UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The University Staff Advisory Council (USAC) will host two virtual listening sessions aimed at gathering feedback and input from staff across the institution about their diverse lived experiences, challenges and needs.  

This is the third year USAC will host listening sessions. Last year’s events welcomed 473 staff members who represented all but two Commonwealth Campuses.  

Two sessions will be held to accommodate staff schedules:   

• Wednesday, Feb. 28, from 9 to 10 a.m. 

• Thursday, Feb. 29, from 3 to 4 p.m. 

The agenda for each session will be the same, so staff may select to attend one of the two sessions. Advanced registration is required. The deadline to register is Monday, Feb. 26. All who register will receive further instructions and login information in advance.  

Questions related to the listening sessions, including requested accommodations, can be directed to askUSAC@psu.edu. 

Why attend? 

These listening sessions, to be facilitated by USAC members, serve as an essential platform for staff to express their experiences and concerns in a confidential and supportive environment.  

“Our goal in bringing staff together in this format is to gain a holistic view of the employee experience so that we may elevate concerns directly to leadership and they can make informed decisions,” says Elizabeth Fegert, USAC chair-elect. “Together, we hope to make Penn State a better place to work, and that starts with hearing directly from staff across the commonwealth.” 

A summary of anonymous feedback gathered during the sessions will be compiled and presented to Penn State’s administration and be used to guide the council’s ongoing efforts to represent and advocate for University staff. Samples of past reports can be found on the council’s website.  

What to expect 

During the sessions, participants will be asked a series of poll questions and then have opportunities to provide narrative responses that further illustrate their perspectives. Staff will have four means of submitting concerns, feedback or suggestions:  

• Advance written feedback: If a staff member is unable to attend or would prefer not to speak publicly, they may submit written feedback in advance using USAC’s anonymous comment form. 
• Live verbal feedback: Those who wish to provide feedback during the event can sign up in advance for up to five minutes of speaking time during the session.  
• Live written feedback: During the session, participants can submit written feedback in the Q&A feature of Zoom if they wish for it to be visible to the audience (this can be done anonymously). 
• Private feedback: During the session, attendees may also choose to submit feedback in the chat feature of Zoom if they’d prefer their remarks be visible only to hosts. 

Attendees should note that the listening sessions are not designed to provide answers to questions, but instead gather feedback that will help USAC and University leaders make informed decisions. During each session, council leadership will also provide updates on the council’s efforts and impact in each of the areas discussed.  

Confidentiality 

USAC’s listening sessions are designed to be a safe space for open communication, and measures will be taken to protect participants’ privacy. Feedback gathered will be shared with University administration, but no personally identifiable information will be disclosed outside of USAC. While attendees are asked to register, no individual attendee data will be shared or included in the general summary report shared with central administration, and the sessions will not be recorded. Staff will have the ability to submit feedback anonymously in advance of and during the sessions.  

Ongoing feedback 

USAC values continuous feedback and encourages staff to submit comments throughout the year by emailing askUSAC@psu.edu or via the anonymous comment form on the USAC website. General feedback will remain anonymous as requested, but USAC reserves the right to share submissions with appropriate University departments as mandated by law.  
 
Staff members who wish to submit a formal report that requires immediate attention from the University should do so through either the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access or their Human Resources strategic partner.  

USAC is comprised of a diverse group of 30 representatives from across the commonwealth who welcome multiple perspectives, celebrate and appreciate differences, and unite around common goals. To learn more about the council, visit the USAC website or follow USAC on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.