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1.3 Staff Advisory Council

THE STAFF ADVISORY COUNCIL (SAC) CHARTER

Statement of Purpose of the Staff Advisory Council

The Staff Advisory Council (SAC) is a body of staff members elected to represent all staff voices within the college administration. SAC is informed by the principles of shared governance which were outlined in the Strategic Planning and Analysis report on Shared Governance in 2019, and which has been an institutional priority for Macalester College since the strategic plan, Thrive, was created in 2015. SAC defines shared governance as the collective responsibility held by staff, faculty, students, and administration in all policy considerations at the college “in order to facilitate decision-making that is informed, timely, and strategic” (Thrive, 2015). As a part of the college’s process in crafting new policies and directives, SAC is consulted by leadership to elevate concerns of staff and bring staff perspective, experience, and expertise to these determinations. SAC also requests information and reports from senior staff or department heads as necessary in regards to staff concerns, and facilitates resolution of these concerns when possible. Through this process, as well as through regular communication with all staff on any relevant issues, SAC aims to increase equity and transparency, as well as contribute to actions that will promote and sustain positive cultural change on campus, in service of greater fulfillment for staff that will translate to institutional stability, dynamic growth and collaborative visioning.

Composition of SAC

SAC is composed of 11 members, with distributed representation approximately proportional to the numbers of staff in all reporting lines to the President (when possible), including one bargaining unit representative. Members of senior staff are not eligible for membership on SAC.

Membership Terms

Elected members will serve for three-year terms with a third of the Council up for election each spring.

Primary Duties of SAC

  • SAC appoints and nominates staff representatives to various campus committees and task forces where staff perspective is relevant to the process and determined outcome of the committee. A SAC representative sits on the TFOB (Task Force on Budget), and the Chair of SAC will serve on the President’s Advisory Council. Members also serve on Ad Hoc committees for initiatives and hiring leadership positions on campus, as directed by the President and VPs.
  • SAC serves as a conduit of information from all levels of staff to senior staff and the President. Staff may submit concerns, requests, proposals, etc., to SAC either anonymously via the website portal, or by sending messages to the SAC email or contacting individual SAC members. SAC responds to individual staff members and/or if the information is relevant for all staff, will post a response on the SAC website or send a notice out via the staff listserv.
  • SAC holds listening sessions and “all staff” meetings to bring important issues to the attention of all staff, and to gather feedback from all staff on a regular basis.
  • SAC holds other events with the President and senior staff to facilitate information sharing from all lines of the college to staff at all levels.
  • SAC meets at least once every two weeks, and schedules additional meetings on an as needed basis.

Voting

All official decisions made by SAC will require a quorum of seven of the 11 members.