The University of Wisconsin (UW) is embarking on a complete redesign of its current classification and compensation structure. The goal of the Title & Total Compensation Project will be to develop new systems that will enable institutions to continue to attract and retain the best talent.

Recent UW System Updates:

• The Advisory Council for the TTC Project transitioned to system-wide Joint Governance, effective March 1, 2019. The reconfiguration of the Advisory Council incorporates representation from all UW stakeholder institutions, which supports the project goals of (1) enhancing communication; (2) broadening outreach efforts; (3) better supporting institution’s project teams; (4) deepening interest in and awareness of the project by UW employees; and (5) providing change management leadership for institutions and employees.
• Collaborative Standard Job Description Review and Revision Teams started their work on Tuesday, March 26th. The success of the HR Pilot Review Team earlier this month helped shape the structure and content of the kick-off training and working meeting. Review teams made up of two UW System and two UW-Madison members will work together to process all of the feedback received from the previous round of Subject Matter Expert review.
• Revised DRAFT Standard Job Descriptions will be posted online in late (calendar year) Quarter Three. As part of an implementation strategy focused around employee engagement, the Project Team will post the revised DRAFT Standard Job Descriptions online. The details of this  engagement strategy and socialization process are currently in progress.

In the Queue:

• Review and Revision of DRAFT Standard Job Descriptions, estimated completion: June 2019 (Q2)
• Summary of Results for the Employee Benefits Preferences Survey, estimated completion: September 2019 (Q3)
• Benefits Valuation Analysis, estimated completion: September 2019 (Q3)
• Revised DRAFT Standard Job Descriptions Posted, estimated completion: September 2019 (Q3)

For up-to-date information about the Title & Total Compensation Project, please see the UW System Title & Total Compensation Project website. Answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the UW System FAQ page.

UW-Green Bay Updates:

• UW-Green Bay HR has reached out to leaders in the Library and Athletics to identify subject matter experts from those UWGB departments who will be a part of SJD revision teams.
• UW-Green Bay has an institutional T&TC project team, whose goal is to engage with subject matter experts and stakeholders. Feedback and information about T&TC flows to and from the project team. A listing of members of the UW-Green Bay institutional T&TC project team can be found here.
• The Office of Human Resources and Workforce Diversity keeps employees informed on project updates through their weekly HR Connect newsletter and HR Connect blog as well as presenting T&TC updates at monthly governance meetings.
• The next T&TC open forums will likely be scheduled in early fall. Please watch the HR Connect newsletter and HR Connect blog for updates.

National Student Employment Week is April 15-19, 2019!  Student employees can take advantage of special free giveaways each day of the week.  Supervisors can check out a list of ideas for showing some extra appreciation on the Student Employment website.  The week will kick off with a ceremony to announce the Student Employee of the Year award recipient and honor all nominees.  Watch the UWGB Student Employment Facebook page for more information about the candidates, or attend the program on Monday, April 15 at 2:00pm in Phoenix B.

Name: John Arendt

Position at UWGB: Director of the Environmental Management and Business Institute (EMBI)

Summary of what you do: I lead the EMBI office in promoting sustainability on campus and in Northeastern WI by focusing my effort on the campus sustainability committee, growing the Certificate in Sustainability undergraduate program, seeking and supporting grants with faculty, and relationship building in the community through project and internship development.

How long have you been employed: 6 ½ years

Brief history of employment with UWGB: I was hired as the EMBI Associate Director in 2012, and promoted to Director in 2016.

Three words that describe you: Organized, driven, positive

Personal interests: Traveling, spending time with my family, many things beer (from home brewing and hops growing to consumption)

Random facts/interests: My wife and I were both first generation college students and met at UW-Green Bay.

Are you messy or organized? Organized but, not the best at dusting.

Best vacation you’ve been to? Belgium – 2017

Describe what you were like at age 10. Less organized, less driven, did not like beer.

Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog? I like Facebook’s “You’re probably from GREEN BAY if…” page. I’m a fan of local history.

Favorite travel spot?  Too many to name, but Europe is way up there.

If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day? My great-great grandfather – I would like to see what it looked like to enter northeastern Wisconsin in 1852.

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see? The city of Rome at its grandest.

If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Blackened Stuffed Pork Chop Marchand de Vin from K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen in New Orleans. Right up until the eventual heart attack.

If you were an animal what would you be? A cat…best life ever.

If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save? Tough call. Either my family photos or my son’s artwork. The rest is just stuff.

Least favorite Food? Green peas – one of the few things I would be happy watching go extinct.

Motto or personal mantra? Life is too short to drink bad beer.

