Congratulations to the Q4 HR Pillar Award winners!

Category: Customer Experience

UVA Human Resources proudly recognizes Ty Ferrell, an Instructional Media Designer/Developer on the Learning Design and Technology team within Talent Management. His outstanding contributions have benefited employees across the UVA community. Here are some of Ty's contributions:

1. Putting Customers First: Ty's impact stretches beyond technical expertise; it resonates in the positive feedback from those he interacts with. He translates complex information into engaging learning materials, earning praise from learners and colleagues alike. Prioritizing the user experience, Ty ensures seamless interactions with training content and a meaningful learning experience. 

2. Designing Learning Experiences: Ty collaborates extensively with the HR Learning and Development team, crafting participant guides and visual resources. His year-long Learning and Development Catalogue project showcases effective resource organization and communication strategies.

3. Serving UVA Health: Ty is partnering with the UVA Health Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Council to enhance their orientation program and onboarding experience for APPs. His contribution to digital courses for new manager orientation at University Medical Center underscores his commitment to seamless onboarding experiences.

4. Going the Extra Mile: Ty's meticulous evaluation and adjustment processes show his dedication to enhancing learning experiences. From analysis to revision, he ensures transformative experiences. His collaborative spirit and proactive problem-solving showcase his value to HR and the UVA community.

Ty's influence extends beyond introducing instructional products; he meticulously evaluates their effects and makes necessary adjustments. Engaging in the entire development and release process, from analysis to revision, Ty's dedication to service and enhancing the learner experience distinguishes him. This commitment showcases his significant value to HR and the broader university community.

Hear Meganna Jeter's testimonial on Ty here.

Category: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Throughout 2023, Cynthia Douglass delivered outstanding dedication and contributions to the HR organization and the UVA community, deserving recognition with the HR Pillar Award. Here's a summary of her impactful initiatives:

1. Inclusive Communication Tools: Cynthia spearheaded the addition of a Google Translate plug-in to the HR website, facilitating the translation of materials for non-native speakers. She meticulously researched language preferences among UVA employees, explored available translation options, and advocated for the plug-in implementation. After its successful launch, she effectively communicated this resource through various channels, ensuring broad awareness among employees.
2. Multilingual Awareness Campaign: Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, Cynthia proposed and executed a campaign for Open Enrollment that included posters and bus signs in French, Spanish, Chinese, and English. She based language selection on data analysis from Workday and surveys targeting key demographics, such as Facilities Management—this initiative aimed to promote awareness of Open Enrollment while emphasizing language accessibility.
3. Diverse Representation in Communications: Cynthia prioritizes diverse imagery and narratives in all communication efforts, depicting employees from various backgrounds and work environments across UVA. She aims to authentically represent the entire university community, fostering an inclusive environment through visual storytelling.
4. Advocacy for Equity: As an active Staff Senator, Cynthia advocates for equity within HR and the university. She addresses misunderstandings about HR's role while volunteering for committees focused on staff concerns. Notably, she led a comprehensive investigation into flexwork and remote work policies, producing a detailed report and recommendations for improvement that was shared with UVA leadership. She also orchestrated a survey among Academic Division employees to pinpoint pain points, collaborating with HR Benefits to propose enhancements to the health plan based on survey insights.
5. Promoting Diverse Stories: As HR's lead storyteller, Cynthia highlights the achievements of outstanding employees spanning various departments and roles at UVA. She ensures that every story showcases the diversity of contributions within the university community, from organizational innovations to individual achievements. She produced a compelling multimedia story on UPD officers tutoring elementary school students, capturing the program's impact through written narratives and video vignettes.

Cynthia's daily commitment to inclusivity and amplifying diverse voices has significantly enriched HR initiatives and fostered a more inclusive university culture. Her multifaceted contributions align with the values of the DEI category of the HR Pillar Award, reflecting her dedication to empowering every member of the UVA community.

Hear Karen Barnes's testimonial on Cynthia here.

Category: Innovative Practices

Claire Ziegler has led the groundbreaking Career Navigation project to revolutionize career development opportunities for UVA team members and employees. By exploring new areas within the field and challenging traditional approaches, Claire has demonstrated visionary leadership and a commitment to innovation.

1. Leadership: Claire's visionary leadership has been evident from the project's inception to its implementation. She consistently pursues unconventional strategies, exceeding customer expectations and setting a new standard for excellence in career development within the HR department.
2. Stakeholder Engagement: Claire actively engaged with diverse stakeholders, including team members, clients, and community members. By fostering open communication and collaboration, she ensured that the project incorporated various perspectives, essential for its success.
3. Streamlining Processes for Efficiency: Claire prioritized streamlining processes within the project team, implementing innovative workflows and procedures to enhance productivity. These efforts contributed significantly to the project's overall success.
4. Impacting Career Development at UVA: Claire's Career Navigation project has profoundly impacted UVA team members and employees, providing new opportunities for growth and advancement. This tangible impact aligns directly with HR's goal of positively transforming lives within the UVA community while contributing to the University's broader mission.
5. Continued Dedication to Innovation: Claire's dedication to innovation extends beyond the project's initial phases. Through ongoing assessments, adaptations, and a commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends, she ensures the project remains innovative within the HR department.

Claire's exceptional commitment to innovation in career development makes her a deserving candidate for the HR Pillar Award. Her visionary leadership, stakeholder engagement, streamlined processes, and tangible impact on individuals' lives embody the spirit of innovation within the HR department. Thank you, Claire, for your impactful contributions to HR's innovation efforts!

Hear Kim Wood's testimonial on Claire here.

Category: Exceptional Execution (team category)

Marcia, Tim, and Brett have been diligently working to enhance our Workday system, mainly focusing on automating various leave-related processes. With many aspects of leave management still requiring manual intervention, Marcia's team has tackled these challenges head-on to streamline operations and alleviate unnecessary burdens. Their efforts have resolved existing issues and paved the way for innovative practices within our organization.

1. Automating Leave Accrual: The team addressed the issue of leave accrual stoppages, a labor-intensive task that consumed valuable time each biweekly pay period. By automating the process in Workday, they eliminated the need for manual intervention, ensuring compliance with Medical Center policy while freeing up resources for more strategic tasks.
2. Addressing Prorated Leave for Transfers: They tackled the problem of University Staff transfers not receiving prorated leave in Workday, leading to discrepancies and undue stress for employees. The team rectified this issue through meticulous configuration adjustments for the current and future years, providing peace of mind to employees and reducing administrative burden.
3. Automating the PTO Payout Process: The team is actively working on automating the PTO payout process, which is currently a manual and time-consuming endeavor. Their dedication to finding innovative solutions promises to streamline operations further and enhance the leave team's efficiency.
4. Serving the Stakeholders: The team has consistently displayed responsiveness, collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to delivering effective solutions. Their willingness to involve stakeholders in testing and their track record of successful implementations highlight their dedication to excellence. By leveraging the system's capabilities in innovative ways, they have paved the way for more efficient and effective leave management practices.

Marcia's leadership is characterized not only by her technical expertise but also by her kindness, courtesy, and collaborative spirit. She and her team have made significant contributions to the UVA community, with their recent projects representing just a snapshot of their ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Marcia, Tim, and Brett's dedication to delivering exceptional execution and offering innovative leave management practices have profoundly impacted our organization. Their efforts have resolved critical issues and positioned us for continued success in optimizing Workday and streamlining operations. We are grateful for their hard work and look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of their ongoing initiatives.

Hear Laura Brown's testimonial on Marcia, Tim, and Brett here.