Mark Your Calendar for July 29-30!

July 29-30 are the dates for this year's IPS annual conference, sort of. As we continue to make decisions regarding budget savings, we have changed the format again this year.

You will recall that last year we conducted two half-day sessions, one in Knoxville and one in Nashville, rather than our traditional two-day, overnight conference. The sessions were generally well received, but staff missed the opportunity to see everyone from across the state.

This year we are combining traditional agency summer staff meetings with the IPS-wide meeting simply by asking all the agencies to schedule their meetings at the same location. During the day (July 29 and 30) the agencies will have their staff meetings. On the evening of July 29 we will have dinner together as a group and our awards program. Using this strategy, we are spending no additional money for an annual meeting, but everyone gets the opportunity to interact with colleagues from across the state.

See you in July!

Guest Blog from Chuck Shoopman - The Relevance of Public Service

At the recent meeting of the Southern Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (SCUPSO) there was a significant amount of discussion about how much universities value public service work these days. With major emphasis around the country on university graduation rates, the job skills of college graduates and the declining number of American graduates in STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), and with fiscal constraints facing the private and public sector alike, many universities are questioning how important it is that their faculty and students invest time on public service projects and activities. As universities examine how to manage their fiscal challenges and where to focus their resources, it seems there are many institutions evaluating how public service education and work experiences are beneficial to students, faculty and the institution itself. In fact, most SCUPSO member organizations have recently experienced budget reductions that are greater than the average reduction shared across their universities.

I was EXTREMELY proud to represent an institution that is experiencing financial difficulty, is thoroughly reviewing all of its programs and organizational structure and has concluded that public service is too valuable to ignore. While UT’s Institute for Public Service is not immune from the challenges and difficulties facing our institution, our customers and our citizens, the leadership of The University of Tennessee has affirmed that serving the businesses, governments and communities of our state and enriching the experiences of our faculty and staff by engaging them in public service is a value-added opportunity for The University of Tennessee.

As we have the opportunity to represent our institution as we serve our customers, let’s be reminded that everyone doesn’t always value our work the way we do. It is important for us to do work that matters to our customers, to our institution and to us. If we don’t believe in the value of our work and we can’t effectively explain it to others, there is no guarantee that we will have unlimited opportunities to continue to provide our services. The experiences of our SCUPSO colleagues in other states remind me that the competition for resources doesn’t begin at budget time; rather, budgets often reflect the relevance that decision-makers believe the expenditures have to the mission of the organization. Let’s be sure to continue our tradition of assuring that investments in public service at The University of Tennessee produce results that are recognized benefits to our customers, our institution and our state.

Who ya gonna call?

We have two help lines available to all IPS employees staffed by professionals and the best part is it doesn't cost us any additional money to use them!

The HR help desk is staffed 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time Monday - Friday. They can answer any question regarding policies, procedures, benefits, etc. If they can't answer the question right away, they will get back with you.

In Knoxville call 976-8847
Outside of Knoxville call 1-888-444-UTHR

The IT Help line is staffed 24 x 7, except holidays. So, when you're hard at work in the evening and have a computer crash, you have someone to call!

They can be reached at 865-974-9900 or you can request help on line .

Please take advantage of these resources. They are available to make your life easier!

Drug-Free Workplace

IPS Staff - you should have received this notice by email, but I decided to put it on the blog as well.

The University Of Tennessee Policy On A Drug-Free Campus And Workplace

In support of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (41 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, the University of Tennessee is required to notify all students, faculty, and staff of the following university policy approved by the UT Board of Trustees on June 21, 1990:

It is the policy of the University of Tennessee to maintain a safe and healthful environment for its students and employees. Therefore, university policy prohibits the unlawful use, manufacture, possession, distribution, or dispensing of drugs ("controlled substances" as defined in the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 812) and alcohol on university property or during university activities.

Violation of this policy is grounds for disciplinary action-up to and including immediate discharge for an employee and permanent dismissal for a student. Federal and state laws provide additional penalties for such unlawful activities, including fines and imprisonment (21 U.S.C. 841 et seq.; T.C.A. 39-17-401 et seq.). Local ordinances also provide various penalties for drug- and alcohol-related offenses. The university is bound to take all appropriate actions against violators, which may include referral for legal prosecution or requiring the individual to participate satisfactorily in an approved drug use/alcohol abuse assistance or rehabilitation program.

Aside from any university policy considerations, the use of illicit drugs and/or the abuse of alcohol may be harmful to your health. Some of the health risks associated with such use/abuse are described on the back of this page.

As a condition of employment, individuals who are paid by the University of Tennessee from federal grants or contracts must abide by the terms of this policy and notify the university in writing of any criminal drug statute conviction, which includes a finding of guilt, a plea of nolo contendere, or imposition of a sentence by any state or federal judicial body for a violation occurring in the workplace within five (5) days after such conviction. The university is in turn required to inform the granting or contracting agency of the conviction within ten (10) days of the university's receipt of actual notice of the conviction.

Employees and their families needing treatment information should call their local Human Resources Office, Employee Assistance Program, or the State of Tennessee Employee Assistance Program (1-800-308-4934).

SCUPSO Wrap-up

I blogged earlier this week about IPS hosting the SCUPSO annual meeting this week. We had great attendance from a variety of universities. Scott Gordy and Mary Ann Moon conducted a session on web casting and pod casting. My colleague at UNC Chapel Hill's School of Government conducted one on social media focusing on Facebook, Twitter and blogging.

I thought you might enjoy reading Mike's blog about SCUPSO!


Click here to read Mike's Blog

Your ERC at work

Are you aware that IPS has an Employee Relations Committee?

This group of dedicated employees meets once per quarter to discuss issues and challenges and propose solutions and recommendations to help make IPS a better place to work. All meetings are open and you are welcome to attend. You need to RSVP to Judie Martin so that we can include you in the count for refreshments.

With busy schedules, most of you may not have time to make a trip to Cookeville. Not a problem - you can bring ANY issue to your agency representative or any other representative on the ERC. You can do it anonymously if it's an issue you just want raised. If you want a specific response, include your name and the representative will get back with you personally. You may ask that your name not be revealed at the ERC meeting.

We are working to make IPS an employee work place of choice. Please help us by providing input and asking questions. Don't stay in the dark or wonder about the rumors you've heard. Speak up and be involved. We want your input! The next meeting is April 12.

For more information on the ERC,
visit their website on the intranet

Who is a SCUPSOid?

SCUPSO - The Southern Consortium of University-based Public Service Organizations originated in the south, but is now a national organization. It is a group of IPS-like organizations whose mission is public service, mostly in the government sector.

This week IPS is hosting the annual meeting of SCUPSO in Knoxville. We will share new ideas and best practices among the university groups and hear from a number of individuals including President Jan Simek and President Emeritus Joe Johnson.

Several of our IPS colleagues are participating on panels regarding new social media techniques and we'll hear about leadership and economic development programs.

We are honored to host this year's conference. If you see us around the Knoxville area, stop and say hello!