Letter from our New Chairs

Hello Staff and Research Faculty,

Welcome to the start of a new semester! Fall is always a busy and exciting time on our campus, and we hope the semester is off to a great start for you. As we begin a new Staff Council year, one of our primary goals is to strengthen the connection between Staff Council and the more than 7,500 staff and research faculty we represent. We want Staff Council to be increasingly visible, accessible, and responsive to the people we serve, and we want to make it easier for you to know what we are working on and to tell us what matters most to you.

To help us better advocate for your needs, we encourage you to share your feedback on our website and take a few minutes to complete this newsletter’s survey. Throughout the year, Staff Council representatives will also be working to strengthen communication within the areas they represent so that we can develop a more consistent feedback loop between our constituents, Staff Council, and campus leadership.

Our priorities this year include advancing conversations around staff and research faculty compensation; helping our community understand and provide input on issues related to collective bargaining; strengthening faculty-staff relationships in partnership with the Boulder Faculty Assembly; continuing our work related to the Resolution to Reaffirm and Commit Support for a Positive Work Environment for the Transgender, Intersex, Non-Binary Community; and ensuring that staff and research faculty perspectives are represented in our conversations with campus leadership and other shared governance groups.

Just as importantly, we want to continue strengthening how Staff Council approaches this work. We are committed to constructive advocacy, meaningful collaboration, and building productive relationships across campus while remaining a strong and independent voice for staff and research faculty. We believe Staff Council can have the greatest impact when we bring both the concerns of our constituents and thoughtful, actionable ideas to the table.

We also want Staff Council to be easier to engage with throughout the year. In addition to our monthly full Council meetings, look for opportunities to connect with representatives at campus events, participate in surveys and listening opportunities, and learn more about campus issues through Staff Council programs and conversations. We always encourage your feedback on how Staff Council can better serve staff and research faculty, so please don’t hesitate to reach out via our website or join us at a full Council meeting.

Finally, to all staff and research faculty, thank you for everything you do—both seen and unseen, acknowledged and behind the scenes—to support students, collaborate with colleagues, advance the university’s mission, and make CU Boulder a better place to work and learn. We hope you have a wonderful fall.

Warmly,

Leah McDaniel Parvez
Lauren Way
Chris Marelli
Co-Chairs, CU Boulder Staff Council