Hi Everyone,
The next Staff Council Meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday December 2nd at 12:05 pm at the Davis Center in the Livak Ballroom. Our speaker this month will be Professor Frank Bryan (John G. McCullough Professor of Political Science), on the topic: Public Speaking.
The agenda is available online at the SC website, or you can get a printable version here. The November minutes to be approved on Tuesday contain a very good transcript of Barbara Johnson's presentation about the HR department's reorganization-they should also be posted on the website shortly after the meeting.
The Staff Council Annual Holiday Bazaar is also on Tuesday December 2nd, from 9am - 3pm in the Davis Center Grand Maple Ballroom. The Recreation Committee's events page promises "fragrant evergreen wreaths, soft, woolen garments, sparkling jewelry, scrumptious goodies" and more--go visit just to admire the artistry of our talented colleagues!
Well, I hope everyone had a happy & healthy holiday break, and has come back well-rested. Exams begin December 12, but I'm sure that we and the students are up to the challenge!
I hope to have more updates later--enjoy the coming week,
Joanne
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Short Updates!
Hi Everyone,
I have confirmation of the roster of speakers for the year's upcoming Staff Council meetings. The list posted before is correct with the addition of one more name for May. We're also told that Chris Lucier, VP for Enrollment Management would like to address the Staff Council, but we don't have a firm date for that yet.
Professor Frank Bryan- Public Speaking
Provost Hughes- Annual Presentation
Professor Patty Prelock- Leadership
Associate Provost Jill Tarule- Accreditation Visit
Professor William Cats-Baril- Consensus Building
Exec. Dir. Kathryn Friedman- Affirmative Action
Watch for the e-mail with the flyer of local discounts for UVM and FAHC staff!
More later,
Joanne
I have confirmation of the roster of speakers for the year's upcoming Staff Council meetings. The list posted before is correct with the addition of one more name for May. We're also told that Chris Lucier, VP for Enrollment Management would like to address the Staff Council, but we don't have a firm date for that yet.
Professor Frank Bryan- Public Speaking
Provost Hughes- Annual Presentation
Professor Patty Prelock- Leadership
Associate Provost Jill Tarule- Accreditation Visit
Professor William Cats-Baril- Consensus Building
Exec. Dir. Kathryn Friedman- Affirmative Action
Watch for the e-mail with the flyer of local discounts for UVM and FAHC staff!
More later,
Joanne
Saturday, November 15, 2008
November Highlights
Hi Everyone,
At the latest (11/4/08) SC meeting, our guest speaker was Associate VP for Human Resources, Barbara Johnson.
Her topic was the recent re-organization of Human Resource Services. The process was started several years ago out of the perceived need to make department operations more open and interactive between employees and administration. People were retrained and re-assigned into areas of specialization, and functions were re-grouped for better alignment with HRS business partners across campus.
The best first source of information is still their website. It's in the process of being redesigned to reflect the new structure, but to keep us able to find what or whom we need, for this transition period it lists the old dept.s we used to contact under the new categories they'll be wrapped into. The "Information Center" team of people who'll be answering questions on the phone or in person, will cycle periodically from the front desks to the data processing office in Colchester so that everyone stays current and accurate with information, policies and procedures.
During the Q & A period, the questions tended to focus on the pay band system, pay compression and staff development, and the answers fell mostly under the need to complete the third phase of the pay band: identifying and codifying skills levels for advancement across all the pay "families". She is very aware that this is an acute need, and it's high on their list of future goals.
We also offered alternative ideas to replace the increasingly controversial employee appreciation item that has accompanied the annual Employee Appreciation Week: create a scholarship or development fund, donate to a worthy charity chosen by staff, etc. She's open to all constructive ideas on this topic, so if you have a good suggestion you can pass it along via the Council either through a rep or directly to the Staff Council Office.
We thanked her sincerely for coming and clarifying the changes in HR, and for being so open to hearing from all the staff.
Next Speakers
I'm waiting for confirmation from the SC Office on these, but an "unofficial" list of future guest speakers and their topics is:
Professor Frank Bryan- Public Speaking
Provost Hughes- Annual Presentation
Professor Patty Prelock- Leadership
Associate Provost Jill Tarule- Accreditation Visit
Professor William Cats-Baril- Consensus Building
Holidays Approaching
However you celebrate or not, hopefully everybody has pleasant plans for the Thanksgiving time off. (If you need some ideas, there are lots of great deals still on the Discounts & Events section of the Council website!)
Try to stay warm and dry and have a great weekend,
Joanne
At the latest (11/4/08) SC meeting, our guest speaker was Associate VP for Human Resources, Barbara Johnson.
Her topic was the recent re-organization of Human Resource Services. The process was started several years ago out of the perceived need to make department operations more open and interactive between employees and administration. People were retrained and re-assigned into areas of specialization, and functions were re-grouped for better alignment with HRS business partners across campus.
The best first source of information is still their website. It's in the process of being redesigned to reflect the new structure, but to keep us able to find what or whom we need, for this transition period it lists the old dept.s we used to contact under the new categories they'll be wrapped into. The "Information Center" team of people who'll be answering questions on the phone or in person, will cycle periodically from the front desks to the data processing office in Colchester so that everyone stays current and accurate with information, policies and procedures.
During the Q & A period, the questions tended to focus on the pay band system, pay compression and staff development, and the answers fell mostly under the need to complete the third phase of the pay band: identifying and codifying skills levels for advancement across all the pay "families". She is very aware that this is an acute need, and it's high on their list of future goals.
We also offered alternative ideas to replace the increasingly controversial employee appreciation item that has accompanied the annual Employee Appreciation Week: create a scholarship or development fund, donate to a worthy charity chosen by staff, etc. She's open to all constructive ideas on this topic, so if you have a good suggestion you can pass it along via the Council either through a rep or directly to the Staff Council Office.
We thanked her sincerely for coming and clarifying the changes in HR, and for being so open to hearing from all the staff.
Next Speakers
I'm waiting for confirmation from the SC Office on these, but an "unofficial" list of future guest speakers and their topics is:
Professor Frank Bryan- Public Speaking
Provost Hughes- Annual Presentation
Professor Patty Prelock- Leadership
Associate Provost Jill Tarule- Accreditation Visit
Professor William Cats-Baril- Consensus Building
Holidays Approaching
However you celebrate or not, hopefully everybody has pleasant plans for the Thanksgiving time off. (If you need some ideas, there are lots of great deals still on the Discounts & Events section of the Council website!)
Try to stay warm and dry and have a great weekend,
Joanne
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