This newsletter contains news on upcoming events, information on the current performance conversations, and changes in the HR team.  

Human Resources, Dean of the Faculty, and Athletics were happy to celebrate our staff and faculty at the CC Tiger Hockey Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night. We had 328 employees and their guests join us to cheer on the Tigers, who came back after a disappointing loss on Friday to win in overtime on Saturday. Thank you all for you do for our community!

The Human Resources staff were pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the Community Fair during Spring Conference on Friday, Jan. 24. It was a pleasure to see many familiar faces and meet those of you who are new to the College! We’d like to issue a special thank you to Rachel Deon, Manya Whitaker, and our very own Debi O’Connor for all the work that went into planning the event.

As a reminder, open enrollment is just around the corner. This may be a good time to review your benefits and see if any changes will be needed next year. If you have any questions as you review, please contact Gina Lujan or Cameron Martin.

The next HR Open Forum is Thursday, Mar. 6 from 1-2 p.m. “Competency Conversations: Aligning Skills, Feedback, and Talent” will be an interactive conversation about a competency model that CC will be incorporated into our hiring, training, and feedback practices. RSVP for the upcoming open forum.

We are happy to welcome Cheyenne Fetsch to the Human Resources team as our Human Resources Coordinator of Recruitment and Performance Excellence. Cheyenne was born and raised in Southern California before moving to the Springs to chase mountains in 2021. Prior to CC, she spent seven years with the Walt Disney Company, where she was a part of the leadership and core training team. Her time there ignited her passion for workplace culture as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion, which inspired her to pursue a career path in Human Resources. After moving to Colorado Springs, she worked in HR for the City, supporting benefits, recruiting, organizational development, and DEI initiatives. In her free time, you’ll either find Cheyenne lost in the woods or in a good book. Other things she enjoys are good coffee, plants, yoga, video games, and going to concerts.

In addition, we are happy to announce that Kaelibeth Rose is taking the role of HR Coordinator with a focus on HR Operations. This role will help us with our communications and core HR processes so we can provide enhanced services to the CC community.

At CC, the quarterly Performance Conversations between employees and supervisors are a critical component of staff development, helping to assess and enhance job performance. However, recognizing that performance evaluations can sometimes be subjective, the College is piloting a formal Performance Rating Appeals Process for employees who wish to dispute their performance ratings. This process ensures transparency, fairness, an opportunity for employees to present new information, address potential bias, or highlight procedural oversights. Employees wishing to appeal must meet specific criteria, such as demonstrating a deviation of at least two points between their self-assessment and their supervisor’s evaluation, or presenting new evidence that could impact the rating. The appeals process is designed to involve multiple levels of review, beginning with discussions between the employee and their supervisor, followed by potential escalation to a reviewer, and ultimately, a diverse Appeal Team if necessary. The goal for this structured approach is not only to resolve disputes but also to foster open communication and understanding between employees and supervisors, ultimately contributing to a more effective and fair performance evaluation system. If you have any questions or wish to appeal – please contact Debi O’Connor, Director of Employee Relations and Support no later than February 20, 2025.

Visit the HR Updates page to check out past editions of People Connections, along with recent updates from HR.