About Us
Pictured in front row (left to right): Rachael Johns, Jennifer Lindsay Sans, Medra Roberts-Southerland, Cherika Williams, Elizabeth Chominski.
Pictured in back row (left to right): Eugene G. Josephitis, Aaron Ketchum, Ronick Frazier, Colleen Hammel, Dale Billam, Rose Paul.
The Staff Advisory Council (SAC) consists of twelve elected members representing each of the staff job groups on campus (clerical and secretarial, skilled crafts and trades, executive/administrative and managerial, service and maintenance, and technical and paraprofessional) and appointed representatives from various campus groups. SAC acts in an advisory role and meets regularly with Illinois Human Resources.
SAC has always been active on committees affecting Staff employees’ work conditions, benefits, educational opportunities, and other activities that might impact them. Members of SAC have also sponsored concession stands at the Illini football games and have donated the proceeds to the Civil Service Employee and Dependent Scholarship Fund.
SAC was instrumental in getting the “non-academic” designation changed to “staff”. In 1991, the name of the Council was changed and they became the Staff Advisory Council. Today, SAC serves to review many changes in policy and procedure that concern staff employees.
SAC Welcomes Two New Representatives!
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Neil Feuerhelm, Assistant Director of Classroom and Facilities Technology, Gies College of Business
Neil’s term will run from January 2026 – June 2027
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Phil Coon, Office Support Specialist, Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Phil’s term will run from January 2026 – June 2028
On September 3, 2025, we honored Bridget Hillier, Senior Events Coordinator in the Gies College of Business and former President and Secretary of Staff Advisory Council, with the inaugural Staff Advisory Council Outstanding Service Award at our SAC September monthly meeting.
President Dale Billam presented the personalized star award and above and beyond signed card to her and stated the following:
“We honor Bridget Hillier with the SAC Outstanding Service Award… She served on Staff Advisory Council from 2017 – 2025, serving as President for two years and Secretary for two years during that span. As President, Bridget led the charge to re-establish SAC post-COVID and worked to develop modern policies to the SAC Bylaws… She led us through a huge staff transition at Illinois Human Resources… In addition, Bridget successfully took the lead in bringing back the All-Employee Expo… Bridget was also a huge proponent of increasing the number of SAC representatives from 8 to 12…”
Congratulations to Bridget! We thank her so much for her outstanding contributions to the Staff Advisory Council over the years. She is a rock star!
Constitution & Bylaws
Staff Advisory Council Members
SAC History
The Council was formed in 1942 by a group of employees interested in issues of importance to staff employees. The group was first called the University of Illinois Civil Service Committee. The primary function of the committee was to disburse campus vending machine funds. The committee sponsored an employee jamboree, bowling leagues, a scholarship for a dependent of a staff member, and helped establish the Recognition Program that honored employees with 25 or more years of continuous service.
In 1956, the Council reorganized and changed its name to the Nonacademic Employees Council. The committee’s stated purpose was to serve Staff employees and to effectively allocate and spend the campus vending machine proceeds.
In 1971, distribution of campus vending machine profit to students and staff was discontinued. Again, the Council changed directions. Its current charge is to work with the Director of Illinois Human Resources in the solution of problems relating to all Staff employees and provide a means of informing employees of issues of interest and importance to their jobs and benefits.
The Council has always been active on committees affecting Staff employees’ work conditions, benefits, educational opportunities, and other activities that might impact them. Members of the Council have also sponsored concession stands at the Illini football games and have donated the proceeds to the Civil Service Employee and Dependent Scholarship Fund.
The Council was instrumental in getting the “non-academic” designation changed to “staff”. In 1991, the name of the Council was changed and they became the Staff Advisory Council. Today the Council serves to review many changes in policy and procedure that concern Staff employees.
Employee Advisory Committee
The Employment Advisory Committee (EAC) is a committee affiliated with the State Universities Civil Service System (SUCSS). Committee members represent their constituents by functioning in an advisory capacity to the Merit Board on “All matters pertaining to the University System.” EAC is made up of members who are elected by civil service employees.
The council’s main responsibilities include reviewing and making recommendations on issues related to civil service employment, classification and compensation, recruitment and selection, employee training and development, and employee relations. The EAC also reviews proposed changes to SUCSS rules and policies, and provides feedback and input to the SUCSS Executive Director and Board.