The Higher Ed Workplace Blog

In an attempt to meet the needs of their unique student body and in response to the challenges they face in managing budgets cuts, managing shifting enrollments and maintaining their identity and mission, associate’s institutions differ from other institution types in the composition of their workforce, the benefits they offer, and the representation and pay of women and minorities. CUPA-HR’s newest research brief, A Snapshot of the Staff Workforce in Community and Technical Colleges, highlights some of these differences.

Each month, CUPA-HR General Counsel Ira Shepard provides an overview of some labor and employment law cases and regulatory actions with implications for the higher ed workplace. Read the latest from Ira.

While the holiday season may be a time for celebration, it can also be incredibly stressful. A recent survey by Accountemps found that while 51 percent of workers were happier during the holiday season, 35 percent said they were more stressed this time of year. How can organizations help their employees be mindful of and attend to their health and wellbeing not only during the hectic times, but year-round?

Data from CUPA-HR’s newest research report show that compared to the overall 7 percent growth rate for student affairs positions in higher ed, the number of student counselors has increased 10 percent, and the number of student counseling psychologists has increased 8 percent from 2016-17 to 2017-18. In contrast, the number of student career counselor positions has only increased 2 percent.

Each month, CUPA-HR General Counsel Ira Shepard provides an overview of some labor and employment law cases and regulatory actions with implications for the higher ed workplace. Read the latest from Ira.

Transitioning to a new job can be tough for many people, but this transition can be especially difficult for the nearly 300,000 veterans that enter the U.S. workforce each year. According to recent research, nearly half of all veterans leave their first post-military job within a year, and between 60 percent and 80 percent leave before their second work anniversary. As hiring managers, supervisors and HR professionals, we are in a unique position to help ease the transition for veterans joining our workforces, thereby increasing the odds that they’ll stay.

Under the new requirement, institutions that have been awarded grants (nearly 2,000 colleges and universities) must notify NSF within 10 days of any findings or determinations that any NSF-funded principal or co-principal investigator (PI) violated the law or the institution’s policies with respect to harassment, including sexual harassment or assault, or if the institution has taken administrative actions or sanctions against the PI or co-PI because of alleged harassment.

Student affairs has one of the most diverse workforces on college and university campuses today, particularly as it relates to women and African Americans in leadership positions. Student affairs is also exemplary for pay equity compared to the rest of higher education.

Several major news outlets covered the recent kerfuffle of a Frontier Airlines passenger attempting to fly out of Orlando, Florida, with her emotional support squirrel seated with her. These kinds of incidents raise questions about the policies colleges and universities have in place to address service animals and emotional support animals on campus.

A comparison ratio (compa-ratio for short) is one of the most common metrics for pay. Simply stated, a compa-ratio compares an individual employee’s salary to the midpoint of a given salary range. This easy-to-calculate statistic can be used in many ways to guide decisions about compensation on your campus.