FROM MARIO’S DESK

mario

Introducing …
HR Information Systems

The HR Information Systems group is responsible for developing and maintaining the applications and the associated data that make up the human resources administrative systems at Stanford.

Ok, so what does this mean? It means we support the mission of the university by providing technology solutions for hiring, recruitment, benefits, retention and training programs. Some of the applications you know and love are PeopleSoft HR and Benefits, PeopleSoft ELM (STARS), Trovix, and HR ReportMart. On occasion, we work with other offices on PeopleSoft Faculty Events, Payroll and Kronos. The applications are used by every school and department on campus as well as many others off-campus – from approximately 800 ReportMart users to over 50,000 job applicants. In addition, the Data Management Services group processes over 1,100 disability leaves each year campus-wide and all the HR transactions for Business Affairs.

HR Information Systems is made up of two groups – applications and data management. The application group is a combination of project managers and business analysts that support on-going tasks and projects. This group includes Marie Hansen, Maria Inciong, Jamie Martinez, Cristen Shinbashi, Karin Taber and Brian Westerman.

The data management group (DMS) is focused on HR transactions, disability leave processing, and data audits. The DMS group is managed by Shawna Powell-Blunt and includes Vanessa Alcantar, Laurie Jarocki, Al Roa, Patti Smilovitz and Vicky Tran.

Some of the projects we have in store for FY07 include:

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Compensation – complete eJEM, the revised job evaluation and classification tool, and, ePRISM, a new market analysis system.
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Benefits – complete the final phase of SCRP redesign.
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PeopleSoft Version 9.0 Upgrade – undertake a discovery phase for a PeopleSoft Version 9.0 upgrade. Determine cost, function and timeline for an upgrade that includes PeopleSoft HRMS, PeopleSoft ELM and Portal products.
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Employee assistance applications – replace STAP, STRP, TGP and layoff databases with PeopleSoft modules.
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Benefits/Payroll Records Imaging Project – replace central personnel paper records with document imaging storage solution.
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HR Metrics and Data Quality Audits – develop and distribute workforce metrics and data quality reports on a consistent schedule to HR and University management.
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Compliance Reporting– improve institutional compliance reporting, and historical data tracking for regulatory training in STARS.
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On-line training course catalog – replace the paper version of Training Opportunities Guide with a web-based version.


OFFICE OF STAFF EMPLOYMENT

Did you know that of the 1,000 new hires in 2006 the majority were referred by Stanford employees?   If you would like more information about our new hires please visit the  OSE intranet site at http://ose.stanford.edu.

trovixSince our Trovix go live date of July 7, 2006 we have over 800 users!  OSE continues to offer training classes through STARS.  Many HRMs, HRAs and hiring managers have attended these sessions.  If you are currently hiring and want a refresher course or want to encourage your hiring managers to attend, just sign up through STARS.

We are excited about our new applicant tracking system and want to share our tips with you.   If you have any questions regarding Trovix or would like a 1:1 training session please contact your OSE recruiter. 

 

TRAINING TECH NEWS FROM T&OD

On-Demand Training Becoming More Popular

ipodMP3 players – those little electronic gadgets with ear phones we often see students listening to, are increasingly being used by employers to provide communication and training for on-the-go convenience of their employees. One financial institution purchased 3,000 iPods for its employees to augment instructor-led courses. According to an article in HR Magazine, a follow-up survey reported 93% of the respondents said receiving the training via iPods was a worthwhile use of their time.

Coming Soon – T&OD Podcasts

One of the keys to successful training is the degree to which learners are able to – retain the knowledge gained in a training class and then use their new knowledge and skills on the job in ways that have a positive impact on the work. One challenge is the gap between the time when learners attend training and the time when they need to use the skills learned from a course. Podcasts, audio and video that can be viewed on a computer or on a mobile device such as an MP3 player, are increasingly being used as a way to fill the gap by making information available when the learner needs it. Watch for upcoming training from T&OD that can be downloaded to your MP3 player or viewed at your desktop.

What if you could save time by conducting real-time meetings online?

logoYou may have heard some of the buzz on campus regarding “Webex” – It’s a technology that allows you to hold meetings in which the participants attend via their computer either from their office or home. Meeting attendees can speak to one another, view and collaborate online on documents, and simultaneously view information streaming over the web. T&OD will be sponsoring training classes to help you learn how to facilitate live meetings via Webex. Watch for future communication regarding specific dates.

