Posts Tagged: Staff Personnel Unit

Employee comments sought on proposed staff selection policy revisions

The University of California is proposing revisions to Staff Policy 21 – Selection and Appointment, which applies to staff employees in the Professional & Support Staff and Managers & Senior Professionals personnel groups and to Senior Management Group members.

The revisions are intended to clarify the selection and appointment process. There is expanded content on background checks, including a new section on how to review and assess the background check results, and a new section on reference checks. 

The proposed policy is posted on UCnet: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/tools-and-services/administrators/policies/proposed/ppsm-21.pdf

Employees covered by this policy who wish to provide comments on the proposed revisions may submit them to rgsanchez@ucanr.edu by Friday, March 4, 2016.

Management skills assessment experience a success

Shelby McNab, UCCE Fresno Nutrition Program Manager, was selected by ANR Leadership to attend the April 2015 Management Skills Assessment Program (MSAP) at the UCLA Conference Center at Lake Arrowhead. The goal of MSAP is to address skill gaps and grow competencies that will prepare internal employees for future role opportunities in their UC workplaces.

During the four-day program McNab  participated in simulated UC management scenarios, received behavioral feedback, attended a career development workshop, and connected with colleagues from throughout the UC system. Before she arrived, she was involved in pre-assessment components and will be involved post-program activities to continue her professional development.

“The MSAP experience was truly transformative," McNab said, when asked about her experience. "The assessment tools and activities provided me with insight into areas where I am strong, and areas for further development. As a leader, dedicated time to reflect and receive coaching and feedback is invaluable. The program also provided time to connect with colleagues throughout the UC system. It was a great opportunity to connect with other supervisors throughout the state.  I would highly recommend the experience, and I am very thankful I had the opportunity to attend.”

The next MSAP will be held Oct. 12-15, 2015. We strongly recommend that department heads, unit leaders and Directors discuss the program with supervisors and managers who exhibit potential for management development and encourage them to apply.

Staff applications due at noon July 6, 2015

Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2015 Management Skills Assessment Program (MSAP). This program is designed to assess the management skills of high potential, early career staff supervisors and managers for future leadership opportunities at the University of California (academics are not eligible). The program is scheduled for Oct. 12-15, 2015 at the UCLA Conference Center in Lake Arrowhead.

UC ANR has one seat for the Fall 2015 program, and we are seeking applicants.

Completed applications must be submitted online http://msap.ucr.edu/ by noon, Monday, July 6.

Eligibility requirements for staff participants include (note: academic employees are not eligible for this program):

• Classification at “___” Assistant III Supervisor, equivalent or above
• Full-time career status with a current, satisfactory (or better) performance evaluation
• Designation as a supervisor or manager in their classification

Participants will be selected based on an evaluation of the applicant's (1) career goals in management, (2) level of skills essential for performing management functions, and (3) demonstrated career path and/or strong commitment to management skill development.

The cost for the program is $1,095 (including all program materials and room and board for three days and two nights). This does not include transportation or other related travel costs.  The cost of the program will be covered by ANR for the successful participant, as well as travel costs according to ANR policy.

Further information and the 2015 online MSAP application form (including applicant and supervisor components) can be found at: http://msap.ucr.edu/.  Applications are completed and submitted online.  An ANR committee will review all applications and make the final selection. Completed applications must be submitted online http://msap.ucr.edu/ by noon, Monday, July 6.

For more information, contact Jodi Azulai at jlazulai@ucanr.edu.

Staff nominations accepted for ANR STAR awards

Nominations are being accepted for the ANR Staff Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) program for the fiscal year 2014-15.

The purpose of the STAR program is to recognize and reward outstanding staff individual and team performance within Agriculture and Natural Resources. Recipients receive cash awards as well as recognition.

Under the STAR plan, managers are able to recognize, acknowledge and reward staff employees for exceptional performance or significant contributions related to and supportive of individual, departmental, divisional or organizational goals and objectives. Nominations are due April 30, 2015.

