By MARTY LEVINE
Staff Council officers elected in June include three new officeholders — one in the freshly created vice president for membership post — and three returning officers, all of whom were asked about the organization’s concerns and plans for the next two-year term. (Their answers were edited for length and clarity.)
President Lindsay Rodzwicz
Director of special projects and strategic initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering
Question: Staff Council is known for working with the administration to gain new benefits for staff (paid parental leave, the employee emergency fund); where is the next frontier for benefits that staff may be missing today, and how easy will it be to advocate for these, since the staff union is negotiating for Pitt’s main benefits
Rodzwicz: The Pitt Staff Union is the sole representative for those staff in the bargaining unit on wages, hours, benefits and other conditions/terms of work. But just as we have done over our 55-year history, Staff Council will continue to advocate regarding benefits for those staff who are not represented. And we will also amplify stories of all staff regarding items that are not subject to bargaining. Staff Council will also continue to provide opportunities like networking, professional development and community for all staff.
My personal viewpoint is that when you take a step back and look at the goals of both organizations, Staff Council and the Staff Union both want overall what’s best for Pitt staff. I look forward to potential collaboration between Staff Council and the Staff Union, where appropriate.
Part of what’s missing is a coordinated communication plan to ensure that staff know the vast array of what’s available to them in the entire Pitt ecosystem, not just through HR. And while the Employee Emergency Fund is relatively new (not even two years old), it’s still one of those benefits that you might not pay attention to until you are in crisis.
Non-represented staff are concerned about the rising costs of benefits. The monthly premiums went up about 8% this year. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of the increased health incentive reward dollars program for the new fiscal year.
Several items Staff Council has been discussing for a while are lactation and dependent care. My hope in the next two years is that we see more support for working families. Progress has been slow with additional lactation resources in the workplace at Pitt and perhaps there will be an opportunity to revisit some of what came out of the Senate’s dependent care ad-hoc committee. I also think there is opportunity around expanding parental leave to family leave, similar to the paid four weeks of family leave for faculty in the event of a serious medical condition or illness of a spouse, biological or adopted child, or parent for whom the faculty member has major responsibility.
I’m certain a continued hot topic will be access for faculty and staff to the new Recreation and Wellness Center as it quickly approaches completion.
Q: What new goals does Staff Council have for this academic year and next?
Rodzwicz: One big goal of Staff Council over the next two years is broad internal communication to all staff. Pitt is a vast place with many opportunities for staff. Some of that is lost, with top-down communication and opt-in newsletters. For as much as I try to stay in the know, I’m always learning of something new. For example, for those frustrated by construction, here are two newer resources: The Oakland Construction Map, and you can also sign up to receive text and email alerts about construction and facility-related news at my.pitt.edu ( search for NotifyU, select Opt-In Lists and check the box next to Construction and Facilities). You can also enroll by texting “Sub (your Pitt username) CAF” to 1-970-610-6092.
Staff also continue to be frustrated with parking on campus. We’ve been discussing what tips staff can share about their personal campus commutes. For example, what are the best bus routes staff use from different directions on campus, knowing there are recent cuts within the PRT? Are there cheap garages or lots with quicker bus routes to campus? Is there a way to best use technology to help with your commute, such as the new CommuteInfo app? Are there better ways to connect those who are looking to share a permit?
Q: How can Staff Council help staff members through these current uncertain times of hiring freezes and other Pitt-specific and national developments in higher education?
Rodzwicz: We have heard staff opinions that they are concerned over job creep, and this is amplified by the hiring freeze/controlled hiring process. Staff are also expressing their opinions about the national developments that have impact on our research, our internal population and student aid and how those in turn may potentially impact employment, as we are seeing at other large institutions. Staff should feel free to reach out and Staff Council will continue to provide a forum for dialogue and information. Our monthly general meetings are open to all.
Executive Vice President Christine Jackson
Associate dean of business and finance, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Q: What do you wish people knew more about concerning the work of Staff Council?
Jackson: Staff Council members and officers are a group of dedicated employees volunteering their time to benefit Pitt staff. We provide many opportunities for engagement, which include annual events to build camaraderie such as Pitt Day at Kennywood and a fall tailgate, monthly events such as Coffee and Conversations to learn more about the leadership journey of those within our university leadership community, and (online) Spotlights to feature relevant information for staff about a University office or area. Members volunteer their time to provide these opportunities for the benefit of all staff.
Staff Council members also participate in shared governance. We have membership on all University Senate and Board of Trustees committees. Officers have also participated in University search committees, such as the chancellor, provost, CFO and others.
Staff Council officers regularly meet with regional Staff Council officers to keep communication open between Oakland and the regional campuses.
Q: Your office is much less visible than the president’s office — what should staff members understand about the work you do?
Jackson: The executive vice president collaborates with the president on Staff Council activities. As vice president, I chair the steering committee (officers and committee chairs) and work with Staff Council leadership to identify our priorities and goals and to set milestones and timelines. The officers meet regularly with various members of University leadership to keep communication open.
Q: Given that some areas in which Staff Council acted previously are now the purview of the union, how can Staff Council continue to be as impactful as it has been in the past?
Jackson: Staff Council membership includes staff both within the bargaining unit and outside of the bargaining unit. Staff Council will continue to share information and be a resource for staff. Our events and activities are open to all staff, regardless of membership in the bargaining unit.
I have been a member of Staff Council for approximately 15 years. I have gained many professional connections across campus over that time. Staff Council is a community who supports each other. We have membership across the university and across job types.
