UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. —To effectively represent staff, the University Staff Advisory Council (USAC) is planning new opportunities to solicit staff feedback in the new year. The council will be hosting two open listening sessions for staff to share their thoughts on community and belonging. Among others, topics will include staff well-being, work environment, and unit and campus culture. Two Zoom sessions are scheduled for the following dates and times:
- Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
USAC members will serve as facilitators and pre-registration is required. Contact information of attendees will only be used to provide session related information to the registrant. All registrants can be assured that no identifying data will be included in the general summary shared with central administration, which will be provided to raise awareness of staff perceptions regarding community and belonging.
Questions related to the listening sessions can be directed to Rachel Galloway, USAC secretary and co-chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Committee, or Nicole Sturges, USAC past-chair and Membership and Elections Committee chair.
Anonymous Comment Form offered
In addition to providing feedback via email to askUSAC@psu.edu, University staff now have access to an additional resource for sharing positive or constructive feedback – USAC’s new Anonymous Comment Form. Comments submitted through the form will be shared with USAC’s leadership and be used to guide USAC’s ongoing work to represent all members of the University’s staff.
Staff members who submit feedback through the form can expect that their personal information will not be shared. However, USAC reserves the right to share submissions with the appropriate University departments in matters mandated by law. Additionally, the comments submitted through the form will be used primarily for informational purposes within USAC; staff members who wish to submit a formal report that requires immediate attention from the University should instead do so through either the Penn State Affirmative Action Office or their Human Resources strategic partner.
University Outreach Committee meeting dates
Members of any University staff advisory councils can connect with members of USAC on a quarterly basis via virtual meetings hosted by the USAC Outreach Committee. This is another opportunity to learn more about USAC and share ideas, suggestions and concerns. The following upcoming meetings are scheduled for the spring 2022 semester:
- Annual Community Engagement Summit
Tuesday, March 15, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Results and Continued Collaboration from the Summit
Tuesday, May 17, 2022, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Requests for specific information related to the Outreach Committee can be directed to Cynthia Pristash or Debbie Flaig, committee co-chairs.
About USAC
USAC—the voice for Penn State staff—consists of dedicated staff who act in an advisory capacity to the central administration; explore issues, policies and practices that impact staff; suggest revisions to policies and new policy initiatives; and advocate for staff welfare and development. USAC serves the president and his administration through the vice president of human resources and accepts new members annually.
USAC is comprised of a diverse group of thirty representatives from across the commonwealth who welcome multiple perspectives, celebrate, and appreciate our differences, and unite around common goals. To learn more about the council, visit the Penn State Human Resources USAC website and for additional information, follow us on USAC Facebook, Yammer, and LinkedIn.