In recent weeks, we’ve highlighted key takeaways from CUPA-HR’s town hall meeting, Partners in Justice — We Will Not Be Silent! Leaning into uncomfortable conversations to help lead the charge for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and addressing systemic racism and inequality on the individual, team and organizational levels are just two of the “nuggets”... View Article
Over the past two months there have been several important actions on immigration policy. Below we provide brief summaries of the activity. USCIS Resumes Premium Processing in Phases for Forms I-129 and I-140 On May 29, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it will resume premium processing in phases for Forms I-129 and eligible... View Article
“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.” This sobering statement echoed throughout CUPA-HR’s recent town hall meeting, where higher ed HR panelists discussed how to tackle systemic racism on campus and urged higher ed HR pros to challenge leaders and rethink policies and procedures that perpetuate ongoing inequalities and create barriers to inclusivity. Panelists shared these three... View Article
On June 25, the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued guidance implementing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)’s Memorandum M-20-26, “Extension of Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Due to Loss of Operations.” OMB’s M-20-26 extends administrative relief from certain requirements under the regulations... View Article
This past spring, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced temporary flexibility in complying with Form I-9 requirements. While the initial extension deadline was set for mid-June, DHS has again extended its policy due to continued precautions related to COVID-19. The temporary change provides Form I-9 flexibility through... View Article
According to findings from CUPA-HR’s Benefits in Higher Education Report — Paid Time Off, Tuition Reimbursement, and Retirement, associate’s institutions have some of the most generous retirement benefits in comparison to doctoral, masters or baccalaureate institutions. The 403(b) plan is the most popular retirement plan for both private institutions (where 92 percent offer it) and... View Article
The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks and too many others have prompted a flood of angry voices demanding justice and radical change. Many of us have joined those voices in our communities. As higher ed HR leaders committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), we are also uniquely positioned... View Article
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. Here’s the latest from Ira: Federal Court Dismisses Medical Resident’s Claim Under “Intercorporate Immunity Doctrine” That States Discussions of Student Performance by Faculty Members and University Officials Are... View Article
CUPA-HR Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Shomaker is back again with Jay Stephens, vice president for human capital services at Kansas State University. Jay explains how Kansas State is moving from crisis mode to focusing on the future and offers advice on planning for a fall return to campus. Related Resources Preparing for... View Article
On June 1, CUPA-HR joined the American Council on Education (ACE) and other higher education associations in sending a letter to Senate leaders requesting additional unemployment insurance (UI) relief for self-insured colleges and universities. The letter raises concerns with Department of Labor (DOL) guidance requiring self-insured nonprofits to pay money to state UI agencies before... View Article
Artificial Intelligence (AI) will require the entire workforce to learn new skills, whether it’s to keep up to date with an existing role or pursue a new career as a result of automation. AI will not eliminate jobs; it will create them. And HR will be focused not only on the employee’s ability to do... View Article
Like millions of Americans, my heart aches and I have no words to adequately express my anger, my sadness or my frustration regarding the recent events that have shaken our country. Members of our national board recently shared the following questions. How do we help our campuses become stronger as a result of this turmoil?... View Article
The content in this blog post is for general information purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Higher ed HR pros are working tirelessly to update institutions’ policies and procedures after the sudden shift of work operations as a result of the public health crisis. On top of this workload, institutions must now... View Article
On May 28, CUPA-HR, along with the American Council on Education (ACE) and other higher education organizations, sent a letter to Congressional leaders requesting “temporary and targeted” liability protections for institutions of higher education for incidents related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizations stressed in the letter the importance of liability protections as colleges and... View Article
Many institutions will return to campus this fall with tighter budgets and a leaner workforce. Preparing the internal talent pipeline and keeping employee skill sets agile through upskilling will be critical to navigating these challenging times. The term “upskill” has been turning up with increasing regularity in conversations about continual learning and keeping staff current... View Article
On May 19, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued revised enforcement guidance clarifying employers’ obligations to record work-related COVID-19 cases during the public health emergency. The enforcement guidance, titled “Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19),” sets forth criteria determining when a case of COVID-19 illness is work-related, and... View Article
As higher education leaders plan for possible delays in campus openings, the staff who service the infrastructure of the campus and maintain its upkeep may be most at risk of being furloughed or losing their jobs. According to the recently released CUPA-HR 2020 Staff in Higher Education Annual Report, it is critical to consider expected... View Article
