Agenda

Minutes

Welcome and Announcements – Nan Wilhelmson, Office of Human Resources

Nan provided information regarding Administrative policy improvements. Changes will be announced through an HR Pro Link. Effective in February 2007, Susan Cable has assumed responsibility for the Regents Scholarship Program. You may direct any inquiries to her at cable003@umn.edu or 612.624.3393. Contact information will be added to information about the Regents Scholarship Program on the web.

University Policy Office Update – Michele Gross, Controller's Office

Improvements and changes are planned for all administrative University-wide policies. The objective is to provide a strategically aligned, accountable structure that provides for continuous improvement and improvements in navigation and communication of policies. The University Policy Office has moved under the Office for Institutional Compliance. Also added was a new URL: www.policy.umn.edu for the University Policy Library, a new format for procedures, and a reorganization of policies under existing categories. There will also be a policy feedback e-mail link. Comments/feedback received are recorded and shared with policy owners. The new template and home page went live on April 2, 2007. Other changes coming in the future include integrating Human Resource policies into the University Policy Library using the new policy template and content management system.

Finance Job Classification Project – Lori Bonine, Office of Human Resources

A review of job classifications is underway for those whose responsibilities are related to financial functions at the University. The purpose is to create new Civil Service classifications for those who perform financial work functions. An outside consultant has been hired to help with this effort. There are five phases to the project: Communication (January-April 2007), Classification Review (May 2007-January 2008), Compensation Study (Feb-May 2008), Review (June-August 2008), then Final Implementation (September-November 2008). Please direct questions to Lori Bonine at: bonin003@umn.edu or (612) 624-5714.

Manager's Toolkit Project – Susan Rafferty and Lindsey Dickinson, Office of Human Resources

The Manager's Toolkit helps managers with many aspects of supervising employees, from recruiting and hiring through separation from employment at the University. The Toolkit does this in part by organizing the wealth of information and tools on the Web and directing managers to the policies, services, resources, tools, and forms regularly needed. The Toolkit should supplement and not replace the consultation and training provided by the Office of Human Resources and local human resources staff. The project will involve a review of current information and a restructure of how the information is provided. There are proposed categories for the revisions of the Toolkit as well as modes such as Tools, Forms and Template Letters, Policies, and Resources. Updates will be provided as the project progresses.

P&A Classification and Compensation Update – Mary Luther, Office of Human Resources

As has been reported in previous meetings, there is a task force charged with a review of existing P&A classification and compensation systems and practices. The process has involved research, review, focus groups with P&A employees, interviews with Deans/Directors, benchmarking practices of other like institutions—Big 10 and Top 10. Recommendations will be forthcoming that will ultimately benefit the administration of the P&A employee group and classification series. Project leaders are Mary Luther, Jackie Singer, and Nan Wilhelmson. Jacke Jones has provided support to the task force. For current information regarding the work of the task force and a list of the task force members, visit P&A Classification Study.

Position Management Update – Miriam Ward, Office of Human Resources

Position Management provides a clear picture of the University's organizational structure, both for vacant and filled positions. The Data Warehouse now includes tables with Position Management data. Web reports will also soon be available. A position number is “key” to connecting requisition, applicants and actual hire data as well as EEO tracking requirements. The data will be available for future OFCCP audits as well. Effective next Monday (May 7th ), a position management number must be entered on any requisition before it can be posted for those units who have been converted. The requisition will be returned to the HR Pro of the unit if the position management number is missing. This will obviously cause a delay for posting. Currently there are 557 posted vacancies without a position management number. Effective Fall 2007, a position must exist in PeopleSoft prior to preparing a requisition. The requisition must include the position number as the Employment System will not allow saving or routing without it, and it will be impossible to enter a new employee (of any kind) in PeopleSoft without using a position number. Please contact Miriam Ward, wardx022@umn.edu or 612.624.1370.

Legal Update – Shirley Carthen Watson, Office of General Council

Shelly provided current legal updates including rulings on Compensation for Attending Counseling Sessions Mandated by the Employer Limits on Public Employee Speech (Free Speech, 1st Amendment Rights) and Laws on Retaliation. To review the legal update presentation see attached PowerPoint.