VCU news

By Michael Ford
University News Services

Newly appointed employees joined returning members of the VCU and VCU Health System Staff Senate for its annual orientation session and reception.

Outgoing Staff Senate President Grant Warren, welcomed the attendees and passed the gavel of leadership to new Staff Senate President Mark Divens.

"It is a leadership opportunity for senators and in many ways for the institution," said Capt. Warren, director, safety and security, VCU Medical Center. "This is an opportunity to learn more about the entire institution, an opportunity to network beyond your individual departments."

The Staff Senate acts in an advisory capacity to the institution's administration and governance structure and provides for the exchange of information between the staff, the administration and the faculty. "This is not about meetings," said Divens, director, patient transportation at the VCU Medical Center. "It's about collaborating, about growing something."

Growth on both university campuses was at the forefront of remarks from VCU President Eugene P. Trani. Dr. Trani reviewed ongoing and future construction projects totaling $155 million and acknowledged that the university's future health is about being entrepreneurial and watching efficiencies.

In his remarks, Dr. Sheldon M. Retchin, CEO for VCU Health System and vice president for health sciences noted the health system finished the fiscal year with a healthy bottom line, has a new hospital CEO and is busy recruiting several key department chairs.

The Staff Senate is comprised of 25 members from the university's academic and health sciences campuses and 25 members from the health system. Staff senators serve three-year terms and are appointed by university vice-presidents and deans and group directors of the health system. Appointees must be full-time university or health system employees who have been employed for two years. Except for July, staff senate meetings are held monthly, on the third Wednesday.

"It's an important voice and a way for classified employees to feel they have some input into what happens at the university," said Jane S. Lalich, executive assistant to the vice president of research and chair of the staff senate communications committee. "Good ideas come from everywhere."

Employees who wish to share insights or feedback with staff senators may send their comments via e-mail to Staffsen@vcu.edu or via campus mail to Staff Senate, P.O. Box 980018.