HR Makes Changes to Streamline Operations, Better Serve Employees

HR Makes Changes to Streamline Operations, Better Serve Employees

By Amy WilliamsUniversity Relations – Communications
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Allison Vaillancourt
Allison Vaillancourt
Helena Rodrigues
Helena Rodrigues

Human Resources Makes Changes to Streamline Operations, Better Serve Employees

In an effort to improve internal processes and better serve University employees, the UA Division of Human Resources has been busy for the past few months, making changes to its infrastructure as well as the services it offers the UA community. And it's not done changing yet.

Here are a few of the changes that have already been made or are coming soon.

Division to move under a new office

Effective July 1, the Division of Human Resources will move under UA Business Affairs and Gregg Goldman, senior vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer.

The division currently reports to Andrew Comrie, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

As part of the transition, Allison Vaillancourt, now vice president for human resources and institutional effectiveness, will assume a new role as vice president for business affairs and human resources.

In this role, Vaillancourt will provide strategic support to the Division of Business Affairs and take on new responsibilities for Arizona Public Media, Risk Management Services, and Systems Control.

Helena Rodrigues has taken on the role of assistant vice president of human resources.

"Helena has been a valued member of the UA community for several years, having served as Director of our National Science Foundation ADVANCE program prior to joining Human Resources," Vaillancourt said. "She began her career as a political science professor, and her deep understanding of academic culture issues makes her a strategic and trusted advisor.”

HR Solutions will streamline employee contact with HR

One of the most recent changes to come out of the Human Resources office is a new team called HR Solutions, made up of experts in employment, benefits, leaves and retirement, and employee relations.

HR Solutions is part of a new model for the division in which an employee calls one number, emails one address or submits a general question to one place, and the person who picks up the phone or answers the email becomes the employee's case manager until his or her issue is resolved.

"Our goal is to have a single person see an employee through their issue's resolution," Rodrigues said. "The new model will also enable HR consultants to spend more focused time addressing organizational issues within the campus community and within departments."

New website offers easier navigation

In the spring, Human Resources launched a new and improved website that makes it easier for visitors to find information specific to their role.

It features new drop-down menus where employees, prospective employees, managers and supervisors can go to a single location on the website to find all the resources they need.  

Ask HR is the portal on the Human Resources website where employees can submit questions online. The page also doubles as a space for frequently asked questions. This portal provides a single point of entry and is designed to streamline requests for HR assistance.

Performance feedback approach encourages honest conversations

A new employee feedback and planning approach called Career Conversations, a replacement for what Vaillancourt called "outmoded forms of performance evaluation," is encouraging open, honest conversations between University employees and supervisors.

Features of the Career Conversations model include a simplified employee self-reflection and planning form. The supervisor will make notes once the self-reflection is complete, and this is followed by a face-to-face conversation in which the employee and supervisor discuss the employee's performance.

Vaillancourt said the new model is designed to place the emphasis on meaningful, development-oriented conversation designed to enhance employees' professional success.

Although faculty will continue to use current models in place, conversations are underway about how to provide them with more useful and explicit career guidance.

The Human Resources website provides a guide with examples of how to fill out the feedback form, along with answers to frequently asked questions, including how to make salary increase recommendations without using a rating system.

Read the full Lo Que Pasa article here.

Employee orientation focuses on career development

Within their first 30 days of working at the UA, employees are encouraged to attend a reimagined new employee orientation, called UA Career Kickoff.

The orientation now places greater emphasis on how to be successful at the University, discussing the University’s culture and values and showcasing the resources the UA has to offer.

Another goal of the new orientation format is to instill a sense of pride in employees about where they work by making them aware of some of the University's achievements and landmark moments.

Read more in this Lo Que Pasa article.

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