COSA Gears up for Fall Semester

VALDOSTA -- New leadership of the Council on Staff Affairs (COSA) took effect July 1 to continue the organization’s mission of advancing staff welfare and addressing employee concerns.

The university elected Terence Sullivan, an academic advisor in the Student Success Center, as COSA chair. The coordinator for tutoring and supplemental instruction said he is eager to continue to foster open communication among staff to ensure all ideas are heard and considered. In this difficult economic climate, Sullivan said, the organization wants to offer personal and professional support to the VSU community.

“My main concern is to increase the voice for staff at VSU so that their concerns are not be forgotten within the larger context of the university,” Sullivan said. “I have been involved in similar organizations at several previous institutions, and felt that I might be able to continue to advocate for the rights of staff here at VSU.”

COSA will continue to organize a more effective advocacy process through already established university-wide committees, such as the Planning and Budget Council and Space Utilization Committee. Sullivan said the group looks forward to hosting its annual events such as Staff Appreciation Week, Retirement Luncheon and walkway and Employee of the Semester Awards. However, COSA has pledged to develop additional resources for staff like the Blazer Book Awards, instituted in February to provide five Tuition Assistance Program employees with $100 to pay for books each semester. COSA partnered with University Advancement to provide this educational incentive, which is explained at http://www.valdosta.edu/finadmin/training/tapaapp.php .

Sullivan said new officers are still negotiating the year’s specific activities and events, but the group has established several broad goals for 2010-11. COSA’s overall goals include: recommend policies and procedures related to classified personnel, create a forum for two way communication of ideas, advocate for increase staff participation in university governance, and facilitate the development of job skills and improve the general welfare/moral of staff.

The FY2011 COSA officers are excited to hear from staff about concerns or any ideas they have for improving the organization and its impact on campus culture. Please contact one of them or your direct COSA representative, which may be found at http://www.valdosta.edu/cosa/contact.shtml .

Terence Sullivan
COSA Chair
(229) 333-7573
tasullivan@valdosta.edu

Yvonne Le Roy-Landers
Chair Elect
(229) 259-5047
ybleroylanders@valdosta.edu

Richard Hammond
COSA Past Chair
(229) 333-5898
rhhammon@valdosta.edu

Sue Bailey
Secretary
(229) 245-6484
subailey@valdosta.edu

Heidi Coggins
Parliamentarian
(229) 333-5033
hscoggins@valdosta.edu

Ron Butler
Public Relations
(229) 333-5672
rcbutler@valdosta.edu

Leighia Hammond
Treasurer
(229) 333-5920
llhammond@valdosta.edu

Sherri Adams
Goal Monitor
(229) 333-7574
sadams@valdosta.edu