Note: Although Staff Council serves as the voice and advocate for all staff, it does not have the same function as Collective Bargaining Units to which some members of the ̽̽ staff belong. Staff who are part of the UE Local 267 are not permitted to participate in Staff Council at the request of their union.
Attend Staff Council Sponsored Events
There's always something to look forward to with Staff Council! Learn about some of our annual or upcoming events, including discounted tickets to some great Vermont experiences.
You can also learn more about upcoming opportunities in the latest edition of Staffline, Staff Council's Newsletter.
Attend Meetings
Staff Council Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month from 12:05 pm - 1:30 pm and are open to all members of the ̽̽ community as well as the public.
Participate in a Standing Committee
You do not need to be an elected representative to be a Committee member! All you need is an interest in helping to make ̽̽ a better place to work.
The Staff Council has four Standing Committees (Personal and Professional Development; Community Engagement; Social; and Compensation, Benefits, and Budget), an executive board, the Staff Council Professional Development Fund Committee (SCPDF) and a nominating committee. With the exception of the executive, nominating and SCPDF committees, membership is open to all staff members, faculty, retirees, and students. (Staff represented by UE267 are not eligible per their union's request) If you would like to participate on a committee, fill out the .
Join Staff Council
Serve as a Representative
Staff Council Representative Elections take place each spring, we accept applications for vacancies on a rolling basis. Please check the list of Representatives to find out if there is a current vacancy in your unit. Then fill out the Representative Nomination Form (PDF). You may self-nominate or nominate a colleague.
Staff Council Elections
Staff Council Representatives are elected annually in April and represent staff from all corners of ̽̽. We have established 23 Units which include all colleges and major divisions. Representation in these areas is determined annually by a staff census performed through the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment in accordance with our bylaws. Representative term years run from July 1 - June 30.
Requirements
- Each representative is required to attend our monthly Staff Council Meeting and participate on one of four Staff Council Standing Committees.
- Each representative is also required to distribute information (generally provided by the Staff Council Office) regarding Staff Council business, activities, and communications to their units.
- Each representative serves a three-year term, however, if changes occur in your personal or professional life that make it difficult to maintain this commitment, you can step down from your position at any time and a new election in the unit will be held.
- If you are the only interested staff member in your unit, you may be confirmed without the need for an election.
- On occasion, term lengths are less than 3 years if you are appointed to fill a midterm vacancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total estimated time commitment for a Staff Council Representative?
It varies with your participation level. We estimate that most representatives spend two to four hours a month total on Council activities, including the Staff Council meeting, their committee meeting, reviewing materials, and working on any Staff Council projects. Some representatives choose to join more than one committee or to take part in many projects, and these individuals may spend more time. But if you choose to attend just the regular Council meeting and your committee meeting (as most representatives do), your commitment will be about three hours per month.
Do I have to use my personal time for Staff Council meetings?
No. ̽̽'s Employee Handbook and union contracts contains a provision for reasonable release time to attend Staff Council meetings and to do Council work. You do not have to use personal or vacation time for Council work. Your time on Staff Council is considered service to the University.
What if my position is grant-funded?
It is important to have grant-funded areas represented on Staff Council. Funds are available to reimburse grants up to 3.5% of a grant-funded employee's salary for time spent engaged in Staff Council activities. If you are a fully grant-funded employee and win an election for a representative position, the Staff Council Office will work with your unit to address any release time questions or concerns as they relate to your grant funding.
Still have questions?
We invite you to reach out to the Staff Council office by sending an email to staff.council@uvm.edu.
Serve as an Officer (President or Vice President)
The leadership positions of Staff Council President and Vice President are elected every two years during the month of May through a University-wide election. The next elections will take place in May 2025. The officer nomination period will end on April 11, 2025. All eligible ̽̽ staff are invited to vote for these officers.
Eligibility
To be eligible to run for either of these positions, you must be qualified to serve as a Regular member of the Staff Council whose record in Human Resources shows that you:
- are a regular full-time or part-time employee at ̽̽, and not on probation at the time of election;
- your job is part of the University’s Career/Pay System;
- you are not employed in the Staff Council Office.
In addition, the President and Vice President shall have a minimum of six months of Staff Council experience within the previous six years. The President's experience must be as an elected representative.
Why should I run for a position as officer?
You’ll develop as a professional in lots of different ways! Specifically, past officers credit their service as having improved their public speaking, time management, leadership, writing skills and organizational skills. Serving as an officer also expands your knowledge of other staff members, units, and our institution in general.
Your service will benefit your unit financially! If you are elected Staff Council President, the Staff Council Office pays 20% of your salary for the two years of your service. This allows you to spend that time on Council business, and also helps out your department. (However, note that your role will not always take 20% of your time every week – some weeks are quite busy while others are very light.)
You will get an “insider’s view” of administrative issues of all kinds and you’ll learn new things all the time.
You will build community and help take ̽̽ in new directions!
You’ll get to directly bring forth the issues and concerns of ̽̽ staff in meetings with the Chief Human Resources Officer and team as well as other ̽̽ community stakeholders, and you’ll be a part of strategizing about how to resolve those issues. You can bring your passions to the role and develop new initiatives to improve the working lives of ̽̽ staff members.
What characteristics make a good officer?
- You see the big picture.
- You’re willing to have tough conversations, when they’re called for.
- You are a good listener, a collaborative team member, and have a passion for fairness.
If any of this sounds like you, please consider running for an Officer position. It's a chance to help steer and guide the Council as we continue working for the betterment of the staff at ̽̽ and the entire ̽̽ community.
The Officer Nomination Form (PDF) and the Responsibilities of Staff Council Officers (PDF) contain the application and the duties and responsibilities of the President and Vice President. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Staff Council Office. The Staff Council Administrator would be happy to talk through the expectations and time commitments involved with Council leadership and how the Office would support you during your service.