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Human Resources

Vassar College

HR Newsletter April 2026

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Human Resources Newsletter

Spring Has Sprung Photo Challenge!

Vassar campus is coming alive with signs of Spring, and we want to challenge you to capture it! 

Whether you're a hobbyist photographer with a camera capturing golden hour shots of Vassar's flora, or taking a picture of the lake with your phone camera on your way to your next meeting, we want to see the wonderful ways you capture Spring at Vassar! 

How to participate: 

  • Capture a photo of Spring at Vassar during May 1st - May 22nd
  • Submit photos (up to 3 per employee) between May 1st and May 22nd via the form below

All photos submitted will be put to a vote during our HR Newsletter at the end of May to see who is crowned our winner! 

Submit your Spring Challenge Photos!

Performance Reviews in Workday

Year-End Performance reviews kicked off in mid-April. Human Resources will send further communication about these tasks in Workday as they become available to you. If you still have any incomplete review tasks in your Workday inbox from 2025, please be sure to submit them as soon as possible. For support during the Performance Review process, please contact Human Resources or check out the guides on our website.

Join an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Information Session!

Please join us for an information session focused on the new policy related to Responsible Use and Disclosure of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace for all non-faculty employees.

Virtual Sessions: 

  • Tuesday, April 28th at 10:00 am via Zoom

In-person Sessions:

  • Tuesday, April 28th at 2:00 pm College Center MPR (CC223)
  • Wednesday, April 29th 10:00 am College Center MPR (CC223)

Register Here

Vassar Pre-College Summer Program – Employee Discount Available

This summer, Vassar is launching a new Pre-College program for high school students (rising grades 9–12), designed to reflect the college’s small, discussion-based liberal arts experience. Students take part in immersive seminars, hands-on projects, and residential campus life.
As part of the program launch, Vassar faculty, administrators, and staff are eligible for a 10% tuition discount for their children.

If you have any questions about the program, feel free to reach out:
Bill Blake
Director, Campus Programs & Partnerships
bblake@vassar.edu
Learn more: precollege.vassar.edu

Thank you for celebrating National Student Employment Week with us!

The Student Employment Office celebrated Vassar's 1400+ student employees for their contributions to our campus community during the first week of April in honor of NSEW this year with giveaways and a daily raffle. Congratulations to our 5 raffle winners: Sara, Irene, Caroline, Julia, & Maia!

We also wish to thank all the departments who participated by showing their student employees appreciation with their own celebrations. Our student employees had a fantastic week!

Annual Service Recognition Event

On April 14th we celebrated service anniversaries for 173 dedicated individuals whose service to the college range from 5 to 50 years! Thank you to all of the dedicated individuals who contributed to the remarkable 2860 years of service to Vassar!

Take Your Child to Work Day!

Human Resources held the first Take Your Child to Work Day at Vassar! It was an engaging day of showing off the wonderful work and caring people that make Vassar function everyday! 

A special thank you to each of our activity hosts including Jean Tagliamonte, Asy Connelly, Carlos Garcia, Wes Dixon, Jim Sulley, Bryan Corrigan, Dr. Bojana Zupan, Mike Lonon, Colby Kirk, George Way, Chris Irving, Jon Verdile, Andrew Sysak, Scott Mallet, Eric Lutz, Nick Bower, Jessica Smith, Brandy Godfry and Rob Yasharin for hosting activities for our young visitors. We had a great time!

Celebrating Administrative Professionals Day!

On April 22 we celebrated Administrative Professionals day with a pop up a the College Center to write notes to staff to show apprecation for the dedicated staff at Vassar. Thank you to each of the 169 Administrative Professionals for the support they offer our campus community! 

Upcoming Summer Professional Development

Supervisor Sprint
Monday, June 15th 9:00 - 12:00 PM, College Center MPR (CC 223)
Tuesday, June 16th 9:00 - 12:00 PM, College Center MPR (CC 223)
Wednesday, June 17th 9:00 - 12:00 PM, College Center MPR (CC 223)
Thursday, June 18th 9:00 - 12:00 PM, College Center MPR (CC 223)

The supervisor sprint is a professional development opportunity for anyone who supervises employees at Vassar, including student employees. Join us for a series of interactive workshops across five days to develop skills setting expectations, making operational decisions, navigating conflict, providing feedback and coaching. Please be aware that we ask that individuals who register commit to attending all five days to have the ability to engage with each topic and get to know other sprint participants. 

Presented by: Ginger Jurecka Blake, Associate Vice President of Human Resources 

Register Here

Goal Setting
Thursday, June 4th, 2:00 - 4:00 PM Kenyon Hall, Room 132

Join us for a dynamic and interactive goal setting workshop designed to help you clarify your professional goals and priorities for the next year. 

Presented by: Ginger Jurecka Blake, Associate Vice President of Human Resources 

Register Here

Digital Acessibility Training

Digital Accessibility
Tuesday, May 12 at 11:00 a.m. (Jade Parlor)
Wednesday, May 13 at 3:15 p.m. (Jade Parlor)

Vassar is committed to equal access and the civil rights of all of its community, regardless of ability. This also extends to often overlooked areas that include documents, images, email, and other digital content. Learn about the considerations, best practices, and tools available for creating accessible content.

Open to faculty and faculty support; administrators, and staff.

Register Here

Compliance Training Reminder

Information Security Awareness Training: 

This training provides an overview of essential practices for protecting data and resources.

In-Person Institutional Equity Training: Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct

Multiple sessions will be offered throughout May and June. If you complete a live workshop, you are not required to take the online course. You will receive a certificate of completion sent to your Vassar email.  

  • Tue, May 5, 2026         10:00 am - 11:00 am 
  • Tue, May 5, 2026         11:45 am - 12:45 pm (Faculty session) 
  • Tue, May 5, 2026         1:30 pm - 2:30 pm 
  • Thr, May 14, 2026        10:00 am - 11:00 am (Faculty session)
  • Thr, May 14, 2026        11:45 am - 12:45 pm
  • Thr, May 14, 2026        1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
  • Tue, June 2, 2026        10:00 am - 11:00 am
  • Tue, June 2, 2026        11:30 am - 12:30 pm
  • Tue, June 2, 2026        1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Please be aware that on-demand training will be available starting May 4.

In-Person Institutional Equity Training Registration

Upcoming Pay Period Change for Salaried Employees

Please note that an adjustment has been made to the Payroll Calendar for employees paid on the Faculty/Admin Pay Schedule beginning in Pay Period 13. This adjustment will not impact the dates that employees receive their paychecks. To view the updated Payroll Calendar, please click Updated Payroll Calendar.

May is National Bike Month!