A recent CUPA-HR research report provides a snapshot of health professions faculty, one of the fastest-growing disciplines in higher education. The report, Faculty in the Health Professions: Growth, Composition, and Salaries, indicates that the overall number of health professions faculty increased by 19 percent since 2014, compared to a 6 percent increase in the number... View Article
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. Here’s the latest from Ira: Court: Mere “Awareness” of an Employee’s Disability Does Not Ordinarily Satisfy the ADA Request Requirement The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C.... View Article
On May 12, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing titled, “COVID-19: Safely Getting Back to Work and Back to School.” The hearing allowed the committee and four public health experts to discuss risks and best practices moving forward for reopening workplaces and schools as states begin to reopen their economies... View Article
On May 12, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released two notices providing temporary increased flexibility for Section 125 Cafeteria Plans, health plans that allow workers to choose from a variety of benefits on a pre-tax basis. The first notice, Notice 2020-29, provides relief for taxpayers who are experiencing changes in their expenses due to the... View Article
The fall semester remains a big question mark in the minds of those associated with higher ed institutions. However, one thing is clear — enrollment will take a dip. That being said, tough employment decisions must be made, and HR must be prepared to explain and recommend a combination of furloughs, layoffs and salary freezes... View Article
On May 6, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released an interim final rule (IFR) to supplement previously issued IFRs implementing the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The new IFR provides guidance tailored for institutions of higher education, such as additional eligibility requirements with respect to student workers and nondiscrimination obligations. The CARES Act,... View Article
CUPA-HR Vice President and Chief Learning Officer Sissy Meredith is back again with Ira Shepard, CUPA-HR’s general counsel and of counsel at Saul Ewing Arnstein and Lehr, this time with a focus on health and safety considerations for returning to campus, including developing or updating policies and protocols for personal protective equipment, temperature checks, employee... View Article
The Department of Labor (DOL), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) issued guidance materials for employers and employees to help them better understand how financial assistance resources created in response to the coronavirus public health emergency will be impacted by employee rejection of reemployment opportunities offered by the employer.... View Article
CUPA-HR President and CEO Andy Brantley catches up with Sheraine Gilliam-Holmes, executive director and chief human resources officer at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. Sheraine shares how the HR team collaborated with colleagues across the university to create programming that engages APSU parents working remotely to acknowledge the challenges of working from home with... View Article
Professional leadership positions in higher education often serve as the pipeline to higher-level administrative positions. For this reason, it is crucial to examine representation among these positions. CUPA-HR’s recently released 2020 Professionals in Higher Education Annual Report surveyed 396 professional positions. Of those positions, 38 percent are leadership positions that require supervising others or directing... View Article
In the last decade, much emphasis has been placed on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education, but efforts are often focused on the student population rather than the higher ed workforce. In a recent CUPA-HR webinar, Jackie Bichsel, director of research at CUPA-HR, shared that the current COVID-19 crisis has shed even more... View Article
CUPA-HR Vice President and Chief Learning Officer Sissy Meredith catches up with Ira Shepard, CUPA-HR’s general counsel and of counsel at Saul Ewing Arnstein and Lehr, about key considerations in planning for faculty and staff to return to campus. As Ira points out, HR is in a unique position to take the lead in developing... View Article
On April 28, the Department of Labor (DOL)’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued deadline extensions and other guidance under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The two notices and an FAQ document provide guidance to help benefits plan participants, sponsors and fiduciaries impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The... View Article
On April 27, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made significant updates to the Handbook for Employers: Guidance Completing Form I-9. The handbook is a valuable resource for employers regarding questions on I-9 completion and compliance and addresses many commonly asked questions by employers. The updates to the handbook are effective immediately and... View Article
From creating diversity efforts and development initiatives to leading change, human resources teams and HR practitioners across the country are doing great work every day. CUPA-HR’s regional Higher Education HR Awards program recognizes some of the best and brightest in higher ed HR and honors HR professionals who have given their time and talents to... View Article
Over the last few weeks, the American Council on Education (ACE), with the support of CUPA-HR and other higher education organizations, sent letters to Congress and federal agencies requesting the government take specific steps to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 national emergency on colleges and universities and their students. Below is a comprehensive... View Article
