Changes in HR designed to improve services

Kyle Cavanaugh, Vice President for Human Resources announced on July 6 some initial organizational changes for the Division of Human Resources.

In an effort to build an integrated human resource operation, the Academic Personnel office will now report to the Vice President for Human Resources. Janet Malphurs, Manager for Academic Personnel, will initially report to the Vice President, and the operation will remain at its current location in Tigert Hall until the Division of Human Resources is relocated in 2006. Tenure and promotion will remain under the purview of the Provost, and the current processing of cases will remain unchanged. This structural change will improve efficiency and service to faculty by ultimately integrating similar faculty and staff HR services such as benefits, leave administration, retirement, organizational development, and employee relations.

Certain Equal Employment programs also will be realigned to the Division of Human Resources—specifically, sexual harassment and Institutional Equity & Diversity investigations, complaints, compliance, and training. Responsibility for the management of the institution’s required equal opportunity reports will also move to Human Resources.

As a result, Larry Ellis will now report to the Vice President for Human Resources as the Director of Administration and Equal Opportunity. He will concentrate on these critical areas as well as human resources policy and procedure. Before serving as the Director of Human Resources, Mr. Ellis served as the Director of the UF Division of Small Business and Vendor Diversity Relations for 11 years, the Deputy Assistant Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity Programs at the University of California, Irvine, for three years, and Assistant to the President for Personnel and Equal Opportunity at Lake-Sumter Community College for four years. He received a Specialist in Education degree in Educational Leadership from Florida State University.

In addition, Paula Fussell has accepted the position of Associate Vice President. Her initial focus will be the department of University Benefits and Retirement where she will provide leadership in bringing stability to our benefits platform and work with various state agencies and external vendors.

"We look forward to the next few months as we continue to identify ways to serve the university community more effectively," Cavanaugh said.

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