Concurrent Sessions 6

Concurrent Sessions 6 | Tuesday, October 7 – 1:00-2:00 p.m.

BEST PRACTICES TO INCREASE POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN INTERVIEWING

Join us for an interactive session designed to elevate how we think about the candidate’s experience. We’ll explore what it truly means to create a process that allows individuals to show up as their best, most authentic selves. Gain practical tools and recommendations for designing interviews that are both welcoming and effective. Through real-world scenarios, we’ll identify common challenges and discuss actionable strategies to improve outcomes at every stage.  

Amy Guy, HR Training and Engagement Coordinator, and Crystal Smith, Faculty Recruitment and Talent Acquisition Coordinator, both of Colorado State University 

FROM CHECKLISTS TO CATALYSTS: REFRAMING HR AS A STRATEGIC PARTNER

Learn how one HR team transformed from transactional tasks to strategic partnership. This panel will share how using the employee lifecycle lens sparked bold shifts in organizational development, learning and development and proactive consulting within a university system office. This session is sponsored by The Chronicle of Higher Education. 

Julie Petti, Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources; Yolanda Caldwell, Ed.D., Director, Inclusive Leadership and Organizational Development; Ben Seymour, Director of Human Resources; Thomas Donohue, Director of Compensation, all of State University of New York System Office

GETTING COMPETITIVE: USING SALARY DATA IN STRATEGIC COMPENSATION INITIATIVES

Higher ed institutions are experiencing increased pressure to provide competitive pay in order to attract new employees and retain current employees. Presenters on this panel will share their experiences in making major changes to pay on campus by applying CUPA-HR’s salary data. These large-scale efforts ultimately place institutions in a better position to attract and retain talent and also establish a precedent for implementing changes again in the future. Panelists will share details of their individual efforts on campus to improve pay, surmount common obstacles and manage communications. This session is sponsored by TIAA. 

Diana Tubbs, Ph.D., Senior Survey Researcher, CUPA-HR; Jan Myers, Senior Director of Compensation and Benefits, Clemson University; Jake Lathrop, Assistant Director of Talent and Strategic Partnerships, Michigan State University

LEADING WITH A FULL CUP: THE FORMULA HR NEEDS NOW

Higher ed HR leaders are burning out while trying to support everyone else. In this session, we’ll explore “The Happiness Formula,” a practical well-being framework to help HR professionals manage stress, protect their energy, and lead with clarity, purpose and emotional intelligence. This session is sponsored by Cornerstone OnDemand.

Nikki Parker, Assistant Chief HR Officer, Tulsa Community College

PREPARING FOR YOUR NEXT “ERA” (CUPA-HR VERSION)

Your next position or opportunity for growth is out there, but are you ready for it? Join us for this light-hearted session as we discuss the career progression of pop superstar Taylor Swift and explore ways for you to develop your own higher education career plan using a combination of Swift strategies and CUPA-HR resources.

Simone Waldon, Staff Success Center Manager, Missouri University of Science and Technology

STUDENT AFFAIRS WORKFORCE EVOLUTION AND CERTIFICATION

The student affairs workforce and talent pipeline are experiencing significant challenges around recruiting, upskilling, and sustaining staff with the knowledge and competencies necessary to be successful in today’s rapidly changing higher education environments. In this session, presenters will speak to gaps in the student affairs workforce and strategies for addressing them. Learn how Student Affairs Educator Certification is being used to address these gaps and support professionals and the institutions they serve. This session is sponsored by Huron. 

Will Simpkins, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Carlos Alcala, Senior HR Partner, both of Metropolitan State University of Denver; Joseph DeSanto Jones, Executive Director, Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification

THE GREAT DEGREE DEBATE: SHIFTING TO SKILLS HIRING IN HIGHER ED

In response to rising time-to-fill rates, shrinking applicant pools and increasing turnover, learn how one institution tackled hiring challenges by shifting to a skills-based hiring strategy. Through agile implementation, the HR team redefined job descriptions, piloted new tools and built career pathways — unlocking talent and improving recruitment, retention and growth. This session is sponsored by PageUp. 

Niki Norton, Assistant Vice President for Human Resource Management, Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge

THE RESTORATIVE RECORD: UNLOCKING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS

The Restorative Record, developed by Cornell’s Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative (CJEI), is a confidential job-readiness platform designed to expand opportunities for justice-impacted individuals and those with non-traditional work experiences. This session will explore Cornell HR and CJEI’s implementation of the tool as part of the university’s Bridge to Employment initiative. You’ll gain insights into the benefits of hiring justice-involved (JI) individuals and leave with actionable strategies to promote fair chance hiring and support JI employee success at your institution.

Christine Lovely, Vice President and Chief HR Officer; Esta Bigler, Director, Labor and Employment Law Programs; Jodi Anderson, Director of Technological Innovation, Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative; Jacquelyn Mouillesseaux, Consultant, Dual Career, Relocation and Bridge to Employment Programs, all of Cornell University

WASHINGTON UPDATE

Hear the latest federal regulatory and legislative news from Washington, D.C., and learn about the issues CUPA-HR is actively pursuing on behalf of higher education. Find out which executive branch, congressional and federal agency actions are most likely to impact the higher ed workplace in the coming months. 

Bailey Graves, Government Relations Associate, and Katie Branson, Government Relations Associate, both of CUPA-HR