Staff restructuring and office moves imminent

September 09, 2009

We have been working methodically with the Office of Human Resources over the past couple years to improve the effectiveness of our staff support to the School. Starting with Student Services, OHR worked with staff to document individual responsibilities and then to develop a set of “process maps” that seek to clarify operations, reduce redundancy, and identify gaps. Outcomes of this process include a reorganization of the Student Services office, a more consistent approach to student services throughout the School’s programs, a greater integration of our systems with ApplyYourself and PeopleSoft, and a data-driven approach to enrollment projections and recruitment.

OHR then worked with the Business Services staff, conducting similar process analyses of processes and workflows, resulting in another set of process maps. Some of you were engaged in the review of the research process map, recently was put into operation. OHR’s work with Business Services has, similarly, resulted in a realignment of staff functions and a planned relocation of all Business Services staff into one area of the 5th floor.

OHR is currently working with the Faculty Services staff and the program chairs to develop a clear understanding of faculty service needs and to develop effective processes to better address those needs.

I met with SIS staff on Friday, September 4, to discuss our progress and impending moves. The presentation materials from that meeting are here.

Among the moves we anticipate over the next month is the relocation of the Undergraduate Office to the 7th floor, placing that office among faculty that teach in the program and providing a better work space to support program administration and student advising.