UCOP Restructuring Update for Week of November 24, 2008
November 25, 2008
- Restructuring progress
- New jobs posted
Colleagues,
Before getting into this week's update, on behalf of President Yudof, I want to take a moment as we head into the Thanksgiving holiday to thank you for all your hard work and many contributions to the University. This has been a very challenging year, and the president and the rest of UCOP leadership appreciate deeply your continued dedication and good work. I hope you will use the long weekend to take a break and to enjoy time with family and friends.
Restructuring Progress
As we continue to move forward on consolidating and restructuring OP departments, it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture and the progress we are making. For example, the Business Resource Center (BRC) and the Budget Office are now operational with OP staff members settling into their new roles and beginning to take on work previously done within departments.
And last week, as part of restructuring efforts, the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (ORGS) successfully completed the proposal solicitation and peer review for a new research opportunity at the campuses and UC-managed national labs (Lab Fees Research Program Awards) using a revised process that served as a pilot for a consolidated unit that will carry out these activities for ORGS-managed grant programs. The pilot program, which grew out of ORGS staff's own rethinking of how their department is structured, carried out a review of almost 600 proposals over the course of five days. The process incorporated several innovative approaches to make it easier for the proposers and the reviewers to carry out their work, and has received strong praise for its speed and quality. As one result, the pilot program will be used by the new Research Program Application and Review Center (or PARC), under the direction of Kathleen Erwin to create an improved proposal solicitation and peer review group for competitive research opportunities funded through the UC Office of the President.
All this is to say that, through the hard work and determination of our own staff, new approaches and new teams are taking shape that will enable us to do our work more effectively and with a clearer focus.
Job Openings
New SPPA jobs: Several positions were posted last week in the new Strategic Planning, Programs and Accountability unit, including the three Directors reporting to the Vice Provost. SPPA is a new, consolidated unit created within Academic Affairs to conduct long-range and strategic academic planning, manage the University's accountability framework, and provide oversight for selected systemwide services. Other positions are posted in the Accountability unit, Strategic Planning unit and Systemwide Program Support unit, and most positions will be posted until December 9.
Institutional Research: With the recent appointment of the Institutional Research Director and after further review and consultation, it has been decided to revisit the scope of responsibilities for the Institutional Research Analyst positions based on the anticipated level of work in the new unit. The position was originally posted as a series classification with 3 levels at grades PSS3, PSS5 and MSPI. The MSPI level of this position is being eliminated. Going forward the Institutional Research Analyst position will have only 2 levels at PSS3 and PSS5. In addition, there will be a new classification series created for the position of Institutional Research Coordinator. That position will have 2 levels at MSPI and MSPII. If you previously applied for another position in IR, and are interested in this new Coordinator position, you will need to make a separate application. The position was posted yesterday, November 24, and will remain open for 3 weeks. Likewise, the Data Steward position has also been reposted.
Also, remember that new jobs in UCOP's new and reorganized units have been opening each week. Employees interested in these opportunities are strongly encouraged to check the UCOP Jobs website regularly for new job postings and application deadlines.
Again, thank you for all you do.
Katie
Katherine N. Lapp
Executive Vice President, Business Operations
