All Staff Council Election Updates
All Staff Council has been working hard to strengthen our presence on campus and refine our processes and structure to best serve and represent staff at Drake. Based on your feedback and the work completed this year, ASC is excited to announce two changes to the upcoming 2017–2018 election.

All Staff Council—Chair/Chair-Elect Election
Given the expanded duties of the ASC chair and the increased presence of ASC on campus, we feel it is important to provide all staff the opportunity to both nominate individuals and elect the ASC chair. Beginning this year, we will nominate and elect one individual to serve as All Staff Council chair-elect. The chair-elect will serve a three-year term on the All Staff Council Executive Committee—one year as chair-elect, one year as chair, and one year as past-chair. As we transition to this new structure, Nancy Geiger, current chair-elect, will assume the position of ASC chair for the 2017–2018 academic year. We believe this structure will provide greater continuity to the All Staff Council and gives staff the opportunity to elect an individual they believe will best represent staff to the campus community.

New All Staff Council Committee
All Staff Council would like to designate space to better address questions, concerns, and ideas from staff. This year, we will accept nominations for a newly created Special Interests Committee. This committee will be responsible for exploring initiatives, questions, and/or concerns presented to All Staff Council through research, planning, and collaboration with appropriate offices on campus. After one year, we will review the committee, and if it fits well within the All Staff Council structure, it will become a permanent standing committee.

The call for 2017–2018 nominations will begin on Feb. 15 and elections will be completed by March 31. If you have any questions regarding ASC committees or the position of chair-elect, please feel free to contact any member of ASC. For a current list of members, visit www.drake.edu/asc.

It is our hope that these changes will continue to strengthen the role of All Staff Council and its ability to represent and address issues, concerns, and ideas of staff across campus. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

—Jenny Tran-Johnson, Chair, All Staff Council