Action Plan in Response to Staff Concerns
At the listening sessions during the week of September 16, staff expressed concerns about fairness in hiring and promotion at the college. They want professional development and career advancement opportunities and they want to know about new job postings. Finally, they want to have more of a voice in the shared governance structures of the college. In response, we will implement the following action plan:
Staff Mentors
In fall 2020, the college will identify and appoint four staff mentors (2 HEOs, 1 CLT, and 1 Gittleson) to support our staff members. Staff mentors will assist staff with accurate information about job titles, career development, work-related concerns, and hiring processes and procedures. They will offer a safe and confidential space for airing concerns, provide referrals, consult with others, and develop cooperative strategies to resolve issues.
Staff Training
Representatives from the Office of Legal Counsel and Human Resources will develop and offer staff informational sessions about various titles under the contracts, CUNY processes for hiring, promotion, and salary differentials, and other relevant college policies, such as those that prohibit retaliation and discrimination. Union representatives will be encouraged to attend and contribute.
Staff Professional Development
The college will develop and offer professional development for interested staff on how to prepare for and advance in their careers when opportunities become available.
Management Training
The college will develop and offer enhanced training for managers on topics such as implicit bias, performance reviews, staff advancement, and a supportive and inclusive work environment.
Job Transparency
The college will enhance the transparency of job opportunities by advertising the location on the CUNY website that lists open positions. It will also include the website in the weekly BC Brief newsletter distributed campus-wide.
Governance and Staff
The Implementation Team will host an informational session explaining the current governance structures of the college. It will also host a staff-led discussion of the options for enhancing staff representation and voice in the governance structures of the college. The team may send a recommendation to the Governance Committee of Policy Council for consideration.