Resolution in Support of the Establishment of a CSU Systemwide Staff Council
WHEREAS the Office of the Chancellor of the California State University (CSU) system has
affirmed at multiple opportunities in preceding decades a commitment to shared governance at
the system level [Collegiality in the California State University System (1985); Shared
Governance Reconsidered: Improving Decision-Making in the California State University (2001);
Tenets of System Level Governance in the California State University (2018)].
WHEREAS the purpose of shared governance in higher education and specifically in the CSU is
to provide varied stakeholders with opportunities to contribute their diverse perspectives and
expertise during decision-making and share responsibility for effective operations, in a manner
that is demonstrably fair, open, just, and equitable.
WHEREAS faculty and students across the 23 campuses of the CSU system have
representation and established shared governance structures, separate from collective
bargaining, at both the individual campus level and the system level in the form of the Academic
Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) and the California State Student Association
(CSSA).
WHEREAS staff make up a third of all employees in the CSU but lack representation in
established shared governance structures, separate from collective bargaining, such as a Staff
Council both at the campus level at seven campuses and collectively at the system level.
WHEREAS collective bargaining and consultation with staff unions only covers a portion of
topics which impact staff, directly or indirectly, leaving a significant gap wherein staff cannot
participate meaningfully in system level decision making.
WHEREAS staff play a direct and vital role in the transformational experience of a CSU
education and possess expertise unique to their roles that current shared governance structures
lack access to, and CSU students would benefit from the inclusion of staff expertise in system
level decision making.
WHEREAS a truly equitable and shared model of leadership, decision making, and
responsibility in the CSU would include staff representation.
WHEREAS Sonoma State University has benefited greatly from the Sonoma State University
Staff Council and staff participation in campus shared governance.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Academic Senate of Sonoma State University will
define shared governance as inclusive of staff and staff perspectives, expertise, and skills,
acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the university.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Academic Senate expresses its enthusiastic support
for the creation and founding of a systemwide Staff Council within the CSU to provide equity,
reciprocity, and the opportunity to contribute to system wide shared governance for staff.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Academic Senate encourages its representatives on
the ASCSU to support any future ASCSU resolution calling for the creation and founding of a
systemwide Staff Council within the CSU.