Human resources representatives’ role expands

Susan Buckley Photo by Kirk Murray.

By the first of the year, every staff member on campus will be able to identify the human resources representative in their units who can assist them in using HR services, including employment, payroll, benefits, and WorkLife.

The concept of human resources representatives is fairly new to campus. For many years some staff in a few units were designated as personnel unit representatives, but there weren’t very many and they represented only portions of campus, says Sue Buckley, associate vice president for finance and university services and director of human resources.

Three years ago, human resources began holding meetings as a way to disseminate information about services, activities, and resources. Departments were invited to send the person or persons most closely involved in working with staff in matters of employment, benefits, payroll, and other HR services. Those attending were dubbed human resources representatives.

“Over time, the group stabilized and grew as the University community came to appreciate the value of the information available and to better understand the value of identifiable HR professionals across the campus,” Buckley says. Today, there are more than 150 HR representatives in units on campus.

“It was a developmental process. Everyone learned from the experience. Now, we want to take the concept to a new level,” Buckley says. “We want every area of campus to be represented and we want every staff member to know the name of the person who represents them in HR matters. We also want to give recognition to the role that HR reps have assumed within their units.

“As part of this effort, each college and division will designate a lead HR senior leadership professional. That professional will be able not only to effectively represent the needs of their college and division but will work with us to create a common campus vision of human resources at Iowa and to develop common objectives and strategies,” Buckley says.

“Central HR should not create this vision in isolation. And we cannot develop effective goals, objectives, and strategies without the close involvement of those people in the trenches who make the system work,” she says. “The HR senior leadership professional will be able to speak with recognized authority on behalf of their college or division and will be able to advocate from a much stronger position.”

Buckley says that she has met with every dean and vice president on campus and has received strong support for promoting the role of HR representatives in their units and for the concept of a Senior Leadership Council. To support those designated as HR reps, human resources has developed a nine-part course called HR Fundamentals. The course is available for those new in the role of HR representatives and those who’d simply like to hone their skills. Those who successfully complete the series are certified in recognition of professional development in human resources administration.

“It’s critical that these representatives embrace their roles as employee champions and as administrative strategic partners. Centrally, we will provide support, training, and services, but in the end, our success at delivering the highest quality human resource services to the campus will be in the hands of these representatives. Judging by the quality of the people and the level of enthusiasm we’ve seen so far, Iowa will be very successful.”

Article by Charles S. Drum