University Human Resources (UHR) supports the University of Iowa's Strategic Plan (2022-27) and UHR priorities in talent acquisition, leadership development, employee experience, and agility and innovation. The 2026-2027 operational roadmap outlines major UHR initiatives through June 2027. Plans for specific projects are available upon request.

HR Operational Roadmap

Staff Success Strategic Plan Action Resource Committee (SPARC)

Career Pathways: Optimize comprehensive career development framework, equipping employees and supervisors to progress in career goals

  • UHR lead: Rachel Napoli and Jiongting Hu
  • Completion: 

Recognition programs: Pilot and implement recommendations and utilize data to assess effectiveness of campus programs

  • UHR lead: Abigail Schaver
  • Completion: 

CRM - Radancy implementation: Implement recruitment marketing platform focused on UI Health Care

  • UHR lead: Keith Becker
  • Completion: 

Working at Iowa vendor (2028): Explore options that allow for benchmarking; review survey questions and explore methods for analyzing and reporting results

  • UHR lead: Isandra Martinez-Marrero
  • Completion: 

Modernization learning approach: Redesign programs in support of leadership capability that strengthen supervisor effectiveness and scale data-driven learning experiences to enhance employee performance and engagement

  • UHR lead: Kim Moses
  • Completion: 

Operational Efficiency: HR Redesign

Hub and Spoke Administrative: Optimize service delivery model that connects HR staff across administrative units, strengthens functional expertise, and builds consistent employee-focused processes while allowing for continuous improvement

  • UHR lead: Sharon Beck
  • Completion: 

HR Transaction Hub: Create a centralized, scalable HR Transaction Center model that delivers high-quality, compliant, and efficient HR services through integrated processes, centralized expertise, standardized practices, and clear service delivery roles

  • UHR lead: Dan Schropp and Trevor Glanz
  • Completion: 

I-9 centralization: Centralized I-9s to create a more consistent and efficient processing which ensure compliance and accuracy

  • UHR lead: Andrea French
  • Completion: 

Unified Service Center planning phases: Leverage technology to create an employee-centric call center that aligns with modern tiered approach that triages calls and provides consistent answers to questions

  • UHR lead: Beck Tjelmeland, Rebecca Olson, and Terri Hein
  • Completion:

ELR service core: Dedicated team of investigators trained to enhance case management and tracking, address bottlenecks, and clarify roles

  • UHR lead: Todd Rent
  • Completion:

Well-Being SPARC

Mental health: Grow implementation of peer-to-peer support: R U OK?

  • UHR lead: Bronwyn Threlkeld-Wiegand
  • Completion: 

Financial well-being: Increase campus awareness and engagement in existing financial services

  • UHR lead: Diana Kremzar
  • Completion: 

Population health: Expand chronic condition management through employee well-being services and health plan design

  • UHR leads: Mike Kaplan and Erin Litton
  • Completion: 

Benefits: Work with FRIC on health plan design to optimize costs for sustainability

  • UHR lead: Mike Kaplan and Rebecca Olson
  • Completion: 

Evaluation: Conduct outcome evaluations (quantitative and qualitative) on identified services, collaborate with orgs and departments on local data and opportunities for health improvement

  • UHR leads: Erin Litton and Melanie Cuchna
  • Completion: 

Hard to reach populations: Improve engagement with select populations through multi-modal communication strategies and collaboration with local leadership

  • UHR lead: Erin Litton
  • Completion:

Health Care

Identify and implement strategic high priorities: Compensation packages, well-being programs

  • UHR lead: Cheryl Reardon and Kyle Anson
  • Completion: 100%

Mergers/acquisitions: Continue to effectively manage new mergers and/or acquisitions