HR News

Summer office hours for Syracuse University will begin on Monday, May 14, and will be in effect through Friday, Aug. 24. Summer office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Academic-year hours will resume on Monday, Aug. 27.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Syracuse University faculty and staff are invited to view and enjoy their colleagues’ creative works of paintings, photos, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and other creations in the On My Own Time exhibition in the Noble Room of Hendricks Chapel.

The exhibit features more than 75 pieces of art and is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Employees are encouraged to view all entries and vote for pieces that may be displayed at the Everson Museum of Art in October, and also share favorite artwork via social media using #SUOMOT18.

Now in its 45th year, On My Own Time is a collaboration of CNY Arts and the Everson Museum of Art.

Questions? Contact Lucille Murphy at 315.443.4042 or lumurphy@syr.edu.

In an effort to reduce the administrative burden on schools, colleges and other units, Syracuse University has announced it will upgrade its timekeeping, payroll and human resources technology. This technology, which will go into effect on July 30, will introduce new, simpler processes that result in the quicker inputting of more accurate data, ultimately allowing employees to spend less time on administrative functions and more time on their individual priorities.

The timekeeping process change brings more efficiency and reliability to the way employees track their time, whether they are hourly employees tracking time, or salaried employees reporting vacation. This replaces a decades-old system that often involved antiquated paper punch cards, paper timesheets and manual data entry with technology to swipe ID cards or online entry including mobile devices, ensuring time is accurately recorded in human resources and payroll systems.

Many core human resources transactions, including approvals, position requests, hiring and mid-year compensation changes will be simplified. The system replaces the iJAN (Job Action Notice) and Appointments tools with simpler online forms designed for each transaction. Security for viewing data and approving transactions can be tailored for each school, college or administrative unit to ensure reliability and confidentiality of the data.

The streamlined system is mobile-friendly and provides flexibility for managers and employees.

Additional details on the initiative, including training and reference materials to prepare student employees, faculty and staff for the change, will be released prior to the July 30 launch, and additional support will be in place as the 2018-19 academic year gets underway.

If you have specific questions about this initiative, contact hrservice@syr.edu or call 315.443.4042.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is committed to providing Syracuse University’s health plan members with the highest level of customer service. As part of this commitment, a seasoned and knowledgeable representative from Excellus will continue to hold office hours on campus twice a week to assist members with any medical plan inquiries.

We encourage members to meet with an Excellus BCBS representative for personalized assistance regarding your health plan questions. Registration is not required and the schedule can be found on hr.syr.edu.

If you require assistance outside of the on campus office hours, you may contact our Excellus Dedicated Customer Care Team at 800.493.0318 (TTY/TTD: 800.662.1220) Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. EST. Friday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. EST.

Do you have creative skills or artistic work that you would like to share with your colleagues and friends at Syracuse University? Now is the time to present your inspiration through the On My Own Time exhibit April 30 through May 16.

Any full- or part-time Syracuse University faculty, staff, or instructor is eligible to submit up to three pieces of artwork in the categories of painting, ceramics, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, photography, collage/assemblage, fiber art, glasswork, computer art, metalwork, and mixed media. Criteria for submission are listed on the registration form, which is due by Monday, April 23. Submissions are due Thursday, April 26 at the Strates Lounge on the lower floor of Hendricks Chapel from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On My Own Time at Syracuse University opens with an in-house exhibit on April 30 in the Noble Room of Hendricks Chapel. It will be open weekdays from 8:30 a.m.– 5 p.m. through May 16.

A panel of professional artists assembled by CNY Arts will serve as judges. Artwork selected by the panel will be featured in a public exhibit at the Everson Museum this fall. Visitors to the on-campus exhibit will be able to vote for a “Best of Show” piece. The winner of this and other categories will be announced at a closing reception for the University community, artists and their family members, and volunteers on Wednesday, May 16 at 4:30 p.m. in the Noble Room.

Volunteers Needed

If you want to help with the show, volunteers are needed to check in art on April 26, set up the show on April 27, and other duties on May 16.

For questions about On My Own Time, please call Lucille Murphy, human resources shared services representative at 315.443.4042 or email lumurphy@syr.edu.

In April 2018, the On My Own Time exhibition will commemorate 45 years of celebrating the arts in the Syracuse community and continuing to recognize the artistic works of faculty and staff.

Syracuse University is committed to ensuring we have a high performance, professional culture. An essential component of any high performing institution is continuous communication and feedback between supervisors and staff regarding performance expectations. This ensures alignment between individual, departmental and University goals and provides opportunities for staff to develop themselves professionally.

Participation in the annual Performance Partnership process is a critical step in ensuring the University sustains this culture. Below are key events and important dates to help assist you throughout the process.

To achieve the most meaningful and effective Performance Partnership process, it is important to follow University processes and deadlines. All Performance Partnership Forms [DOC] for staff must be completed and submitted to the Office of Human Resources by June 1, 2018. Once received by HR, the reviews are retained as part of the documentation that contributes to a staff member’s work history at Syracuse University.

Visit the Performance Partnership page for more information; including resources, training sessions, FAQs and steps to success.

Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Andrew Gordon has announced that Sheila R. Johnson-Willis has been named associate vice president and chief equal opportunity and Title IX officer. She has served in that position on an interim basis since June 2015.

“Following a national search announced last November, which attracted applicants from across the country, it became very clear to the search committee that Sheila has all the essential qualifications, skills, experience, sensitivity and commitment to carry out the duties of this critical role,” says Gordon. “She has earned the respect and trust of students, faculty and staff, and has done a stellar job of leading the office through some challenging times over the last few years.”

Gordon thanked the search committee, a diverse group of students, faculty and staff co-chaired by Dawn Johnson, associate professor and chair of the Department of Higher Education in the School of Education, and Jake Tanksley, senior human resource business partner in the Office of Human Resources.

“The committee understood the crucial nature of this position in fostering a culture of inclusion and acceptance and a safe and supportive learning, living and working environment,” says Gordon. “Sheila has already demonstrated her agility, sensitivity, compassion and professionalism in handling a myriad of equal opportunity, Title IX, disability and related issues. This position encompasses increasingly complex and demanding concerns. I look forward to working with her in partnership as we strengthen our services related to these complicated and vital issues.”

Reporting to Gordon, the associate vice president leads the Equal Opportunity and Inclusion Resolution Office (EOIRS) and is responsible for aligning all its functions, including training and investigation of equal opportunity claims, affirmative action planning and disability rights guidance and investigations. During her tenure as interim leader, Johnson-Willis has expanded services and staff, adding an experienced investigator and obtaining the resources necessary to hire two additional investigators. She also enhanced disability services and outreach to students to make them more aware of their rights and the support available.

“I am grateful for the support of the University in providing the resources critical to ensuring that we are a welcoming and inclusive campus committed to equal opportunity,” says Johnson-Willis. “As we move forward, my priorities include increased education and communication campuswide on issues related to accessibility, equality, sensitivity and safety for all members of the Orange family.”

Prior to being appointed interim associate vice president and chief equal opportunity and Title IX officer in June 2015, Johnson-Willis was director of equal opportunity and inclusion at Syracuse University from October 2012 to June 2015. She came to Syracuse from Colgate University, where she was director of equal opportunity and affirmative action and Title IX officer. Before that, she was director for affirmative action compliance and Title IX coordinator at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. She earned a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.