Election Process
Purpose
The purpose of the Staff Council is to act as the representative body of all non-faculty staff of WPI. Staff shall be defined as all permanent, non-union staff members who are not members of the President’s Management Council. As such, it shall have the power to review and make inquiries into matters of the campus community for the benefit of all concerned, and; 1. to increase the sense of identity, recognition, and worth of each staff member in their relationship to the Institution; 2. to identify concerns relating to staff and to seek solutions; 3. to provide a channel of communication with administration and faculty; 4. to promote staff development and well-being and to recommend policies which aid in retaining highly qualified personnel; and 5. to integrate staff into campus governance and existing university affairs, and to organize and conduct meetings in order to make recommendations on all matters affecting the welfare of its constituency and to direct to the appropriate persons or councils.
Annual Elections
An annual election process (while keeping half of the Staff Council intact) will ensure the flow of continuity from year to year and will allow for rotating participation in the Staff Council moving forward. Staff Council member terms expire on June 30 of the second year of service.
Timeline for Election 2026
April 6th – April 22nd:
Opening of peer and self-nominations submissions.
APRIL 24th:
Applications due by end of day
May 11th:
Candidate Forum on Zoom - a moderated session where staff can hear from and meet the candidates.
May 11th – May 22nd:
Voting/elections will take place.
June 5th:
All nominees will be notified of the results.
Mid-July:
University-wide announcement of newly elected and appointed members.
Early August:
The newly elected Staff Council members will begin their term in August for a term length of two years.
Eligibility Criteria for Staff Council Membership:
Any staff employees (except union members, faculty and members of the President's Management Council) are eligible for nomination and to participate in voting.
The Staff Council will be comprised of 18 members; 14 elected and 4 appointed, with the goal of equitable representation across departments, exempt and non-exempt employees and demographics. Each member represents all eligible staff. To ensure a balanced representation of all university divisions and departments on the Staff Council, the council members are categorized into 7 divisional groups. Each group is comprised of approximately an equal number of eligible employees with similar work functions.
This organizational approach to the election process will help support divisions regardless of their size and is designed to support all areas of work regardless of function.
For election purposes, areas, and numbers of representatives to be elected from those areas will be designated and reviewed by the Executive Committee each election cycle. Any change in the areas will be determined by a majority of the Staff Council before elections are held on or before the April meeting or when deemed necessary and appropriate.
Voting Method
Changes to the Voting Method will be announced in Early April.
Nomination Process
- The nomination process will open on April 6th and will run through April 22nd to receive peer and self-nominations.
- The Staff Council committee in collaboration with Talent and Inclusion will vet all submissions to ensure nominees meet eligibility criteria.
- Nominees will have the option to accept or decline the nomination.
- Elections will take place online from May 11th through May 22nd at 11:59 p.m.
- Elected members will be informed June 5th
- A university-wide announcement will be sent in mid-June.
- The Council will have its first meeting with newly elected and appointed members in early August.
Questions?
Staff Council Constitution and BylawsIf you have further questions about the process or about the Staff Council in general, you may email at staffcouncil@wpi.edu.