The Officers of Administration Council has been actively engaged in discussions with Human Resources about developing policies that strengthen OA employment practices at the university. These discussions are a direct result of feedback from OAs expressing concern with existing policies and practices.

We are pleased that HR began an initiative to establish an independent suite of policies designed to address the specific employment issues of OAs, and that this initiative has reached an important next step in the approval and implementation process. The proposed OA policies are now available for your review and open for public comment.

Information about the process, the draft policies, and the comment form are available on the OA Policy Development webpage.

Your OA Council members strongly encourage active OA participation in this important initiative. You can engage in the process by reviewing the policies, submitting a comment form, or attending a discussion session:

• Monday, October 3. 2:00-3:00pm, EMU Cedar & Spruce Rooms (RSVP)
• Tuesday, October 4, 10:00-11:00am, EMU Crater Lake South (RSVP)
• Tuesday, October 11, 2:00-3:00pm, EMU Crater Lake North (RSVP)
• Thursday, October 13, 5:15-6:15pm, EMU Diamond Lake Room (RSVP)
• Tuesday, October 18, 9:45-10:45 a.m., EMU Diamond Lake Room (RSVP) PLEASE NOTE ROOM AND TIME CHANGE

Please visit the OA Policy Development webpage to plan your involvement. Public comments will be accepted through Monday, October 24 at 5:00 p.m.

OA Council is pleased with the progress of HR and the OA Policy Advisory Team. With additional feedback from the campus community, especially OAs, we are confident that the implementation of policies specific to OAs will strengthen employment practices at the university.

The University of Oregon’s Division of Equity and Inclusion is putting the muscle of money behind the effort to multiply and spread inclusion proficiency across campus.

Vice President Yvette Alex-Assensoh is unveiling the Division of Equity and Inclusion’s Staff Professional Development Grant, to help UO employees develop skills that facilitate the institutionalization of equity, inclusion and diversity on campus.

The grant includes attending a conference for the purpose of learning new skills, completing online course work, developing training expertise or honing existing skills in support of equity, inclusion and diversity. Eligible staff may receive as much as $1,200 per academic year to cover expenses related to professional development consistent with the goals of the IDEAL framework.

VP Alex-Assensoh will share information on the process and timeline for grant application and award, at the special officers of administration meeting on May 26, 2016, 10:00-11:30 a.m. at the Ford Alumni Center Giustina Ballroom (and by webcast in Portland at the White Stag Building Room 150).

Details are on the VPEI website.

NOTE: MEETING DATE, TIME AND LOCATION CHANGE.

The Officers of Administration Council welcomes representatives from University Communications and Information Technology to its monthly Open Meeting on Friday, February 12 from 2:30-4:30 p.m., in Pacific Hall Room 123.

The discussion will delve into central services integration, sometimes referred to as consolidation, or inaccurately as “centralization.”

Special guests include Kyle Henley, vice president for University Communications, Melissa Woo, vice provost for information services and chief information officer, and Melanie Muenzer, chief of staff for the provost. Each topic area, communications and information technology, will have roughly an hour for information sharing and questions and answers from OAs in attendance.

These two areas ares are at the vanguard of a university-wide movement toward integration of services across divisions, departments, schools, colleges and centrally. Integration is intended by President Michael Schill and his senior leadership team to enhance efficiency, improve coordination and effectiveness, reduce waste and redundancy, and save money across the UO. However, many questions remain as to how integration will unfold, what the impact on OAs will be, and what input OAs can have into the process about their own positions, and in content areas that are critical to their work.

All UO officers of administration are welcome at all OAC Open Meetings. Please RSVP.

Submit questions to the guests by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10.