I. Name 

Workplace Experience Research Committee

II. Purpose/Charge

The purpose of the Workplace Experience Research Committee is to gather data, provide analysis, and offer recommendations to improve the workplace climate for MICA employees. 

In keeping with the vision of One MICA, this group is a pan-campus, cross-divisional working group of employees that:

• Focuses its efforts on improving workplace climate
• Identifies categories of information to be analyzed through surveys and other methods
• Gathers feedback, including through the development and administration of surveys, from staff, faculty, and student employees to make continuous improvements to strategies and methodologies
• Analyzes survey findings and identifies areas of opportunity consistent with MICA’s mission, vision, tenets, values, and strategic plan
• Proposes strategies to decision-makers at MICA
• Requests periodic updates on recommendations

III. Member Roles and Requirements

Members of the committee are representatives of constituent groups (FT and PT Faculty, SEC, SVA) and other enthusiastic volunteers interested in positively transforming the workplace culture at MICA. The group should be as representative as possible inclusive of all employee categories including full-time, part-time, faculty, adjunct, student workers, hourly, salaried, and across divisions. The VP of People, Belonging, and Culture is a member of this committee. Volunteers from the President's Council may be a part of the committee but shall not exceed 25% of the membership.

New volunteers are welcome on a rolling basis and new appointments to the committee begin in September of each year or when a vacancy occurs (if more than 6 months left on their term). The length of membership is two years.  

It is expected that Members make every effort to attend Committee meetings.

IV. Timeline 

August-September: Recruitment and onboarding of new members

January: Determine what surveys will be done in the next fiscal year

January-March: conduct the annual survey

February: Determine if there are any budgetary needs for the next year

June-July: Provide an annual report to the MICA community on the committee’s work

V. Budget, Approvals, and Decision Making

People, Belonging, and Culture works with the committee to determine a budget for survey software, visualization, and other needs each year.

This committee gets approval on actions and budget items from the VP of People, Belonging, and Culture. 

A simple majority is required to accept a decision in the Committee.

VI. Meetings

• The meeting schedule for the entire academic year will be set no later than the end of the first full week of August. This includes sending out calendar invites and room assignments or zoom links as appropriate. People, Belonging, and Culture are responsible for calendar invites and meeting schedules.
• The (committee name) will meet on a bi-weekly basis for no longer than 90 minutes as needed.
• Meetings will not be held during scheduled break times, such as the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, or during important religious holidays.
• Requests to reschedule or cancel a meeting must be submitted to the entire committee for a majority consensus.
• Attendance of less than 50% will be cause for automatic cancellation. 

VII. Amendments

This charter can be amended when the Committee decides that the existing charter no longer accurately reflects the objectives or functions of the Committee. Changes may be minor, such as revising the name of the Committee or modifying meeting information, or they may be major, dealing with the basic objectives or composition of the committee. Amendments to the charter can be suggested by anyone on the Committee and enacted by a majority vote of the entire committee.