A-to-Z Index

August HR Update

Happy New “Academic” Year!

It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the 2012-2013 Academic Year. What an exciting time it is to be a member of the James Madison University Community. I hope that you are as excited as we are in Human Resources for President Alger to lead JMU into the next chapter.

During the summer, HR has been working on a number of technology-related projects that we hope you will find beneficial. One project in particular, the development and implementation of the ‘paperless PAR’ has required intense attention by many HR staff over the summer. By shifting to electronic personnel actions, we will streamline the current paper process for hiring/rehiring, updating employee status (compensation, position data, additional pay, etc.) and reduce the use of paper for initiating and communicating changes. HR plans to pilot the new process beginning in November, 2012 and start rolling out campus-wide in the spring.

In July, we celebrated our one-year anniversary in the Wine Price building on North Campus. We are grateful for the space and hope that this location has been more accessible for the JMU staff and faculty.

Also coming in the fall is an upgrade to the JobLink and PositionLink systems. The most noteworthy upgrades include: a) improved functionality allowing departmental users to create job postings from the job description in PositionLink; b) consolidating the ‘User Types’ to eliminate the need to toggle between JobLink and PositionLink; and, c) allowing both applicant and departmental users to use the ‘back button’ in their web browser. If you’re not a JobLink or PositionLink user the last upgrade may sound trivial, but for those of us who use it regularly, this is a big deal.

We look forward to partnering with you this academic year. Please let us know how we, in HR, can work in partnership with you to ensure you have the most positive and memorable experience this year as a member of the JMU Community.

Sincerely,

Yohna Chambers
HR Director


Vacation Reminder for Classified Employees and Their Supervisors

Classified employees should review their current vacation balance with their supervisor and plan to use any hours that will exceed their maximum carry‐over limit. Excess vacation hours must to be used before January 10, 2013.

The chart below reflects the number of hours accrued each pay period and the maximum carry‐over limits based on months of service.

If you have questions or need assistance calculating the vacation hours, please contact Dianna Jarrell,    (540) 568-3974, jarreldl@jmu.edu.

Years of Service

Hours Accrued 
per Pay Period

Hours Accrued
per Year

Maximum
Carry-over Limits

Maximum
Payment Limits

0-5 years

4 hours

96 hours
(12 days)

192 hours
(24 days)

192 hours
(24 days)

5-10 years

5 hours

120 hours
(15 days)

240 hours
(30 days)

240 hours
(30 days)

10-15 years

6 hours

144 hours
(18 days)

288 hours
(36 days)

288 hours
(36 days)

15-20 years

7 hours

168 hours
(21 days)

336 hours
(42 days)

288 hours
(36 days)

20-25 years

8 hours

192 hours
(24 days)

384 hours
(48 days)

336 hours
(42 days)

25+ years

9 hours

216 hours
(27 days)

432 hours
(54 days)

336 hours
(42 days)


Benefits Beneficiary Reminder

It is important to keep your beneficiary information current. Set aside time, at least yearly, to review and update your beneficiaries and their contact information. Contact a Benefits Representative with questions about changing your beneficiary information.


Classified Employee Performance Evaluations - Important Dates to Remember

October 25, 2011 – October 24, 2012 Annual Performance Cycle

July 2 – September 28

  • Employee completes a self-assessment and IPDP
  • Supervisor prepares and delivers the performance evaluation and signs IPDP
  • Performance evaluation and IPDP are submitted to HR by the last work day in September

September 3

Refer to the Performance Evaluation Process on HR’s website for links to applicable forms, policies and process details.

Contact your Employee Relations Representative with questions about the performance evaluation process. 


JMU Job Shadow Day

This annual JMU event provides a unique opportunity for nearly two hundred area eighth graders to explore future career and post-secondary education plans. Many thanks to the departments who plan to spend their morning with these young campus visitors on Friday, October 19. For more information about this event and to find out how you can get involved, contact Natasha Butler, JMU JSD Committee Co-Chair, (540) 568-4115, butlernm@jmu.edu.


Promoting Positivity
Future Work: How Businesses Can Adapt and Thrive in the New World of Work
Allison Maitland and Peter Thomson

Q: "Will managers need different skills to be successful in the new world of work?"

A: “Managing will be more like leadership. Managers will be successful if they can inspire and motivate. Being a great communicator is important, as is being good at delegating and time management, and being open to change.”


A Snapshot of Upcoming Training Sessions Offered by JMU Training and Development

Difficult Customers
Individual Professional Development Plan Workshop
Leading with a Clear Purpose
Love It, Don’t Leave It
Performance Management Information Sessions for Supervisors of Classified Employees

For additional information or to arrange customized sessions for your department, contact Jennifer Testa, Director of Training and Development, (540) 568-3845, testajc@jmu.edu.