VCU Staff Senate

Division of Administration

Become a Senator

What Does the Staff Senate Do?

VCU Staff Senate advocates for, communicates with, empowers, and supports VCU and VCU Health staff. Our vision is to help VCU become an exceptional place to work for everyone.

Our core values of advocacy, integrity, accountability, support and education guide us in our responsibilities as staff senators to: 

  • Advocate for the staff and their ideas and concerns to the University / Health System administration and the VCU community.
  • Provide valued information to staff regarding opportunities, resources, and tools available at VCU.
  • Foster professional development and career opportunities among the staff of VCU and VCU Health.
  • Build upon our existing strengths in collaborating with other stakeholders – faculty, administration, students and patients.

What does it mean to be a Senator?

Typically, a senator serves a three-year term, but in some cases, a new senator will complete the term of a senator who left the Senate mid-term. In this case, the term will be 1 or 2 years. Each senator is asked to set aside up to 4-6 hours each month for Staff Senate membership responsibilities.

As a senator, you represent the concerns and interests of the employees in your assigned meta-unit. To serve those staff members well, it is important to be an active member, which involves attending monthly Senate meetings; being in regular communication with the staff in your organizational unit and sharing their ideas, questions and concerns with the Senate; and participating in the work of the Senate by serving on Senate Committee(s), volunteering for Senate events and initiatives, and in other ways that suit your time and talents.

Benefits of Being a Senator

As a member of the Staff Senate, you have the opportunity to:

  • Collaborate with staff from across both campuses and be a part of an organization that cares deeply about the well-being of staff at VCU.
  • Provide input and help to shape VCU programs and policies that are of particular interest to staff.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of how the University works, how decisions are made and what different schools and units do.
  • Connect with VCU leadership and engage in conversations with top administrators. Staff Senate interacts with senior leadership through Senate meetings, the University Council, and other representative bodies across VCU.
  • Provide your coworkers a voice in University governance.
  • Hear first about upcoming VCU initiatives and provide input.
  • Develop professionally and expand your network. The Senate provides many opportunities to wear a new hat, such as committee chairs, volunteering at major events, and taking on projects or major initiatives.