We are prepared to help you address questions that arise throughout the year and encourage you to
contact us frequently.
We also hope all employees will attend our training classes (see page 4). We have modifi ed course choices this year to respond to a broader range of needs. One new class is
Conducting Effective Interviews, designed to help hiring managers interview and select candidates
more effectively.
Within Human Resources, we are continuing to hire highly skilled HR professionals. Please join
me in welcoming William Faris as director of compensation. Bill has extensive compensation and
related HR experience. He will be meeting with many departments over the coming weeks to learn
about your compensation needs. Also, congratulations to Michelle Kalayjian who was promoted
to benefi ts and work/life manager. Michelle has worked at Princeton in the benefi ts area for eight
years and employees know her for her strong benefi ts knowledge and customer service.
As mentioned in past issues of the HR Communiqué, I welcome your feedback
on HR’s services and programs. We want to hear what works well and what we
could do better!
Promotions
Suggestions
Upcoming Events
Training and Classes
Communiqué September 2007
Lianne Sullivan-Crowley
William Faris, director of compensation
Michelle Kalayjian, benefi ts and work/life manager
From the Vice President The start of the University’s 2007–08 academic year is bringing a lot
of excitement and new opportunities for our staff. Resulting from the long-awaited opening
of Whitman College, many new employees have recently begun working at Princeton. I want to
welcome each of you and hope that you will have a rewarding employment experience.
Additionally, I want to congratulate all staff members (see page 3) who recently
accepted transfers or promotions as a result of reorganizations and other departmental changes or
who graduated this summer from HR’s management development certifi cate program.
Human Resources is here to help newcomers and existing employees acclimate to their jobs.
Crystal Ruffi s
describes herself as
having “grown up in a close, caring fam-
ily” that “always taught her to look out
for each other and then branch out to
the community.” This is her approach to
her job as benefi ts and work life admin-
istrator. Whether she is working on the
Children’s Educational Assistance plan,
meeting with employees about their
maternity leaves, orienting new employees
about their benefi ts, adjusting benefi t
paycheck deductions for employees who
work less than 12 months, or respond-
ing to telephone or e-mail inquiries,
Crystal’s steady approach is to help
employees understand what they need
to know. “If employees don’t understand
their benefi ts, they get upset and then
their family gets upset.” She likes meeting
employees in person because “by giving
them a face, they will be more likely to
come in [for help].” When employees call
with a question, Crystal is eager to do
what she can to address the situation.
She likes to get her work done effi ciently
and accurately. When she is processing
a form, she remembers that it’s “not just
a piece of paper. This is someone’s life,
someone’s check.” Outside of work, Crys-
tal is actively involved as a member of
her church’s choir and a member of The
Order of the Eastern Star, a helping orga-
nization in Trenton.
Employees can
contact Crystal
for assistance at
cruffi s@princ-
eton.edu or at
8-9119.
A friendly face in HR ~
Please send e-mail feedback to the HR Communiqué editor: [email protected]
Employees Sharon Cohen, Nick Diehl (1), Jane and John Hunter (3 and 4), and Cathy Kerr (2) traveled to the Gulf Coast region to help people devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Princeton’s Humanitarian Relief Efforts policy made their trips possible. Sharon, an early responder, went to Mississippi in January 2006. She helped to organize distribution centers and do “what she could” to give out supplies. She described how one volunteer organization was able “to cut through bureaucratic red tape” and “fi x one crisis to move on to the next one.” She proudly reported that “[em-ployees in] the Department of Molecular Biology contributed $1,400 to help some of the storm victims.” In July 2007 Nick headed to Mississippi where he used his “facilitation and confl ict management training skills” to help paid and volunteer relief workers deal with their confl icting ideas and “fi nd ways to collaborate.” He fa-cilitated a meeting attended by many diverse organi-zations that have formed a coalition. Jane and John went to Louisiana several times to help an elderly couple rebuild their home. Realizing the high cost of labor, Jane and John organized six employees from Facilities last March to accompany them. Together with Joe Huck, Don De Franco, Gary Mayer, Todd Applewhite, Drew Slim-mer, and Jim Miller (5), they did various carpentry, roofi ng, plumbing, and electrical work to begin to make the house habitable. The Hunters also raised
$540 from University Health Services staff to purchase a stove and $800 from Facilities and their home neighborhood. This summer, Cathy volunteered in Alabama where she labored in a home damaged by water and mold. She worked on the carpentry team and was directly involved
in replacing exterior doors and stairways. She described the family as “relieved to get help,” particularly since living
with “heavy mold was very unhealthy.” All employees expressed gratitude for the University’s policy that enabled them to go. They each had a life-changing ex-perience and want others to know much more help is still needed. Jane summed it up by saying, “We all have something we can of-
fer. We get back more than we give. The gratitude [of the victims] feeds you.” Read more about these experiences at www.princeton.
edu/hr/abouthr/nationsrvc.pdf and the Humanitarian Relief Efforts policy at www.princeton.edu/hr/poli-
cies/leaves/323.htm.
