From the Desk Of...

Dr. Sharon Blanton, Associate Chief Information Officer (CIO), PSU Office of Information Technologies (OIT)

Wage and Hour Reminders

At PSU, we value employee independence, self-management, and creativity and encourage staff to develop these talents. In the case of non-exempt (overtime subject) employees these values may collide with federal or state wage and hour laws and/or union contractual obligations. In this article you’ll find references to new wage and hour case law and descriptions of existing legal requirements.

Learn more about missed rest breaks, timely payment of wages owed, breast-feeding in the workplace, leave related to domestic violence and more in this issue's Legal Briefs.

Protecting Student Records Privacy

Maintaining student records confidentiality/privacy has long been a legal and professional responsibility for institutions of higher education. In creating and maintaining student records, PSU is governed by the federal Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA). It is very important that all employees are trained to understand their obligation and to know what procedures to follow to ensure that student records are protected.

PSU Smoking Policy Under Revision

In light of mounting public health evidence regarding the adverse effects of exposure to involuntary tobacco smoke, an increasing number of universities have been evaluating and revising their campus smoking policies. The Smoking/Tobacco Use Sub-Committee of the University Safety Committee has been engaged in a systematic process to examine the issue at PSU.

Managing a Workforce

In September 2006, Provost Roy Koch stated “Setting academic priorities is critical to advancing our mission in both the short and long term…” as he supported the launch of strategic engagement priorities and goals for PSU. As a large and decentralized organization, successfully focusing all employees on the priorities can be a significant challenge.