ITS-HR Monthly Update – September 2012
-----------------------------1. Call for Submissions
2. New Hires
3. ITS Staff Feature: PSUITers
4. Breastfeeding Support Program
5. Mandatory Training: Walk Awhile in My Shoes
6. Resources to report illegal, unethical conduct
7. Upcoming Events
8. Climate & Diversity Information
-----------------------------1. Call for Submissions
ITS HR would like to feature staff members and supervisors/managers who have unique hobbies or talents in
our upcoming newsletters! Please email monica@psu.edu if you would like to be featured.
-----------------------------2. New Hires
Andrew Kennerly, Network Systems Specialist, 0110 University Support II, Information Tech Services
Pierre-Yves Taunay, Programmer/Analyst, 0222 Computer Building, Research Computing & Cyber
Information
Patricia Campbell, Industry Rel Coord, 0110 University Support II, Information Tech Services
Robert Miller, Network Systems Specialist, 0024 Shields Building, Telecommunications & Network Services
Curtis Dunlap, Systems Administrator, 0025 Shields Building, Admin Information Services
-----------------------------3. ITS Staff Feature: The PSUITers
As a member of the IT Connects Steering Committee, Ken Layng (a Trainer with ITS Training Services) had
early knowledge of the IT Picnic and had the idea for a group of musicians to get together to perform at the
Picnic. As a musician, Ken had long been interested in pulling other Penn State musicians into a group that
could provide music for functions. Once the Picnic was announced, he sent a call for musicians out to the ITPro list and the Network of People. Those involved at the picnic included:









Ken Layng: guitar, bass, vocals
John Tyndall, keys, vocals
Mark Mikowicz, drums
Tim Whitehill, guitar, vocals
Dennis Peters, keys, vocals
Adam McNeal, drums
Jeff D'Angelo, bass
Roy Long, runs sound, bass, vocals
Jeremy Landes, runs sound, drums
Since then, Ken created a Yammer Group - "PSU
FacStaff Musicians" to keep the momentum going.
He commented that they “can do contemporary
styles of music (rock, funk, blues) from the 50s today. Of course we can do a more "unplugged"
style as well, but eventually I'd like to see horn and
string players jump in so the "classy" stuff can be
offered: a string quartet for a luncheon, a horn
section to add that all-essential ingredient for those
Earth Wind and Fire / Chicago tunes, etc.”
If you would be interested in joining the PSUITers
or would like to hire them for your next event,
check out their Yammer Group by visiting: http://bit.ly/Rdmo6q.
Would you like to be featured in an upcoming ITS HR Newsletter for your unique hobby or talent? If so, please
email monica@psu.edu.
-----------------------------4. Breastfeeding Support Program
Are you currently breastfeeding or expecting a baby and planning to breastfeed?
The Breastfeeding Support Program at Penn State offers a variety of support services to University students and
employees and their spouses/domestic partners. Breastfeeding provides a wide range of benefits for children
and their families. Returning to work or class is often cited as a primary obstacle to breastfeeding. When
mothers are provided with essential services to support breastfeeding and pumping, they can achieve their
goals! The BSP offers the following services at little or no cost:







Lactation stations at University Park, PS Abington, PS Harrisburg, PS Fayette, and PS Worthington
Scranton available for breastfeeding or pumping during the work/school day. Many stations are
equipped with hospital grade breastpumps.
Basics of Breastfeeding (prenatal) and Working and Breastfeeding classes. Register for classes online
through emPOWER: https://app3.ohr.psu.edu/emPower/frm_login.cfm
Lactation Consultant services for help with any breastfeeding or pumping problems (available during
leave or after return to work)
Lending library with breastfeeding and parenting resources
Monthly lunch hour Working and Breastfeeding Support Groups on the University Park campus
Peer Mentoring program which pairs new moms with an experienced working or student breastfeeding
mom in the Penn State community
Low cost sales of breastpumps and pump kits
For more information, visit us online at http://ohr.psu.edu/employee-and-family-resources/breastfeedingsupport/ or contact The Breastfeeding Support Program at Penn State at 814-867-0776 or
breastfeeding@psu.edu.
-----------------------------5. Mandatory Training: Walk Awhile in My Shoes
Facilitated by: Jim Golden, President and CEO of Golden Opportunity, Inc.
Walk a While in my Shoes breaks down "we vs. they" beliefs and behaviors while encouraging new levels of
understanding, perspective, empathy, and cooperation between managers and employees. The session will
develop an awareness and appreciation for differing perspectives on divisive and often emotionally charged
issues at work and in life; break down "us versus them" barriers that commonly exist in organizations; identify
the common ground between managers and employees using seven keys to "Meeting In The Middle."; and learn
key skills and behaviors for building relationships and environments based on empathy and understanding.
This discussion based program, sponsored by ITS HR and the Climate and Diversity Team, offers you the
opportunity to share in great conversations based on the book that accompanies the program. You will receive
an electronic copy of the book after you register for a session and will need to read the materials prior to coming
attending your session.
Feel free to bring a paper copy of the book to the session with you, but please leave your laptops at work.
Upcoming Sessions Include:
October 2nd:
8:30am-10:00am, E103 Paterno Library
6:00pm-8:00pm, 118 Wagner Building
10:00pm-11:30pm, 118 Wagner Building
October 3rd:
10:00am-11:30am, 431 James Elliott Building
1:00pm-2:30pm, E103 Paterno Library
October 24th:
10:30am-12:00pm, E103 Paterno Library
2:00pm-3:30pm, 431 James Elliott Building
October 25th:
10:00am-11:30am, 431 James Elliott Building
10:00pm-11:30pm, 118 Wagner Building
To register, please e-mail Deb Johnson at daj8@psu.edu with the session you would like to attend.
-----------------------------6. Resources to report illegal, unethical conduct
As we welcome new and returning students to campus for the fall semester, all members of the Penn State
community are asked to be mindful of their individual responsibility to help keep the University a safe and
ethical institution. The following resources are available for faculty, staff, students and others to report any
suspected illegal or unethical conduct, and to seek assistance:
Reporting a crime: Contact the campus police or security office. In an emergency, dial 911.
Assistance for victims of sexual violence, sexual abuse or sexual harassment:



