The Departmental Program Review process empowers departments within the Division of Student Life to critically evaluate their work and its effect on the UI student experience through a lens of continuous improvement. The review process is an opportunity for departments to take a comprehensive and critical look at the unit, clearly evaluate strengths and weaknesses, and outline a plan for future action. The review for the Division of Student Life central service units (Human Resources, Business/Finance, Information Technology Services, and Student Life Communications) focused on two central questions:

  • “What staffing levels, processes, and resources are necessary to enable the unit to adequately support the fulfillment of the Division’s mission and strategic plan?”
  • “Are current staffing levels, processes, and resources supportive of central services staff member satisfaction, engagement, and well-being?”

 

Recommendation: Prompt, accurate responses

Continue to stress to the Business and Finance team the importance of prompt, accurate responses and how they can greatly enhance relations with our colleagues/customers.

Critical tasks

  • Remind DSL business staff of the importance of the customer service they provide.

Success measures and updates

  • DSL business staff will recognize the importance of the customer service they provide.

     

Recommendation: Increased collaboration

Continue to stress to the Business and Finance team the importance of keeping up with changes at a campus level. Continued participation in campus meetings and committees must remain a priority, along with other forms of professional development for staff.

Critical tasks

  • Remind DSL business staff of the importance of campus involvement and professional development.
  • Ensure DSL business staff regularly attends quarterly business officers meetings and other professional development opportunities.

Success measures and updates

  • DSL business staff will recognize the importance of professional development and make it a priority.
    DSL business staff will attend quarterly UI business officers meetings and other professional development opportunities.

     

Recommendation: Increased connection with units

The accounting managers assigned to work with each unit should make a point to talk with the unit leaders and/or make a presentation (ideally during a unit leadership team or all-staff meeting), reminding staff who is responsible for providing business and finance support for the various issues, including the roles and responsibilities of University Shared Services.

Critical tasks

  • Meet with unit leaders for an annual financial review; ensure part of that meeting is to review support roles. 
  • Ensure DSL business staff are included in regular unit leadership and/or all-staff meetings.

Success measures and updates

  • Completion of meetings with leadership of all DSL units.
  • All DSL business staff are invited to unit meetings.
     

Recommendation: Develop website

The Business and Finance area of the division does not have a website. The development of a website could be a location where a “Who Does What?” section is published and maintained for both internal and external use. A website could also serve as a resource for contact information, reports, forms, and other useful financial information.

Critical tasks

  • Identify content desired to be on website and point person.
  • Develop content.
  • Develop website.

Success measures and updates

  • Outline of website content; point person identified. 
  • Content ready to be provided to technical resource. 
  • Website created.
     

Recommendation: Investigate cashless transactions

Cashless transactions result in many efficiencies and cost savings. However, as the survey respondents point out, there are also compelling concerns about going completely cashless. A more in-depth cost-benefit analysis should be completed, as well as an examination of those areas that have already gone cashless to ascertain how some of those similar concerns have or have not been experienced in the cashless locations.

Critical tasks

  • Review positives and negatives of current cashless operations.
  • Develop pros and cons of expanding cashless locations.
  • Make a decision/recommendation.

Success measures and updates

  • Compilation of data.

  • Decision(s) made.

     

Recommendation: Provide unit reports

The accounting managers assigned to work with each unit should work with those areas to provide necessary reports.

Critical tasks

  • Verify reports/data requested.
  • Develop requested reports/data.

Success measures and updates

  • Reports provided to units.