OVERVIEW OF PERSONNEL STUDY:

In 2005, legislation was passed ih the form of Senate Bill 603 directing the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) to “study the [personnel] issues affecting employees in public higher education” for three years beginning on April 1, 2005 and concluding on December 1, 2008. The Legislature mandated that HEPC, in consultation with the Council for Community and Technical College Education (CCTCE), institutional governing boards, State Advisory Council of Faculty, and State Advisory Council of Classified Employees to conduct a study on the following eight personnel tasks:

• Review statutes, policies, rules, and guidelines
• Survey the professional development needs of HR staff
• Evaluate the classification and compensation system
• Develop a performance management system
• Recommend a reduction in workforce policy
• Design a fiscally efficient work process improvement plan
• Evaluate the faculty salary structure and promotion process
• Conduct a cost-benefit analysis on outsourcing of services

At no time in the history of the West Virginia higher education system has the Legislature directed such a comprehensive study which extends to every personnel function and covers every category of employee. Such an unprecedented mandate has challenged the HEPC, CCTCE, Legislature, institutions, human resources administrators, and the employees to band together in the spirit of consensus building so that we may structure a human resources system that will address the demands of higher education through the 21st century.

The Objectives

The objectives of the EightSteps to Change Personnel Project are to establish an integrated human resources system that ensures:

• Shared Governance

• Best Practices

• System /Process Accountability 

• Fiscal Feasibility

• Statues and Rules

The Website

This website will serve as the primary method of communication on the daily progress of the Personnel Study Project. You will find up-to-date information on each of the committees. You can also go to the Master Calendar to see at a glance what is going on for each month. Moreover, the Master Calendar will allow you to view events held for the entire year. If you just want a brief view of all the latest news on the Project, go to the Home page. On this page, you will find the latest information regarding upcoming events, ongoing surveys or survey results, meeting dates, the most frequently asked questions, and interesting facts.

Although the EightSteps website is the primary voice for the communication of the Project, it is not the only one. The Project will continue to take “our show on the road” by hosting meetings on campuses across the state. We will also give presentations to the staff, human resources administrators, chief financial officers, presidents, board of governors, and the Legislature. So look for us at your campus soon. Until then . . .

HEPC and CCTCE extends a hearty thank you to each of you for your continued cooperation and patience, for together, we will create a human resources system that continuously maintains flexibility as the demands on our resources expands and that upholds due process and accountability as the requirements of our staff increase.