Greetings!

Since our trip to the “Sooner State” is just around the corner, I’m requesting your input on agenda items. Please send topics you’d like to add directly to me at the email address listed below by monday, october 10, 2011.  That will give us all plenty of time to prepare for the discussion. Thanks!

Southern Region Meeting

Human Resources Breakout Session

Oklahoma City, OK

October 19-21, 2011

State Briefing – General update for each state/institution

Salary and Salary Competitiveness Issues

·         Update on agent starting salaries by degree

·         Stipends for assuming “Interim” department head or county director roles

·         Innovative compensation strategies for tough times

Career Development

·         Career ladders: agents & academic faculty

·         On-boarding, mentoring, leadership programs

·         Agent performance evaluation instruments

Recruitment and Retention

·         Innovative recruiting strategies – what’s working and what’s not?

·         Retaining the best employees

·         Update on on-line application systems

·         E-verify, criminal background checks, substance abuse testing

Staffing Plans and Strategies

·         Doing more with less

·         Staffing to meet budget and clientele needs

·         Agent annual turnover rate

·         Alternate/flexible work arrangements

Civil Rights Reviews

·         Report from states most recently reviewed

·         Which states are scheduled for review in the near future?

·         Preparation for a civil rights review

Federal Benefits and Retirement

·         Number of remaining Federal employees & number currently eligible for retirement

·         VERA update

·         Counseling issues for CSRS/FERS participants? 

·         Federal benefits update from Sonny Barber

Employee Benefit Issues

·         Increasing Health Care Costs

·         Automation of open enrollment process

·         Administering/tracking FMLA

Diversity/Inclusion

·         Innovative ideas, training successes, other experiences?

·         Non-discrimination statements

Miscellaneous

·         2012 NERAOC in Morgantown, WV 

·         Southern region institution host needed for 2013 NERAOC

·         Social media policies, guidelines, concerns

·         EFNEP program aides/assistants

·         County office file retention guide

·         OSHA compliance

Donna Rothberg
Director of Human Resources
UA Cooperative Extension Service
2301 S. University Ave.

Little Rock, AR 72204
[log in to unmask]
www.uaex.edu
phone (501) 671-2219    

fax (501) 671-2251

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