Staff Council

The current plan is for it to be composed of 18 staff members across the institution—although the initial election will designate eight members and one appointed member. Sixteen (16) of these members would be elected by the community. To ensure diverse representation on the Staff Council, two additional members will be appointed by T&I leadership.

​The initial proposed structure is for terms within the Staff Council to be two-year appointments. Individuals will be able to serve for two terms (four years in total, consecutive or with breaks in between terms) before a break of four years. After the four years have passed, individuals will be eligible to run for the Staff Council again. Once constituted, however, the Staff Council reserves the right to change these terms. Elections will happen every spring.

​The eight elected Staff Council members will broadly represent the functional differences of the work areas across the community. The members appointed by T&I will help ensure even greater diversity within the council.

​The Staff Council will be led by co-chairs, a treasurer, and a secretary. Each member will oversee an internal committee. These committees may include, but are not limited to:  

·     Talent & Inclusion: Policies and Equity 

·     Community Engagement: Town Halls, Tabling, and Small Milestone Celebrations 

·     Professional Development and Training 

·     University Issues and Policies 

​The Staff Council will work with senior leadership in Talent & Inclusion and will also collaborate with several groups or committees on campus led by T&I (e.g., the Fringe Benefits Committee). In the Administrative Policy Group, the Staff Council will be represented by two of its members. The two co-chairs will serve in the Joint Coordinating Council and at Board of Trustees meetings, as deemed appropriate. As topics relevant to their areas of oversight/responsibility arise, the Staff Council may also maintain a regular cadence of meetings with the president and other campus senior leaders.

​Working with the Staff Council is entirely voluntary. If you are nominated, you are free to decline consideration.

​Serving on the Staff Council has professional and personal benefits. Members will develop leadership, organization, and communication skills while collaborating with colleagues from various divisions, departments, and offices. As the council progresses, members will learn about the important issues affecting the university and its employees and help make recommendations for specific improvements. As they become advocates for WPI staff, they'll help drive change in areas important to the employee experience at WPI.

​The Staff Council will have a webpage and regular correspondence to reach staff constituents. Through the website and other communication avenues, the Staff Council will effectively collect and disseminate important information, document and publish meeting minutes, and increase awareness of initiatives.

There are a few set parameters to ensure the success of the Staff Council and to be sure the university meets its priority to have well-represented and inclusive participation in the selection and appointment process. To help promote equal representation and encourage broader perspectives and input, union members (as they have voting rights or representation by means of another university group), part-time employees, employees in probation or in a new-employee introductory period, faculty, and members of the President’s Leadership Team (TLT) are not eligible to vote or to serve on the Staff Council. The decision was made after comparison with staff councils at peer universities and consideration of WPI’s organizational structure.