Updates
Recent Posts
A look at the Staff Service Centre's first six months
This week marks six months since the Staff Service Centre launched to support faculty and staff. Tawheed Sadiq, Manager, Staff Service Centre in Shared Services shares his team’s experience navigating the changes at the university, his vision for employee service and what’s next for service innovation.
UAT profiles: meet Annette MacPherson
In this new series, get to know some of the people who have taken on new roles as part of the university’s operating model. This week, meet Annette MacPherson, Senior HR Service Partner with Human Resources, Health, Safety and Environment (HRHSE).
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: January 27, 2022
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of January 27, 2022
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: January 20, 2022
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of January 20, 2022
Updates for hiring
As part of the Service Excellence Transformation (SET) program, a number of talent acquisition services have moved into the Shared Services unit. Shared Services has launched several process improvements in partnership with Human Resources, Health, Safety and Environment (HRHSE) to streamline the hiring process for university faculty, staff and foreign nationals.
UAT profiles: meet Asha Rao
In this new series, get to know some of the people who have taken on new roles as part of the university’s operating model. This week, meet Asha Rao, Faculty General Manager (FGM) for the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: January 13, 2022
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of January 13, 2022
In case you missed it: UAT Fall 2021 term roundup
As we start a new year and new academic term, we wanted to summarize all that’s happened with the U of A for Tomorrow (UAT) initiative over the past four months to keep you up to date and informed of anything you may have missed. Here are some UAT highlights from the Fall term (September to December 2021).
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: January 6, 2022
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of January 6, 2022
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: December 16, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of December 16, 2021
Introducing the new process redesign methodology
While the SET process redesign team has been diligently working to redesign and streamline processes across the university's administrative functions, the team has also been working to revise and improve their methodology following several lessons learned during work completed so far.
University pilots simplified employee appointment process
When the university hires a new employee, the process for selecting a candidate, generating an offer letter and adding them to our employee database is called employee appointment. As part of the HR discovery work in the Service Excellence Transformation (SET) program, this process was identified as a high priority area for improvement. In November, Shared Services and SET piloted a redesigned employee appointment process that will roll out to the university in January.
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: December 9, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of December 9, 2021
New event management software solution available in January 2022
With the completion of the Event Management Task Force at the beginning of November, approval has been given to proceed with implementation of the software solution, Groupize, beginning in January 2022.
HR completes several process improvements
Over the past 16 months, the HR workstream and several teams within the Human Resources, Health, Safety and Environment unit have collaborated to reorganize HR services.
A New Direction for Procurement & Contract Management
The university is proceeding with five critical process changes to increase cost savings.
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: December 2, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of December 2, 2021
Finance services transition
As part of the Service Excellence Transformation (SET) program, some financial services are moving from Finance, Procurement and Planning to Shared Services, and contact information is changing. Learn more about how to access finance support, forms and information.
Establishing a vision for the future of student services
Steven Dew, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), shares the new vision for the future of student services at the University of Alberta that will drive improved student experience.
Redesigning the Vice-President Research and Innovation portfolio
Aminah Robinson Fayek, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) introduces a redesigned portfolio structure which integrates strategic research and innovation support, streamlines research administration, and offers expanded services delivered via four Centres of Expertise.
Ask SET Anything: All Staff Edition Recap
To ensure staff continue to have an opportunity to learn more and share feedback during this time of transition, we hosted another Ask SET Anything event on November 5, and opened the floor to questions.
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: November 25, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of November 25, 2021
Hiring announcement: Partners, Communications and Marketing
Communications and Marketing Partners are integral to the new model in External Relations to ensure the success of integrated and aligned support for the University of Alberta. External Relations and the Service Excellence Transformation (SET) external engagement workstream are pleased to announce the appointments of the Communications and Marketing Partners.
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: November 18, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of November 18, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: November 10, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of November 10, 2021
Pulse survey: fall update
Since August 2020, the U of A for Tomorrow (UAT) team has sent monthly pulse surveys to a representative, randomly selected sample of 700 employees across the institution to ask about restructuring and strategic transformation. Since the last pulse survey update in July, discover how faculty and staff are feeling about change being undertaken to achieve the goals of the UAT initiative.