CUPA-HR Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rob Shomaker catches up with Jay Stephens, vice president for human capital services at Kansas State University, to find out how Kansas State is planning for the return to campus. Central to the university’s planning efforts is building a framework of criteria based on the university’s guiding principles.... View Article
CUPA-HR President and CEO Andy Brantley catches up with Jenna Elmer, assistant director for HR in facilities management at The University of Arizona. Jenna shares thoughts on listening, leading with grace, and helping each employee find a way to be active in the fight, whether it’s the person pulling on the hazmat suit, a supervisor... View Article
From creating diversity efforts and development initiatives to leading change, human resources teams and HR practitioners across the country are doing great work every day. CUPA-HR’s regional Higher Education HR Awards program recognizes some of the best and brightest in higher ed HR and honors HR professionals who have given their time and talents to... View Article
We recently shared a blog post highlighting three different ways to visualize data from CUPA-HR’s Data Visualization Challenge. Data visualizations can be used to inform and persuade when tough decisions must be made — something every institution is facing during the COVID-19 crisis. Transforming raw data into eye-catching visualizations can help campus leaders identify trends... View Article
Wes Harmon, senior manager of learning and professional development at CUPA-HR, catches up with Heather Hart, executive director of human resources at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana-Lafayette. Heather shares ways her institution communicated across their 18-campus system and the work plans they developed to assist with identifying gaps and strategically deploying resources and people.... View Article
This blog post was contributed by Linda Harber, retired CHRO from George Mason University and active CUPA-HR contributor. Planning an early retirement program for your institution is a vital part of human resource strategy and operations and can help position HR as a strategic leadership partner, especially during times like these. That said, developing an... View Article
As colleges and universities strive to create a more equitable and representative workforce, there has been increased emphasis on recognizing and exploring the pipeline that leads to leadership positions. The 2020 CUPA-HR Administrators in Higher Education Annual Report, released today, highlights data collected on the pipeline for three key positions: institution president/CEO, provost/chief academic officer... View Article
Many higher education institutions will face a tough road in the coming months. While the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still unknown, it is almost certain that most higher education institutions will be confronted with the challenges of lower student enrollment and, with the resulting decrease in tuition revenue, reduced operating budgets. Many... View Article
Wes Harmon, senior manager of learning and professional development at CUPA-HR, catches up with Janet May, chief human resources officer at Houston Community College. Janet shares ways that HCC has promoted well-being among faculty and staff by keeping the lines of communication open and consistently promoting flexibility, kindness, consideration and compassion. Related Resources COVID-19 Resources... View Article
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. Here’s the latest from Ira: Federal Courts Split on Whether Title IX Provides a Separate Litigation Remedy for Education Workers for Sex Bias in Addition to Title VII... View Article
As the COVID-19 public health emergency continues, policymakers are providing new financial assistance to workers impacted by the outbreak. One form of assistance is additional unemployment compensation for both previously eligible individuals and new classes of workers. Questions remain, however, about which workers qualify to receive such benefits, including whether students who perform work for... View Article
Even as HR leaders across the country are helping their institutions navigate telework arrangements, paid leave and other COVID-19 challenges, they are looking ahead to what’s next. How will enrollment numbers and institutional budget be affected in the coming months, and what will the impact of those changes be on workforce planning? Never has data... View Article
CUPA-HR President and CEO Andy Brantley catches up with Susan Norton, vice president for human resources at Augusta University in Georgia. Susan shares how Augusta’s definition of essential vs. reserved employees has evolved, and how the university is working to clarify leave and telework options for employees with a quick-reference chart and more. Related Resources... View Article
This blog was contributed by Aaron Blumberg and Patrick Shen of Fragomen Government Strategies and Compliance Group. The COVID-19 public health crisis has compelled the United States and many countries to implement travel restrictions and quarantines. This raises severe immigration-related operational and regulatory compliance concerns, especially for colleges and universities who have highly diverse international... View Article
On April 1, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) released a temporary rule on the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA), both of which are part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The rule provides additional guidance that builds on... View Article
CUPA-HR President and CEO Andy Brantley catches up with Theresa Elliot-Cheslek, vice president and chief human resources officer at Washington State University. WSU was one of the first institutions to move large numbers of employees to remote work arrangements in response to the COVID-19 crisis, and Theresa shares how they’re making it work. Related Resources... View Article
