Concurrent Sessions 2

Concurrent Sessions 2 | Monday, April 28 – 1:45-2:45 p.m.

BECOMING AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE: INSIGHTS FROM CUPA-HR DATA

In today’s competitive landscape, attracting and retaining top talent is essential for higher education institutions. This session will explore actionable strategies to position your institution as an employer of choice by leveraging CUPA-HR’s data on recruitment, engagement and retention.

Jennifer Schneider, Ph.D., Senior Survey Researcher, CUPA-HR

BREAKING BARRIERS: CROSS-INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING STAFF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT 

Hear about HR’s efforts to transform Yale University’s learning and development infrastructure into a hybrid/decentralized model that supports functional learning. Learn how this initiative brought together leaders from various areas, including HR and other administrative units, to create a vision for staff learning and development.

Jane Savage, Associate Vice President for Union-Management and Strategic Initiatives, and Stephanie Gosteli, Director of Learning and Development, HR Programs, both of Yale University

CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE IN 2025: WHAT REALLY MATTERS

In 2025, candidate experience will define your ability to attract and retain top talent, as job seekers are looking for clarity, authenticity and efficiency from every interaction with potential employers. Standing out as an employer requires delivering seamless, meaningful experiences that speak to what job seekers value most — transparency, respect and convenience. In this session, we’ll explore how personalization and AI are reshaping recruitment; how to attract broader applicant pools with mobile-first and easy-to-navigate application experiences; why a focus on long-term relationships with candidates, even before they apply, will be crucial for future hiring success; and more.

Andrea McCartney, Customer Account Executive, PageUp; Jacob Lathrop, Assistant Director, Talent and Strategic Partnerships, Michigan State University 

JOB ARCHITECTURE, PAY TRANSPARENCY AND PAY EQUITY

Learn how Iowa State University implemented a new job architecture framework, aligning jobs, compensation and career development. Presenters will focus on how a well-defined job architecture lays the groundwork for transparent compensation practices, helping employees understand the rationale behind compensation decisions.

Emma Houghton, Director of Classification and Compensation, Iowa State University; Ruth Ann Looney, Associate Partner, Aon

RECRUITING AND RETAINING SKILLED TRADES POSITIONS

Many industries, including higher education, have faced a shortage of skilled trades positions in recent years. Hear how Towson University has used different recruitment and retention efforts, supported by data and analysis, to develop new talent and increase the number of qualified applicants.

Jennifer Stano, Associate Vice President, Human Resources, and Steve Jones, Chief Human Resources Officer/Chief Operations Officer and Senior Vice President of Campus Operations, both of Towson 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 congressional and federal agency actions are most likely to impact the higher ed workplace in the coming months. 

Josh Ulman, Chief Government Relations Officer, and Bailey Graves, Government Relations Associate, both of CUPA-HR