Shared governance in action: The staff perspective

As a shared process of decision-making and representation, the shared governance system encourages community members to participate and share their perspectives on resolutions and processes that impact them. This system encompasses all five major constituent groups of the university — faculty, staff, administrative and professional faculty, undergraduate students, and graduate and professional students, each of which has its own senate — as well as administrators. It requires an informed and knowledgeable community and allows for transparent and open two-way communication between representatives and their constituencies and amongst governing bodies and the Virginia Tech community. 

Those who take part in shared governance structures have a unique opportunity to make their voices heard and advocate for decisions that matter to them. Amber Hagan, operations coordinator for the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education (CRCPE), has been a staff member at Virginia Tech for five years – four of those years in her role at CRCPE. 

Hagan shared her perspective on her experiences in the Staff Senate and the importance of staff involvement in shared governance. 

How long have you been involved with the Staff Senate?

I’ve been involved with the Staff Senate for a little over a year and a half.  When I first got to Virginia Tech, I was very busy getting to know the university and completing my bachelor’s degree. I knew that once I had more time, I wanted to get involved in something meaningful, so that’s when I started attending meetings. 

What sparked your interest in getting involved in the Staff Senate?

I’ve always believed that you get what you put into things, and I wanted to give something back to the university. It’s cool to be involved in the process of making changes or to speak for groups of people who don’t typically have the opportunity to sit at the table. The first meeting I attended was the Staff Senate’s first reading on adding participation in governance to staff job descriptions. I got to see the process of making a change happening live. At that meeting I was like, “I’m hooked, I’m ready to go.” 

What did you learn in your first term on Staff Senate?

When I started, I didn’t know what I was getting into or what would actually be involved. I’ve learned an incredible amount in a short period of time. I’ve learned how the pieces of the university fit together, and I now see how the decision-making process works.

It was amazing to see how decisions get made about anything from benefits to what it takes to get tenure. In shared governance, you can really see every piece of the university. 

What qualities do you think make an effective representative?

I would say enthusiasm, creativity, and tenacity. This is a volunteer opportunity. We’re not getting paid to do this, so there has to be a certain amount of internal motivation. You’ve got to be excited about the opportunity to make a change. 

Sometimes you’ll hear no, or the process won’t work the way you think it will, and you have to learn to take that on the chin and find another way to go at the problem. Sometimes the answer won’t be what you’d want, but you can get to the same solution in a creative way.

What are you excited about on the Staff Senate this year? 

I recently got appointed to be on the task force for staff and non-student wage compensation. We’ll be looking into establishments in the area as well as peer institutions, and we’ll be benchmarking salary, benefits, and total compensation. We want to see if there’s anything we can change to make it even better for our staff and non-student wage employees. I’m excited for the opportunity to find ways to make Virginia Tech a better place to work for veteran employees, and a go-to destination for new ones as well.

Why should staff members get involved in shared governance?

This is our opportunity to have a say. I’ve always thought that the best way to approach a problem or something you want to change is to come to the table and talk about why it doesn’t work and bring solutions to that problem. 

We are the pieces behind the machine that keep it running, and this is our opportunity to provide our perspective, be heard, and make the changes that we want to see.

What’s something you wish everyone knew about shared governance?

You don’t have to be a senator to come to a meeting. All our meetings are up on the governance website, and you can stop by and hear what people have to say. You’re under no obligation to be there for every single meeting. Just showing up and seeing the process may spark interest for some people.

Being on Staff Senate isn’t just about what I want to see; it’s about what would be best for all staff and non-student wage employees, together. We represent everyone, so we’d like everyone to be there.

There are always new opportunities to take part in shared governance and to make your voice heard at Virginia Tech. If you’re interested in any of our governance bodies, learn how to get involved.

The Governance at Virginia Tech website features several additional resources, including Governance 101 tutorials for community members who are interested in growing their understanding of governance structures and procedures, and the Governance Corner newsletter includes important information on governance at Virginia Tech. To stay up to date on resolutions, visit the Resolution Tracker. For more shared governance perspectives, check out Shared governance in action: the faculty perspective.