The Penn State Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Hotline at 800-550-7575 (TIY 866-714-7177),
available 24/7.
The University-wide designated sexual harassment resource person for students: The Director of Center
for Women Students at 814-863-2027, at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/womenscenter/ online.
A list of sexual assault resources for each campus location:
http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/womenscenter/resources/ccsar.shtml
If a child is a victim of any kind of abuse, including sexual abuse: Contact the Pennsylvania Child Welfare
Services "ChildLine" at 800-932-0313.
Reporting ethical violations (including fraud, theft, conflict of interest and violations of University policy,
including research compliance, discrimination and athletics-compliance issues):


The Penn State Ethics and Compliance Hotline at 800-560-1637 or
http://www.mycompliancereport.com/brand/psu, both anonymous and available 24/7.
The Penn State Ethics website provides a listing of contacts at
http://www.universityethics.psu.edu/contact_us.shtml
The following University offices also are available:




The Affirmative Action Office at 814-863-0471.
The Employee Relations Division of the Office of Human Resources at 814-865-1412.
The Office of Internal Audit at 814-865-9596.
College and administrative unit Human Resources Representatives listing at http://ohr.psu.edu/hrrepresentatives
If it is not clear where to turn for assistance, any of these offices will guide the individual to someone who can
help. Training is available on many of the above topics. Please contact the Office of Human Resources' Center
for Workplace Learning and Performance at 814-865-8216.
The University does not condone wrongful conduct by any member of the Penn State community no matter
what his or her position is. Members of the University community are urged to speak up if they see or suspect
illegal or unethical conduct, and to be assured that the University will protect them from retaliation.
7. Upcoming Events:
IT Shares Brown Bag: Timing is Everything
Thursday, September 20th, 11:30 AM to 1 PM, USB2, room 120
Ken Forstmeier will lead a conversation about the importance of timing in effective leadership.
Register at http://it.psu.edu/connects/shares
-----------------------------8. ITS Climate & Diversity
August 30th Meeting Report
1) C&D team is planning activities and efforts for the upcoming academic year
2) Since the University’s Framework for Diversity is being discontinued, the C&D team is reorganizing
a. We have taken the remaining action items from the 7 Goal teams of the past few years and
aligned them with the 8 recommendations from the PICCC report on the Climate survey and
Open Forums with employees
b. We have listened to employee feedback and are working on ways to address the issues raised
c. The feedback from the Climate and Diversity Survey earlier this year has been addressed by
Kevin at the May All-Staff and is directly used when planning new programs and services
3) As shown below, the group has prioritized our planning efforts into three broad categories
a. Communication of the team’s activities, efforts to improve climate and address employee
concerns
b. On-going rewards and recognition programming
c. Specialized programming in Conflict resolution, stress management, and ways to address
bullying in the workplace
Communication
Rewards/Recognition
Comprehensive Plan
Purpose – unified visits to
units
Communication survey
results
Making principles concrete
Channels of communication
Create quality blog content
Blog promotion
Support/Communication
from Kevin
Communication from SLT
Wiki content/move to
Yammer
Additional awards
Review current
Conflict resolution/Stress
Management/Bullying
Technical vs. non-technical
Meeting behaviors
Unit Programs
Walk Awhile in My Shoes
Video of working at PSU
4) The group will reconvene Sept 17 to finish planning
5) Employees should be aware that the “Walk Awhile in my Shoes” program is required for all ITS
employees
a. The purpose is to improve communications between employees and managers by building
understanding of the challenges that each group faces
b. The course is conversational in nature and encourages dialog that enables people to meet in the
middle.
c. Each employee is also encouraged to write an action plan on things they “will do differently” to
contribute towards making ITS an even better place to work.
………………………..
Please visit the ITS Climate and Diversity blog/site: http://wp.tlt.psu.edu/connectrespect/ to find Climate and
Diversity resources, news, updates from ITS senior management, stories on climate and diversity issues, and
more. You can also follow the Climate and Diversity Team on Twitter: @ConnectRespect
------------------------------