University Times

If election turnout is any indication, the new University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Staff Association (UPBSA) is a big hit.

Out of a possible 68 staff members on Pitt's Bradford campus eligible to vote in the staff association election on Oct. 28, 52 of them cast ballots.

"It was stunning. We did not expect that turnout," said UPBSA President Laurel Butler. "It was really incredible." According to Butler, the Bradford campus has a total of 72 staff members, but four of them are in their provisional period, so were judged ineligible to vote.

In addition to Butler, officers elected during the balloting included President-elect Michele Angevine, Recording/Corresponding Secretary Julie Dykstra and Treasurer Lorie Johnson.

"We're really glad to see that they formed a staff association," said Darlene Harris, president of the Pittsburgh campus Staff Association Council (SAC). "I think it is going to be very important to the institution. I think the other regionals should do it, too." The Johnstown campus has had a staff association for several years now and the Greensburg campus is currently in the planning stages of forming one, according to Harris.

The idea for a staff association on the Bradford campus grew out of the series of interactive, televised SAC meetings that were transmitted by satellite to Pitt's four regional campuses over the past year.

In the course of one of those meetings during which the task force on fringe benefits' report was discussed, Butler and a number of other staff members at Bradford realized that Pitt was about to change its fringe benefits program with what they felt was very little input from any of the regional campuses.

"That was the point where we realized we had better do something to get our voice heard," Butler said.

Butler and other staff members at the Bradford campus first approached SAC President Harris to inquire about joining the Pittsburgh campus SAC. Harris told them there was no mechanism for regional campus representation on SAC, and then suggested that staff members at the Bradford campus form their own staff association.

Bradford staff members first discussed starting an informal staff group. During an informational meeting attended by about two dozen staff members in April, though, it was decided the best way to gain a voice in University governance would be through a formal staff association, completed with bylaws, officers and committees.

"We wanted to be recognized by the campus community and provide a communications channel for staff," Butler said about the decision to start a formal UPBSA. "We also wanted to gain some recognition off campus as a group doing good things for people both on and off campus." After it was decided to form the UPBSA, SAC President Harris met with Butler to discuss SAC's history, its role at the University and to provide details on bylaws and organization. Bob Knipple, president of the Johnstown campus Staff Activities and Concerns Association, supplied the UPBSA with information on operating a staff association on a regional campus.

"We helped with some things, but for the most part, they did it themselves because they had a real desire to do it," said Harris.

UPBSA's first official activity was a staff orientation/training session prior to the start of the fall term. During the session, representatives from each Bradford department made a presentation to new staff members.

More recently, UPBSA has sponsored a charity drive to collect items needed by the Bradford senior citizens' center. The donated items were presented to the senior center during Thanksgiving week, Butler said.

UPBSA's next meeting will be on Jan. 25 at noon. The location of the meeting will be announced after room assignments are set for the new term, according to Butler.

–Mike Sajna