Community Involvement

Community Events and Traditions

A number of community events and traditions are posted on eDigest.

Staff Council

The mission of the Smith College Staff Council is to give members of the administrative, administrative support, and service staff a direct involvement in the governance of nonacademic affairs and in the life of the Smith College community.

Staff Council ensures participation of staff in the policy-making process, promotes visibility of staff as valuable members of the Smith College community, and facilitates a sense of belonging within the community. The Council examines policies affecting the college community and makes recommendations to appropriate committees and administrators. The Council actively seeks to involve all segments of the college's diverse staff in the Council's decision-making process.

Staff Council is not a labor organization; it is not authorized to negotiate grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work.

All members of the administrative, administrative support, and service staff are eligible to run for Staff Council. Staff Council members are elected annually by vote of the staff and representation is distributed proportionally based on the numbers of administrative, administrative support, and service staff in the general staff population. In addition to the elected members, two nonvoting representatives are appointed by the President to act as resource persons and communication liaisons to the Council.

Staff Council Committees

Staff Council has six standing committees and one ad hoc committee. Staff Council will create additional ad hoc committees as the need arises.

Staff Council Released Time Policy

To support and facilitate involvement in Staff Council, the college will extend released time for staff as indicated below. All released time must be scheduled in advance with your supervisor.

Elected Staff Council Representatives

Elected representatives will be granted up to 30 hours of paid released time to attend scheduled Staff Council and committee meetings held during an individual's normal work hours. During the academic year, it is expected that this will average no more than two to three hours per month. Members will not be compensated when Staff Council or committee meetings are held outside their normal work hours.

Members-at-Large appointed to Staff Council Committees

Members-at-large appointed to Staff Council committees will be granted up to 20 hours of paid released time each fiscal year for attendance at committee meetings. During the academic year it is expected that this will average no more than two hours per month. Members-at-large will not be compensated when committee meetings are held outside their normal work hours.

Members-at-Large (non-elected members) attending Staff Council meetings

Staff may use vacation, personal, or make-up time (during the same work week) to attend a Staff Council meeting held during their normal work hours.

Staff Council Community Forums

With advance notice to their supervisor, staff may receive released time to attend two Staff Council community forums a year if the forums occur during their normal work hours.

For more information on Staff Council or to obtain a copy of the Charter, contact the Staff Council representative for your department or the Office of Human Resources, or visit the Staff Council website.

Other College Committees

A number of other committees exist to serve the Smith College community. Nominations for many of the committees that have staff appointees are coordinated through Staff Council; other nominations are coordinated through the Office of Human Resources.

Conservation

For information about Smith College's conservation efforts, see the Facilities website.

Smith and Northampton

For information about the college's partnership with the local community, see Smith & Northampton.