 

Bob Colmenares
Director, Training and Organization Development

 

BENEFITS BEAT

What’s New for 2007

The Benefits Department has scheduled 11 informational meetings throughout the campus and SLAC. We listened to the HRMs over the past several years and have tried to accommodate meetings in areas where requested. In addition, there are two meetings – in the Wilbur Dining Hall and the Facilities area – designed especially for Spanish-speaking staff. Please urge your constituents to attend one of the What’s New informational presentations for answers to their benefit questions. For a list of Benefits Fairs and all meetings with times and locations, click here.
Want the latest updates from Benefits?
benefitslogo

Before year end, the Benefits Department will be able to send out benefits updates, reminders and other important communications via email. Faculty and staff will be able to voluntarily put their name on the benefits email distribution list and receive updates as they happen. Emails will be limited to either SLAC or campus email addresses. More on how to sign up coming soon.  

Robbie DeBastiani
Manager, Benefits Communications

 

Worklife Happenings

Work and Family Month
The U.S. Senate proclaimed October as National Work and Family Month. The resolution says that, “supporting a balance between work and personal life is in the best interest of national worker productivity” and “reducing the conflict between work and family life should be a national priority.”

In honor of Work and Family Month at Stanford, the WorkLife Office is planning a Kick-Off Celebration on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 in Oak West, Tresidder Union. Stop by anytime between 11:30-1:00 for refreshments and more!

Also, come by the WorkLife Office (655 Serra or 845 Escondido Village) for a Work and Family Month calendar. Take advantage of some of the exciting events happening on campus and in the surrounding community. Go to http://worklife.stanford.edu and check under New and Events.

One event we encourage everyone to attend is a discussion about “What Work Life Means to Me?” Judy David Bloomfield, Stanford alumna and WorkLife Specialist, will facilitate the conversation. Join us on Thursday, October 12 between noon and 1:00 p.m. Location to be determined.

Child Care Subsidy Grant
The WorkLife staff just completed processing over 500 applications for the 2007 CCSG application period A. Applications for period B, which include newly hired employees and employees with additions to their family are due October 6, 2006. Go to http://worklife.stanford.edu for details.

Rainbow Nursery School and Pepper Tree After School
We are pleased to welcome new staff members Susannah Halliburton, Director and Teacher Maureen Datu at Rainbow School. At Pepper Tree, Jacqueline Wendling was promoted to Director and Claire Hooper joined the staff to complete the team.

Carol Skladany, WorkLife Office

 

HR BIO –

vicky

Vicky Tran,
HR Coordinator

Cool, calm and efficient – three words that people who work with Vicky use to describe her. No matter what you throw her way, she finds a way to figure it out and make it work.

Vicky joined Stanford in March of this year. She came to us after two years at Chabot College, Hayward where she worked in the Financial Aid office assisting students with their financial aid requests and coordinating Chabot’s Financial Aid festival.

In her role, she provides support for five HR managers, and helps with various clients such as ITS, the Controller’s Office, HR, ORA, Land and Buildings, and Administrative Systems. Vicky has been able to centralize the procedures for the clients that she supports, while still recognizing differences between the areas.

She enjoys the camaraderie and team effort that she’s found at Stanford. She likes the support she gets from everyone, and knows that she can count on them when help is needed or there’s a deadline to meet and vice versa. She also enjoys having the open space of campus to read during lunch.

Vicky takes advantage of one of our many commute programs. She rides the U Line from the Park & Ride in Newark. She enjoys the convenience of not driving, saving money on gas and toll, and the opportunity to fit in that occasional nap!

Two nights a week you will find Vicky taking hula classes. She dances in a group called Hālau O Ka Ua Līlīlehua that performs at various locations. One of their big annual performances is at the Alameda County Fair. Vicky says that this is great exercise and lots of fun with friends.

Vicky and her fiancé, Vince, have picked a lucky day – 7/7/07 for their upcoming wedding. The two met in college at Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay) and are hoping to honeymoon in either Thailand or Tahiti.

Vicky is located in the Data Management Services group office area. If you haven’t met her, stop by next time you are in the area.

Ann Allison-Marsh
HRM, Employee & Organization Services