In a recent video message, Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart shared important updates regarding key organizational shifts happening in the coming weeks and months, designed to better serve our employees.
The changes focus on two core areas: human resources and culture and belonging.
Below are the highlights from his message.
Human Resources Operations
Our HR team will separate into two primary components: one focused on the business operations of HR and one focused on the people work of HR.
The business functions and employee relations will shift under the Finance & Administration arm of the College with a clear focus on improving the functionality and the operations of HR. The team will focus on recruiting and hiring, compensation and classification, benefits and leave, and HR records. The Employee Relations team will handle issues like grievances and compliance, as well as conflict resolution.
Culture & Belonging
The College has identified building a culture centered on our values as an institutional priority. To that end, work focused on leadership development, upward evaluation, employee experiences, professional development and training, and belonging will move under our restructured Office of Culture & Belonging. This area will expand its services and support beyond the classroom to include programs and resources that support employees.
Following the retirement of Vice Chancellor of Belonging Larry Davis at the end of October, the College will launch a search for a successor to step into this newly expanded role. Additionally, Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Kelly Torrico will remain with the College through early next year before relocating out of state.
Hiring New Leadership
To lead these new areas, ACC will be hiring for two new positions:
- A Chief of HR Operations with skills in building out systems and processes.
- A Vice Chancellor for Culture and Belonging to tackle the issue of people and culture, leadership, fairness, and belonging more intentionally and directly.
A Culture of Continuous Improvement
The changes are made in response to feedback leadership has heard over the past year as well as recommendations from recent audits.
Russell reminds us that this realignment follows reorganizations in facilities and operations, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, basic needs, and safety and operations, to name a few—all of which are designed to make us better.