Human Resources Office Will Merge Employee Programs by Anne Dolan A new ISU Office of Human Resource Services will encompass current personnel, child care, P&S classification and employee assistance programs. The new office, which has been approved by the Iowa Board of Regents and takes effect July 1, is intended to improve the delivery and effectiveness of human resource services, said Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance. "The training and effective utilization of our employees is one of the most important factors in the future of the university," he said. "We think this structure will allow Iowa State to move forward and to be more agile in responding to changes in the workforce." Madden noted that the approximately 35 employees affected by the change responded positively when told of the new structure last week. The human resource services office will report to the vice president for business and finance. The various units that will make up the office currently report to the business and finance office, the Provost's Office or both. Madden said a national search will be conducted for a new assistant vice president for human resources to oversee the office. He said he hopes to name a search committee within a month, with the new assistant vice president on the job by the end of the calendar year. Frank Brown, who came to Iowa State 19 years ago as director of personnel, has indicated he wants to explore other career opportunities. However, Madden said Brown will remain at ISU during the coming year to work on special projects in human resources. Johnny Pickett, university controller and an assistant vice president in business and finance, will lead the human resource services office during the search period. The new organizational structure was one of a number of recommendations given to President Martin Jischke this spring by a committee that spent most of the year studying human resources. The committee was chaired by legal services director Paul Tanaka. Madden said the new organizational structure is consistent with a majority of personnel structures at universities nationwide. Madden said he anticipates the reorganization will strengthen training and professional development of staff, as well as labor relations, employee benefit programs, and staff advising and counseling. Eighty percent of the university's resources are used to pay and train employees, he said. With fewer people spending their careers in the same jobs, the university has to commit more resources to training and development, particularly for managers and supervisors. In FY96, an additional $60,000 will be added to the training and development budget, part of which will pay for another staff position. The new office will coordinate human resource services with campus units such as the Ames Laboratory, Cooperative Extension and the department of residence. Those units will continue to have their own personnel structures, which will serve as human resource satellite offices. Madden said the human resources office also will work closely with the affirmative action and legal services offices. Madden pointed out that the various units in the new office are scattered at sites around campus now. A goal is to pull the various services together physically, but that will take time, he said. _____ contact: Anne Dolan, Internal Communications, (515) 294-7065 updated: 6-16-95