Employees in the Nation’s Service
September 2007
Page 2
Communiqué HR wants you to know . . . Opportunities
■ ■ ■
■ Benefi ts Open Enrollment is the best time of year for employees to review all of your current benefi t plans and benefi ciary designations. This year, employees will be able to complete the Open Enrollment process online, 24/7, through eBenefi ts from October 8 through October 26.
■ Human Resources is connecting to the burgeoning population in Mercer County through newly formed em-ployee affi nity groups. Modeled after the existing PCN (Princetonians of Color Network) and LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) organizations, Princeton now has three new groups for
Questions from the HR mailbox ~ The following questions are frequently
sent by employees to the various HR
mailboxes. Do you have questions not
addressed here? Send them to:
benefi [email protected]
staffi [email protected]
or
A staff member will respond to your
inquiry within one business day.
How do I correct information ap-pearing in the online directory, such as name, department, mailing ad-dress? What you have to do depends on what
information you need to correct. Contact Human
Resources at 8-3300 or [email protected] to
correct your name, title, home department, or
interoffi ce mailing address. To correct your of-
fi ce location and/or your campus phone or fax
numbers, talk to your departmental telephone
coordinator or contact the Offi ce of Telecommuni-
cations at 8-1200.
How many optional holidays do I get and when can I use them? If I don’t use them, will I lose them? Employees receive two optional holidays each
year that can be taken with prior supervisory
approval. Optional holidays cannot be carried
into the next fi scal year and are not compensated
when employees terminate employment. New
employees are allowed one optional holiday dur-
ing their 90-day probationary period. Employees
hired between January 1 and June 30 receive one
optional holiday and those hired between July 1
and December 31 receive two. Union members
should refer to their contracts.
Where does the University’s smoking policy permit employees to smoke? By University policy, smoking is
prohibited in all indoor workplaces and places of
public access. All staff, faculty, students, and visi-
tors are asked to comply respectfully by smoking
in designated locations away from all places of
public access. Any employee who has a concern
about smoking in a place of public access should
contact Human Resources at 8-3300.
Does the University have a policy that covers bad weather? Bad weather
can occur at anytime. With the inclement wintry
weather soon upon us, supervisors and employ-
ees can prepare by (1) updating their personal
information in HR Self-Service to receive immedi-
ate notifi cation of a work closing through the
University’s communication system, Connect-Ed,
and (2) clarifying roles and call-in procedures for
employees designated in departments as criti-
cal services during weather emergencies when
offi ces are closed. For more information, review
policy 5.15 Work Schedule Affected by a Weather
Emergency at www.princeton.edu/hr/policies/conditions/515.htm. Em-
ployees can access the University’s SNOW voice
mail line at 609-258-S-N-O-W (7669), updated
by 5:45 a.m. during periods of severe weather.
Hispanics, South Asians, and Chinese employees. Individuals wanting more information about these groups or ac-tivities should contact Robert Martinez, manager of diversity and inclusion, at [email protected] or 8-8959.
■ New classes have been added to HR’s core management curriculum, including sessions about interview-ing skills, customer service, leveraging diversity (part II), and information for parents who are planning for their children’s college attendance. Remem-ber: You do not have to be a manager to enroll in most classes. For more infor-mation about our classes and to register
for classes, go to www.princeton/edu/training or contact Nicole Volpe at 8-9105 or [email protected].
■ Employees can earn a $100 gas card for carpooling to work. Join other commuters and enjoy the benefi ts of carpooling, including reducing con-gestion and pollution, decreasing ve-hicle wear and tear, and saving money. To learn more, go to www.njcom-muter.com or call 800-245-POOL.
■ Excelling at Princeton begins in February 2008 with a new ESL component. Employees who want to improve basic math, computer, and
literacy skills may apply. The program is taught on-site by Mercer County Community College faculty during work hours. For more information, contact Pam Johnson at 8-9149 or Robert Martinez at 8-8959.
■ Elections for panelists for the Fairness Review Process for all non-union staff members and managers will occur during late October. This is a peer review process for handling specifi c manager-employee grievances or confl icts. For more information, please refer to www.princeton.edu/hr/policies/statement/fairness.htm or call Sherry Moore at 8-8682.
