TUSC oriented

President Caret addressing TUSC members Photo by Kanji Takeno

President Caret and Towson University Staff Council discuss resources for employee success

by Stuart Zang

The Towson University Staff Council (TUSC) gained insight into TU’s executive decision-making process and found a sympathetic ear in the March meeting’s guest speaker—President Robert L. Caret.

Founded in 1993, TUSC serves as an advisory body to the president's staff on non-faculty matters, offers all staff members an opportunity to express ideas and concerns, and provides a means for assessing campus opinion on important staff issues.

“Rather than give a speech, I’d like to give you an overview of the recent legislative session and then open things up for a Q&A,” Caret told the assembled council members in his opening remarks.

Caret described how the state of Maryland, in terms of higher education, has been very supportive of TU, a stance not held in many states going through difficult budget cuts, such as Florida, California and New York.

“What’s happening now, in this session,” said Caret, “is the consequence of the budget deficit that loomed over the past five or six years. Revenues were big enough to minimize its impact, but now revenues have shrunk or disappeared.

“Next year’s budget—which we are working on now—will be challenging, but overall we’re handling the situation very well.”

Opening the floor to questions, Caret first addressed a council member’s concern about TU staff being freely able to attend Staff Development Day and participate in TUSC meetings.

“We told the vice presidents—and it should pass through each level down the chain of command—we expect no reason, barring an emergency, that everyone cannot get half a day once a year to go to staff development," Caret said.

“Also, staff should be provided with reasonable flexibility to serve on the TUSC board if they wish to do that,” he added. “All the vice presidents agreed with that sentiment. TUSC deserves to have its voice heard.”

For nearly an hour, Caret sympathetically listened to council members’ concerns and expounded on a wide variety of issues, including the budgeting process for hiring additional staff, anticipated benefits of the trimester system, upcoming construction projects and, of course, parking.

“I’m open to working with TUSC, which is why roundtables such as this are important,” he said. “You’re closer to the frontline than I am, so your perspectives are important.”

In closing, Caret thanked TUSC for inviting him to the meeting and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining good communication between TUSC and the president’s office.

“When things don’t seem to be going right,” he said, “let us know. Most times—hopefully all times—it’s not intentional, but rather reflects a large, complicated organization moving along dynamically, one where time sometimes gets ahead of process.

“Therefore it is in TU’s best interest—it makes TU a healthier organization—to have employees’ voices heard.”

Visit TUSC’s Web page for more information on how it represents TU staff.

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