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Staff MeetingBaylor's Staff Council tackles myriad issues
By Meg Cullar
During recent controversies regarding Baylor's faculty and
administration, attention was focused on the Baylor Faculty Senate, an
elected group that represents the faculty to the administration. But
the university's staff members--who number more than 1,250 and
outnumber faculty members by at least 400--also have a representative
body that they elect to present their concerns to Baylor's
administration.
The 2008-09 chair of the Staff Council, Angela Funai, MPAA '08, says the group serves as a liaison. "Our main mission
is to be a communication line between staff and the university
administration and to be the voice of the staff," says Funai, who is
Baylor's director of foundation and corporate development.
Members of the Staff Council have always been selected from across the
university, representing various administrative units based on the
number of employees in the departments. But until two years ago,
members of the group were appointed by department chairs. Now the
thirty-six members are elected, and that has made a big difference,
says Patricia Pack (pictured above with Funai), Staff Council vice
chair and operations manager of the Mayborn Museum.
"Before, it was something that the members were assigned to do rather
than something they chose to do," Pack says. "I really do think that's
made a difference. Because they are voted in, and it's something
they've put themselves into, they are very vocal. It's not a quiet
bunch, and that's good."
Funai adds, "I feel like people really have been willing to speak their
opinions. The Staff Council members are always open to the views of
others, and we talk very openly."
Recently the Staff Council has consulted with the administration on
parking issues and on the proposed change of university logos. In the
past, they were pivotal in securing improved benefits for part-time
employees, expanding holiday schedules, and creating the STEPP
(Striving to Enhance Personal Performance) program of luncheons that
provide continuing-education credits. Staff Council also successfully
lobbied to have photos included in the school's online directory. "It's
primarily a security concern, so we can see who works here and who
doesn't," Funai says. But it's also nice to be able to look up someone
whom you know only by phone, she says.
Issues on the table for the near future include an attempt to get
Baylor to improve enforcement of its policy forbidding smoking near
building entrances and an effort to install an employee as an
ombudsperson for staff.
But the council is not completely issue driven. They are well known on
campus as the force behind the Spirit Shirts they sell each fall.
Employees are encouraged to don the green-and-gold shirts every Friday
to support the university. The council also performs a major service
project each semester. And one of the most important things they do,
Funai and Pack say, is to recognize staff through the annual
Outstanding Staff Awards. The council collects nominations for awards,
and a committee chooses the winners, who receive $1,000 each.
While Pack says she'll likely run for re-election to the council, Funai
is not so sure. The development division is getting so large, she says,
that she believes she ought to give the chance to someone else. "It's
been a tremendous learning opportunity to see how the university
operates, what goes on behind the scenes, and to have a chance to take
some leadership roles," she says.
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