Outsourcing is finding its way into UNM management.
University administrators are considering outsourcing the UNM Health Employee Promotion Program.
"It's happening across the country in a lot of companies," said Program Manager Judy Wright. "But you lose the personal touch. UNM employees are not losing services - they're losing services that provide personal relationships."
Outsourcing the program means the six UNM staff members who run the program would become unemployed, Wright said, and an outside company would provide the services instead.
This would make the program less expensive for the University, because an off-campus company wouldn't be able to provide quick services, Wright said.
"We're here," Wright said. "We're involved. We're integrated into campus. When a program gets outsourced, the company comes in, provides their service, and then leaves."
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The program has been providing health services to University faculty and staff for 18 years.
It offers low-cost fitness services to faculty and staff. Employees go to UNM work sites for free to present information on health-related topics. They also produce a campus newsletter.
The program costs $329,000 per year to run. The funding for the program comes out of a 2 percent payroll tax on all employees.
Susan Carkeek, vice president of human resources at UNM, said she questioned whether the program was cost efficient for the University.
"My suggestion was to look at other ways to do it that were less expensive," Carkeek said.
The program would be less expensive if outsourced, because the University would not pay the salary of the staff members who run it. The company providing services to faculty and staff would pay for its employees.
The program is not the only one being evaluated. Carkeek said all faculty and staff programs funded by the payroll tax are also being evaluated.
"It's good management to periodically look at all programs," Carkeek said.
She said it was premature to make any decisions.
Wright said she is on pins and needles.
"My staff is really frustrated," she said. "Part of my job is to calm them down."
In the meantime, a resolution to support keeping the program on campus with UNM employees was unanimously approved by the Staff Council at its meeting Oct. 19.
Wright said she is hoping the Faculty Senate will support the program as well.
She said about 1,000 faculty and staff members use its services. Carkeek said she thought the number was about 200.
