UC Staff Senate nominations now open

Get involved in the UC community and make an impact on your workplace

Nominations open now through March 31. All UC staff not principally charged with teaching, including part-time and full-time staff, are eligible to serve as a staff senator.

To nominate yourself or a colleague for Staff Senate, complete the online nomination form on Bearcats Landing by 5 p.m. on March 31, 2023. Candidates who have been nominated by another staff member will have the option to accept or decline their nomination, and all candidates must have approval from their direct manager/supervisor.

“Staff Senate is a wonderful place for emerging leaders at UC to learn by doing, to meet mentors who can help you along the way, and to increase your network and exposure at UC,” said Heidi Pettyjohn, chair of the staff senate. “Staff Senate can best represent the voice of all staff when we are as diverse as our labor force.”

Visit the Staff Senate nominations page on Bearcats Landing for more information about the nomination process.

As a senator you are expected to:

  • Attend all senate meetings (minimum of five per year).
  • Attend monthly committee meetings (as needed by your assigned committee).
  • Participate in various other events based on availability.
  • Must have prior approval from your manager/supervisor.
  • Serve a two-year term
  • Read the Staff Senate Bylaws.

Staff members do not have to be a senator to take part in Staff Senate activities, attend general Senate meetings or participate in a Staff Senate Committee. To get involved, email us. We welcome your nominations and your questions or comments. 


Staff Senator Spotlight

Heidi Pettyjohn

Heidi Pettyjohn. Photo/provided.

Heidi Pettyjohn
Executive Director, Accessibility

Senate Service: Senator - 2019 - 2020; Chair Elect- 2020 - 2021; Chair 2021 - 2023; serve on Cabinet and Governance

"I was excited by the chance to get to be part of something so new at the university, that could really impact the experience of staff across UC."

"I  was nervous about not understanding the structure and how we would impact change. I think we have made a big impact on how this group can impact change at the leadership level."

"What I enjoy most is meeting other senators who I never would have met, and building relationships across the university."

Featured top image: Staff meeting at the University of Cincinnati. Photo/provided.

Related Stories

1

UC faculty and staff among Rising Star leadership honorees

January 5, 2026

Two UC faculty and staff members are among this year's Rising Star leadership program sponsored by YWCA Greater Cincinnati. Kelli Beecher, assistant professor in the UC College of Nursing, and Brittany Bibb, assistant director of programs and operations in the UC Division of Student Affairs, are among the emerging leaders of 2026. They were featured in the publication Movers & Makers.

2

What's behind the mysterious rise of migraines?

January 5, 2026

Weather patterns such as extreme heat and storm conditions have been linked to migraine attacks, and research shows those environmental conditions are becoming more common. As National Geographic recently reported, one of the leading theories behind this mysterious rise is that climate change may be playing a role.

3

Top six 2025 nephrology drug approvals

January 5, 2026

“2025 has been a landmark year for kidney disease therapeutics, marked by a comprehensive slate of FDA approvals covering endothelin-receptor blockade, complement inhibition, GLP-1-based metabolic protection, and B-cell-directed therapy,” Prakash Gudsoorkar, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and staff nephrologist at UC Health, recently told MedCentral.