Human Resources
The University of Vermont offers programs to assist its employees with personal well-being, including providing sustainable wages, on-campus child care, opportunities for professional development, a wellness program and much more.
Read more about these specific programs and initiatives below.
PAE Credit 11: Sustainable Compensation (7.75/8)
UVM has adjusted the basic need budget identified by the State to account for health and dental, life insurance and savings benefits offered to employees, and set the livable wage for UVM employees to $12.31. According to Human Resources Services Office, UVM employs 2,312 staff and 1,465 faculty members and approximately 5% of the staff is paid the adjusted livable wage. A price floor of $11.15 per hour is maintained and considered higher than the market rate.
The University employs both unionized and non-unionized faculty, and while the all faculty members part of the union are paid livable wages, more research is needed regarding non-contract faculty.
UVM also holds many contracts with other companies, such as Sodexo food services and trash removal services. Each private company is responsible for setting wages for their employees, and UVM does not track the wages paid to contracted employees or the number of employees doing contracted work.
Based on these data, UVM may get awarded 7.75 out of 8 points for this credit. However, in order to properly calculate this credit, individual private companies would have to be contacted to determine the number of UVM-contracted workers they employ.
Barbara Johnson, Director
UVM Human Resources
PAE Credit 12: Employee Satisfaction Evaluation (2/2)
At UVM, the Contact Sheet approval process and the openness of Staff Council is the University’s methodology for evaluating employee satisfaction. Although UVM does not conduct a regular employee satisfaction survey, the contact sheet method is an equivalent and effective alternative. Approved Action Sheets are the mechanisms used to address issues raised by staff and faculty. These methods encourage open communication and allow for anonymous feedback from employees university-wide.
UVM's Staff Council listens and responds to ideas and opinions of the staff in order to convey them to the administration. The council submits items of interest to the Administration for review based on the concerns and recommendations submitted by UVM staff through Contact Sheets. A committee is assigned to each Contact Sheet, which may be submitted online and remains anonymous throughout the entire review period. This committee is responsible for drafting an Action Sheet for submission to the Staff Council Executive Board, which then completes an approval process via vote. If approved, an Action Sheet is forwarded to the administration for review.
UVM would receive 2 out of the 2 possible points for this credit.
Barbara Johnson, Director
UVM Human Resources
PAE Credit 13: Staff Professional Development in Sustainability (2/2)
UVM offers the Mastering the Maze workshop every year, which offers a large number of courses to the staff over the course of one day. This is open and recommended to all staff members and topic areas discussed include: diversity; information technology; work and life balance; student culture; Greening Your Work Place with environmentally sound initiatives; Strategies for Creating an Inclusive Work Environment; and eating locally-produced food. The “Greening your Workplace” checklist is a document that is available online to all staff members. The checklist includes ideas and practices to make your work space more sustainable, beyond the recycling bin.
The Sustainability Faculty Fellows Program and The Clean Energy Fund are two other programs available to all staff to participate in to get involved with sustainability initiatives on campus. The Sustainability Faculty Fellows Program is a new program run by UVM’s Office of Sustainability, which educates faculty on how to incorporate sustainability concepts into existing or new courses. All faculty members are eligible to apply and once selected, receive a stipend and get to participate in structured workshops and discussions.
The Clean Energy Fund is a program that allows staff to submit project proposals involving renewable energy that will increase the overall campus sustainability at the University. It is seen as a sustainable development tool for both the faculty and University to learn and expand upon this subject area. All staff are welcome to apply and can learn from each other with the projects being constructed and implemented at the university.
Finally, the Center for Teaching and Learning holds many courses for staff. There are a vast array of workshops available to the faculty from a variety of different disciplines, which include Focus the Nation on Global change and incorporating service learning projects, both aspects of sustainability on campus.
UVM would receive 2 out of 2 points for this credit.
Barbara Johnson, Director
UVM Human Resources
PAE Credit 14: Sustainability in New Employee Orientation (0/2)
At UVM, new employees are given a tour of campus where they can see and learn about the sustainable actions and projects that are occurring on campus; however, there is no formal orientation relating to sustainability for new employees.
During Mastering the Maze conference, staff is given information relating to sustainability, such as how to green your workspace, and eat locally, but employees have to register for this conference themselves, otherwise they are likely not exposed to this information.
UVM would get 0 out of 2 points for this credit.
Barbara Johnson, Director
UVM Human Resources
PAE Credit 15: Employee Sustainability Educators Program (0/5)
The University of Vermont currently does not have or monitor a program where faculty and staff can educate each other on issues of sustainability and schemes to lead towards more sustainable lifestyles. Therefore, UVM would receive 0 out of 5 points for this credit.
Barbara Johnson, Director
UVM Human Resources
N/A
Tier Two Credits
Credit 1: Childcare (0.25/0.25)
UVM houses the Campus Children’s Center for the needs of students, faculty and staff. The Center runs during all school days from 7:30AM to 5:30PM. Students, faculty, and staff are given preference when their child is added to the waiting list.
In addition, if the parents already have a child in the program, an additional child put on the waiting will be given priority. The price ranges from $200 to $212 per week. There are four classes available: an infant room, a toddler room, a young preschool room, and a preschool room.
UVM would receive the full 0.25 points for this credit.
Barbara Johnson, Director
UVM Human Resources
Credit 2: Employee Wellness Program (0.25/0.25)
The University of Vermont offers the WorkLife program to all of its employees. The program offers recreation and meditation courses, health advice, walking tips, support groups, nutritional help, and weight management courses.
The program also allows access to the university’s athletic facilities and free membership to all employees who receive benefits (or a purchased membership for those who do not), as well as for retired staff and contracted employees. UVM would receive the full 0.25 points for this credit.
Barbara Johnson, Director
UVM Human Resources
Credit 3: Socially Responsible Retirement Plan (0.25/0.25)
The UVM Retirement Savings Plan offers employees a program to save and invest through a 403(b) retirement savings plan. Under this plan, Investment Alternatives are available, including two carriers for socially responsible investment options.
Employees may choose to make contributions toward a TIAA/CREF (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association and College Retirement Equities Funds) fund. CREF contributions buy into shares of ownership in various investment portfolios, including a Social Choice fund.
Fidelity Investments, also available through 403(b), offers a family of socially conscious mutual funds through the Calvert Group. Calvert is a leader in Sustainable and Responsible Investing (SRI) and offers Sustainable and Responsible Funds.
UVM would receive the full 0.25 points for this credit.
Barbara Johnson, Director
UVM Human Resources
