The UC San Diego Staff Association serves to make the campus the best possible living, learning and working environment for career staff employees. Photo by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

Staff Association Eliminates Membership Fees to be More Inclusive

All UC San Diego career staff employees can now take advantage of enhanced resources, professional development and networking opportunities

During the past six months, the UC San Diego Staff Association has undergone dramatic changes—from no membership fees to an enhanced mission to expanded benefits—to make the campus the best possible living, learning and working environment for career staff employees.

UC San Diego Staff Association Executive Board. First row, left to right: Maria Dolores-Beaupre, Amanda Chavez (Chair-Elect), Billiekai Boughton (Chair), LaWana Richmond, Leeann Dolbeck. Second row: Renee Lee, Ji Song, Helen Mout, Jacquelyn Holmes, Chuck Massey, David Bareno. Third row: John Cerda, Kris Vasquez, Jacinto Gutierrez, Olivia Anonas, Richard Belmontez.

“The Staff Association has exciting new improvements, chief among them is elimination of dues and the addition of all career staff,” said Billiekai Boughton, chair of the volunteer organization. “The UC San Diego Staff Association creates community, champions staff interests, and provides opportunities for professional networking and development. Managed by staff members for staff members, the association presents staff views to the University of California Office of the President, Chancellor Khosla and senior UC San Diego administration. Now, with the changes we’ve implemented, I’m looking forward to all the great things we’re going to accomplish together.” Boughton is executive administrator to the director and division directors of the San Diego Supercomputer Center.

All UC San Diego career staff employees can now take advantage of these Staff Association offerings:

• Thousands of dollars in professional development scholarship funds made available to Staff Association members.
• Opportunities to serve on campus-wide committees that provide recommendations to the administration and campus leadership.
• Representation at the Council of UC Staff Assemblies, a collective exchange of representatives from each UC campus providing direct input and feedback to the Office of the President.
• Opportunities to present opinions and staff views on issues affecting the university.
• Numerous occasions to meet and interact with other UC San Diego staff employees at staff appreciation and networking events.

“I strongly believe that, in opening up the membership to every staff person, the Staff Association has invited the campus community of staff to become active participants in the present and the future of UC San Diego,” said past chair Leeann Dolbeck, business operations manager in the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination. “We are better, stronger and can achieve greater success together, and I see this evolution as a step toward expanded inclusion and advancement of staff.”

Chancellor Khosla enjoys the Staff Picnic, which is presented in late summer each year by the UC San Diego Staff Association. Photo by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications.

For past chair Chuck Morgan, professional development has been a key benefit to his Staff Association involvement. “The Staff Association gave me insight into the political structure of the campus and the ability to spend time with the Chancellor to share the opportunities, challenges and frustrations the staff were facing. My involvement also provided the opportunity to see other campuses, partner with fellow staff association members from sister campuses and collaborate on projects and present them to the Regents.”

Morgan, assistant director of Facilities Management/Landscape Services and Waste Management, is a strong advocate for getting involved with the campus. “If you don’t become a part of the Staff Association, you are missing out on a rich opportunity—and an opportunity you won’t regret. If you have a heart to serve your fellow staff members and a desire to make improvements, then the Staff Association is the place for you.”

Boughton noted that one of the first efforts under the expanded Staff Association is to present a Town Hall on May 19 to review the UC San Diego-specific results of a UC systemwide policy covered staff engagement survey. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Forum Room of Price Center West. Developed by the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies, in collaboration with UC Human Resources’ Employee Relations and Towers Watson, a national firm specializing in workforce opinion survey research, the survey was sent in 2015 to about 20,000 randomly selected University of California policy covered staff asking their opinions ranging from their work relationships and supervision to career development and organizational change.

“This UC pulse survey is conducted every three years to measure policy covered staff involvement with, commitment to, and satisfaction with work,” explained Boughton. “Come join us at the Town Hall, where we’ll discuss the survey results and ask for staff input to identify ways to improve communications, increase career development opportunities, and progress in other workplace areas on our campus. If you are looking for a way to get involved, this is perfect place to begin.”

To view the UC 2015 Staff Engagement Survey results please visit the website.

The Staff Association would also like to encourage all career staff employees to participate in the elections this year. The deadline for accepting nominations for the Staff Association Executive Board is Friday, May 20. Elections are May 23-June 23. Voting will be done via Single Sign On. Learn more here.

“Voting gives you the opportunity to select those who will guide the Staff Association and represent the UC San Diego staff as a whole before the Regents,” said Morgan. “So, please exercise your vote and choose wisely.”

Dolbeck encourages staff to get involved with all facets of the association. “The Staff Association has always been recognized as the group that hosts the best events for staff on the campus, and that remains true. What has been less well known is that the Staff Association is also a group of individuals, from every background, who come together to do the hard work of examining proposed policy and issues relating to staff, to make certain that the needs of the staff are fairly represented in the process.”

To learn more about the UC San Diego Staff Association, including ways to get involved, upcoming events as well as an FAQ page for more details about the association, visit staffassociation.ucsd.edu.