UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.— As a new term begins for the University Staff Advisory Council (USAC), the council reflects on their impact and involvement from the past year.
Recapping the last year
The recently released USAC interactive annual report outlines the work completed during 2022-23 academic year, during which the council provided opportunities for engagement among council members, between USAC and university leadership, and between USAC and the Penn State community. As the council continues to find new ways to engage with the Penn State community, they have expanded communications reach this year, including sending the USAC monthly brief to all Penn State staff via email and publishing regular Penn State News stories to highlight Council meetings and activities. Monthly meeting briefs are also available on the USAC website.
Among notable highlights from last year:
- USAC members became involved in a variety of University committees, working groups and search committees, including optimized service teams (OST); the budget working group; and search committees for the provost, general counsel, vice president for Human Resources, and more.
- This year’s speakers included President Neeli Bendapudi; Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff to the president; Jennifer Wilkes, vice president of Human Resources; Sara Thorndike, senior vice president of Finance and Business and Treasurer; Justin Schwartz, executive vice president and provost, among others. Speakers shared information and updates from across the University, asked questions, and gathered feedback on issues important to staff.
- For the first time, USAC’s Outreach and Engagement Committee conducted three travel meetings that were held in-person at several campus locations (and included an option to attend via Zoom). These meetings facilitated interactions between USAC and campus staff councils, as well as areas considering the establishment of a staff council, to share issues happening across their campus or unit. Consistent discussion points guided the conversation at each meeting.
- USAC invited Penn State staff to participate in the council’s listening sessions and provide important staff level feedback from across the University. More than 470 staff members representing nearly every campus participated. This year’s sessions centered around themes related to staff morale, rankism, recognition and support. In the months following the sessions, USAC leadership was also given the opportunity to present their findings to the President’s Council and the Human Resources leadership team. During each meeting, USAC executive council members provided a summary of responses and engaged each group thoughtful conversation around the feedback. The completed reports and presentations
- The council hosted its sixth annual summit in March. Participants gathered in person and virtually for a day of conversations and presentations. The Outreach and Engagement Committee put together an agenda that included a networking workshop and three guest speakers: Tabitha Oman, chief ethics and compliance officer; Jennifer Wilkes, vice president of Human Resources; and a representative from Penn State’s partners at Health Advocate.
- The council hosted three USAC Presents sessions, a series of professional development presentations that started during the 2021 Wellness Days and has continued into 2023. This year’s sessions, including one as a collaboration with the Faculty Senate, were presented virtually through the Penn State Learning Resource Network (LRN) system. Recordings of these, along with previous sessions, remain posted for employees to access asynchronously. A total of 413 employees attended the three live events.
- After a rigorous nomination period, three outstanding staff members were honored in June as recipients of the 2023 USAC Staff Awards for their accomplishments and contributions to the University.
At the end of the 2022-23 term year, ten members completed their term on the council. In addition to primary job responsibilities, USAC service includes at least a three-year commitment, participation in multiple meetings per month, and time spent on special projects and events. The Office of Human Resources and USAC express sincere gratitude to these individuals for their time and contributions:
- Karen Armstrong, Director, Inclusion, Equity and Diversity, Penn State World Campus
- Elizabeth Edmondson, Administrative Coordinator, Physics, University Park
- Debra Flaig, Education Specialist, Continuing Education, Penn State Altoona
- Lynne O’Cain, Admin Support Coordinator, Eberly College of Science, University Park
- Gretchen Paules, Analysis & Planning Consultant, Enterprise IT, University Park
- Christy Shaw, Negotiator, Campus Life, University Park
- Mary Jo Stevenson: Admin Support Assistant, Campus Life, Penn State Mont Alto
- Billie Jo Yuhaniak: Administrative Assistant, Chancellor's Office, Penn State Fayette
- Linda Klimczyk: IT Manager, University Libraries, University Park
- Benjy Romig: IT Consultant, Information Security, University Park
The year ahead
When the 2023-24 term year began in August, the new slate of officers took their positions and new members began their terms as USAC members.
USAC can be contacted via email at askUSAC@psu.edu. Individuals interested in staying connected, learning more, or getting involved can also visit the USAC on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, as well as the official USAC website.