Faculty-Staff Associations
The University of Central Oklahoma encourages and supports the creation of and engagement in faculty and staff associations and other interest or identity-based groups. Several unique associations and affinity groups already exist at Central. As a member of the our community, we hope you will find a welcoming home in one or more of them.
Reach out to the group's president with any questions or concerns. You can learn more about each group by selecting their name from the following list. This will take you to their website where you can read their mission and history, and learn how to become a member. Each group is open to all individuals, regardless of identity.
For guidance on creating a new faculty and staff association or other affinity group, please contact Inclusive Community, InclusiveCommunity@uco.edu.
Established Associations and Groups
2SLGBTQIA+ Faculty & Staff Association
The UCO 2SLGBTQIA+ Faculty and Staff Association was formed to celebrate and support the lives of our Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual + Faculty and Staff community, as well as Allies and students.
2SLGBTQIA+ President: Karl Siewert, ksiewert@uco.edu
African American Faculty & Staff Association
The UCO African American Faculty and Staff Association’s (AAFSA) mission is to serve as an advocate for educational equity and to assist in meeting the professional needs of its members.
AAFSA President: Fred Hammond, fhammond@uco.edu
Asian American Pacific Islander Faculty & Staff Association
The mission of the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Faculty and Staff Association is to promote equity and diversity within the University of Central Oklahoma, to celebrate and honor the heritage of AAPI faculty and staff, and to advocate for issues impacting AAPI members of the University community.
AAPIFSA President: Shun Kiang, skiang@uco.edu
Sustainability Center
The UCO Sustainability Center (UCOSC) is a community of students, staff, and faculty working to empower and inspire students, faculty, staff and the community to create a more environmentally sustainable world. To meet our mission, UCOSC focuses on five priorities of sustainability that impact the Central community and beyond: (1) education; (2) research, creative, and scholarly activities; (3) student, staff, and faculty programming; (4) campus practices & operations; and (5) community engagement. Our vision is a campus and community that practices sustainability, inspires hope, and leads in higher education sustainability efforts.
Co-Coordinators: Mark Walvoord and Ed Cunliff, green@uco.edu
Empowerment for Excellence
Empowerment for Excellence (E4E) is a group who seek the active engagement of faculty and staff in education, networking, and mentoring processes. This leading to enhanced awareness, empowerment and transformation of women.
E4E President: Rachel Fairchild, rfairchild@uco.edu
Latino Faculty & Staff Association
The UCO Latino Faculty and Staff Association (LFSA), in collaboration with the UCO community, is to support the success of Latino faculty, staff, and students at the University by advocating for efforts, programs, and policies that promote an understanding of Latino issues within the University.
LFSA President: Guillermo Martinez Sotelo, gmartinezsotelo@uco.edu
Native American Faculty & Staff Association
The mission of the UCO Native American Faculty and Staff Association (NAFSA), in collaboration with the UCO community, is to support the success of Native American faculty, staff, and students at the University by advocating for efforts, programs, and policies that promote an understanding of Native American issues within the University.
NAFSA President: Natalie Panther, npanther@uco.edu
Neurodiverse Faculty & Staff Association
The mission of the UCO Neurodiverse Faculty and Staff Association is to create a courageous space where neurodiverse individuals with a variety of lived experiences may come together and find support, learning opportunities and a voice to affect positive change. The Association provides interpersonal growth and support through intragroup dialogue, empowerment and community.
Contact: Erika Cerda, ecerda@uco.edu
Veteran and Military-Connected Faculty & Staff Association
This Veteran and Military-Connected Faculty & Staff Association is designed to represent any veteran and/or military connected (spouse or child) faculty or staff. It's purpose it to recognize veterans and military affiliated persons as a culture and to provide awareness and support to the UCO campus and community.
VMCFSA President, Tom McShane
Young Professionals Faculty & Staff Association
The UCO Young Professionals Faculty and Staff Association (UCOYP) serves as a resource group to connect and support professionals in their careers at the University of Central Oklahoma through networking, professional development and community engagement opportunities.
UCOYP Co-Chairs: Kaitlyn Palone, kpalone@uco.edu, and Marianna Bennett, mbennett16@uco.edu
How to Establish an Association or Other Group
Faculty and staff associations and other identity or interest-based groups are voluntary, employee-formed and employee-led communities made up of individuals who share a similar identity or interest. They do not exclude on the basis of race, ethnicity, culture, nationality, immigration status, religion, ideology, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, (dis)ability and other identity-centered characteristics.
Faculty and staff may use these spaces to support, share resources and connect across classification, division, college and department.
Objectives
Association and group objectives may or may not include the following:
- Build and create a sense of community.
- Broaden cultural awareness at UCO.
- Network and collaborate.
- Advocate for and support the retention and advancement of faculty, staff, and/or students.
- Pursue activities to embrace and advance equitable access for learning and growth.
- Be a collective voice for the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion at UCO.
Categories
Association and group categories, which help to focus the interest of a group, may include the following examples:
- Identity-based groups – shared identity and values.
- Professional community groups – shared professional interests.
- Special interest group – shared hobbies, activities, events.
Leadership
Associations and groups may determine how best to structure their leadership and membership. The purpose of association/group leadership is to:
- Oversee the function and meetings of the association or group.
- Guide the creation of the association or group’s primary goals and objectives.
- Support the establishment of guidelines.
- Act as a point of contact for the association or group.
Operating Principles
- Members must be employed by UCO or students of UCO.
- Membership and participation shall be entirely voluntary.
- Membership and participation in associations and groups must be open to any and all faculty and staff.
- Associations and groups may choose to allow the membership of current students – if student membership is allowed, membership and participation must be open to any and all students.
- Individuals may join as many associations or groups as they wish.
- Associations and groups are not intended to and shall not duplicate or replace the activities or the recognized bargaining units at the University.
- The University is not responsible for the financial support and securement of the associations or groups.
Association and Group Establishment Form
Individuals wishing to establish a new faculty and staff association or other identity or interest-based group must complete the online Association/Group Establishment Form. All submissions will be recorded, and new associations and groups added to the this website. New associations and groups will also learn how to request their own Broncho Blog website.