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September 27, 2012

SAC president won’t run again

walkerLeadership changes are on the horizon for the Staff Association Council. SAC President Deborah Walker announced at the group’s Sept. 12 meeting that she would not seek re-election.

“This will be my last term as president for SAC,” she told members. “I will serve out my term as president but I will not be seeking out another term. … If some of you have aspirations to lead this organization, now’s the time to be thinking about that so we can have an easy transition with our elections and also an easy transition in terms of the work that we’re doing now and the work that we have done, so that we can move forward in FY13.”

Walker was elected president in 2011. Her term ends next June.

Walker told the University Times, “It was a very hard decision to make. However, over the course of the past year, I have been offered a unique opportunity to do work at the local level that is outside of the University community.  Because I believe that SAC is a vital part of the University community, it would be better to have someone in a leadership role that can keenly focus on how the council can continue to play a critical role in the future of this great institution.”

Walker told the University Times that she plans to continue as Pitt’s student conduct officer and as an adjunct instructor. She also is seeking the presidency of the Pittsburgh chapter of the NAACP and is serving as chair of the education subcommittee for the Governor’s Commission on African-American Affairs.

More immediately, SAC will have a new council secretary. Walker told the University Times that Melissa Mariotti-Robertson will begin work Oct. 8. She comes to Pitt from a position as administrative assistant at the Ligonier Valley YMCA.

Mariotti-Robertson replaces council secretary Diane Bartus, who after a year on the job recently accepted another position within the University.

Mariotti-Robertson’s position will be full time, but her time will be shared between SAC and Human Resources, Walker said.

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Walker reflected on last year’s progress and the upcoming year’s goals at the organization’s first meeting of the new academic year.

Regarding SAC’s fiscal year 2012 goals to broaden its message, understand staff issues and build pathways to solutions, “We looked pretty good,” Walker said. “We didn’t accomplish all our goals but clearly we have demonstrated that we have moved forward this year.”

She commended members on the year’s work, noting, “We missed the mark in some areas but we’re on the right track.”

J.P. Matychak, SAC vice president, added, “If you hit all your goals, they weren’t far-reaching enough.”

Walker noted several “firsts” among SAC’s fiscal year 2012 accomplishments.

The group held its first officer installation ceremony, which Walker said was well attended and well received.

SAC officers also met as a group with University Senate officers and established “SAC on the road” meetings in various departments across campus. The group formed a mentoring committee and assigned officer liaisons to each SAC committee.

She noted that the development of online registration for SAC events was well received, saving work for SAC’s administrative staff and streamlining the registration process.

Walker said ensuring staff representation and active participation on all Senate and trustee committees was among SAC’s goals. She reported that  participation was 100 percent on five committees, 80 percent on one committee, 67 percent on three committees and 50 percent on one committee. “Ideally, we want 100 percent for all.”

Other accomplishments included increasing membership by 12 percent and participation in SAC events by 10 percent, Walker said. The number of staff receiving SAC’s e-newsletter also increased, she said, without offering specific numbers.

Two SAC members, Natalie Blais and Penny Semaia, received individual recognition as recipients of the Chancellor’s Award for Staff for Excellence in Service to the University.

Looking ahead, Walker said the organization intends to continue its SAC on the road meetings as well as the staff brown bag workshops it presents in conjunction with Human Resources.

Walker said SAC would like to re-establish its column in the University Times and to implement ways to partner with Human Resources in new staff orientation sessions.

Other goals include establishing a joint group comprising the executive officers of faculty and staff organizations; meeting more regularly with senior administrators, and enhancing the SAC web site.

Committee reports

In SAC committee reports, representatives noted that chairs need to be selected for several committees including diversity and inclusion, program and planning, research and information and safety and security.

Upcoming events

• SAC’s annual Health, Safety and Security Day is set for 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. today, Sept. 27, on the William Pitt Union driveway and patio. Rain date is Oct. 2.

• SAC’s next meeting is set for noon Oct. 10 in 630 William Pitt Union.

—Kimberly K. Barlow

Filed under: Feature,Volume 45 Issue 3

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