Concurrent Sessions 5
Sponsored by
Concurrent Sessions 5 | Tuesday, March 31 – 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
LOCATION:
Commonwealth 8
LEARNING FRAMEWORK:
Core
TRACK:
Data and Metrics
CHOOSING YOUR PEERS: INSIGHTS ON SELECTING COMPARISON GROUPS FOR BENCHMARKING
Identifying peers for benchmarking is critical to effective planning and strategic decision-making. This session aims to demystify the peer selection process by providing examples of how higher ed professionals create and use comparison groups. Panelists will discuss key components of the peer selection process, including criteria they consider when selecting peers for various benchmarking goals, stakeholders involved in the process, and lessons learned from creating and using comparison groups. The CUPA-HR research team will also demonstrate how DataOnDemand offers HR leaders the ability to create custom comparison groups for benchmarking salaries, department size and more.
Bryan Garey, Vice President, Human Resources, Virginia Tech; Keyra Williams, Senior Compensation Analyst, Wake Forest University; Brielle Johnson, Ph.D., Survey Researcher, and Kate Roesch, Data Visualization Developer, both of CUPA-HR
LOCATION:
Olmsted 1-3
LEARNING FRAMEWORK:
Engagement
TRACK:
Talent Management
FEEDBACK IN ACTION: RECOGNITION BY DESIGN
Explore how Dallas College uses employee engagement data and team-centered recognition to shape a people-first culture and advance its Best Place To Work vision. See how feedback, leadership support and a modern recognition platform can strengthen engagement, collaboration and organizational excellence. This session is sponsored by Creative Planning.
Jasmine Parker, Senior Director of Employee and Cultural Engagement, and Zharia Thomas, Employee Engagement Research Associate, both of Dallas College
LOCATION:
Commonwealth 7
LEARNING FRAMEWORK:
Building Capabilities
TRACK:
Organizational and Professional Development
FROM TRANSACTIONAL TO STRATEGIC: A 7-WEEK HR ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
Learn about a 7-week HR Accelerator program across institutions, featuring an innovative cohort model co-taught by the HR leadership team to build strategic thinking, data fluency and HR capacity. Learn how this model has strengthened collaboration among HR managers and the cohort, how it has accelerated performance, and how it has been applied across the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA).
Therese Sampaia, Senior HR Manager, and Daniel McCarthy, HR Specialist, both of Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy
LOCATION:
Wheat
LEARNING FRAMEWORK:
Engagement
TRACK:
Cultural Competence
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AT TULANE: A JOURNEY ON IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT
Explore restorative practices at Tulane, tracing development from early initiatives to a framework that fosters accountability and community. Gain an understanding of Tulane’s journey — from milestones and challenges to lessons learned in integrating restorative approaches across HR, administration and student life.
Nelle Noble, Restorative Practices Manager, Tulane University
LOCATION:
Commonwealth 6
LEARNING FRAMEWORK:
Core
TRACK:
Risk Management, Compliance and Public Policy
STRENGTHENING WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS WITH OBJECTIVITY, TRUST AND COMPLIANCE
Workplace investigations are among HR’s most sensitive tasks. Attend this session to explore best practices for fair and compliant investigations in higher ed and gain strategies to improve internal processes or how best to use external investigators to ensure neutrality, consistency, efficiency and trust.
Audra Hedberg, Vice President of HR Compliance and Consulting, Trupp