The Staff Voice

September 2024

Introducing your 2024-2025 Staff Council Officers

Carol Hernandez

Staff Council Treasurer

Financial Assistant to Business Managers for both School of Art and Studio for Creative Inquiry

Jen Weidenhof

Staff Council Secretary

Business Administrator and Operations Coordinator, Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development

Staff Council Representatives

Staff Council is comprised of 60 representatives who are elected to two-year terms. There are 30 Divisional Representatives (2024-2026) and 30 At-Large Representatives (2023-2025), who work closely with university administration to address issues and develop effective solutions for staff and the university community.

A list of CMU Divisions represented by Staff Council Division Representatives is available here.

Welcome from your 2024-2025 Staff Council Chairs

Dear Carnegie Mellon Staff Community,

Welcome back! Ryan and I are excited to kick off another amazing academic year and hope you are as well. The Staff Council is here to support you and amplify your voices as we work towards a vibrant and collaborative community.

This past year, after many years of effort, we saw significant benefit improvements including enhancements to our dependent tuition benefits and parental leave policies, ensuring better support for our staff and their families. We continue to both lead and support campus wide events such as the upcoming Food Drive to benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank and Take Our Children to Work Day. We also want to remind you that our monthly meetings are open to all staff — your ideas and feedback are invaluable to us.

If you are new to Carnegie Mellon, Staff Council can be a great way to get involved and meet others from across the university. We have many open committees that focus on topics that interest or concern staff — from Sustainability to Wellness and beyond.

Ryan and I welcome you to reach out with concerns or ideas as we continue to set our focus for the upcoming year.

Here’s to a year of growth, connection and success!

Warm regards,

Mary Ganska, Chair

For a full listing of Staff Council Divisional & At-Large Representatives, please visit the Staff Council Who Are We page.

Staff Council General Body Meeting

Meeting Highlights for Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024

Jaime Schoyer and Becca Naughton, Family Care Concierge Specialists at Human Resources, presented at the meeting and discussed several updates.

Access to newly compiled lists of programs, childcare centers, activities and elder care services.
Expecting and new parents may schedule 30-minute appointments to review available family care programs.
CMU recently won a Breastfeeding Friendly Place Award.
Lactation rooms and 3 Mamava pods are available on campus and can be accessed through an online form.
CMU offers a Dependent Care tax-free benefit of $5000 per family for Dependent Care Reimbursement, Cyert Center Benefit and Care for Business backup care days.

We welcome you to review the powerpoint, available through the BOX Folder, to learn more about the details of this informative presentation.

Meeting Dates & Minutes

Upcoming Events

Family Weekend | Sept. 27-28

Family Weekend brings together undergraduate and graduate students, families and friends for several days to experience the vibrancy of the Carnegie Mellon campus! Attending Family Weekend is free, however some events require registration or purchased tickets. Please include your CMU student in your family’s registration. The full event schedule can be found on the CMU Events App.

Scotty Saturday | Sept. 28

Scotty Saturday celebrates all things Carnegie Mellon spirit and pride! Join us during Family Weekend for a fun-filled day of activities, CMU traditions, student talent showcases and free snacks. Highlights include the Spring Carnival Theme Reveal, Chartwells Applefest, Night Market tabling, a photobooth, the Scotty Mascot and much more!

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration | Sept. 30

You are invited to the Latine Faculty and Staff Alliance's second annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. The event is on Monday, Sept. 30 in Rangos 2 CUC from noon - 2 p.m. It will be catered by several local Latin restaurants, and there will be music, dancing and more! If you would like to attend, please complete the RSVP form. We hope to see you there!

Andy Awards and Years of Service Awards | Oct. 15

The annual Andy Awards and Years of Service Awards will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 at noon in McConomy Auditorium, Cohon University Center with a reception to follow in Rangos Ballroom. The Staff Council Rewards and Recognition Committee, who facilitates the Years of Service awards, is looking for volunteers to work at this event to register participants as they enter and then hand out Years of Services certificates during the reception. Please contact Jen Weidenhof, Rewards and Recognition Chair, if you are able to volunteer your time!

Fall Mending Workshops | Mondays & Tuesdays

Fall mending hours will be hosted Mondays from 5-7 p.m. in TechSpark Makerspace and Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m. in Hunt Library Studio B. This is an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to learn how to alter and repair their clothing in a laid back setting. Individuals are encouraged to bring something to repair, or just come to learn. All materials are provided and no experience is required. For questions, please contact Katrina D'Arms.

Employee Resource Group (ERG) Spotlight

What’s an ERG?

Employee resource groups (ERGs) are teams made up of CMU staff and faculty members who come together for a common cause. They help raise awareness about various issues and create a supportive space for members. Plus, ERGs are great for connecting with the local community and getting involved in other campus activities.

Come back every month to learn about a specific ERG at CMU! Want to find out more about ERGs and how they engage the campus and greater the Pittsburgh community? Visit their website for more information. To get involved with an ERG, complete the membership form!

Staff Council Website

Staff Council Email

Staff Council Facebook

Staff at CMU: My Heart is in the Work