1
2
3
45
Congratulations to the employees who recently completed the Management Development Certifi cate Program
September 2007
Page 3
Communiqué . . . on the Move
Back row from left: Pankaj Chugh, Firestone Library; Valerie Kanka, Comparative Literature;
Marybeth Shippole, Dining Services; Frank Malinowski, PPPL; Gary Nuttall, Public Safety;
May (Christine) Lian, Engineering and Applied Science; Pierre Joanis, HR. Middle row
from left: Charles Harlich, U Store; Barbara Ludwig, OIT; Aviva Bideaux, Molecular
Biology; Linda Taylor, Woodrow Wilson School; Stacey Weber, Electrical Engineering;
Josephine Kelly, Engineering and Applied Science; Marianne DeVuono, Residential
Colleges; Makeba Clay, Offi ce of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. Front row
from left: Susan Waskow, Offi ce of the Dean of Religious Life; Jodi Pianka, Palmer
House; Nicole Volpe HR; Barbara Basel, Public Safety; Mo Imbrenda, HR.
Not pictured: Kristin Frasier, Residential Colleges; Lisa Magliozzo, University Services;
Craig Morris, Frist Campus Center; Jessica O’Leary, Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering; Harris Otubu, OIT; Donna Sandfort, Center for the Study of Brain, Mind, and
Behavior; Lauren Sylvester, Public Safety; Jen Whiting, Facilities Customer Service; Charlotte
Zanidakis, Astrophysical Sciences.
Congratulations to the following employees who were promoted or transferred to a vacant position or assumed acting
appointments in their current or a new department between June 1, 2007, and September 1, 2007. Please note that this list is
based on both the effective date and the data entry date of September 14. If you believe your name should have been included
on this list, please contact Claire Jacobs Elson, [email protected], 8-4131.
NAME DEPARTMENT NAME DEPARTMENT
Susan Allen Princeton Environmental Institute Patricia Kaytus * LibraryRaphael Allison Princeton Writing Program Martin Kicinski PhysicsTirzah Alverson Safety and Administration Anne Caswell-Klein Residential CollegesKathleen Apgar * Building Services Jason Knoch • Development ServicesAnne Braude Creative and Performing Arts Iulia Kotenko * Molecular BiologySean Brennan Principal Gifts Berta Lopez Dining ServicesWilfredo Brown Public Safety Geralyn McDermott EconomicsStephanie Brown Dining Services Nicole McLean Dining ServicesTraslyn Butler Leadership Gifts Melissa McGinnis * • Woodrow Wilson SchoolHeather Campbell Development Research Edward Mennel Building ServicesErika Casey * Human Resources Mariann Miller Finance, Administration, PlanningViolette Chamoun * Dining Services Angele Missak Dining ServicesKelly Cleland Population Research Nicole Montgomery Dining ServicesRansford Cole • Dining Services Micah Murray ORPAElisabeth Dahlen VP for Finance and Treasurer Donna Musial-Manners • East Asian StudiesMaria Datuin Dining Services Brenda O’Hara Dining ServicesMiranda Davis Annual Giving Linda Parno Finance, Administration, PlanningKimberly DeBoyace Creative and Performing Arts Yves Parisien Dining ServicesJoseph Despagne Dining Services Martha Perry Art and ArchaeologyMaddie Dickerson Dining Services Archie Phillips Dining ServicesFrank Didonato Central Campus Grounds Shop Aaron Pickett LibraryPaul Diskin • Library Robin Pispecky * Population ResearchJames Dyer Building Services Vicki Principi ~ LibraryPatricia Federico Residential Colleges Marie Raymond Dining ServicesEddie Fennell Dining Services Sarah Richter Principal GiftsEsther Figueroa Building Services John Ritter ORPAIan Finch Administrative Information Services Judith Rivkin Woodrow Wilson SchoolKristin Frasier ~ Residential Colleges Alix Romage Dining ServicesMatthew Frawley Residential Colleges Kristin Roberts Building ServicesLaura Gallagher-Katz • Molecular Biology Audry Rosenbloom • Human ResourcesPatricia Gensel • Princeton Neuroscience Institute Kathi Salcido• AthleticsGeoffrey Gettelfi nger Physics Xenia Schafer Integrative GenomicsCarla Hailey Penn African American Studies Marybeth Shippole * Dining ServicesKathleen Hamnett • Alumni and Donor Records Elsie Syruws * Frist Campus CenterIrene Helgesen Internal Audit and Compliance Barbara Varga Computer ScienceMichael Heist Library Grant Weed • Support ServicesGary Immordino Building Services Joanne Whitehead ORPABeth Jarvie Electrical Engineering Jennifer Widdis • ~ Dean of the FacultyDarryl Johnson Finance, Administration, Planning Charlotte Williams Executive Vice PresidentMichelle Kalayjian Human Resources Lori Yeager-Myles BudgetMichael Karl Facilities Administrative Services
Employees
* Enrolled in HR’s Management Development
Certifi cate program.
• Participates in Staff Education Assistance Benefi ts Plan.
~ Graduate of the Management Development Certifi cate program.