Below are comments from past STAR winners:

It was a great honor to be recognized for the work I have had the opportunity to be a part of through the UC CalFresh Nutrition Program in Fresno County. It was a privilege to be nominated by a manager who articulated my efforts in the program so others were able to value them as well. I am blessed to be part of a unit that applauds dedication. – Shawna Rogers, UCCE Fresno County

It was a great honor to be recognized for the STAR award. I was raised to work hard and do your best at everything put in front of you. For me being awarded the STAR award recognized that.  ANR has a lot of hard working staff members across the state and I appreciate that ANR has this program to recognize the dedicated staff. – Dustin Flavell, UC ANR Sierra Foothill REC

Although my supervisor thanked me on a regular basis, receiving the star award confirmed that my efforts were truly valued. This award program provides a way to recognize an employee's contribution to the unit and to the division as a whole. It also motivates the employee to continue to do so. – Mary Roberts, UC ANR Human Resources, Staff Personnel

The Centennial map project was a major undertaking for the web team last year. Receiving the STAR Award for its successful launch demonstrated to the team the effect our work has on ANR programs and, ultimately, Californians. The team was pleased with the prize, but they were energized by the acknowledgement.  – David Krause on behalf of the UC ANR Communication Services & IT Team

An appointed review team will review the nominations and select as many as 20 individuals and two teams to receive awards. To read the STAR award guidelines and restrictions and to download the nomination form, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/ANRSPU.

Employee comments sought for proposed revisions to staff personnel records policy

UC is proposing revisions to PPSM 80 Staff Personnel Records, a policy that applies to staff employees in the Professional & Support Staff, Managers & Senior Professionals, and Senior Management Group members.

A systemwide workgroup with representatives from HR Policy, Office of General Counsel, UCPath, Records Management, Information Technology Services and two campuses has reviewed the policy as part of the normal policy-review cycle.  Revisions, intended to clarify policy language and to reflect record-keeping in the electronic age, include

• a definition of personnel records in any format
• the expansion of criteria for records not to be released to the public
• the addition of a new section regarding Access to Records by Governmental Agencies
• as best practice, when an employee transfers from one UC location to another, the new location becomes the office of record

The proposed policy is posted at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/tools-and-services/administrators/policies/proposed/ppsm-80.pdf.

Employees covered by this policy who wish to provide comments on the proposed revisions may submit them to rgsanchez@ucanr.edu by April 15, 2015.

After cyber attack, Anthem offers identity theft protection to current, former members

In response to a recent data breach, Anthem, Inc. is offering identity repair assistance and credit monitoring services to current members and to former members enrolled in 2004 or later.

Affected members can access these services via AnthemFacts.com or AnthemInforma.com for Spanish-speaking members.

Members may receive an email regarding these services from Anthem beginning the week of Feb. 16.  They will also receive a letter from Anthem in the coming weeks, but there is no need to wait for the letter before you begin using the services.

As many of you have heard in the news, Anthem, Inc. disclosed on Feb. 5, 2015, that the health insurer was the target of a very sophisticated external cyber attack and that accessed data for its 80 million members . This potentially includes information about UC students, faculty, staff and retirees, as well as their dependents.

In addition, on Feb. 6, Anthem notified UC of a phishing scam related to the cyber attack. The phishing scam, which sends out an email under Anthem's logo, includes an offer to sign up for a year of credit card protection. If you receive an email similar to this, do not respond to and do not click on any of its links. 

Currently, Anthem is the network provider and claims administrator for UC SHIP, the university's student health insurance plan, at UC San Francisco, Hastings College of the Law, UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine (graduate students only), UC Merced, UCLA and UC San Diego. UC Irvine undergraduates and UC Davis students have only their vision insurance through Anthem. Anthem provided services for UC SHIP at all campuses from August 2011 through July 2013.

From 2003 until Jan. 1, 2014, Anthem also provided health insurance to UC employees and retirees and their dependents. The UC Anthem plans included Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Anthem Blue Cross PLUS, Anthem Lumenos, Core, Core Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Medicare PPO and High Option Supplement to Medicare.

According to Anthem, the information accessed through the attack includes member names, member health ID numbers/Social Security numbers (Anthem does not possess Social Security numbers for UC students), dates of birth, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, and employment information such as the member's UC campus or medical center location and, for retirees and former employees, the separation date.

Anthem has created a dedicated website AnthemFacts.com, where current and former Anthem members can find information. Members may also call 1-877-263-7995.

UC is in communications with Anthem to understand the effect of this data breach on current and former Anthem members.  Here is a summary of information Anthem has provided:

• Anthem's investigation to-date shows that no confidential health information (e.g., no claims information and no diagnoses) was accessed.
• Anthem has advised UC that there is no indication at this time that any employees', retirees' or students' personal information has been misused.
• Anthem will enroll members affected by the attack in identity repair services. In addition, impacted members will be provided information on how to enroll in free credit monitoring. Anthem will notify affected members only by mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service.
• Once the attack was discovered, Anthem immediately made every effort to close the security vulnerability, contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and began to fully cooperate with their investigation. Anthem has also retained Mandiant, one of the world's leading cybersecurity firms, to provide incident response and security assessment services.

You can find the most up-to-date information at AnthemFacts.com or AnthemInforma.com in Spanish.

 

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