About
The Staff Senate is made up of 60+ senators who represent all staff working within 24 departments and schools within the academic division. The number of senators for each area depends on the size of the unit represented. Senators are elected by their constituents and typically serve terms of 2 to 3 years. Any staff member who has worked for the University for at least one year is eligible to become a senator. Please review the information on how to become a senator if you are interested in joining the Staff Senate.
Mission
To serve all academic division staff through open communication with our constituency so that we can represent staff interests to university leadership and ensure staff are an integral part of key decision-making.
Vision
Successfully representing staff interests through partnerships and advocacy so all UVA staff members feel supported and valued.
What We Do
Staff Senate engages with University colleagues to identify areas of concern and develop recommendations that support University staff. This includes:
- Addressing staff concerns in a dedicated portion of all staff senate meetings (known as “Constituency Corner”);
- Integrating staff into University governance and affairs;
- Facilitating communication between staff, administration, faculty, and other partners;
- Fostering staff development and recognition to support staff retention;
- Monitoring University policies, programs and initiatives that impact staff and, when necessary, taking appropriate action, which could include:
- Identifying areas of concern and making recommendations for improvement;
- Working with appropriate offices on grounds to ensure that critical policies, University procedures and program guidelines are clear, transparent and accessible to staff;
- Disseminating information about initiatives, programs and policies that impact staff and sharing resources needed to navigate University systems.
Statement of the Staff Senate against Intolerance
On behalf of the Staff Senate at the University of Virginia and those we represent, we affirm our commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, tolerance, and respect for all persons. We condemn discrimination — whether based on race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability — and state unequivocally that the mistreatment of any person or group has no place at the University of Virginia.