Hitze aims to cultivate community as chair of Campus Support Staff Advisory Committee

Laurie Hitze, 2022-23 chair of the Campus Support Staff Advisory Committee. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood) Download image

After graduating from Purdue in the early ’90s, Laurie Hitze knew she would eventually return to campus. Hitze now works as a schedule deputy in the Department of Psychological Sciences, and she aims to create the same sense of community she felt as a student nearly 30 years ago in her new role as chair of the Campus Support Staff Advisory Committee (CSSAC).

“It’s easy to come into the office every day and not really see anybody new, so we want to bring people together who share similar interests and wouldn’t normally cross paths on campus,” Hitze says.

Hitze took over as CSSAC chair on June 1. Here, she answers questions from Purdue Today about her plans for leading the committee.

How long, and in what positions, have you worked at Purdue?

I started working at Purdue at the very end of January 2020, which was not the best time to start due to the pandemic. I was hired in as a schedule deputy in the Department of Psychological Sciences, and that position fits my experience and education perfectly. Coming into this position, I had previously worked as a schedule deputy at a local company, and I had 20 years of experience working as a librarian and instructor at a private school.

What do you like most about what you do at Purdue?

I love the academic feeling of being on campus. It was always a great feeling when I was here as a student, and coming back to that has been comforting and nostalgic. It’s a great atmosphere to work in, and the people I work with are wonderful. I also like working with the students and hearing what they have planned for the future. I feel like we are an important part of their educational journey.

What has been your favorite memory during your time as a Purdue employee?

Becoming a CSSAC member has been the best experience as a Purdue employee. CSSAC members are part of so many different committees and able to learn things on campus at a much faster pace. I’m really thankful for the opportunity to be included in these activities. I also enjoy seeing other employees being rewarded for the work they do. It’s nice to recognize and support the people who go above and beyond their daily tasks.

When you’re not in the office, what do you most like to do on or around campus?

Walking around campus is something that I truly enjoy because it’s just so beautiful, and the grounds department works so hard on the landscaping. Even in the winter when the leaves are gone, some of the landscaping on campus is so pretty, and it helps me get through the winter. I pass through WALC (Wilmeth Active Learning Center) quite a bit, and I walk by the students in there studying. It kind of brings me back to the time when I was a student here. I can relate to how busy the students are, along with their stress.

When did you first become involved with CSSAC, and why did you decide to become a member? 

When I first started working at Purdue, I was interviewed by a CSSAC member at the time, and I thought it was very nice that they were trying to get opinions directly from staff. I have always been a highly driven person. If something needs to be done, I’m going to find a way to do it, and that’s what CSSAC is designed for. We’re here to be the voice for staff. If they have a question or concern, they can come to us. If we don’t know the answer, we will take it up to the administration for discussion.

What do you consider to be your most significant accomplishments since becoming a CSSAC member?

As a CSSAC member, I am here to listen and be a voice – I take that seriously. Processing the Bridge Forms that employees can submit to voice their concerns, make suggestions or ask questions is the most important responsibility we are charged with. We have paired with administration, faculty members and MaPSAC to resolve some of those. Contacting the right people and getting that information back to those employees is crucial. CSSAC has also grown and improved the ways we communicate with Purdue employees. The content in our Campus Connection newsletter and on our social media has significantly improved.

What have you learned about the University from your time as a CSSAC member?

It's definitely a quick way to learn about the inner workings of campus. Even if you think your job is small, you are a bigger piece of the Purdue puzzle, and your role is important in the big picture. The structure of the University is much clearer now after being involved with CSSAC.

What did you learn as a vice chair or committee member that will guide your leadership this year?

My past role models will play a big part in how I lead CSSAC this year. I saw how they performed in their roles, so I would like to keep it up to that standard and even look to make future improvements. Melissa Geiger and I were fast-tracked into our roles as chair and vice chair for 2021-22 because the CSSAC members originally designated to serve in those positions were both promoted. We took that opportunity to evaluate how our roles functioned, and over time, we were able to create some structure and guides for our positions that I think will be helpful for future chairs and vice chairs.

What will CSSAC be working on during the upcoming year? What do you hope CSSAC will accomplish under your leadership? 

Creating a better sense of community is one of our goals in the next year. In CSSAC’s August newsletter, I have included a Qualtrics survey asking staff which clubs they would like to see on campus. It’s easy to come to your office every day and not really see anybody, so we want to bring people together who share similar interests. We are also going to start inviting new employees to a monthly luncheon. Being a new employee can be a little overwhelming, and we just want to make that a little easier for Purdue employees. Creating friendships and connections at work is important to overall job satisfaction.

What would you like faculty and staff to know about CSSAC?

CSSAC is a great opportunity to fast-track your knowledge of campus. Once you are a member, you just have so many more campus connections. It’s a valuable tool for employees because they are exposed to information that they normally wouldn’t have access to in their day-to-day roles. CSSAC also provides professional growth opportunities. Each year, we offer educational grants to employees and dependents of Purdue employees. CSSAC also organizes different activities year-round that are open to all Purdue employees. Our website directs you to national and local discounts available to all Purdue employees.

How can staff get involved with CSSAC?

We have a membership drive in the spring, and our application process begins around April. In May, we make decisions regarding new members, who then join our meetings in June. Each CSSAC member serves a three-year term, and then they can stay as an emeritus member for one year before taking a one-year break from the organization before returning again. It’s a great way to be involved, learn new things and meet new people.

Writer: Carly Rosenberger, rosenbe4@purdue.edu