Filling a perceived gap, the Professional and Scientific Council's executive committee compiled a set of best practices for P&S staff who have for-credit teaching responsibilities. The document was described as "a comprehensive resource" for P&S staff, supervisors and administrators in a motion introduced at the council's Feb. 4 meeting.
The document provides guidelines both for P&S staff who teach as part of their job duties, and for staff who teach outside their position description. It includes references to relevant policies in the Faculty Handbook and procedures for writing/updating P&S position descriptions.
Following council discussion, the document title likely will be tweaked to clarify that it is intended for P&S staff who teach for-credit academic courses, not for extension and outreach staff who teach training courses and other programs. Council members will vote next month on a motion to send the document to the university human resources and provost offices as a recommendation for further action.
Tuition reimbursement program
Council members unanimously approved proposed changes to the employee tuition reimbursement program, which include increased coverage from three to four credit hours per semester.
The recommended changes were developed in response to issues identified during the council's priority planning sessions at the start of the academic year. The tuition reimbursement program is available for merit and P&S staff with at least one year of service. The approved motion will be forwarded to the campus-wide university benefits committee for consideration.
Progress in UHR
Julie Nuter, associate vice president for university human resources (UHR), gave an overview of changes to the human resources operating model. Among them is a focus on campus human capital capabilities, what Nuter called the "people part" of operations.
As part of that, Nuter said UHR is working with Diane Muncrief, a personnel officer in the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory. She said Muncrief will help UHR:
- Bridge centralized and decentralized HR stakeholders through relationship building and communication
- Advance HR capabilities by developing and improving policies, resources, tools and training
- Measure progress and success of plans and priorities
Other business
- Jamie Wilson, an administrative specialist in veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, was approved to fill a vacant council seat
- Nominations are open for council officer positions, with elections scheduled for the March 3 meeting
- Nominations are open through Feb. 29 for 16 council seats (nine in academic affairs, three in business and finance, two in the president's office and two in student affairs), with online elections scheduled for next month
