Office of Human Resources

The Office of Human Resources is a service organization which supports and enhances the University's vision to become one of the nation's preeminent public universities and is responsible for integrating administrative divisions into the framework of the institution, providing expert advice and counsel to colleges, departments, faculty, and staff, and strengthening positive efforts to attract and retain quality faculty and staff.

Following are the units within the Office of Human Resources:

The Employee Benefits Division has responsibility for administering University benefit programs at all locations. Benefits include retirement, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible benefits, tax-deferred annuities, sickness and accident supplement, long-term disability, the maintenance prescription drug plan, voluntary accidental death and dismemberment insurance, health promotion, Employee Assistance Program, educational privileges, and COBRA (post-employment short-term health insurance).

The Employee Relations Division provides guidance and assistance to management and employees in the promotion of communication, teamwork, customer service, and performance, and represents the University in contacts with and in maintaining harmonious relations with emloyee, management, and representatives of various employee organizations. The University's Workers' Compensation program is administered by the Division.

The Employment and Compensation Division has the responsibility for providing employment, classification and compensation services to the University's academic and administrative units. The Division ensures that the practices are in compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations and University policies. Services include job vacancy announcement program, coordinating and placing job advertisements, conducting salary surveys, gathering and analyzing salary data, providing employment services to individuals with disabilities, supporting the minority recruitment efforts of the University, providing employment services to individuals with disabilities, supporting the minority recruitment efforts of the University, providing employment and classification training programs to employees and management, conducting research into new trends in compensation and employment strategies, and providing consulting services to the University.

Human Resources Development Division was formed to help the University improve and enrich its human resources through training and development programs and services for faculty and staff. HRDC activities include delivery of scheduled programs, development and delivery of requested programs that are typically tailored to customer needs, consultation, and lending services for books, videotapes, audiotapes, and other professional development materials.

The Information Systems Division has responsibility for designing, developing and implementing all hardware and software needs pertaining to information technology in the Office of Human Resources. A large portion of the division's time is spent internally supporting current systems and developing new processes that support the OHR community. Externaly, the division has several partnerships that support IBIS and other IT-related issues.

International Scholars and Faculty Visa Services facilitates employment of foreign nationals in teaching and research positions at all Penn State locations. ISFVS consults with department heads, faculty, and search committees involved in hiring foreign nationals. The unit works very closely with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Bureau for Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) in pursuing employment authorization for foreign nationals, including postdoctoral employment for all foreign nationals at Penn State. Moreover, the group administers the University Visiting Scholars programs for research scholars, short-term scholars, and professors under the J visa category consistent with federal regulations. The group further provides guidelines and assistance in meeting the employment verification requirements (I-9 forms) of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1996 (IRCA). These efforts augment the University's international goals and objectives while complying with several federal regulations.

Management Engineering assists all areas of the University in improving the utilization of resources. This is accomplished by performing analyses designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of department operations. Management Engineering works on an "as needed" basis and charges a fee for large projects.

The Work/Life Programs Office enhances the University climate by providing services, programs, and information to faculty, staff, and students. Toward that end, the coordinator also serves as liaison to the Committee of Human Resources Representatives and the Staff Advisory Committee. The mission is to assist faculty, staff, and students in balancing their professional and personal lives.

Occupational Medicine is a new division of the Office of Human Resources, transitioning from Student Affairs to OHR. In 2002 Occupational Medicine moved to the Centre Medical Sciences Building, adjacent to Centre County Hospital.

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This page was last updated on Tuesday, August 18, 2009.