TIPS Charter

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TIPS Charter 

Last updated February 4, 2009

Mission Statement

Team for Improving Productivity at Stanford (TIPS) is an open forum that:

  • Serves as a catalyst for communicating information to all staff.
  • Collaborates, raises awareness, influences and provides advice to enhance productivity across campus.
  • Supports successful and effective development and implementation of business processes.
  • Provides opportunities for leadership development to Stanford staff.

TIPS Objectives

  • Provide a forum for staff who seek information and advice about Stanford programs and services.
  • Provide an opportunity for open discussion and the exchange of ideas about topics of interest. 
  • Stay current and be informed about business operations and communicate information to and from business process owners and end users.
  • Provide a voice for user-level input and constructive feedback through identification, development, and implementation of University business processes.
  • Partner with other University groups in the identification, development, and implementation of policies, processes, and systems supporting Stanford business practices.
  • Engage staff to participate in Working Groups* focused on specific business processes, policies, and tools.
  • Bridge communication between staff and University Management Group (UMG).

Operating Guidelines

  • TIPS will promote an open environment by encouraging all members of the Stanford community to attend meetings either in person or remotely.
  • Per longstanding tradition, TIPS will meet on the morning of the third Wednesday of each month.  (August and December meetings are optional.)
  • The TIPS Leadership team will consist of a Chair, Co-Chair and on-going coordination from IT Services.
  • The TIPS Chair and Co-Chair will be elected from among the Core Representatives and in each role will serve a one year term which begins on September 1 and ends on August 31.  The Co-Chair will succeed the Chair after also completing a one-year term.     
  • The TIPS Chair and Co-Chair serve with the consent of their supervisors.

Electronic nominations and elections for the Co-Chair position will be held in Spring or Summer, regardless of the number of nominations received.   If either the Chair or Co-Chair cannot complete their terms, a special election will be held.

The TIPS-ALL@lists.stanford.edu will only be used to send email relating to TIPS business; not for general University announcements, job openings, etc.

The TIPS Charter shall be reviewed at least every five years.

Core Representatives (Core Reps)

TIPS Core Representatives shall be appointed by the Administrative Deans (or the functional equivalent) for each unit currently represented on the University Management Group (UMG).  These include:

  • Administrative Systems
  • Athletics
  • Controllers Office
  • Dean of Research
  • Development
  • Earth Sciences
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Graduate School of Business
  • Hoover
  • Humanities & Sciences
  • Human Resources
  • IT Services
  • Land, Buildings and Real Estate
  • Law
  • Libraries
  • Medicine
  • Office of President & Provost
  • Office of Research Administration
  • Residential & Dining Enterprises
  • SLAC
  • Student Affairs
  • University Budget Office
  • Vice President for Public Affairs
  • Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
    • Each unit will appoint one Core Rep and one alternate who will serve as Core Rep elect.
    • Core Reps and alternates serve with the consent of their supervisors.
    • Core Reps shall represent their constituents, attend monthly TIPS meetings, and communicate useful information to their Administrative Deans and colleagues in their departments or units.
    • The TIPS Core Representatives are expected to complete one term of two years beginning on September 1 and ending on August 31.

Working Group Guidelines

Each Working Group will be chaired by a Leader(s) who work(s) closely with subject matter experts of the product, process, or policy in development.

The Working Group Leader(s) will develop a working plan that includes:

  • a definition of how the product, process, or policy will improve productivity at Stanford and determine how it will be measured, if possible
  • an estimated number of expected meetings
  • the enlisting of volunteers
  • the discovery of “show-stoppers”
  • an evaluation of efforts
  • a report back to TIPS
  • a decision what the sign-off will be, if there is one, including all measurables

TIPS 2008 Charter Review Working Group:

  • Cindy Barnett, GLAM/Independent Labs
  • Jo-Ann Cuevas-Pagliaro, IT Services, Campus Readiness
  • Christine Fiksdal,  Computer Science, School of Engineering
  • Gisela Hoelzl, Child Health Research Program,
Department of Pediatrics

  • Ed Jones, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Martha Kessler, Health Research Policy, School of Medicne
  • Robee Mees, Controller's Office
  • Elizabeth Lasensky, Dean of Research Office (TIPS Chair 08-09 ),
  • Jane Marcus, IT Services, Business Services
  • Susan Philips-Moskowitz, Geophysics, School of Earth Sciences (Co-chair TIPS 08-09)
  • Manju Smith, Administrative Systems
  • Renee Sombilon, Vice Provost for Public Affairs (TIPS Chair 07-08)
  • Rosenna Yau, Physics Department, School of Humanities and Sciences