UHD Staff Council

University of Houston-Downtown Staff Council President Caroline Smith and President-Elect Tremaine Kwasikpui joined other leaders at the University of Houston System Staff Councils (USSEC) Executive Council meeting at the University of Houston-Victoria recently to discuss issues, resources and successes.

USSEC exists to support the UHS mission by recognizing staff as an integral part of UHS, by promoting UHS staff issues through a positive and meaningful exchange of ideas. In addition, the USSEC provides positive collaboration between campuses concerning staff issues and support the need for systemwide staff development.

Some common themes from the meeting evolved as Staff Council representatives from University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, University of Houston-Victoria and University of Houston-Downtown discussed issues and possible solutions. The themes discussed were staff pay structures, career ladders and the UH System intention to develop a remote work policy. The meeting ending with a group photo, campus tour and plans for a spring 2022 meeting hosted by the UH System main campus.

“By working collaboratively with the Staff Councils across the system, we can present a more representative and unified voice to the Board of Regents. It is great to see that, overall, UHD’s Staff Council is a leader amongst our peers. The other campuses were appreciative to hear about our standing committees, funding for professional development, and open relationships with the president and university administrators,” Smith said.

Smith thanked UHD Staff Council Representatives in attendance including Krysti Turnquest, Edith Arredondo and Tremaine Kwasikpui. Some representatives attended the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams.