The first mention of a Staff Advisory Committee was in an October 7, 1993, memo from Acting President Bruce W. Lyon. The memo states that the committee size would be limited to 30, that there would be broad representation from various areas of the college, that meetings would be held quarterly, and that suggestions from the committee would be sought about “various matters of concern and interest to staff members and the total campus community” (Sethna papers, Box 289, Folder 2). Discussion topics from the first meeting on October 22, 1993, included salaries, promotions, new positions, posting of jobs, custodial service, parking, and prioritization of financial needs.

Very early on the Staff Advisory Committee was active in improving campus well-being by proposing crosswalks, improving work life by implementing a staff appreciation program and casual dress Friday, and helping the community with fundraisers particularly around the winter holidays.

From 1993-1997 the committee was called the “President’s Staff Advisory Committee.” By 1998, the group was called the Staff Advisory Council (SAC), sometimes with “President’s” preceding it, and they were active in the larger University System of Georgia Staff Council meetings and annual conference.

In July 1998, Vice Chair of the council Clois Reese submitted a letter to President Beheruz Sethna requesting recognition as an official organization in the Statutes of the University and enclosed revised by-laws with the letter. In December 1999, then Acting President, Thomas J. Hynes, submitted the requested statutes revision to the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

Meeting minutes and other documents pertaining to SAC from 1993-2005 can be found in the Beheruz N. Sethna papers.