Hampshire College

The Staff Advocacy Committee (SAC) advises the administration on issues of importance to the staff. The committee works to provide staff input for College decisions and strategic planning efforts, and strives to improve communication between staff, faculty, and the administration. 

SAC consists of six members elected from semi-geographical areas on campus.

Please visit our intranet page for more information about SAC (log-in required).

Current members and whom they represent

• Lani Blechman: Dean of Faculty Office, school offices, President's Office, Central Records, Civil Liberties
• Marge Dunehew: Blair Hall, Admissions, HR, Purchasing
• Katie Knox: Physical Plant, Farm Center, Hampstore, Special Programs and Events, Communications
• Andrew Hart: Library, Career Office Resource Center, IT, post office
• Matt Krefting: Institutional Advancement, Lemelson Center, Children's Center
• Matt Swiatlowski: Student Affairs, Advising, house staff, RCC Multisport Center, Cultural Center

Meetings are biweekly on Fridays at 10 a.m. in the Bradford College Room of the Library.

Meetings scheduled for 2009-10 are:

October 9, 23

November 6, 20

December 4, 18

January 15, 29

February 12, 26

March 12, 26

April 9, 23

May 7, 21

June 4

Bylaws of the Staff Advocacy Committee

1. Mission: The Staff Advocacy Committee (SAC) will represent, advocate,
and promote staff concerns at the College, ensuring that the interests of its
constituents are taken seriously. SAC's advocacy is informed by staff and
institutional priorities. In this document, "staff" is understood to mean monthly and bi-weekly paid non-faculty employees of the College.

2. Composition of the Committee: The Staff Advisory Committee is made
up of six elected staff and a non-voting minutes taker. Members will be
elected from semi-geographical areas of the College to ensure that all
constituencies are represented.

3. Elections: 

a. Terms: SAC members will serve for a term length of two years. Members can serve for a maximum of two consecutive terms. Half of SAC will be elected in the spring of each year to provide continuity for the committee. If in any year all members of SAC are new, half of the members may serve for one or three year terms (as the committee shall decide) to return the committee to a staggered term schedule.
b. Geographical Constituencies: Currently the following six semigeographical constituencies are defined (using campus mail codes) to contain approximately the same number of staff. They may be changed by a majority vote of SAC if that should become desirable.
1. Physical Plant/ Farm Center/ Special Programs/Bookstore/Communications: PP, FC, SP, BS, CM
2. Library (including everyone who works in the building other than the bookstore): LO, CD, OO, SO, SB, PO, DP
3. Student Affairs/Advising/House Staff/RCC/Multisport Center/Cultural Center: SA, AC, MH, DH, GE, PH, OP, MS, MC
4. Institutional Advancement/Lemelson/Children's Center: DV, LM, KC
5. Dean of Faculty Office/School Offices/President's Office/Central Records/Civil Liberties: DO, SS, NS, CS, IA, HA, PR, CR, DB, QS, WP, CLPP
6. Blair Hall/Admissions/HR/ Purchasing: AD, BO, DS, FA, HR, LM, KC, TR, MB, PG,
c. Unscheduled Vacancies: A member may resign from SAC by notifying the chairperson in writing. Members automatically leave SAC if they leave the employ of the College. Such unscheduled vacancies will be filled by a special election within their constituencies. The replacement for the vacancy will serve out the existing term and be eligible to run for SAC in the future.

4. Conduct of Meetings 

 a. Election of a chairperson will take place at the first meeting of the year at which all SAC members are present. The committee will elect a chairperson or co-chairpersons from among its members. The vote will be by secret ballot, counted by the minutes taker.
b. Agenda: The chairperson will send members an agenda prior to each meeting, usually by email. Constituents wishing to present agenda items for SAC's consideration must submit their request to a SAC member in advance of the next scheduled meeting. Constituents may attend meetings as observers and participate in discussion of agenda items they have proposed.
c. Meeting Schedule: SAC will hold meetings bi-weekly between September and June. SAC will hold a minimum of two all-staff meetings each year, with additional all-staff meetings as necessary. SAC will also meet with members of the board of trustees at their request when they meet on campus.
d. Quorum: Greater than half of the elected members constitute a quorum. Presence of a quorum is necessary and sufficient to vote on issues and conduct business. If no quorum shall exist then the meeting will be declared cancelled and all agenda items will be moved forward to the next scheduled meeting.
e. Absences: When a member has had four unexcused absences, SAC will suggest to that person's constituency that they elect a new representative.
f. Voting: Voice vote or show of hands is the usual method of recording a vote. Secret ballot may be requested by any member. The minutes taker will record the results of the vote, including the number of dissenting votes. Dissenters' names will be included if requested by them.
g. Formal recommendations from SAC will be distributed to all constituents prior to being communicated in writing to the appropriate parties. Additional verbal communication is optional. SAC members may request to be the presenters of recommendations.

5. Responsibilities of the Minutes Taker: The minutes taker will be responsible for taking minutes, distributing a draft to the committee for additions and changes, and sending the minutes via email to all staff. These will be done as soon after the meeting as possible. An additional copy of the minutes will be sent to the College archives. The minutes taker will also be responsible for conducting elections to SAC, as well as conducting the election for SAC chairperson.

6. Appointments to Committees: If SAC is approached by faculty or the administration to appoint staff members to a campus-wide committee, SAC may do so by holding an all-staff election. SAC will not vet staff. SAC members may serve on or attend other committees and forums, where appropriate, as representatives of SAC.

7. Bylaw Changes: Bylaws may be changed by a majority vote of the committee.

* updated 11/12/07