University Human Resources records (27.4 linear feet) are divided into three subgroups: Affirmative Action, Personnel, and Human Resources and Affirmative Action.
University Human Resources plans, administers, and monitors the university policies regarding personnel and employee relations, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action. This office coordinates with various executive officers and deans of the schools and colleges. As of 2019, the Associate Vice President of Human Resources is responsible to the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and is appointed by the board on recommendation by the President.
University Human Resources overseas several service areas ("sub-units"), including: Academic Human Resources, Benefits Office, Children's Centers, Compensation and Classification, HR Communications, HR Strategy and Planning, Human Resource Records and Information Services, MHealthy, Mental Health Counseling and Consultation Services, Occupational Health Services, Office for Institutional Equity, Organizational Learning, Recruiting and Employment, Staff HR Services, Temporary Staffing Services, Voices of the Staff, and the Work-Life Resource Center.
The history of the University Human Resources dates back to the establishment of the Committee on Office Personnel by the Regents in January 1926. Charged with advising "in every case involving salaries, duties, titles, office hours, vacations, and hours of absence, and other conditions affecting or involved in the service of employees of the general classes mentioned", this committee consisted of the President, the Secretary, and the officer whose staff member was under consideration.
In 1929–1930, the Faculty Personnel Committee was formally established. Consisting of the President, the Dean of the Graduate School, and the dean of the school or college in which the proposed appointment to faculty was to be made, its duty was to review and make final recommendations to the Regents regarding all appointments, promotions, and changes in salary. In 1931, the Committee on Office Personnel was made permanent. Grace Van Cleaf was appointed secretary, a role she held until 1945.
Labor unions gained in membership during the Thirties and Forties. In 1941, the University published its neutrality policy, stating that "the University recognizes the freedom of individual employees to join or refrain from joining labor organizations. The University as a state agency cannot discriminate in terms of employment between union and nonunion workers, nor can it encourage or discourage membership in any organization by preferential terms of employment to either union or nonunion workers." Seeing increased activity among its staff, the University recognized the need for more formal human resource oversight. The committee was discontinued in January 1945 and its duties were absorbed by the newly established Personnel Office established at that time.
Headed by Alfred Ueker, the Personnel Office developed and implemented personnel policies, administered faculty promotion and tenure-granting policies, and negotiated and monitored contracts with unionized university employees. With the passing of the Hutchinson Act in 1947, unionization efforts became more pronounced, leading to multiple calls for collective bargaining rights. In 1962, President Kennedy signed Executive Order 10988, allowing federal employees to organize and bargain collectively with the government. The state of Michigan followed suit a few years later in 1965 when Governor George Romney signed the Public Employees Relations Act (PERA).
In 1968, the Michigan Labor Mediation Board recognized the University's service and maintenance employees as an appropriate collective bargaining unit. These employees soon elected AFSCME to represent them. The first union contract signed by the university became effective September 13, 1968. The complexities of these negotiations can be seen in the events of 1970 when graduate student assistants petitioned the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) for recognition of a collective bargaining unit. The university argued that if graduate students were to be considered employees, they did not compose a bargaining unit by themselves, but rather were a component part of several larger bargaining units. Without ruling on the employment issue, MERC dismissed the student petition based on the university's second argument.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the role of the office expanded to include the protection of handicapped individuals, people between the ages of 40 and 70, and veterans of the Vietnam War. In addition, non-discriminatory policies included religion, national origin, height, weight, marital status, and sexual orientation. Although the Affirmative Action Program (later, Office) coordinated many of the activities and programs meant to promote an equitable environment, the Personnel Office worked with it on issues of faculty and staff recruitment.
In 1994, the Personnel Office was combined with the Affirmative Action Office, Academic Human Resources, and the Benefits Office to form the Office of Human Resources and Affirmative Action. At this time, the executive officer reported to both the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
In 2000, the position of Executive Director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action was renamed the Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Affirmative Action. Barbara Butterfield was appointed the first Chief Human Resources Officer. Under her tenure, the Office for Institutional Equity was formed. Laurita Thomas assumed the role in 2004; two years later, Michigan voters narrowly approved a proposition barring affirmative action in public education, employment, or contracting. With the passing of this, the University's official affirmative action program ended. In 2008, the Regents approved a proposed name change to University Human Resources.
Secretary of the Committee on Office Personnel
| Date |
Event |
| 1931 - 1945 | Grace Van Cleaf |
Personnel Officer
| Date |
Event |
| 1945 - 1959 | Alfred Ueker |
| 1959 - 1966 | Charles Allmand |
| 1966 - 1979 | Russell Reister |
Assistant Vice President for Personnel
| Date |
Event |
| 1980 - 1994 | James R. Thiry |
Executive Director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action
| Date |
Event |
| 1994 - 1999 | Jackie McClain |
| 1999 - 2000 | Marty Eichstadt (interim) |
| 2000 - 2003 | Barbara Butterfield |
| 2003 - 2004 | Gloria Hage (interim) |
Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer
| Date |
Event |
| 2004 - 2019 | Laurita Thomas |
| 2019 - | Richard S. Holcomb |
Unit name changes
| Date |
Event |
| 1926-1945 | Committee on Office Personnel |
| 1945-1994 | Personnel Office |
| 1994-2008 | Office of Human Resources and Affirmative Action |
| 2008- | University Human Resources |