Communiqué
September 2007
Page 4Upcoming ProgramsMark
Your
Calendar
From A to Z:TRAINING CLASSES Advance registration is required at www.princeton.edu/training.
All classes meet at 7 New South
Coaching Others Toward Improvement ThursdayNovember 18 a.m.–noon
Communicating with OthersThursdayNovember 18 a.m.–noon
Conducting Effective Interviews — NEW2 sessionsThursdaysNovember 8 and 159 a.m.–noon ThursdaysDecember 5 and 129 a.m.–noon
Customer Service Fundamentals — NEW WednesdayOctober 108–10 a.m.
Getting Started as a New Manager MondayNovember 121–5 p.m.
Infl uencing Others FridayDecemer 148 a.m.–noon
Inside Admissions: How Colleges Decide Who to Admit WednesdayOctober 24Noon–1 p.m.
Leading with Emotional Intelligence WednesdayOctober 319 a.m.–noon
The Benefi ts of eBenefi ts eBenefi ts, a feature of HR Self-Service introduced in 2006,
enables employees to reliably and confi dentially access individual
benefi ts information online anytime throughout the year. You can make
changes during Open Enrollment or whenever you have a qualifying life
event, such as a birth or marriage.
Willie Tye Jr., a building services employee, has been trying it
out with the help of Lauri McVicker from Human Resources. He likes
its convenience because he “doesn’t need to come to HR to make
changes.” In past years, Willie said he always came to HR during the
last day or two of Open Enrollment to turn in his forms. This year, he
plans on doing it online. He noted that he prefers using a computer
because “[you] can lose paper. On the computer, it’s always there for
you.” He said he was planning “to tell the guys [he works with] to try it.”
John Brehm, a technical assistant in the mechanical and aero-
space engineering department, was hired this summer. Needing to en-
roll in benefi ts, John reviewed the information he had received to familiar-
ize himself with the various plan options. Once he knew what he wanted,
he went to the HR Self-Service website and enrolled in less than 10
minutes. He “had no diffi culty navigating” as he went from option to op-
tion. He said using eBenefi ts was “easier than becoming familiar
with the benefi t plan choices” that he carefully considered.
Legal Aspects of SupervisionMondayOctober 151–5 p.m.ThursdayNovember 81–5 p.m.ThursdayDecember 121–5 p.m.
Leveraging Diversity: Part 1 MondaySeptember 241–4 p.m.FridayOctober 129 a.m.–noonWednesdayNovember 141–4 p.m.
Leveraging Diversity: Part 2 MondaySeptember 249 a.m.–noonFridayOctober 121–4 p.m.Wednesday November 149 a.m.–noon
Management Style Effectiveness FridayNovember 308 a.m.–noon
Managing Effective Interactions (Essentials of Leadership/IM Essentials) ThurdayOctober 48 a.m.–noonDecember 68 a.m.–noon
Motivating Others in the Workplace TuesdaySeptember 251–5 p.m.
Manager’s Role in Customer Service — NEW WednesdayOctober 108–11:30 a.m.
Organize Your Workday WednesdaySeptember 261–4 p.m.ThursdayNovember 299 a.m.–noon
Performance Management: Appraisals and Setting Expectations ThursdayOctober 111–5 p.m.WednesdayNovember 281–5 p.m.
Practical Advice for Dealing with the High Cost of College TuesdayNovember 13
Noon–1p.m.
BENEFITS PLAN ENROLLMENT
Open Enrollment PeriodMonday–FridayOctober 8–26Materials mailed earlier to home address
Open Enrollment Information FairsTuesday
October 16
9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Main Campus: Frist Campus
Center Multipurpose Room
Wednesday
October 17
9 a.m.–2 p.m.
PPPL: Spitzer Building
COMPENSATION INFORMATION
Salary/Job Classifi cation
Review Now through December 28
Requests made by offi ce head
Special Performance
Recognition Awards
Now through December 28
Requests made by senior offi ce or
academic chair/director
OTHER EVENTS
Financial Management
(provided by Carebridge)
Wednesday
October 17
10–11 a.m.
Frist Campus Center
Making the Most of Your Re-
tirement Years
(provided by Carebridge)
Wednesday
November 14
10–11 a.m.
Frist Campus Center
Hispanic Professionals’
Seminar
Thursday
October 18
5–8 p.m.
Prospect House
Princeton’s Annual Campaign
for the United Way
November and December
(Specifi c dates to be
announced)
Willie Tye Jr. When Open Enrollment begins on October 8, eBen-
efi ts will be available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to
midnight for employees to complete the process. You can
use any computer that has Internet access, such as those
located at work, home, or a local library. Anyone who needs
a computer or assistance may call HR at 8-3302 for an appoint-
ment or may come to the offi ce at 1 New South from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. The HR Self-Service website is www.princeton.
edu/selfservice.