Staff are burned out. Over the last year they have said so clearly and repeatedly. They have used the word “overwhelming” to describe their workloads. They have reported stagnant wages and limited opportunities for advancement. They have raised alarms about officials not grasping the severity of their concerns or incorporating their voices into University planning. Their work is essential. Their exhaustion is mounting. As GW braces for budget cuts and federal scrutiny, students, faculty and officials must use every avenue available to advocate for staff.

Staff took another hit late last month when officials announced a 3 percent reduction to the University’s expense budget for the upcoming fiscal year and, with it, news that they’re halting annual merit-based salary increases for staff. Chief Financial Officer Bruno Fernandes told the Faculty Senate on Friday that this is the “least disruptive” strategy to prevent layoffs while responding to federal headwinds and years of GW’s expenses outpacing its revenue. We’re not disputing this logic. But the reality is staff are absorbing a burden they’re not equipped to carry. It’s time for the GW community to rally around its staff and ensure their voices aren’t drowned out in the rising tide of institutional concerns.

Officials’ decision to pause merit-based increases for staff came two months after they temporarily tacked on an additional review step to the University’s hiring process, intensifying staff fears of potential layoffs and leaving some departments struggling to function with too few hands. The Staff Council — a governing body of non-unionized staff members that formed in 2023 — issued a statement saying they were “deeply concerned” about the added review step. They criticized the “vague” language of the announcement, which officials sent “late on a Friday,” as emblematic of a lack of transparency that left staff anxious over the weekend.

The Staff Council’s frustration with the University’s messaging echoed a festering concern among staff that officials don’t hear or take their concerns seriously. When the Staff Council in March asked officials to hold a town hall for staff to speak directly to administrators, Chief of Staff Scott Mory likened the proposal to a “firing line” for officials. Emily Lewis, the Staff Council’s parliamentarian, said the remark captured what many staff already believe: officials say they want to hear from staff, but they’re not actually listening. She said staff may have been “better served by unionizing” than forming the Staff Council in 2023 because, at this point, it may take legal backing for officials to hear them.

Many staff — who keep systems running, buildings open and campus functioning day to day — don’t feel properly seen or heard by the University. In a moment of real strain for higher education, it’s easy for staff concerns to get lost amid fears of student visa revocations, federal research funding cuts and free speech battles. President Donald Trump’s threats against universities have added pressure on institutions like GW to tighten budgets and defend their values, all while facing broader challenges in higher education like rising costs and declining enrollment. But the GW community can’t afford to let its essential staff become collateral. Preventing this starts with students, faculty and officials using every platform they have to listen to, honor and elevate their concerns.

For students, this means the Student Government Association continuing to acknowledge the role staff play in shaping the student experience and advocating for the changes needed to help them do their jobs better. It means students educating themselves on staff concerns, noticing where staff are overburdened on campus and offering feedback to the University that reflects this. GW is a tuition-dependent University. When students come together and ask for change, it carries weight.

For faculty, this means the Faculty Senate leveraging its role in University policymaking to champion staff concerns. They consistently remind officials that shared governance principles dictate their responsibility in ensuring faculty voices are heard, and this advocacy can extend to staff. They can also collaborate with the Staff Council to advocate for changes that benefit both faculty and staff. These bodies are stronger when they stand together and right now, staff need that support. Faculty can play their part by publicly honoring staff in class and elevating staff concerns in feedback to the University. Those protected by their tenured status can go a step further, reaching out to officials and making clear that the value of their teaching and research depends on the staff who support it.

For University leaders, the power to improve staff experience lies in their hands. We understand officials are navigating a structural budget deficit, bracing for federal scrutiny and working diligently to balance the needs of all its constituents. They may not be able to increase staff pay or expand hiring immediately, but they can make sure the next strategic plan fully addresses the concerns staff have raised over the past year. They can also develop and share medium-term plans to alleviate staff burnout in the coming months and years. Above all, we’re asking them to genuinely listen to staff, carefully consider how they communicate and ensure that staff perspectives are prioritized within the shared governance framework. In a time of uncertainty, staff are seeking acknowledgment, respect and action from officials.

Staff are the pulse of the University. They’re the IT technicians who keep classes running, the librarians guiding us through research papers and the people who ensure course registration runs smoothly. In a period of fear and institutional fragility, it’s the responsibility of the entire community to stand behind our staff.

The editorial board consists of Hatchet staff members and operates separately from the newsroom. This week’s staff editorial was written by Opinions Editor Andrea Mendoza-Melchor, based on discussions with Contributing Opinions Editor Madie Turley and Contributing Culture Editor Carly Cavanaugh.