Our last communication to the community about Shared Administrative Services (SAS) was on December 17, 2014. Since that communication we have been working hard to consider your feedback and finalize the design which we have now completed. We are now moving forward quickly to complete reviews, obtain approvals, and implement the new design.
What has the SAS Design Team accomplished since the new year began?
Since we last updated you in December, we have done the following:
- Completed a validation exercise that tested key processes and evaluated how administrative requirements will be accomplished through the proposed Shared Administrative Services. (Note: A validation exercise provides an opportunity to test various scenarios that the SAS might handle, e.g., hiring an international faculty member, purchasing a piece of equipment, hiring a staff member, etc.) This exercise confirmed that the design we developed will create the foundation needed to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of department and college administration.
- Finalized the proposed design, which entailed:
a. Adapting changes resulting from the validation exercise and subsequent discussions with UofG Staff Relations.
b. Taking steps to maximize the benefits to the departments and college thereby making transition to Shared Administrative Services as seamless as possible.
c. Incorporating the feedback that we have heard, and continue to hear. - Finalized the Administrative Services MYP2 budget cut submission. As a reminder, OVC Administrative Services overall is facing a budget cut of $405,612.
Next steps
We are scheduling meetings with key stakeholders, including further meetings with UofG Staff Relations and Dean’s Council, to present the final design and Shared Administration Services Implementation Plan.
We anticipate that by the first two weeks of April we will be able to share the design with all members of the Shared Administrative Services team, and finalize preparations for a full roll out.
Will there be changes to job facts sheets?
We are in the process of working with UofG Staff Relations to finalize job fact sheets to make sure they accurately reflect all positions.
Will anyone have to re-locate?
We anticipate some office moves.
Will there be job cuts?
As we have stated all along, it is has been our desire to manage the Administrative Services MYP2 Budget cut through attrition as much as possible, and this remains one of our primary goals along with an increase in effectiveness and service delivery and an increase in job satisfaction.