October 19, 2008 - October 25, 2008 Archives

CLA Fiscal Administration and CLA Human Resources is hosting the second EFS Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, October 28 beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Minnesota Population Center (50 Willey Hall - west bank).

This meeting is open to ALL STAFF (Administrators and Department Preparers) in CLA academic departments, centers and units as well as ALL Financial Service Teams staff to share best practices, and to develop together efficient business process between units and the financial service teams. Please invite people from your departments who would benefit from this conversation.

The meeting is the second in a series and will build on discussion from that meeting. However, even if you missed the first meeting you should still attend.

Dept. EFS Preparers have started an email listserv, open to dept. preparers, to discuss system "how to's" and other department preparer issues. They are also working a creating a "wiki" with best practices, workaround and other items. The wiki will have direct links to dept. preparer created job aids. This effort is to provide a support network to EFS department preparers in CLA.

To subscribe: efsdeptpreps-request@cla.umn.edu
Put "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line of the email.

To send a message, share info., or ask a question: efsdeptpreps@cla.umn.edu

In the department of English, Administrator Ramona French will be leaving the U and joining her husband at their home on top of the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. Her last day will be October 31, 2008. We wish her well and thank her for her service.

In conjunction with Ramona's departure, we have hired a new Associate Administrator in English, and it is Pamela Leszczynski who was promoted within the department from the position of Executive Office and Administrative Specialist. She will begin her new job on October 27.

Congrats Pam!

The Employee Expense Worksheet is a critical step in determining that reimbursement and travel policies are followed. Since University policies specify daily amounts (i.e. per diems, maximum hotel rates), it is important that the Employee Expense Worksheet be completed with a breakdown for each day. When entering the expenses into EFS, however the preparer can total the expenses for one item, such as lodging, together in one line.

A sample Employee Expense Worksheet is attached.

Requesting New Chartfields
If you would like to add new CF1 or CF2 values, please contact your senior accountant who will work with you and request these values. If you would like to request new program codes or DeptIDs, please contact your senior accountant who will obtain the necessary collegiate approvals.

The guidelines and nomination materials for the 2008 Outstanding Service Awards are available on the CLA HR website:  http://www.cla.umn.edu/intranet/hr/index.php

The deadline for returning nominations is Monday, October 27, 2008.

If you have any questions, please contact Rick Jacobson, Executive Assistant in Human Resources, at 4-3605 or rickj@umn.edu

Guidelines are now available for the 2008-09 Distinguished Teaching Awards
The Horace T. Morse-U of M Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education and the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education.

Go to "Nomination Materials" on the awards page: http://www.academic.umn.edu/provost/awards/aoce

Direct questions to Barbara Schwab at schwa133@umn.edu or 612-625-7994.

GUIDELINES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE 2008-09 JOHN TATE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING, administered through the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education. Go to "Nomination Materials" on the awards page at http://www.irr.umn.edu/evpp/tateaward09. Nomination dossiers from CLA departments should be submitted to 113 Johnston (Undergraduate Programs) by Friday, December 12th. Direct questions to Barbara Schwab at schwa133@umn.edu or 612-625-7994.

Minnesota Statute on Employee Voting Rights
The 2008 election takes place on Tuesday, November, 4.

Minnesota Statute 204C.04, Employees Time Off to Vote, provides that:

"Every employee who is eligible to vote in an election has the right to be absent from work for the purpose of voting during the morning of the day of that election, without penalty or deduction from salary or wages because of the absence."

Supervisors should be made aware of this statute and also the following points:

"Only those employees who specifically request time off to vote are covered by this provision. The University is not closing down for any time.

"The amount of time off granted should be reasonable based on time needed to travel to and from the polls, register, and vote.

"The provisions of this statute only apply to working hours occurring before noon on Election Day.

Additionally, Minnesota Statute 204B.195, Time Off from Work to Serve as Election Judge, provides that:

"An individual who is selected to serve as an election judge pursuant to section 204B.21, subdivision 2 may, after giving an employer at least 20 days' written notice, be absent from a place of work for the purpose of serving as an election judge without penalty."
For the purpose of voting or serving as an election judge, employees who give proper notice should be put on paid leave and should not have their pay reduced or hours counted as vacation time.

Oct. 24 
Nomination forms are due for both the Morse Alumni Award and the Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education Award, 113 Johnston Hall

October 28
EFS Town Hall Meeting, Minnesota Population Center, 50 Willey Hall (west bank),
1:00 p.m.

October 30
Joint CLA Financial / Human Resources Meeting, Minnesota Population Center Seminar Room, 50 Willey Hall (West Bank), 9:00 am

October 31
CLA Payroll cutoff for the 10/27/2008 - 11/09/2008 pay period, 4:30 pm

November 4
Election Day

November 7
Deadline for filing a 2007-2008 REPA

November 20
Joint CLA Financial / Human Resources Meeting, 140 Nolte Center (East Bank), 9:00 am

Dec. 12
Nominations and dossiers are due for the Tate Award, 113 Johnston Hall