April 23, 2019

Colleagues,

I am writing to update you on the progress of the Human Resources Business Partner Implementation Plan. As you may remember from the communication distributed to you earlier this year, we are now in Phase I – the assessment period - which will last until the end of June 2019.

Individual and group meetings involving the HR Manager, Business Officer and Central HR have been underway. We are gathering data about the volume and type of HR activity, using an itemized task and responsibility spreadsheet, along with a calendar of events so that we can better understand workflow and HR business demands. The result of these periodic individual and team meetings has been a robust exchange of information and best practices, which will culminate with joint recommendations aimed at enhanced HR service delivery.

Once this process is complete, we will create a series of matrices that we will share with each college, as well as an aggregated matrix that we will share with all the deans. This process will allow us to identify which processes could be centralized and which ones are more suited to a shared services model. Our strategic intent is to develop a more collaborative and integrated approach to how we are organized so that we can build stronger business practices, create consistency and yield mutually beneficial outcomes.

As the Human Resources Business Partner model evolves, the HR Manager’s role will shift to focus more toward HR consulting in their assigned business units. This will include

• partnering with leaders to prepare the workforce for today and the future,
• diagnosing and solving barriers to organizational effectiveness and high performance,
• proactively promoting engagement,
• addressing employee relations matters promptly and impartially, and
• serving as a resource/consultant to leaders to ensure that HR policies and procedures are clear and applied fairly and consistently.

Previously, College HR Managers have reported to Patty Fogg, who recently announced her retirement from UD, effective June 30, 2019. Over her three decades of service to the University, Patty has made great contributions to this institution, and she will be missed. We will begin the search to fill her position immediately. In the meantime, the College HR Managers will report directly to Jared Aupperle, Director of Talent Solutions.

As we move forward, I will continue to keep you informed about this very important initiative.

Sincerely,