Business Realignment Moves Forward

The business operations of 10 colleges and eight major divisions will be consolidated into a smaller number of centralized centers by July 1, 2013, under a timeline outlined by Charles Leffler, vice chancellor for finance and business.

Leffler is drawing on the expertise of a multidisciplinary team of faculty and staff members to help guide the planning process.

In a memo to  the Business Operations Realignment Steering Team on May 25, Leffler set out the broad parameters for improving business operations across campus, a key component of the strategic realignment plan developed earlier this year by Leffler and Provost Warwick Arden. Leffler asked the team to develop an implementation plan by the end of the year so that the process of consolidating business operations can begin in the first quarter of next year.

The end result will be no more than six to nine business operations centers, he said. Although the centers may be similar in size and scope, they will be tailored to meet the special needs of the units they serve.

Don Patty, assistant dean for finance and business in the College of Natural Resources, will chair the steering team as interim director of business operations for the university.

Team members include:

> Jeff Braden, dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
> Julie Brasfield, director of contracts and grants, Division of Finance and Resource Management
> John Fountain, department head, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
> Gwen Hazlehurst, director, Enterprise Application Services, OIT
> Jim Klingler, director, Facilities Budget Office
> Nikki Kurdys, payroll coordinator, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
> Barbara Moses, university budget officer, Division of Finance and Resource Management
> Vicki Pennington, assistant vice provost
> Roby Sawyers, professor, College of Management
> Barbara Sherry, professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
> Brian Simet, director, Human Resources Information Management
> Virginia Teachey, assistant dean for finance and business, College of Engineering