History

Staff Association and Staff Association Advisory Council origins are rooted in the establishment of the Management and Administrative Staff Association (MASA) convened in 1998. Its mission and purpose were to maintain an active and participatory line of communication with the University community on behalf of staff members employed by CSU that were not represented by a bargaining unit at CSU. MASA served to provide feedback, advice and counsel to the University President and senior staff on matters relevant to MASA members. This organization was considered nonsectarian, nonpartisan, and nonprofit and guided by the powers authorized by our bylaws. 

MASA fostered the concept and practice of non-bargaining unit staff representation on major university committees, in part by serving as a vehicle for making committee member placement recommendations and by having the representative make summary reports to the MASA member body. MASA leadership met on a regular basis with the University President and senior staff to share communication on issues that concern University staff members who were not represented by a bargaining unit and to support executive administration and the University’s mission and vision. 

MASA worked closely with the Human Resources Department to review, assess, and address policies and procedures to enhance the working environment for University staff members who are not represented by a bargaining unit and promoted the MASA Advisory Council to the University staff members who were not represented by a bargaining unit as a vehicle for the communication of issues and concerns of the group to the entire University community. MASA provided feedback from a general staff perspective to any office presenting plans, concerns, or seeking information and supported leadership, networking, and professional development opportunities for Association members by fostering an environment of open communication and interaction among University staff members who were not represented by a bargaining unit. 

In November 2020, MASA implemented a new moniker for our organization and changed its name to Staff Association. This change was in recognition that the acronym of the organization, “MASA,” may be construed in a negative context due to its phonetic pronunciation. Staff Association Bylaws were revised to reflect the organization’s name change in March 2021 and revised and approved again in December 2023 for clarity and minor restructuring to increase the number of Staff Association Advisory Council membership from 15 to 21 seats. 

The Staff Association continued to evolve and generate a positive step forward for professional, administrative and classified non-bargaining employees at Cleveland State University (approx. 350 employees). Consideration and approval for an organizational reinvention and name change to Staff Senate will benefit professional, administrative and classified non-bargaining employees by creating new opportunities for growth and involvement in the University’s strategic plans. It is our objective to be equally and formally recognized with faculty, staff, and student representative bodies in advising University administration by providing feedback, advice and counsel to the University President and senior staff on issues relevant to staff senate members. We believe that by working consistently with University administration and human resources on staff senate challenges and opportunities, while supporting leadership, networking and professional growth opportunities for staff senate general members will help push the University forward.

On October 3, 2025, the Cleveland State University Board of Trustees officially approved the change from Staff Association to Staff Senate.