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The Â鶹¹ÙÍø Staff Council serves as the representative "voice" for Â鶹¹ÙÍø staff and is dedicated to fostering collaboration among staff, faculty, students, and other organizations to advance the University's mission. Established in 1994, the council was formed with the purpose of championing Â鶹¹ÙÍø's goals and representing the interests and concerns of more than 1,600 staff members.

Each year, Â鶹¹ÙÍø staff members have the opportunity to nominate who will advocate for and support their interests. The Staff Council embodies attributes such as pride, commitment, and a strong sense of belonging to the community. 

If you have a specific concern or an idea that can benefit Â鶹¹ÙÍø Staff, we encourage you to share it with us at our upcoming meeting or by emailing us at scouncil@utep.edu. Your dedication and involvement to our campus is what makes Â鶹¹ÙÍø truly remarkable. We sincerely appreciate your invaluable contributions in making Â鶹¹ÙÍø the exceptional place it is today!

Below you will find the specific goals that the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Staff Council aspires to achieve as it transitions into a more advisory role during the academic year 2024-2025. Embracing its advisory capacity, the council seeks to facilitate open dialogue, provide valuable insights, and collaborate with university leadership to enhance decision-making processes and overall institutional excellence.

Enhance and diversify communication channels between the community, Staff Council, and university administration to foster transparent dialogue, facilitate the efficient exchange of ideas and insights, and promote collaborative decision-making processes. 

a. Plan and attend New Employee Orientation dates for new staff members to learn about the council and meet members.  

b. Enhance digital communication channels by optimizing the Staff Council's social media presence, implementing an email newsletter, and updating the council's website, with the aim of increasing engagement across all platforms.  

c. Organize two (one per semester) “Coffee with Staff Council” sessions, to promote direct dialogue between staff, council representatives, and university administrators, with a goal of engaging at least 10% of staff members. 

Enhance staff engagement and growth by implementing a comprehensive program of proproffestional development opportunities, social events, skill-building workshops, and networking activities, aiming to increase staff participation and visibility of the council. 

a. Organize and deliver at least 6 diverse professional development workshops throughout the academic year, covering topics such as leadership skills, technological proficiency, and workplace wellness. 

b. Plan and execute one-to-two major staff/peer social events (one per semester) designed to boost morale and foster a sense of community, aiming for a 10% attendance rate.  

c. Establish a structured networking program including monthly lunch-and-learn sessions, foster mentorship opportunities, and one-to-two two large-scale networking events, with the goal of facilitating meaningful connections that engage at least 30% of staff members. 

Develop and present a comprehensive proposal to university leadership that identifies key staff needs, outlines employee success programs, and advocates for increased resource allocation to enhance staff well-being, professional development, and career advancement initiatives, with the aim of improving overall staff support and satisfaction. 

a. Conduct a comprehensive staff survey and series of focus groups to identify key needs and priorities across staff on campus. 

b. Develop a detailed outline of employee success programs, including well-being initiatives, professional development opportunities, and career advancement pathways, with projected costs and resource requirements for each program component.  

c. Create a compelling, data-driven proposal document and prepare an engaging presentation for university leadership, incorporating visual aids and concrete examples, to be delivered by the end of the academic year.