Staff Council

About

The Staff Council is a body of staff members who support the interests of APU staff and facilitate communication among staff, faculty, and the general university community. Staff Council also serves as an advisory board to the administration and Board of Trustees, representing matters of importance to APU staff.

Mission

The Staff Council’s mission is to shape the staff experience by creating a healthier work environment. Our guiding principles are C.A.R.E.:

• Channel Staff Voices
• Advocate for Staff through Governance
• Represent Administration to Staff
• Engage our Community

Encouragement Fund

Do you know an APU employee facing financial difficulties due to an unexpected personal hardship, catastrophe, or trauma? The Encouragement Fund—established by APU employees for APU employees—is available to provide financial support during challenging times. If you or another APU employee is experiencing hardship, please fill out the Encouragement Fund request form.

The Encouragement Fund is supported by generous donations from staff, faculty, and board members. If you’d like to contribute, visit the Donate to the Encouragement Fund link.

Message from the Chair

I am honored to serve alongside a dedicated representative council who generously gives their time and talents to support staff at APU. As an alumnus with a wife (Rhonda) and children who are also graduates, I have deep roots in the APU community. I also have a pastor's calling and desire to see staff growing and flourishing, which I bring into my roles as a Director in IT and Chairperson in the Staff Council. During this challenging season, as I have reflected on the university's scripture passage, I have found inspiration in Romans 12:12, which reminds us to “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” (NLT)

Rick Roberts
Chair, Staff Council
Director, IT University Systems and Engagement

Staff Council Initiatives

In addition to its ongoing advocacy and communication efforts, the Staff Council also undertakes a variety of initiatives to promote the interests and well-being of APU staff. These initiatives include:

• Providing face-to-face and virtual opportunities to hear from staff
• Participating in university governance task forces and/or committee work
• Creating an anonymous process for submitting comments to Staff Council
• Providing staff with financial support through the Encouragement Fund
• Partnering with HR on staff initiative implementation and execution
• Conducting periodic surveys to gauge staff satisfaction
• Improving and creating staff recognition programs
• Partnering with HR to welcome new staff to the university
• Facilitating staff engagement activities

The Staff Council is committed to making APU a great place to work for all staff. We encourage you to stay involved and let us know your thoughts and suggestions.

Meetings

The Staff Council convenes on the third Wednesday of each month. Starting in 2024, we aim to hold quarterly open Staff Council meetings for all staff, providing an excellent opportunity to stay informed about the Council's activities and raise concerns or suggestions.

Membership

As we look to fulfill our mission and objectives, our most important resource is having talented, passionate, and representative staff in our ranks. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact StaffCouncil@apu.edu. The application cycle begins in the early summer and terms typically run from August to September.

Current Staff Council members are listed below: