University and State-level Leadership Involvements
The Staff Senate is an elected body that represents the university’s permanent, non-faculty employees. The Staff Senate serves in an advisory capacity to the Chancellor and other university decision-making bodies and meets monthly to discuss staff members’ ideas and concerns. The Senate is committed to representing and communicating the needs and priorities of staff. The Senate also works to ensure that staff contributions are recognized at WCU. The Staff Senate values and respects the worth and contributions of all individuals at Western Carolina University.
Board of Trustees
A body appointed by the NC General Assembly and the UNC Board of Governors, the body advises the Board of Governors and the Chancellor on the development, engagement, management, and strategy of the institution, and it’s role in the region, system and state. The Staff Senate actively engages with the Board of Trustees by providing quarterly reports, as well as an annual Trustee & Senator meeting.
Budget Advisory Committee
Appointed group of faculty, staff, and students who participate in the annual budget process through attendance at unit, division and/or campus budget hearings and engagement with senior leadership on general budget spending/reduction priorities and strategies.
Strategic Planning Committee
This standing committee, representing all university divisions, provides ongoing guidance and direction regarding the Strategic Plan, including an annual assessment of the goals and initiatives. The purpose of the committee is to keep constant, active engagement with the plan, and annually reassess the relevance and strategic focus of those goals and initiatives, determining which items have been accomplished, and what emerging priorities need to be included over time.
UNC Staff Assembly
The Staff Assembly of the University of North Carolina represents the staff of the 17 institutions within the University System. Staff Assembly serves in parallel function with the University Faculty Assembly and the Association of Student Governments to address the concerns and interests of each respective institution and the University System as a whole. Staff Assembly advises and communicates with officers of the UNC System on matters of important to staff members, specifically.
The body is made up of delegates, alternates, and ex-officio members. Each institution is represented by three delegates and one alternate. Western Carolina University Staff Assembly delegates include Catherine MacCallum (Chair), Regina Aton (Chair-Elect), and Claire Allison (Staff Assembly Representative), and Melissa Day (Past-Chair) serves as the alternate. The delegates from each institution meet as a body three times per year to exchange and gather information on behalf of their institution’s staff.
Representatives of the UNC System Office’s Human Resources (UNCSO HR) attend the meetings and address questions submitted in advance of the meeting. WCU’s Staff Senate will accept questions or concerns to submit to UNCSO HR.
WCU Health and Safety Committee Meeting
The Health and Safety Commitee, along with its affiliated commitees and subcommitees, is
tasked with identifying and assessing both new and existing hazards, conditions, and operations
to foster a culture of safety and promote best practices across Western Carolina University.
These commitees are integral in setting annual health and safety-related goals and objectives,
focusing on reducing workplace incidents and maintaining a safe, healthy environment for all
university community members.
The Health and Safety Commitee will implement university-wide health and safety policies,
programs, and procedures through collaboration with the Department of Emergency Services
and the Safety and Risk Management Office. The commitee will also regularly review injury
trends, evaluate safety data, and continuously work toward fostering safe work habits among all
Western Carolina University employees.
Furthermore, the commitee, in partnership with the Department of Emergency Services and/or
the Safety and Risk Management Office, will collaborate with individual departments to develop
and implement tailored, department-specific safety policies and procedures, ensuring that
safety standards are consistently upheld across all areas of the university
WCU IT Council
The Information Technology Council leverages special interest and advisory groups to provide information and recommendations concerning information technology. They consider strategies and priorities from multiple sources, including those they deem important for discussion, those brought to members by others in the university, those referred to the advisory committee by the ITC or CIO for study, discussion, and recommendations, and those rooted in discussions from the special interest/advisory groups.