Early Bird

An update on Human Resources activities and functions

Learn more about talent management, performance management, student strategy, benefits, learning and development, and more.

By Stacy Dvergsdal

April 2, 2020

The Metropolitan State University of Denver Department of Human Resources hopes this message finds all Roadrunners well, as your health and well-being are of utmost importance.

Given these unprecedented times, first and foremost, please take care of yourselves, your families and those you love. Second, let’s stay focused on our mission and continue to live our CADRE values as we work together to support our students, faculty and one another.

We hope that recent communications and resources regarding benefits, pay and remote work procedures have helped to alleviate your concerns during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The information below includes further updates on talent management, performance management, talent and student strategy, benefits, learning and development, and other important functions.

As HR is continually reassessing procedures, please check the HR website regularly for changes and updates. We aim to keep all University employees in the loop as HR continues to meet its goals and employee needs while adapting to this remote environment. Find more details on the guidance below by visiting HR's COVID-19 Guidance page.

Talent management

The University will pause faculty searches for the 2020-21 academic year and request approval from the academic deans prior to posting any new position.

Open searches for professional and classified staff will continue if the search had reached first-round interviews or beyond. All other staff positions, posted or not, will be on hold temporarily unless there is an emergency.

Any position-change requests will be reviewed in the order received, and reorganizations should be put on hold. Please work with the Compensation Team to ensure that positions are properly benchmarked. While the Faculty Compensation project is on hold, individual position and base-pay statements will be released in mid- to late April. Online Q&A sessions will be offered soon.

Performance management

As the State of Colorado extended the performance-review due date for classified employees from April 30 to July 1, MSU Denver will also extend the due date for administrators to July 1. This will give supervisors and staff more time to focus on adjusting operations as they continue to meet the needs of our students. 

Two Performance Management Best Practices Trainings have been rescheduled and will be facilitated virtually:

• April 2 – rescheduled for May 21, noon to 3 p.m.
• May 6 – rescheduled for June 11, 9 a.m. to noon

If you already enrolled in the April 2 or May 6 class, please enroll in the May 21 or June 11 class. 

If you are enrolled in the May 19 or June 4 class, NO ACTION IS NEEDED.

Talent and student strategy

HR is developing online trainings and orientations and a procedure for electronic forms submission. Please work with Paula MacGeorge, employment manager, to ensure that transactions are completed in a timely manner and that all necessary approvals have been obtained.  

Benefits

Employees should contact the Benefits Team with questions regarding timesheets, leave reports or balances, changes to benefit coverage or the need to use different forms of leave. 

• Leave-balance information can be obtained by contacting Kristen Wall, HR associate, time and leave reporting.
• To complete a workers’ compensation claim, please complete the First Report of Injury form.
• Contact Amanda Berry, manager, Employee Benefits, to request information on Family Medical Leave.
• All MSU Denver employees have access to free and confidential resources through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program. CSEAP is available by phone at 303-866-4314. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. After hours, employees can contact Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255 or coloradocrisisservices.org.
• Employees with questions about COVID-19 should visit the University’s COVID-19 Updates and Resources page or contact Amanda Berry.

Learning and development

Employees and supervisors are encouraged to visit the Learning and Development site for resources on stress management, online learning, and supervising and working remotely. Resources and information will be updated continuously. 

Electronic Personnel Action Form

In partnership with Information Technology Services, HR is researching the possibility of activating an Electronic Personnel Action Form module in Banner this spring. End users will be involved after the EPAF Implementation Team has an opportunity to evaluate the module and its functions. Module design and configuration will take place in early May, with testing and education anticipated for mid- to late May. Deployment is anticipated for early June.

To learn more, visit HR's COVID-19 Guidance page.