The Transformation Team for Human Resources and Employee Services was established in early 2022. It is made up of staff representing student services, finance, human resources, and other areas across CCV, VTC, NVU and CU. As a result of the team’s Discovery work, two primary areas for focus were identified:
- Employment and Talent Development Strategies
- Employee culture, morale, and satisfaction
- Workforce analysis, planning, and operations
- Professional development and training
- Operational Optimization and Process Alignment
- Data systems and architecture to support planning and decision-making
- Administering part-time faculty, instructors
- Administering and supporting student workers
- Employee records, files, and data
- Compliance (policies, procedures, and training)
Over the summer months, consideration has been given to how to structure human resources to support the achievement of goals established for these two key, critical areas. We have concluded that a shared services model will optimize services and efficiencies of data systems, records management, benefits administration, compliance training, and leave management.
Over the course of the next year, these responsibilities will fully transition from campus-based human resources functions to HR Shared Services. The shared services model provides administrative and technical services across multiple units in a way that optimizes quality, consistency, and efficiency, as covered above.
The shift of HR administrative work from CCV and VTSU (currently CU, VTC, and NVU) to Shared Services will create capacity for the human resources professionals embedded in each institution to focus on supporting their organization’s strategic goals and inclusive cultures through staff planning, professional development and employee relations (geared towards employee success). Employees with questions regarding leave time management, retirement benefits, etc. will direct these questions to HR Shared Services. A priority this year is to build an intranet site which provides easy access to forms, policies, and contact information.
Vermont State University’s Human Resources function will be led by an Assistant Vice President for People and Culture. HR Managers will support functional leaders, as well as the staff and faculty within their organizations. There will continue to be an HR presence at each campus, however, these individuals will provide employee, labor, and professional development guidance for the functional areas they support (rather than focusing solely on issues arising at their location). Guidance regarding conflict resolution, professional development opportunities, union contract interpretations and applications, and job performance will be directed to those HR Managers aligned with the relevant functional area.