The Office of Human Resource Management recently appointed a new interim executive director for a one-year period.
Marian Cailliar Augustine, who was previously the assistant vice chancellor in the Office of Human Resource Management, replaced Forest Benedict as Chief Human Resources Officer.
The Office of Human Resources hired Augustine to fill the vacant executive director position for one year. After the interim time period, a decision will be made about the permanent holding of the position.
Augustine will be responsible for the overall administration of the Human Resource function as well as the Employee Relations and Equal Opportunity Programs for the campus, Augustine said.
The Human Resource function staff coordinates their efforts to manage employment and provide benefit and compensation plans for all LSU employees, Augustine said. All faculty and staff, including the Athletic Department, are hired by the HR Office.
Former executive director Forest Benedict will now move to his full-time position as vice president of the LSU System Office of Human Resources and Risk Management, an LSU news release said.
He will be in charge of Human Resources for not only the LSU Agricultural and Mechanical College, but for the entire LSU system, Augustine said.
“She is a very talented professional, and a rising star in the field,” Benedict said. He also said the Office of Human Resources made an excellent decision and that LSU if very fortunate to have her on the staff.
During her tenure at LSU, Augustine has helped implement many policies in the HR office. She revised the disciplinary system for civil service employees which resulted in a “90 percent reduction in employee grievances filed and an 80 percent reduction in employees terminated for cause,” the news release said.
Augustine also helped in developing or revising various HR policies to include Violence-Free Workplace, Sexual Harassment, Return to Work, Employee Grievance Procedures, Equal Opportunity, Illegal Use of Drugs and Alcohol Misuse Policy, the news release said.
The redesigned disciplinary policy was adopted by several other state agencies, the news release said.
Augustine also implemented a pre-employment background check service for applicants. The office screens out 10 to 30 percent of applicants based on criminal records or for falsifying their applications, Augustine said.
One key area that Human Resources plans to focus more on in the future is the training and development of employees, Augustine said. Human resources will focus on leadership training for those holding management positions dealing with roles and responsibilities that come with higher positions, Augustine said.
The Human Resources Office is partnering with the Office of Academic Affairs for training for department chairs and directors, Augustine said. They also work with staff employees in order to help prepare them for higher positions in the future.