One of our major efforts continues to be the implementation of the Human Resource Information System. We continue to hold July 1999 as the implementation date for the base benefits and payroll components of the PeopleSoft system. Last year when I spoke with fyi about HRIS, I was fresh with enthusiasm over the opportunities. Now I am considerably wiser about how much work has to be done to make a transition like this successful. We also will be addressing several issues related to pay classification, using a series of project teams.
Specific issues are extra meritorious pay, the reclassification process, and extra compensation.
We look forward to involving a range of campus human resources professionals on these committees. We've been successful in finding several ways. For example, we used to send out 800 hard copies of the Hawkeye Recruiter every two weeks, paying for printing and mailing. Another example is Staff Benefits, which used to have hundreds of boxes of brochures delivered to Eastlawn for individual mailings to faculty and staff. Now, all those brochures go to mailing service, where the various packets of material are prepared and shipped.