The Appalachian
State University Faculty Senate and Staff Council plan to work together
in an effort to create better understanding and communication between
the organizations beginning this semester.
The Faculty Senate will follow through with its previously discussed
plan to create a faculty/staff liaison program, which will allow
one member of each organization to attend and report on their corresponding
meeting.
“I think this will show the campus community and the public
at large that we are concerned about each other and that there are
things we can do for each other,” said Faculty Senate Chairperson
Dr. Paul Gates. “I think there’s a lot to be gained and
nothing to be lost. It can only help both the faculty and staff.”
This new attempt by the faculty to connect with the staff is in
light of recent controversies surrounding faculty and staff relations
spawned by efforts not made by Appalachian’s Faculty Senate
to replicate the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s
fund-raiser to raise staff salaries.
Discrepancies came to light recently concerning the misunderstandings
between UNCG and Appalachian faculty representatives regarding the
fund-raising, and some Faculty Senate members have expressed interest
in rekindling discussion pertaining to staff salary fund-raising.
Staff Council President Peggy P. Ellis said she favors the initiative
taken by the Faculty Senate and said the Staff Council will discuss
their proposal and appoint their own liaison during their next officers
meeting.
“We need more communication with the faculty,” Ellis said.
“I hope we can each come up with good ideas and just open communication
up between each other.”
Dr. Martha A. Marking from the Department of Theatre and Dance is
the chairperson of the Faculty Senate’s committee on welfare
and morale. Marking expressed great concern regarding the recently
tainted relationship of miscommunications between Faculty Senate
and Staff Council and said she hopes this new effort to communicate
will build a bridge between the organizations.
“We were very concerned that the staff may have thought we
didn’t care about them, and we didn’t want them to think
that,” Marking said. “If it was not for the staff doing
their jobs, we would not be here able to do our jobs.”
The Faculty Senate hopes the establishment of liaisons will create
a better understanding of the two organizations’ common goals.
“The more you connect with people, the more you find out about
the situation they’re placed in,” Marking said. “Just
being there listening will help increase communication, which will
lead to better awareness, understanding and knowledge.” |