The novel coronavirus is exacting tremendous strain on campuses across the country. Students are experiencing unprecedented disruption, and colleges and universities are confronting financial and operational upheaval. The resulting revenue losses could adversely impact institutional ability to sustain pay and benefits for faculty and staff. In light of this crisis, the American Council on Education... View Article
As COVID-19 inflicts unprecedented disruption across every sector of the economy, the unemployment insurance (UI) system is undergoing extraordinary strain. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reported that 3.3 million people filed for unemployment insurance during the week that ended on March 21 — the biggest spike in unemployment filings in U.S. history. Analysts predict... View Article
For most institutions, the onset of the COVID-19 crisis required rapid response on countless fronts, including moving a substantial number of employees to full- or part-time work from home. However, as the technical and logistical dust has settled, and the reality of long-term remote work has set in, many teams have wrestled with finding a... View Article
On March 19, the House of Representatives passed Senate bill S. 3503, an emergency bill that will continue providing GI bill educational assistance benefits to student veterans who have had to transition to online learning for emergencies and health-related situations such as COVID-19. CUPA-HR supported the American Council on Education (ACE) in sending a letter... View Article
Across the country, institutions are adapting to COVID-19 by exploring and implementing solutions for business continuity, as well as care of faculty, students and staff. CUPA-HR recently asked members to share what they’re doing in response to the outbreak, what workforce conversations and actions are taking place on campus, what campus communications plans have been... View Article
“It’s not what you say, it’s what you do.” Maybe you’ve heard this common phrase. Maybe you’ve said it yourself. While this statement is somewhat true, being careless with your words can cause lasting harm. Think about this in terms of the language you use when referring to those with disabilities at your institution. One... View Article
Higher ed HR is a people-centric profession with no shortage of programs focused on developing those who are just launching their HR careers. But what about HR professionals who have assumed leadership roles at their institutions and are looking for that next opportunity to grow and engage? The goal of the Emerging CUPA-HR Leaders program... View Article
For the higher ed HR community to thrive there must be a pipeline of early-career professionals waiting in the wings, and one way CUPA-HR equips early-career pros to grow in their role and take steps toward their career goals is through the Wildfire program. The program, sponsored in part by HigherEdJobs, is a 12-month immersive... View Article
This blog post was contributed by Stephanie Hoffmann, assistant director of community standards and responsibility at Rollins College. Ensuring that student affairs professionals feel engaged with their institution, know what resources are available on and off campus and know how they can utilize their strengths can help them perform better in their roles and positively... View Article
Institutions across the country are continuing to monitor the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and communicating updates with campus stakeholders on a regular basis. They are also reviewing the need to follow up with those who have traveled to China recently and to postpone study abroad programs. HR pros can provide additional support... View Article
Higher ed faculty require years of education but often work beyond typical retirement ages; jobs are stable, and turnover is very low; the pipeline for new hires is fundamentally limited; and competition for positions occurs nationally. As the workforce ages, this may create unique challenges for the management of a faculty workforce. To help higher... View Article
On September 26, the Senate voted 53 to 44 to confirm Eugene Scalia to serve as the secretary of labor at the Department of Labor (DOL). Scalia’s confirmation comes one week after the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a full committee hearing on his nomination and just months after the resignation... View Article
With nearly one-third of the U.S. higher education staff workforce age 55 or older, the implications are many for colleges and universities. New research by CUPA-HR on the aging of the higher ed workforce highlights some challenges institutions will likely face in the coming years as staff begin to retire in large numbers. Here’s what... View Article
Each year, CUPA-HR’s Higher Education Human Resource Awards honor individuals, teams and institutions that are doing outstanding and innovative work around advancing diversity and inclusion in higher ed, elevating the HR role on campus, furthering the higher ed HR profession, and giving selflessly of their time and talents to CUPA-HR and their higher ed HR peers.... View Article
“You’re short on ears and long on mouth.” ― John Wayne As HR professionals, we’re experts at listening, right? In my experience (and I’m also pointing my finger at myself), sometimes yes, and sometimes, not so much. Galen Emanuele, one of the keynote speakers at CUPA-HR’s spring conference in Seattle, encouraged us to apply the improv concept... View Article
From diversity and inclusion efforts to people development initiatives, leading change and more, human resources teams and HR practitioners across the country are doing great work every day. CUPA-HR’s Higher Education HR Region Awards program recognizes some of the best and brightest in higher ed HR and honors HR professionals who have given their time... View Article
Editor’s note: You may have missed this article when we published it in 2016. It’s been updated in honor of Employee Appreciation Day, which occurs on March 1 this year. Encouragement is essential for employees to feel valued and engaged in the workplace, and leaders and supervisors should always be looking for ways in which... View Article
