Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

June 13, 2003

Outplacement service retained for P&S staff who are laid off

by Anne Krapfl
Professional and Scientific staff whose positions are eliminated this summer due to budget woes again will be offered outplacement services from Worklife Design, Ankeny. Assistant vice president for human resource services Carla Espinoza told the P&S Council June 5 that Iowa State negotiated a one-year extension on its contract with the firm. Iowa State first contracted with Worklife Design a year ago to assist laid-off employees with job searches. The contract is paid with Provost Office funds.

The number or location of P&S positions eliminated this year isn't known yet. Iowa State will present a preliminary budget to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, on June 19, so by then units need to firm up their FY04 budget plans.

Espinoza said her office will provide a letter, outlining Worklife Design's services and the terms of the contract, that managers should give to employees whose jobs are eliminated. Those employees will be advised of a person in ISU human resources to contact if they want to use Worklife Design.

Espinoza said 14 P&S employees used the firm's services a year ago.

In other business, assistant provost Ellen Rasmussen said the salary policy for P&S salary increases for FY04 will remain what it has been for several years: a satisfactory performance evaluation will result in a minimum one-third (in this case 0.67 percent) of the stated average salary increase (2 percent). The other two-thirds will be used to reward exemplary performance and adjust inequities.

The council also:

Approved the appointment of Del Marks, Continuing Education and Communication Services, to fill the extension seat held by Tim Eggers. Eggers' term expires in March 2004.
Tabled a proposed response, drafted by the compensation and benefits committee, to vice president for business and finance Warren Madden about items related to P&S compensation and classification. Madden pledged the items would be studied in the next year.
Approved the appointment of Dan Woodin to lead an ad hoc council committee that will provide input to President Gregory Geoffroy on an academic calendar proposal (option "B") that would inject significant changes to Iowa State's academic year.