USAC New Member Recruitment

What is USAC?

An advisory body to university leadership, USAC’s mission is to maintain an active and participatory line of communication with the university community and to provide a forum through which university staff can raise, discuss and make recommendations on non-academic issues and to support the university’s mission.

• Directly impact and provide input on university policy development. 
• Learn about university governance and operations.  
• Engage with staff and administrators throughout the university. 
• Collaborate with colleagues dedicated to enhancing the staff experience.  
• Networking opportunities with a variety of university and statewide partners.

A successful USAC member will be able to make independent decisions and judgments. USAC members can plan, prioritize, balance, and review a variety of initiatives and projects that must be completed simultaneously and on time. USAC members are expected to think critically about a variety of evolving issues facing staff. Members must combine creativity and content knowledge to offer solutions for staff professional development, while working to shape and foster a positive culture. USAC members often seek input from staff constituents and translate this information into viable recommendations to university leadership. Members will be asked to review and provide recommendations on new and revised university policies and initiatives. Due to the nature and timing of some discussions, it is necessary that members be able to use discretion regarding personal and confidential matters. Members also serve on one of four subcommittees (Governance; Inclusive Excellence; Outreach & Engagement; or Staff Affairs) and are expected to attend regularly scheduled subcommittee meetings, complete assigned tasks, participate in taskforce assignments, and attend special events and regular business meetings. 

USAC Members:

• Are effective interpersonal, oral, and written communicators and have the ability to clearly communicate ideas with people of all experiences, leadership levels, and diverse backgrounds, while maintaining a positive and collaborative work environment. 
• Have good time management and administrative skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities. 
• Are strong relationship builders and have the ability to work closely with individuals from a variety of areas.
• Have the ability to positively advocate and must be able to be patient with the pace of change.
• Have a desire to learn more about the university’s culture, structure and leadership processes. 

Participants serve 3-year terms, meeting several times a month for committee activities including business and subcommittee meetings, events with senior leaders, and special events. The monthly time commitment is about 5 hours, plus any preparation for meetings and events. 

Note to supervisors: Members are expected to be able to participate on the committee as part of their typical work hours and should not be utilizing comp time, sick time, or vacation time to participate in committee activities. 

Participants are expected to commit to all of the following: 

• A full day retreat in August addressing USAC principles, structure, and team building 

• Biweekly business meetings on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of every month 

  • 2nd Wednesday morning online meeting 9:00-10:30 a.m.​* 

  • 4th Wednesday afternoon in-person (online option) 2:30-4:30 p.m.​* 

• Monthly meetings with subcommittees and/or task forces 

• Quarterly meetings and events with senior leaders 

• Special events 

*These days and times are subject to change to be more inclusive of varying staff roles across the university. 

Staff members must meet the following criteria to be considered: 

• 1 year of continuous, full-time regular staff service at the time of USAC appointment.​ 

• FTE of 75% or greater.​ 

• CCS, A&P, or Senior A&P classification.​ 

• If a regional campus staff member is paid through a cost-shared appointment, they must maintain 75% FTE throughout their term.​ USAC is limited to only one person with the cost-sharing setup. Otherwise, there is no limit on regional campus representatives. 

• Staff from bargaining units and members of a union represented at the university are not eligible.

With 30 members total, USAC accepts a cohort of approximately 10 members per year.  

Complete the application materials which include:

• Online application form - please also have the following items prepared to submit (via document upload) as a part of your application
  • Resume: Please be sure to indicate involvement in university-related organizations 
  • Essay: Maximum 2 pages, double-spaced, that answers the following questions: 
    • Why are you interested in serving on USAC? Please touch on how your personal or professional experiences contribute to promoting an inclusive campus environment. 
    • How do you see your involvement positively contributing to the staff experience? 
    • What current issue or issues could USAC work on to aid staff, and what types of advocacy efforts should USAC undertake to address the issues? Give specific examples where possible. 
  • Letter of Recommendation: Letter of recommendation in support of your application (1-page minimum). This can come from a supervisor or colleague. The letter should address why the applicant would be a strong candidate to serve on USAC by addressing the applicant’s leadership, communication and/or collaboration effort.
• Participation Agreement: For successful participation as a USAC member, participants are expected to attend a retreat, regular meetings, and events with their departmental/unit supervisors' support for these commitments. 

Note: Application materials are available to USAC new member task force only and are otherwise kept confidential.

If you have questions regarding USAC or the application process, contact usac@osu.edu.

The application window will open in February 2025. 

Where can I get more information about USAC?
Please visit our About page and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

What is the shared governance structure?
Learn about our shared governance structure here. 

Are medical center employees eligible?
Yes. Currently, one third of USAC committee members have positions at OSUWMC and OSUCCC. 

I work on a regional campus, am I eligible?
USAC may appoint only one regional campus staff member per year who is paid through a cost shared appointment. If appointed, the cost shared staff member must be a 75% FTE during their time as an active USAC member. If a regional campus staff is not paid via cost shared appointment, there is no limitation on the number of regional campus staff appointed to USAC. 

What if I switch departments during my term?
Members maintain their 3-year term through any job changes at The Ohio State University as long as they maintain the USAC eligibility requirements. 

Have more questions or just want to set up time to talk with a current committee member about applying? Contact usac@osu.edu