Outgoing VCU Staff Senate president reflects on successful term

By Malorie Burkett

LaForest F. Williams recently completed her tenure as president of the Virginia Commonwealth University Staff Senate but says she plans to continue her service, leadership and commitment to the VCU community.

Williams, who works in the Office of the Vice President for Health Sciences, was elected president of the Staff Senate in 2005, and under her leadership the organization made significant strides for classified employees at VCU.

A noteworthy accomplishment came earlier this year when the VCU Board of Visitors approved a policy to allow a Staff Senate representative to join the board in equal standing with representatives of Faculty Senate and the Student Government Associations on both the Monroe Park and MCV campuses.

This made VCU only the second university in the state to have an official staff representative on its governing board, following Virginia Tech, which received approval last August.

Williams attended this month’s BOV Academic and Health Affairs Policy committee and full BOV meetings for the first time as an official nonvoting staff representative.

“A staff member at the table will provide the committee members, faculty and students a snapshot of the day-to-day operations from a front-line perspective,” said Williams. “This is a major accomplishment for the VCU Staff Senate because it sends a clear message that the administrators recognize that the staff members play key roles in the future of Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System.”

Williams also has led the VCU Staff Senate through fundraising and outreach activities to bring the campuses together and to help in the community.

One example is the endowment of the Virginia's Caring University Scholarship.

Williams and other Staff Senate leaders, including Marquita Aguilar, coordinator of the Virginia's Caring University Scholarship, established the award, which is presented to undergraduate juniors and seniors in financial need.

In order to raise funds for the award, the Staff Senate has sponsored an annual walk-a-thon for the past three years that has raised more than $24,000 in contributions from the VCU and health system communities. Various community vendors also have donated money toward the scholarships.

The monetary donations make it possible to preserve the Virginia’s Caring University Scholarship awards, which will be presented to nine students this fall.

Williams and the Staff Senate did not limit the organization’s outreach activities to the VCU and health system communities. Instead, the group extended support to a community neighbor by implementing the first annual Back to School and Winter Coat drives to benefit Martin Luther King, Jr., Middle School. As a result, both campuses raised and contributed more than 10,000 items to the school along with more than 180 coats and accessories.

Another major achievement during Williams’ term took place last fall when the Staff Senate kicked off the 2006-2007 academic year with 100 percent participation of staff senators, alternates and volunteers for the first time in its history.

“Having 100 percent participation means our presence is recognized on both campuses and that the VCU Staff Senate is on the minds of faculty, staff and administration,” said Williams. “I look forward to continuing to build one community by promoting VCU pride.”

The VCU Staff Senate serves to support the diverse staff of VCU and the VCU Health System by facilitating communication and making responsible decisions to meet the current and future needs of the university community.

The Staff Senate is composed of 25 members from VCU and 25 from the VCU 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. For more, visit http://www.vcu.edu/staffsenate/ .