Tell us a little bit about your family. Married with three great sons and three energetic granddaughters.

What career lesson you’ve learned thus far? The first job helps you to know what you don’t know. Do not get hung up if it doesn’t turn out to be your career.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? Interacting with the students.

What book did you read last? Madame Fourcade’s Secret War by Lynne Olson

What books are at your bedside? Rubbish, The Archaeology of Garbage (yes, really).

What did you want to be when growing up? I wanted to be a scientist or a professor.

What do you always want to try and never did? Parachuting, though that idea has long since sailed.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Projects around the house. I like to be busy.

What do you like to do on your days off? Travel, home brewing, and occasionally fishing.

What is an ability you wish you had? Blowing bubbles – I’ve tried and just can’t do it.

What is the first concert you attended? Cheap Trick with John Waite of the Babys as the opening act.

What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? A vacation home in Belgium or France.

What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years? My carbon footprint is way too big (that whole likes traveling thing).

What is your biggest pet peeve? Anything out of place.

What is your family like? Loving and all have a great sense of humor.

What is your favorite movie? The Fifth Element

What is your favorite sport? This is Green Bay WI – can it be anything other than football?

What one food do you wish had zero calories? Chocolate chip cookies.

What phobias do you have? Claustrophobia – I hate small spaces and you will generally find me close to an exit.

What places have you lived in? All local – Luxemburg, Denmark, Green Bay

What’s on your bucket list? Seeing more of this planet.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Green Bay? Walking the trails with my wife.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? UWGB

Where is your favorite place to eat? In Green Bay – Angelina’s ranks pretty high.

Where is your home town? Green Bay

Name: Jolene Truckenbrod

Position at UWGB: Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Summary of what you do: Process payroll and benefits for employees who are paid bi-weekly.

How long have you been employed: 12 years

Brief history of employment with UWGB: When I started, I worked as a part-time Human Resources Assistant at the front desk, and then in 2016 my position changed to a full-time Payroll and Benefits Specialist.

Three words that describe you: I guess nice, quiet and probably smiling

Personal interests: I enjoying spending time with family, watching my youngest daughter play soccer and my oldest daughter sing in musicals and choir events, and helping with Sunday School at church.

Random facts/interests: I spent a semester abroad in France during college – great experience!

Are you messy or organized? Organized

Best vacation you’ve been to? Tough call – my best vacation with kids was to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, and my best vacation with my husband was to Acadia National Park in Maine.

Describe what you were like at age 10. Long straight hair, big teeth, and awkward!

Do you have a favorite newspaper, blog? HR Connect blog of course!

If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day? High school career counselor

If you could change one thing about working here, what would it be?  That more people were happy in their jobs. It makes my day when someone comments that they enjoy their work, or like working here.

If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Cereal

If your house was burning down, what’s the one non-living thing you would save? Pictures

Tell us a little bit about your family. Husband, Jeff and two daughters (ages 16 & 13)

What are three career lessons you’ve learned thus far? Put yourself ‘in the other person’s shoes’ so you have a better idea of how to help them, do your homework – take the time to double check and look further into it, and most importantly – treat everyone you interact with at work with professionalism, respect and courtesy.

What are your hopes for our industry/school? I hope that UWGB continues to help students and employees grow and improve themselves.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? Helping people.

What book did you read last? The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

What books are at your bedside? Bible, King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard and The Preacher’s Daughter by Beverly Lewis

What did you want to be when growing up? Airline stewardess or singer (I am not a good singer!)

What do you like most about your job? The people I work with and the beautiful campus.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Read, do laundry, and watch New Girl or Friends on Netflix.

What does a typical day look like for you? Check payroll to make sure everyone is being paid correctly; answer questions about timesheets, benefits, retirement, etc.; meet with new employees and leaving employees to discuss benefits; run reports; help with Wellness Committee events.

What is the first concert you attended? Michael Bolton with my Mom & Dad!

What is your favorite sport? I enjoy watching the Packers

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work? Reading, hiking

What one food do you wish had zero calories? Dessert

What places have you lived in? Dykesville, Little Suamico, Stevens Point, Herouville-Saint-Clair, Altoona, Waupaca, Plover and Sobieski

What tv show/movie are you ashamed to admit you love? Not ashamed of it, but I love New Girl.

What was your favorite book, toy, or outfit as a child? Stuffed dog named Henry and Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? Fried octopus

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Still at UWGB I hope

Where is your favorite place to eat? Rustique

Where is your home town? Little Suamico

Where would you like to go on a dream vacation? Cruise to Alaska with my husband