Vice President for Public Relations Sarah McMullen
Director, Project Management Office, University Communications & Marketing
Q: What don’t people know or realize about Staff Council that you may wish to publicize this year?
McMullen: Staff Council is a resource and advocate for all staff across all campuses. It’s not limited by role or location. We want to make sure that staff know we are here for them and find value in what we do.
Q: Since not all staff members can be Staff Council members, what’s your top message for nonmembers about helping their fellow staff?
McMullen: Get to know your Staff Council representatives. We have over 100 members who are here to listen to your concerns and ideas, as well as facilitate connections and conversations across the University and with leadership.
All staff are welcome to attend our general meetings and participate in our events.
Top message: Listen to and look out for one another, take advantage of opportunities to grow, voice your concerns and celebrate the accomplishments of your colleagues and your teams.
Q: When you publicize the work of Staff Council, what reactions or actions do you hope it prompts in Pitt staff members?
McMullen: We hope staff members see themselves reflected in our work and feel heard. We also hope that the initiatives championed by Staff Council for change and community-building are relevant and impactful to them.
We want our efforts to resonate with staff so they feel proud and valued as part of a community of dedicated employees who are the backbone of a vibrant University.
Vice President for Finance Suzanne Lynch
Business administration manager, University Center for Teaching and Learning
Q: Staff Council raises money and gives a lot of it back to staff via awards and events. Are there any new places to which Staff Council ought to direct its financial assistance?
Lynch: Staff Council is committed to invest in and promote our initiatives that recognize, celebrate and support staff: Spring Assembly, Pitt Day at Kennywood and Pride on the Patio, the Staff Council Spotlight and Coffee & Conversations series, the annual Staff Council Mentor Award, Staff Council Endowed Book Fund and the Frisch Staff Council Professional Development Award. In the new fiscal year, we plan to continue to offer our annual events and to also raise funds for our awards, which will allow us to increase the number of recipients and overall impact. We also look to raise funds for the Employee Emergency Fund, which Staff Council was instrumental in initiating, and continue fundraising through Pitt Day of Giving.
Vice President for Membership Marcie Johnson-Spratt
Director of special projects, School of Public Health
Q: Why did you want to be the first holder of this new office?
Johnson-Spratt: My very first position at the University was split between the then-Staff Association Council (as its administrator) and All-Temps in HR. Now, years later, I’ve returned to Staff Council, this time with the time, energy and passion to contribute in a new way as a member, not an administrator.
When this new position was announced, it felt like a perfect fit. In both my previous work with the Alumni Association and my current role in the School of Public Health, I’ve found that I truly thrive when I’m connecting with people and building community.
Q: Given that Staff Council often has a fairly full slate of members, what are your goals for this new office?
Johnson-Spratt: One of my primary goals in this new role is to build a strong and lasting foundation for those who will follow in this position.
A top priority is to connect individually with each member for a 15-minute conversation to better understand their motivations for joining, what they hope to gain, what improvements they’d like to see, and how we can continue strengthening our membership community.
Additionally, I aim to streamline the appointment process for external committees. I plan to collaborate with the relevant University offices to ensure our Staff Council representatives are onboarded in a timely, efficient and meaningful way, setting them up for success from the start.
Q: What has worked best to recruit new members in the past and do you have any new strategies in mind for attracting members from new areas of the University or with different sorts of University roles?
Johnson-Spratt: Most people find their way to Staff Council somewhat organically, whether it’s through attending Spring Assembly or Pitt Day at Kennywood, reading our monthly newsletter, or hearing about us from a colleague. One area I’m excited to explore is enhancing our visibility, particularly through social media.
Since returning from the pandemic, the atmosphere within Staff Council has shifted significantly. While it’s been exciting to see this evolution, the dynamic today is very different from when I served as the administrator. I used to walk across campus for in-person meetings, agenda in hand. Now, with the majority of our meetings taking place remotely, I feel that we have lost some of the informal connection that helped build strong relationships across the University
Rebuilding that sense of community is important to me. Creating intentional opportunities for connection and networking, whether virtual or in-person, is essential. In fact, it was through those kinds of connections that I found my path to the Alumni Association and, eventually, to my current role in the School of Public Health.
Staff Council is filled with dedicated individuals who generously volunteer their time. I want to ensure they feel valued, engaged and connected every time they show up.
Parliamentarian Caitlin McCullough
Web content manager, School of Public Health
Q: Where does your job have the most impact that is, perhaps, not as visible to those outside of Staff Council meetings?
McCullough: Assuring adherence to our bylaws and that they, along with our operating procedures, are clear, intentional and working best practices for the organization, which is always happening in the background. As we continue to adapt to and improve upon a heavily virtual workplace, growing campus and changing shared governance landscape, it is a particularly important time for our Operations Committee to evaluate, improve and bring forward updates and improvements. These documents are important for the health and efficiency of Staff Council and help us keep things moving forward.
Operations also did a lot of work to formalize and present for vote the new VP of membership role, and so they deserve a lot of credit for bringing that to fruition and will likely work closely with Marcie Johnson-Spratt as well, operationalizing that role for the first time.
Another somewhat behind-the-scenes responsibility is collecting and preserving our history. This includes digital organization with the goal of easy reference and quick access to our best practices and lessons learned. It’s the most rewarding filing project I can imagine — a constant reminder of all of the work being done by so many committed and inspiring people.
Marty Levine is a staff writer for the University Times. Reach him at martyl@pitt.edu or 412-758-4859.
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