AU Human Resources recently received the 2004 Excellence in Human Resource Practices Award for the Southern region from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. The award is designed to honor achievements of colleges and universities, human resources professionals or both in improving the quality of programs and services through effective human resources practices.

In presenting AU Human Resources with the award, CUPA-HR cited the office’s new online employment system, a supervisors’ orientation CD and a new program that allows employees to apply for training and track their progress entirely online.

“Moving as much as possible to automated processes has allowed HR to deliver greatly enhanced services to our clients,” said Lynne Hammond, AU’s assistant vice president for human resources. “Online systems have greatly improved efficiency and effectiveness in recruitment/selection, training, supervisory orientation and Equal Opportunity Employment reporting.

“Response to the systems has been overwhelmingly positive -- so much so that HR has been asked to facilitate recruitment processes and utilize the training registration system for other training programs conducted outside of the human resource development program.”

Founded more than 50 years ago and based in Knoxville, Tenn., CUPA-HR is a nonprofit, member-supported organization that serves more than 6,300 human resource administrators at nearly 1,600 colleges and universities as well as others interested in the advancement of human resources in higher education. CUPA-HR’s National Recognition Awards Program promotes and rewards outstanding performance in the field of human resource administration.