The University of Houston Staff Council Bylaws call for seven standing committees and special committees appointed by the Staff Council President on an ad hoc basis. Additionally, Staff Council has four representatives on the University System Staff Executive Council (USSEC). Current committee descriptions and memberships are below.

Staff Council is also represented on University-wide standing and other committees. See the UH Committees - Staff Council Representation page for more information.

Appointments

The Appointments Committee is responsible for recommending staff representatives to standing and other university committees for Council approval. These recommendations must be presented for approval at the next Council meeting. Upon approval, these representatives are forwarded to the appropriate committee officer or administrator. Representatives to standing or other committees are responsible for obtaining and presenting to Staff Council a summary or copy of approved committee meeting minutes of each committee's activities at least twice a year in January and July.

Co-Chairs

Communications

The Communications Committee is responsible for all external communication, including releases to university media. Duties include managing and updating the Staff Council website, sending information out on the Staff Council listserv, researching ideas by calling other Committee chairs and getting information, and writing about current events.

Co-Chairs

Cougar First Impressions

Cougar First Impressions (CFI) is sponsored by Staff Council and offers students a chance to receive campus maps, directions to class and bottled water from UH staff members stationed across campus during the first two days of the Fall semester. The event is made possible by generous contributions without student fees. See the CFI home page for more information.

Co-Chairs

Events

The Events Committee oversees specials events for Staff members and the UH community sponsored by Staff Council, such as:

• Staff Council Leadership Luncheon--This is a luncheon to recognize outgoing members and to welcome incoming members.
• Sock & Blanket Drive--During the holiday season, Staff Council collects items from the UH community to assist needy families.
• Spring Egg Hunt--The Events Committee collects candy and stuffs eggs for a UH community family event.
• Staff Mixer--This event is to show how much Staff Council supports our staff.

Co-Chairs

Membership and Elections

The Membership and Elections Committee is responsible for reviewing the apportionment of representation among the University's Divisions, for making recommendations to fill vacancies, and for overseeing and conducting the annual campus-wide Staff Council Elections.

See the Staff Council Elections page for further information.

Co-Chairs

Scholarships & Professional Development

The Scholarships & Professional Development Committee manages the Staff Council Scholarships Program and is responsible for analyzing issues related to, and advocating for, University of Houston staff professional development.

See the Staff Council Scholarships page for further information.

Co-Chairs

Staff Affairs

The Staff Affairs Committee is responsible for identifying and analyzing all issues affecting the University of Houston’s staff at all levels.  The committee formulates and presents recommendations to Staff Council to represent the staff perspective and advocate for staff interests with UH executive leadership.

The scope of this committee’s work includes but is not limited to:  employee benefits, parking and transportation, and campus safety.

Specific activities include:

• Organizing and hosting periodic public meetings with the UH President at which university issues are presented and discussed;
• Organizing and hosting periodic public meetings with staff and presenting topics of interest with speakers and opportunity for feedback; and
• Conducting employee opinion surveys and periodic issue-specific surveys, to identify areas of current and ongoing concern to staff and communicate them to UH executive leadership.

Co-Chairs

USSEC

The mission of the University System Staff Executive Council (USSEC) is to support the University of Houston System (UHS) mission by recognizing staff as an integral part of UHS, promote UHS staff issues through a positive and meaningful exchange of ideas, provide a positive collaboration between campuses concerning staff issues, and support the need for system wide staff development.

Staff Council has four representatives on USSEC, including the President, the President-Elect, and two members elected by Staff Council.

Members