Staff Council hears update on presidential search

The staff representative who sits on the University of Colorado presidential search committee talked with University of Colorado Staff Council (UCSC) members during a Dec. 13 video conference, updating members about the search and listening to concerns.

Council members had invited Corey Edwards to their meeting to find out about his experiences in his representative position, but also to express the issues important to staff that could be affected by the university’s president.

Edwards, who currently serves as CU Denver’s online student success manager, also has relationships with the other campuses in his online education and professional development roles.

Earlier this month, Edwards said, the search committee held its first official meeting as a group and discussed responsibilities and confidentiality requirements. He reminded council that the committee’s role is not to select a new president for the university but to instead recommend five candidates for the position to the Board of Regents, which will make a final decision.

He told council members he is committed to listening to staff concerns and understanding the characteristics they seek in a president.

“I read every single email and am looking for themes that can be elevated to the committee,” he said.

Council members then discussed with Edwards some of the pressing work issues that university staff have communicated to them, including:

• Salary equity. Disparities exist not only between campuses, but also on the same campus between schools and divisions and within departments. In addition, staff pay is often lower than what is found in similar positions in the private sector.
• Promotional tracks. Council members noted that President Bruce D. Benson was an advocate of “promoting within,” but said the university loses professionals because these workers cannot advance their careers.
• Additional duties. As campuses continue to grow, staff have reported that they are given additional duties but have not been given additional time to complete those duties or commensurate pay.

In other business, the council:

• Discussed plans to update the organization’s bylaws at its next meeting in January.
• Heard updates concerning plans for an upcoming development day; and
• Heard reports from campus and system. The CU Boulder and CU Denver l Anschutz councils will be conducting surveys to learn more about work-life issues that affect staff, including affordable housing, child care, elder care, and flexible work schedules.