Staff Council working to find more effective ways to communicate with staff

I have had the honor of serving on the Staff Council as a representative for the university community all four years of the council's existence, including this past year as the chair. Reflecting back on these years, it is clear that communication is the key to our success.

In the first two years, a large amount of time was devoted to telling the campus community the story of the Staff Council — that it was formed and exists to support all staff members' interests in the workings of the university.

After the first two years, less time was spent on promoting the council, and more time has been devoted to issues relating to the council's mission. It was informally assumed that the university community was aware of the Staff Council and understood its purpose. We promoted the council by handling important issues, but telling the campus community about what we had accomplished was not our main focus.

But recently questions have been raised about how the council keeps staff members informed of its activities and staff-related issues. Members of the council have recently heard that other staff members do not know the council exists or understand what it does. This has caused council members to consider more efficient ways to communicate the council's activities and accomplishments on a regular basis and on a wider scale.

We have practices in place to help us make sure that everyone is informed about Staff Council issues and activities. Each council representative has been assigned 50 staff members from the job category he or she represents and is expected to routinely inform these constituents of the Staff Council's activities. The Staff Council's web site, www.unt.edu/staffcouncil, has information about the council and is updated regularly. This column, along with other items in various campus publications, also serves as notice of the council's activities.

However, we are learning that these measures may not be enough — that some staff members are still not receiving the information we try to provide. In the coming months we will look into the various ways staff members receive communications from the council. We will be asking questions such as who does and does not have access to e-mail? Does everyone receive campus mail? We want to determine a way to get information out more effectively, efficiently and consistently, not only about the council's activities, but also about other important issues and concerns. If you have any suggestions, pass them on to your council representative, e-mail them to me at coffeyj@unt.edu, or call me at (940) 565-4488.

Lt. Jim Coffey of the UNT Police Department is chair of the Staff Council. A Staff Council column runs in InHouse every other month.

Other featured articles in this issue

• Regents change admissions policy, extend president's contract
• Million-dollar touring bus provides VIPs with star treatment
• Union Gallery welcomes staff arts and crafts show this month
• Hot news: Ideas to conserve energy and to dress to beat the heat this summer
• Staff Council representatives elected
• Making sure that Texas trees provide shade this summer
• Faculty Senate elects officers for 2003-04
• Faculty recognized at Honors Day event

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