Purpose and Responsibilities

The Support Staff Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the College that:  serves as a resource for support staff; advises the administration on issues of importance to the staff; and strives to make working at Bowdoin an even more enjoyable and productive experience. The Committee accomplishes this through a range of activities:

  • A forum to bring support staff concerns and interests to the attention of the administration (ie: creation of the Emergency Sick Time Bank)
  • Facilitate open lines of communication between the administration and staff
  • Propose ways to improve College work life
  • Act as a sounding board for administration
  • Recommend support staff representatives to other college committees and searches
  • Responsible for coordination of employee events such as the Fall Social and Spring Fling

A chairperson and/or co-chairpersons will be chosen by the committee to serve for a minimum of one academic year.

The chairperson will:

  • Develop an agenda for each meeting
  • Provide copies of the agenda to SSAC members in advance
  • Facilitate the meetings, paying particular attention to the time limit
  • Suggest subcommittees as necessary
  • Delegate tasks as appropriate
  • Follow-up as required

A secretary, chosen by the committee, will:

  • Take notes and prepare minutes for distribution to members either in advance or at the next meeting.
  • This job may rotate or be shared.

Members will:

  • Regularly attend scheduled SSAC meetings
  • Serve as representatives of their particular group
  • Participate actively in carrying out the work of the committee
  • Assist in public relations for the SSAC event
  • Foster communication within the Bowdoin community

These guidelines may be modified or changed by majority vote of the committee.


Revised August 2012