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: November 4, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of November 4, 2021
HR Services available through the Staff Service Centre
In July, Shared Services launched the Staff Service Centre, and phase one of HR Services available to you. As the transfer of HR activities from the Human Resources, Health, Safety and Environment unit to Shared Services concludes, you may be wondering what HR services are offered by the Shared Services unit through the Staff Service Centre. Here’s where to go for what you need and our most common inquiries.
Embracing self-service technologies
Technology is a critical component to administrative transformation, and leveraging the capability of technology to help us work more efficiently and effectively is integral. As we implement the new operating model to promote consistency, avoid duplication, and support a university-wide service culture, there is even more opportunity to modernize as well as further develop and embrace these technologies.
Release of Academic Leaders Task Group Report
Under the leadership of Provost Steven Dew, the Academic Leaders Task Group has been reviewing academic leadership roles in the context of the U of A’s new academic structure and operating model. Their aim has been to advise on how to best deploy one of the university’s most critical resources: our professors. Today, Provost Dew shares the ALTG Report.
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: October 28, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of October 28, 2021
Looking ahead at supporting and sustaining activities
This is the final article in our series highlighting the upcoming activities and milestones for key initiatives of the SET program. This week, we look at the initiatives that have been identified as critical to sustaining the operating model beyond the SET program
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: October 21, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of October 21, 2021
Looking ahead at the non-labour streams
This is the third in a series of four articles highlighting the upcoming activities and milestones for key initiatives of the SET program. This week, we look at what to expect with the non-labour streams, such as procurement, space and facilities, and more.
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: October 14, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of October 14, 2021
Looking ahead at the central support services
This is the second in a series of four articles highlighting the upcoming activities and milestones for key initiatives of the SET program. This week, we focus on what to expect with central support services, including Shared Services, the Student Service Centre, and more.
Recap of Social Sciences and Humanities Town Hall
Joseph Doucet, Interim College Dean, recaps the first town hall held in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Recap of Natural and Applied Sciences Town Hall
Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, Interim College Dean, recaps the first town hall held in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences.
Ask SET Anything: Procurement Edition recap
Last Monday, the SET team hosted another edition of our Ask SET Anything event series. This edition focused on procurement and staff were invited to learn more about projects in this space, ask questions, raise concerns, and share feedback.
Hiring announcement: Finance Partners
Finance, Procurement and Planning and the SET finance workstream are pleased to announce the appointments of 27 of the Finance Partners
Hiring announcement: Senior Partners, Communications & Marketing
External Relations and the SET external engagement workstream are pleased to announce the appointments of the five Senior Partners, Communications & Marketing.
Finance services have moved to Shared Services
A number of finance services and team members have moved from Finance, Procurement and Planning to Shared Services. Meet the team! New travel and expense and credit card reconciliation processes launch Monday, October 18; please direct inquiries to the Staff Service Centre.
Looking ahead at the administrative functional streams
In this four-part weekly series, Vice-President (University Services and Finance), Todd Gilchrist, provides an overview of the upcoming activities and milestones for key initiatives of the SET program as well as case studies to demonstrate recent successes. This first article in this series takes a look at what's ahead for each of the university’s administrative functional areas.
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: October 7, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of October 7, 2021
Recap of Health Sciences Town Hall
Greta Cummings, interim college dean, recaps the first town hall for the College of Health Sciences, which was held earlier this week on October 4.
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: September 29, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of September 29, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: September 23, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of September 23, 2021
Ask SET Anything: Student Services Edition recap
Last Friday, the SET team hosted another edition of our Ask SET Anything event series specifically for student services. Staff in this area were invited to learn more about the Student Service Centre and student services in the new operating model, raise questions, concerns, and share feedback.
U of A for Tomorrow Updates: September 16, 2021
U of A for Tomorrow updates for the week of September 16, 2021
Immigration and relocation support moves to Shared Services unit
As part of the Service Excellence Transformation (SET) program, immigration and relocation services have moved from Human Resources, Health, Safety and Environment (HRHSE) to the Shared Services unit. Learn more about services available to you and foreign nationals, and how to access them.