Electronic signatures now accepted on all HR forms.
Human Resource Services is now accepting electronic signatures on all forms and documents. It is recommended, but not required, that employees use a digital signature/ID in Adobe Acrobat and the signed paperwork be sent to HR using their NIU authenticated email. While all forms of electronic signatures will be accepted, HR does reserve the right to verify with the employee if it is suspected that a document may not be authentic. Please note that some forms utilized by HR do not originate with NIU. In these cases, ink signatures may still be required. For example, most State Universities Retirement System forms (i.e. retirement applications) still require ink signatures.
More information on creating a digital signature can be found on the HR Training and Employee Development webpage.
Questions about this announcement can be directed to HumanResources@niu.edu.
Deadline approaching for posting Civil Service positions.
The last date Human Resource Services (HRS) will post a civil service vacancy for the calendar year 2022 is Friday, Dec. 2, with a closing date of Friday, Dec. 9, to ensure that HRS has enough time to review applications and complete testing, allowing time for referrals and interviews before the holiday break. Any vacancies posted after December 2 will have a closing date of at least January 3, 2023, or later. Referrals for interviews and posting for vacancies will resume the week of January 2, 2023. We encourage you to take advantage of the longer posting period, potentially leading to a greater applicant pool. If you have any questions, please reach out to TalentAcquisitionHRS@niu.edu or vwronkowski@niu.edu.
Illinois minimum wage update.
On Jan. 1, 2023, Human Resource Services (HRS) will run a program that will convert the pay rates for any hourly employees who are paid less than $13.00 an hour to the new minimum of $13.00. Accordingly, you will need to adjust resource allocations in cost centers to support the new minimum wage. No additional resources will be provided to fund the increases. If your department has adjustments that need to be made outside of this process for students and extra-help employees, we would appreciate receiving the paperwork by December 16, 2022. Learn more.
Carrie Kortegast elected faculty personnel advisor.
The NIU Faculty Senate elected Professor Carrie Kortegast to serve as its next faculty personnel advisor. Kortegast begins Nov. 16.
The faculty personnel advisor’s role includes activities such as:
- Advising faculty members about the personnel policies and procedures within the university and the courses of action open to them.
- Advising and assisting faculty members who are experiencing difficulties with the personnel process.
- Advising and assisting faculty members dissatisfied with personnel decisions.
- Observing the workings of the personnel process and recommend needed changes or clarification.
- Advising faculty members pursuing the resolution of other concerns or issues.
Professor Kortegast can be reached at ckortegast@niu.edu.
Blackboard courses from fall 2016, spring 2017 and summer 2017 to be deleted beginning on Dec. 1.
In accordance with NIU’s course retention guidelines for Blackboard, only the last five years of courses are retained in Blackboard. The Division of IT will begin removing courses from the 2016-2017 academic year this fall. Shells and Organizations will not be affected at this time.
All courses from fall 2016, spring 2017 and summer 2017 will be deleted beginning Dec. 1, 2022. Courses from fall 2017 to fall 2022 will be retained in Blackboard.
You may save any courses you wish to retain before the course removal process begins by exporting the courses from Blackboard. You may also download the Grade Center if you wish to retain your grades for your records. Learn more about downloading the Grade Center in Original or Ultra Course View.
If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please feel free to contact the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning at 815-753-0595 or citl@niu.edu. If you experience technical issues while exporting a course or downloading your grades, please contact the Division of IT Service Desk at it.niu.edu, 815-753-8100 or servicedesk@niu.edu.
Required updated Equal Employment Opportunity posters now available.
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently updated its website to include the new “Know Your Rights” poster, which replaces the previous “EEO is the Law” poster and “EEO is the Law” Supplement. The “Know Your Rights” poster summarizes the federal laws prohibiting job discrimination and explains how employees or applicants can file a complaint if they believe they have experienced discrimination. Learn more by visiting the HRS Newsblog.
