Week One Wrap Up

My new supervisor was wise to limit how soon I met certain people involved in our operations. It was Thursday before I got to first week Overload.

That's when I met the Compliance Officer--who is, by all accounts and my experience, a nice, helpful man--who introduced me to the database and advocated we (meaning me) run and send out Fall Time and Effort certifications Friday.

My supervisor suggested a less aggressive schedule (next Friday will be fine) and we brainstormed how to distribute/circulate the certifications to get all the signatures. I played with the reports, identifying changes to the layout and adding run/due dates in hopes of making this process as painless as possible for the faculty who have to review and sign off on their research employees' time. Worked with the Compliance Officer Friday to make the changes.

I'll send an email to the certifiers letting them know to expect these reports, what they're supposed to do with them and steering them toward online Time and Effort training modules if they want a refresher. I may do some modified training materials featuring the actual reports, since no one knows what they look like and how to review/interpret the information therein.

My email is hooked up. I have my faculty/staff ID. I've already trained myself on Time and Effort reporting and read through the policies governing our area. I need to figure out the Outlook email program, the Access database and map out the logistics for the first report distribution.

Overall, I feel like I've got a pretty good handle on it.