Campus Support Staff Advisory Committee looking to revitalize with new members

A Purdue University Fort Wayne group has been around longer than almost anything else, though most on campus don’t realize it exists. In many ways, the group represents a university cornerstone because of its institutional knowledge and work that affects all Mastodons.

As part of the campus since 1975, the Campus Support Staff Advisory Committee. More commonly known as CSSAC, it’s made up of more than 200 employees, including the administrative assistants, clerical, and service staff from each department.

“Anybody who is paid bi-weekly is considered a member,” said Cheryl Honkomp, executive assistant to the chief development officer and CSSAC’s chairperson. 

There are no membership dues.

“There are all kinds of different people they can go to if they have questions, but sometimes they just need a safe space with somebody who is a peer,” Honkomp said. “It’s also a way for the support staff to communicate or at least have a voice with the cabinet. We are fortunate that the chancellor reaches out to get our input on changes they are considering at the cabinet level.”

The group’s leadership committee meets monthly on the third Tuesday for an hour, answering member questions and presenting speakers from around campus. An informational open house will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in the IDEASpace at Helmke Library.

The leadership committee usually consists of 12 members who attend monthly meetings and relevant campus meetings to report back. That group includes Jennifer Bower, Robert Burton, Khin Khin Gyi, Jayla Heller, B.S. ’05, Elizabeth Miller, Kaye Pitcher, Jessica Rouleau, Spencer Saunders, B.F.A. ’19, and Honkomp.

Contact Honkomp at [email protected].