April 2017
Volume 14 | Issue 9
2017 Performance Evaluations
Performance evaluations for classified and unclassified employees will take place from March through June.
Online performance evaluations for classified employees will take place March 31 through June 16. Unclassified employees will conduct evaluations April 21 through June 23.
Managers and supervisors of classified employees will receive an email prior to March 31 with detailed instructions. As a reminder, access is available to the performance log, which employees and supervisors can use throughout the year to record personal accomplishments, training and discussions.
There will also be two webinars available for supervisors and managers.
The first, "Navigating the Online Evaluation Process," will familiarize evaluators with the online assessment tool and will be offered on April 17 from 2-3 p.m., and again on May 3 from 10-11 a.m.
The second webinar, "Assessing and Improving the Performance of Others," is a webinar for new managers and supervisors offered April 12 from 10-11 a.m., and May 10 from 2-3 p.m.
More information will be posted to the Human Resources performance evaluation resources website.
If your department is interested in having a Human Resources representative present an overview of the evaluation process in person, please call Karen Watson at 330-672-4636 or email kswatson@kent.edu.
Changes to Administrative Policies Went in Effect March 1
Please be aware of changes to two administrative policies that were effective March 1. The highlights of each policy are listed below:
Administrative policy regarding acquisition, inventory control, and sales or other disposal of capital assets (3342-5-12.3)
- All requirements related to purchasing of goods and/or services previously included in this policy have been transferred to a new administrative purchasing policy (see below), and this policy has been expanded to address requirements regarding capital assets.
- Some specific changes to this policy for handling of capital assets are:
- Increased capitalization threshold from $2,500 to $5,000
- Clarification of departments' responsibilities regarding acquisition, inventory control, and sale or other disposal of capital assets
- Specified requirements for capital assets acquired with funds from sponsored programs
Administrative policy regarding purchasing of goods and/or services (3342-7-12.1):
- This new policy formalizes practices that have been in place and adds some requirements not previously in place.
- Examples of practices that have been in place and are now fully documented include:
- Specification of the responsibilities of the Procurement Department.
- Clarification of requirements for competitive bidding.
- Identification of minimum requirements for vendors.
- New requirements not previously in place include:
- All purchases of goods and/or services using university funds for which there is an existing university contract with one or more preferred vendor(s) must be made from those vendors.
- The Procurement Department will provide guidance and information about university contracts and monitor compliance with mandatory contract adherence.
The Procurement Department will offer training (in-person and online) and other resources to facilitate compliance with these changes.
Questions regarding capital assets should be directed to Senior Accountant Mark Farina at farinami@kent.edu or 330-672-8614.
Questions regarding purchasing of goods and/or services should be directed to Director Tim Konczal, Procurement, attkonczal@kent.edu or 330-672-9192.
Coming July 1: Let's Clear the Air
Please make sure faculty and staff in your area are aware that Kent State will become a smoke-free, tobacco-free university on July 1, 2017. University policy 3345-5-21 was approved last year by the Board of Trustees and aligns with the university-level initiative to create a healthy campus environment for all employees, students and visitors. The policy covers all Kent State campuses, locations and properties, both domestic and international and applies to all members of the university community: students, employees, volunteers, vendors, visitors and customers.
Under the policy all smoking will be prohibited. This includes electronic smoking devices, mod boxes or electronic nicotine delivery systems that create an aerosol or vapor. Also prohibited will be the use of nicotine, tobacco-derived or plant-based products and oral tobacco.
Members of the university community who are thinking about kicking the tobacco habit should visit the tobacco-free, smoke-free website at www.kent.edu/smoke-free. There you will find a variety of resources for faculty and staff including smoking cessation apps and nicotine replacement therapy and prescription medication that are now part of the university's prescription drug plan through CVS Health.
The website also has more information on the policy, enforcement and FAQ. Questions on the new policy should be sent to smokefree@kent.edu.
Great Colleges to Work For Survey Closes April 7
If you have received a survey from ModernThink (Great Colleges to Work For), please make every effort to complete it as soon as possible, as the survey is still open through April 7. Kent State is again participating in this study, designed to gather benchmarking data within higher education and recognize institutions that have built great workplaces.
An invitation to take this survey was distributed to a random selection of our employees on March 13, 2017. We encourage everyone's participation, as a high response rate helps ensure an accurate representation of our community. Thank you to those of you who have already completed the survey. We appreciate your taking the time to share your views and opinions.
However, if you received the survey but have not yet completed it, please take a moment to share your valuable feedback. The survey is voluntary, and Kent State will not be able to identify the results of individuals. Further, the survey results play a significant factor in determining which institutions are recognized in the Great Colleges Program.
The Chronicle of Higher Education will publish the findings this summer in a special Academic Workplace supplement. Whether or not our institution is recognized, we can learn from the feedback and make improvements for our future.
Thank you in advance for your participation. Please contact Assistant Provost Susan Perry at sperry31@kent.edu or visit www.ChronicleGreatColleges.com, if you have any questions.
Join the On the Move Challenge
Our strategic goal to emerge as one of the healthiest university communities in the nation is an exciting and lofty aspiration that we named together - and one that we can achieve only through the active engagement of every member of our eight-campus community." - President Beverly Warren
As part of Kent State's commitment to building a culture of wellness, the university will, for the second consecutive year, participate in the Wellness Council of America's On the Move Challenge. This is a workplace challenge where Kent State competes with other employers in real time for a chance to be one of the top 100 most active workplaces in the country. In 2016, Kent State placed 29th and was recognized as one of the nation's Top 50 Most Active Employers. With room to climb up the leaderboard, we can only succeed with leadership support and active engagement across our eight-campus community.
All supervisors, managers and department heads are encouraged to join and support Team Kent State. Not only does this align with the university-level initiative to create a healthy campus, but all employees will benefit by learning simple ways to add more movement into their daily routine, making for a healthier and more productive work environment. Employees have truly enjoyed the social interaction provided by the interactive On the Move platform allowing our eight-campus community to become ONE team. Registration is open and takes only a few minutes to complete. Simply go to www.onthemovechallenge.welcoa.org and enter registration code KentStateMoves to complete your profile.
This challenge is open to all *full- and part-time Kent State faculty and staff and officially begins April 3. However, late registration will be extended through April 9.
*As an added bonus for full-time employees participating in the Wellness Your Way Incentive Program, you may earn 60 Tier Two Wellness Your Way Points. Visit the Wellness Your Way webpage for details.
The Kent State challenge is being coordinated through the Division of Human Resources. If you have questions, contact Kim Hauge, Director, Employee Wellness, at 330-672-7505 or wellness@kent.edu. An internal webpage has also been set up for additional information regarding the challenge at www.kent.edu/hr/benefits/move-challenge.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 3-9 - National Public Health Week
April 7 - World Health Day
April 9-16 - National Student Employee Appreciation Week
April 14 - Good Friday
April 16 - Easter Sunday
April 22 - Earth Day
April 23 - Holocaust Remembrance Day
April 26 - Office Support Staff Luncheon (Administrative Professionals Day)
April 28 - Arbor Day
April 29 - Kent State Day at Progressive Field