University staff soon will have a new avenue for representation through a council that is being created to promote an exchange of ideas among its members and with the administration.
UAB will host a UAB Staff Council kickoff picnic 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 20 on the Campus Green to launch this new initiative, which originated within the UAB Blaze Leadership Program. Employees are encouraged to come, share their thoughts on how they think the UAB Staff Council can best serve staff and the university and enjoy free food and music.
“This staff council is an important new development for UAB,” said President Ray Watts, who is expected to make brief remarks at the kickoff. “As we continue to foster open dialogue across campus and to share the progress we are making at UAB, this council will serve as another vital conduit of information.
“Our people are our greatest asset at UAB, and our staff make highly valuable contributions daily. I know that this new council will provide additional opportunities for our internal constituents to contribute to the improvement of our institution,” Watts said.
The idea for the council was the initiative of the 2013-14 Blaze Leadership class and its members Henna Budhawani, Don Cosper, Tina DeNeen, Eric Essix and Brandi Lamon- Pinkerton, who created the concept paper. Member of the current class — Cyndi Ballinger, Ginger Hattway, Helen McIntyre, Susan Packa and Todd Smith — pursued its development and implementation to this point.
Open forums will be held for staff to provide ideas on the best ways to proceed with the creation of the staff council, its bylaws and leadership elections process. The goal is to hold elections in spring 2016.
Information regarding open forums will be announced in The eReporter. Until then, staff can email suggestions to StaffCouncil@uab.edu.
Council membership will be open to exempt and non-exempt, full- and part-time regular and irregular staff of the university; staff employed by the UAB Health System or its entities (excepting the UAB School of Medicine) are ineligible.
Other institutions in the University of Alabama System have similar councils.
University of Alabama provides representation for non-faculty through two groups: Office, Clerical, and Technical Staff Assembly and Professional Staff Assembly. UAH provides representation through a single Staff Senate.
