Welcome to the Laurier’s online workshop. This slidecast is part three of a four-part series on university relationships. In this slidecast we will discuss your relationship to staff members.

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At the conclusion of this workshop you will be able to: (a) Define and understand the roles of staff members; (b) Communicate with staff members effectively; and, (c) Define and understand your role as a student in relation to a staff member. Keep these learning goals in mind as we move through the presentation. Let’s begin.

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The term staff member covers various positions on campus. Maintenance staff are those individuals who maintain the physical appearance of the university and ensure that all campus grounds and buildings are functioning properly. Maintenance staff include groundskeepers, custodians, carpenters, and electricians. Administrative staff are those individuals responsible for the daily administrative functioning of the university, including communications, finances, and information technology systems. Administrative staff include administrative assistants, mail workers, library staff, information technology staff, etc … Professional staff are those individuals who provide professional services to students or to the functioning of the university. Professional staff include, learning support, academic advising*, counselling, librarian**, career, health, and other professional development services. NOTES * At Laurier, most undergraduate and graduate academic advisors are faculty members; however, there are some academic advisors who are staff members. ** At Laurier librarians are part of the Faculty Association but are included in this presentation to avoid confusion with other faculty members.

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Many students will have contact staff members throughout their university career. The majority of staff members at Laurier work between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, while taking lunches anytime between 12 noon and 2 pm. Students can always visit a staff member during regular university hours and request an appointment. Occasionally, a staff member may be able to assist you immediately; however, most staff members who accept appointments are usually quite busy and students should expect to make an appointment. To make an appointment with staff members you can either send an email message or telephone the staff member. All contact information for staff members can usually be found on department websites or through the Laurier directory.

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Staff members, whether maintenance, administrative or professional, should always be treated with respect. When meeting with a staff member, remain professional. Always come prepared and ask as many questions as you need to in order to understand the solution for your appointment. As well, it is recommended that you come prepared with materials to take notes so that you can reflect on the meeting in the future. Staff members are always available to assist you and to answer your questions. By being prepared, confident, and professional, you will ensure that your meeting with them will be effective and efficient.

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Because of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), most staff members will not have any information about your personal background. In most cases, you do not need to self-disclose your personal or special circumstances to a staff member. If you have either registered for, or visited, a specific department on campus then staff members within those departments (e.g., learning support, counselling services and health services) may have specific access to your personal information. In extreme circumstances where it is believed that your personal wellness or safety is at risk, the university may inform a staff member of your circumstance to maintain your personal wellness or safety.

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There are many scenarios where communicating with a staff member will be necessary. The following are some of the more common scenarios but this is in no way an exhaustive list. 1. You may attempt to communicate with a staff member through email and not receive an immediate response. It is important to understand that staff members can be very busy with appointments or other duties. If you don’t receive a reply within two business days, then it is recommended that you contact that staff member’s administrative assistant or someone else in the department because the staff member you are trying to reach may either be sick or away from the office. Otherwise, you can always visit the staff member in his or her office to request an appointment. 2. Staff members should always act in a professional manner with students. In return, students are also expected to act professionally with staff members. If you feel that a staff member has been unprofessional to you then you can attempt to communicate with either that staff member’s manager or director to voice your concern.

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This concludes this workshop about your university relationship with staff members. At the beginning of this slidecast a number of learning goals were specified. To check your understanding of the information presented in this workshop try to answer the following questions. If you have any difficulties, please refer back to the slidecast.

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Thank you for your participation, and welcome to Laurier.

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