Many colleges and universities, particularly master’s and doctoral institutions, have seen an increase in the numbers of part-time and adjunct faculty over the past decade — a trend that has likely been driven in part by the 2008 economic recession and institutions’ responses to financial challenges in its aftermath. New research from CUPA-HR on how... View Article
Another provost leaves after just three years — which by the way is the median tenure for provosts — and we open yet another search. We appoint an interim (probably the same person who served as interim during the last search), bring in another search firm, dust off the job description we used just a... View Article
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. According to findings from CUPA-HR’s just-released research report Focus on Student Affairs, 2018:... View Article
How often does “stuff” ruin your workday? Stuff like people’s propensity to complain about anything and everything; petty squabbling or personality conflicts; miscommunication; misunderstanding; mistakes. This is the stuff that gets on people’s nerves. The stuff that makes people angry. The stuff that is distracting and disruptive to people’s daily psyche. So how can we... View Article
Last July we shared with you how six early-career HR professionals started a journey to develop their skills and careers in higher ed. We recently had the pleasure of watching that class of CUPA-HR’s Wildfire program — Shamika Patterson, Tapiwanashe Nhundu, Chris Roediger, Thuy Nguyen, Heather Butterfield and Drexel King — as they ended their... View Article
Each year, CUPA-HR’s Higher Education Human Resource Awards honor individuals, teams and institutions that are doing outstanding and innovative work around advancing diversity and inclusion in higher ed, elevating the HR role on campus, furthering the higher ed HR profession, and giving selflessly of their time and talents to CUPA-HR and their higher ed HR... View Article
“Intersectionality” – the combination of discrimination or bias experienced by individuals with overlapping identities, each of which is associated with discrimination on its own. Research has shown that women and minorities each face their own challenges related to equal pay and representation in the higher ed workforce — women working in higher ed leadership earn less than... View Article
Among staff-level jobs in the nation’s colleges and universities, the skilled crafts area is growing markedly, while current skilled crafts workers are nearing retirement — making a hiring boom likely within the next decade. According to just-released findings from CUPA-HR’s 2018 Staff in Higher Education Survey, skilled crafts workers (who hold jobs like electrician, carpenter,... View Article
During the years that I was the chief HR officer at the University of Georgia, my sons, Josh and Caleb, were in middle school. One night at dinner, we were having the typical conversation during which I (as the parent) was trying to pry tidbits of information from them regarding what they did at school,... View Article
While the employment of professionals in higher education saw an overall increase of 7 percent and grew in all areas over the past year, two areas — “other education” and “safety” — grew at a substantially faster clip than all the rest. According to just-released findings from CUPA-HR’s 2018 Professionals in Higher Education Survey, while... View Article
How often do you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything you need to do? How often do you get in the groove of a project or task, only to be interrupted by an office drop-by, an incoming phone call, an “urgent” email, or a beep, buzz or chime on... View Article
Ever-evolving technology and near-constant digital innovations are changing the landscape of teaching and learning — in our K-12 classrooms, in our colleges and universities, in our workplaces and in our everyday lives. Digital Learning Day, coming up on February 22, was started in 2012 as a way to actively spread innovative teaching practices and ensure... View Article
CUPA-HR’s strategic priorities were last updated in 2011, and our values and ethics statements were last updated over a decade ago. With the ever-changing needs in today’s complex higher education landscape, it is important to periodically review our priorities, our values, and the ethics that guide our work to ensure their relevance and their impact.... View Article
With the dizzying pace of change in human resources these days, the need to capture employees’ attention and spur them to action has never been greater. At the same time, the distractions of our connected world are increasing exponentially. In the article “Step Up Your HR Communications Game: What the Latest Technologies Can Do for... View Article
The bond between HR and technology has not always been a strong one. After all, HR is people-oriented, and technical lingo might seem like gibberish to those of us who engage with human beings more often than our computer screens. So how can you successfully communicate your project needs to IT when you’re having trouble... View Article
President Trump has announced his intent to nominate Cheryl Stanton as the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour administrator. Stanton, who currently serves as the executive director of the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW), held multiple White House roles under President George W. Bush, serving as the White House’s principal legal liaison to DOL,... View Article
Pictured (left to right): Erik Smetana, University of Missouri System Administration; Lauren A. Rubitz, New Jersey Institute of Technology; Darrell Easley, Mississippi State University; Kenneth Nelson, University of Colorado Boulder; Marc Serrett, South Dakota State University; Shanna Hines, Bates College Six CUPA-HR members have been selected to participate in the 2017-18 Emerging CUPA-HR Leaders program.... View Article
