Under a two-year pilot program approved last week by the UC Regents, nonunionized staff employees would gain an additional means to present their views to the board. Starting in 2005-06, two individual staff members would attend two different Regents committees as nonvoting participants “to provide the voice and perspective” of their fellow employees.

UC President Robert Dynes recommended placing “staff and/or non-Senate academic employees” on a trial basis on the Regents’ committees for educational policy and for buildings and grounds. Initially, Dynes suggested, the 2003-04 and 2004-05 chairs of the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies could fill the first-year appointments.

The second year, the staff representatives could be selected through a wider process, but still appointed by the president. At the end of the pilot project the Regents would evaluate the temporary program and decide if it should be continued.