System News

              A Quarterly Publication of the State
Universities Civil Service System
Human Resource
Advisory Committee
Discusses New
Diversity Initiative
By Tom Morelock
The Learner, Trainee, and Supported
Employee Programs within the State
Universities Civil Service System have
historically been viewed as the primary
instruments to facilitate campus/agency
diversity objectives, specifically related to
the many civil service classifications
utilized at each employment location.
While quite effective for those
classifications requiring minimal entry
qualifications, these programs have been
less effective or have been very difficult to
design for those classifications requiring
extensive education and experience,
namely those included in the professional,
managerial, or technical occupational
areas.
Several System Office staff members have
attended various diversity workshops and
conducted research on this topic in
preparation for the second meeting of the
Human Resource Directors Advisory
Committee (HRDAC). Executive Director
Morelock invited the members of HRDAC
to meet with their respective Affirmative
Action/Diversity Resource Officers at our
office on March 18, 2004. The primary
focus of the meeting was to discuss
diversity initiatives, review current civil
service programs related to diversity
(Learner, Trainee and Supported
Employee Programs), and to offer input
on the development of new ideas or
programs that may further facilitate the
varied campus/agency diversity objectives.
Each university/agency representative
was asked to be prepared to present
material on their respective diversity goals
and initiatives. The System Office then
presented statistical data on the utilization
of the Learner, Trainee and Supported
Employee Programs. It was interesting to
note the decrease in utilization of these
programs over the last two years, which to
a large degree may be directly related to the
current fiscal climate. Everyone then
actively provided input on the current
protocols surrounding the Learner,
Trainee, and Supported Employee
Program, the difficulties faced when
utilizing these programs, and ultimately
offered recommendation to possibly
enhance their usefulness and effectiveness.
Based on models utilized in other state
civil service systems, the System Office
then presented proposals to create a
Management Intern Program and a
Worker with Disabilities Program. These
Programs are somewhat similar to the
Learner and Trainee Programs, but more
directly focused on those classifications
requiring a higher degree of educational
experience or education. Overall,
everyone expressed a genuine enthusiasm
to further develop these programs,
particularly the Management Intern
Program. The System Office was asked to
continue preparation of these programs
and affording utilization through Rule
and/or procedural protocols. All
participants were asked to review the
preliminary information on this topic and
submit their comments to the System
Office. The System office is expected to
ask the Merit Board for their endorsement
and approval of the Management Intern
Program at the next Merit Board Meeting
scheduled on May 19, 2004. More
information on this topic will be provided
at a later date.
April 2004 Volume 2, Issue 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
2 EAC MESSAGE
3 WEBSITE UPDATES
4 LEGISLATIVE
UPDATES
5 CLASSIFICATION
MANAGEMENT
The System News
Illinois’ Public University System Support
Resource and Advocate
Govenor ‘s State Univerity Human Resource Direc-tor
Advisory Committee Representative, Gail Brad-shaw
is shown left with Pulchratia Kinney-Smith of
the State Universities Civil Service System.
Our website address will
change on May 3, 2004 to
http://www.sucss.state.il.us.
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Website address change
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