August 4, 2005
First Staff Resource Fair set for Aug. 10
Next week UW staff will have the opportunity to attend the first Staff Resource Fair, slated for 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 in the HUB. With the subtitle “UW Values U,” the fair offers resource tables in the West Ballroom and education sessons in 200 ABC.
“We’ve tried to concentrate on campus resources for staff and their families,” said Ruth Johnston, co-chair of the committee that planned the event.
That committee is the Staff Working Committee of the Diversity Council, which has been working on a variety of projects over the last four years and has been especially active the last two.
“When we looked at our goals for this year, one of the common themes was connecting staff with resources,” said co-chair Vennie Gore. “We were targeting especially staff who do not have the ability to access computers, who work unusual shifts, who can’t get out to attend lectures, who may speak English as a second language. There are a lot of practical services the University provides that they may not be aware of.”
The committee didn’t want to replicate the Benefits Fair, the co-chairs said, or the BizTech Showcase. So, some of the 35 units offering resource tables include the UW Club, which any staff member may join; Student Financial Aid, which can help with the funding of education; the UW Libraries, from which any staff member can check out materials; and the English Language Programs, which can help staff for whom English is not their native language. A full list of the resource tables can be found on the event’s Web site, http://www.washington.edu/admin/finmgmt/resourcefair/welcome.htm
The Web site also lists the education sessions available, which cover everything from stress management to child care choices.
“Since we started working on it, this little idea has just taken off,” Johnston said. “We’ve all become very enthusiastic. As we brainstormed which resources should be represented at the fair, I think every one of us learned something new about what the University has to offer.”
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who have volunteered to help with this,” Gore added. “There’s been excitement about this among staff.”
The committee sought and received financial support from the fund for the implementation of the Diversity Appraisal.
Vice President for Minority Affairs Rusty Barcelo wrote a letter to all deans, directors and chairs, urging that release time be made available for staff so that they can attend the event. Committee members also attended staff meetings around campus and made presentations on the fair.
“We’re hoping people will get an hour of release time to come over, go through the booths, participate in an education session and sign up for a door prize,” Johnston said.
She and Gore stressed that the fair is a “homegrown” event that will be “nothing fancy” — just a site map, some resource tables, some education sessions, some snacks and a few door prizes.
“The diversity appraisal said very clearly that staff believe the campus climate needs improvement,” Johnston said. “This is one way to focus on improving the climate, by helping staff with resources — both educational and informational — and just creating community.”