Six early-career professionals who are participants in CUPA-HR’s 2017-18 Wildfire program — Shamika Patterson, Tapiwanashe Nhundu, Chris Roediger, Thuy Nguyen, Heather Butterfield and Drexel King — joined nearly 200 individuals July 13-16 in Tempe, Arizona, for the Association Leadership Program (ALP), an annual gathering of CUPA-HR leaders from the chapter, regional and national levels, corporate... View Article
On July 19, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) favorably reported out President Trump’s nominations of Marvin Kaplan and William Emanuel to be members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Approved in a 12-11 vote along party lines, Kaplan’s and Emanuel’s nominations now advance to the full Senate for consideration.... View Article
Great work is being done by HR organizations and HR professionals at colleges and universities across the country. From innovations in processes and procedures to transformative HR work, from unique and forward-thinking diversity and inclusion initiatives to championing change, many HR organizations are successfully positioning themselves as strategic business partners and contributors to their institutions’... View Article
On May 17, CUPA-HR hosted its inaugural “Day on the Hill” event, during which 24 members headed to Capitol Hill to promote and advocate for key higher ed HR policy priorities. With a healthy mix of institutions represented (large public universities, community colleges and small private universities from within the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania... View Article
On March 30, the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) favorably reported out the nomination of President Trump’s choice for secretary of labor, Alexander Acosta. Approved in a 12-11 vote along party lines, Acosta’s nomination now advances to the full Senate for consideration. The Committee’s vote comes a month and a half... View Article
The 115th Congress continues to move forward with the confirmation process for President Trump’s nominees. The president has announced 24 individuals that will make up his cabinet, including heads of key federal agencies. Fourteen of these nominees have either just concluded or still face confirmation hearings by the Senate committee of jurisdiction for their designated post and... View Article
Congress convened on January 3 to usher in the 115th Congress and begin immediate work in an effort to deliver on election promises. With Republican majorities in both houses, an incoming Republican administration and one of the busiest Congressional calendars in years, 2017 promises to be an action-packed year that will bring much change. To... View Article
Another year ends, another year begins! We hope you had a productive and enjoyable 2016. As you jump back in to your work in this new year, don’t forget to take advantage of CUPA-HR’s many resources and services to help you do your job better, faster and smarter. CUPA-HR’s The Higher Education Workplace magazine and... View Article
If you were to poll a random number of employees about your organization’s performance management process, what do you think they’d say? Chances are, they’d lament that it is not helpful, that it’s just one of those “must-do” tasks or that it doesn’t add value to their work. But don’t fret — you’re not alone!... View Article
Remember that bully on the playground in middle school? The one that picked on his classmates? The one that gossiped and spread rumors about her “friends”? The one that made his peers’ lives miserable? That bully is all grown up now, and he’s in your workplace. In her session at this year’s CUPA-HR Annual Conference,... View Article
On September 6, Congress returned from a seven-week recess with a long list of possible legislative actions — and a very small window of time to complete them. There are only a handful of scheduled legislative days left until Congress returns home again for the final campaign push ahead of the November elections, yet important... View Article
Think about the many different work styles, personality types, viewpoints and temperaments in your organization. Now add to that mix competing ideas, workplace stress, ego and pride, and it’s easy to see how coworkers can butt heads. While many workplace disagreements are either intentionally resolved or simply fizzle out on their own over time, others... View Article
The upcoming election promises to fuel both federal and local interest in workforce regulation, as the leading candidates from both parties have focused their campaigns addressing inequality through a variety of measures, including changes to the laws governing the workforce. Indeed, while Mr. Trump has yet to release many details on his specific policy proposals,... View Article
Do you remember when you were first starting out on your higher ed HR career path? Maybe you were fresh out of college, or maybe you worked in the private sector before making the leap to higher education. Maybe a job in human resources was your plan all along, or maybe you just fell into... View Article
Are you an HR legal expert? Here’s a real court case to help test your HR legal knowledge. Review the facts of the case, tell us which side you think prevailed, and find out if you’re right! The Case: First Amendment – Epstein v. Suffolk Community College (E.D.N.Y. 2:14-CV-00937) The Facts: Supreme Court Rule –... View Article
When was the last time you had honest-to-goodness fun at work? I’m talking tell-your-family-and-friends fun. Think-about-it-afterward-and-smile fun. Mentally-check-out-and-enjoy-the-moment fun. If you can’t recall the last time your team, department or office had fun as a group, it’s definitely been too long! For too many employees, work can be like groundhog day. Same tasks, same meetings,... View Article
This blog post was contributed by John Martin, associate director of client services at Princeton University and chair and treasurer of the CUPA-HR Eastern Region board of directors. I recently did some training for one of my client groups on campus and as we were preparing to begin, I heard one of the employees say... View Article