Longtime Staffer Elected Council President

The UT Dallas Staff Council has elected an employee who has been affiliated with the University for almost two decades as president for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Daniel Calhoun, who works in Information Resources as a technical support manager, is the fifth person to lead the council since its inception in 1996.

“Being president of the Staff Council is a great honor and responsibility,” Calhoun said. “The job will be time-consuming and difficult at times, but it is important to UT Dallas.”

Calhoun has spent more than half of his life in affiliation with the University in one form or another. He was a member of the first UT Dallas freshman class in 1990. He has earned two degrees at UT Dallas and has worked at UT Dallas for a total of 13 years.

“Fortunately, I am not doing this alone,” Calhoun said. “As president, I will be assisted by a vice president, secretary and four committee chairpersons.”

The Staff Council president is elected each academic year at the September meeting by council representatives. The council itself is an advisory body that makes recommendations to the president regarding staff concerns, with the goal of continually improving operations and the well-being of UT Dallas employees.

To support employees taking college classes, the Staff Council has created an endowed scholarship and sought lower tuition costs for staff members.

Other council activities include recognizing staff members through CARE Awards and Staff Appreciation days. The awards, which stand for Celebrate Achievement – Reward Excellence,” honor staff members who demonstrate superior performance, offer outstanding customer service and enhance the University’s image.

“I think it is time for the Staff Council to do more, and I think we can. I would like to see the Staff Council become more involved in reviewing University and UT system policies that affect us directly. I also hope the council can increase its recognition and communicate its mission, its successes and its value to more of the staff,” said Calhoun.

“The Staff Council exists to make sure the staff is not a silent assumption. It is my job as Staff Council president to convey staff suggestions and concerns to the University’s administration,” Calhoun said.

Staff suggestions may be made at utdallas.edu/staffcouncil/suggestions or directly to Daniel Calhoun, daniel@utdallas.edu.