shared their recent discussion between the Faculty Senate and the SAC, an opportunity for faculty and staff to open their lines of communication.

Annie Campbell and Susan Morse, representatives from Outreach and Online Education (OOE) Ambassadors, shared the story about the development of their program, an idea born from several staff in OOE with backing from OOE’s leadership. Campbell described the motivation for the program as “taking a transition and defining who we were as an organization and have staff be a part of that.” More than 20 staff members serve as ambassadors within OOE and help share organization-wide information through informal networks and peer-to-peer conversations, reinforce the values and mission of OOE, funnel employee feedback to leadership, and encourage participation and engagement.

Samantha Walker and Benjy Romig, both part of USAC’s Communications Committee, presented ways to further improve communication between USAC and Staff Advisory Councils across the Commonwealth, both emphasizing that communication equals opportunities. Mark Belkowski, USAC chair-elect, concluded the summit by requesting feedback from all attendees. He emphasized the value of learning from others and encouraged attendees to provide feedback via the post-Summit survey.

About the University Staff Advisory Council:

Formed in January 1995, the University Staff Advisory Council is "the voice for Penn State staff” and exists for the purpose of suggestion, review and advice on issues that impact or are impacted by staff. Issues such as policy and practice, continuous quality improvement, diversity, customer service or other similar matters are addressed. The council acts in an advisory capacity to the University administration through the vice president for human resources.

USAC is composed of 24 members from across campuses, colleges and units, including liaisons representing the President’s Equity Commissions. To learn more about the council, visit https://hr.psu.edu/university-staff-advisory-council.

Last Updated September 4, 2020