CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO

CAMPUS SUGGESTION PROGRAM

RECOMMENDED BY ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL:        March 17, 2003

APPROVED BY ALBERT K. KARNIG, PRESIDENT:  March 20, 2003

BACKGROUND

It is the responsibility of all campus employees to ensure that State resources are used effectively and efficiently.  The campus suggestion program allows employees the opportunity to identify and recommend processes that would enhance the use of university resources and, in many cases, produce cost savings.  Employees may also utilize the suggestion program to recommend changes to policies and/or practices that do not result in saving resources.

PROCESS

1. Submittal of Suggestions
   
   Suggestions will be completed on the attached form and forwarded to the Financial Operations Office.  The Financial Operations Office will review the suggestion and send a copy to the appropriate department on campus, which has the authority to assess the suggestion for implementation.  The name of the suggestor will remain anonymous when the suggestion is being evaluated.
   
   

2. Evaluation of Suggestions
   
   Departments will be responsible for evaluating suggestions and communicating the results via a memo to the Financial Operations Office within 15 work days after receipt of the suggestion.  Departments requiring additional time for evaluation should contact the Financial Operations Office.  Included in the evaluation will be comments on whether the suggestion should be fully implemented, partially implemented, or not implemented.  Rationale will be provided if the suggestion is not implemented because this information will be forwarded to the suggestor.  If the suggestion is fully or partially implemented and results in a cost savings, the evaluator will note the estimated amount of the annual savings in the memo to the Financial Operations Office.
   
   

3. Suggestion Committee
   
   Suggestions that are recommended for full or partial implementation will be sent to the campus Suggestion Committee to review the evaluation and determine the amount of cash award.  Suggestions that are approved and do not produce cost savings will quality for the minimum amount of cash award/development funds.  Cash awards for staff will be paid as lump sum awards.  Faculty will receive professional development funds in lieu of cash awards.  The following guidelines will be used to determine the amount of cash award/ development funds.  The amount of cash award/development funds applies to each approved suggestion regardless of the number of employees submitting the suggestion.

The campus Suggestion Committee will be chaired by the Associate Vice President for Financial Operations with representatives from each division.  The committee will meet as required to review all suggestions that are submitted under this program.  Following final review and approval of the cash award or development funds, the AVP for Financial Operations will notify the suggestor and applicable department/ division vice president as to the outcome of the suggestion.

4. Criteria for Suggestions
   
   Supervisors in non-academic areas should not submit a suggestion on a process that would be considered part of his/her duties.
   
   

5. Reporting Requirements
   
   An annual report on the campus suggestion program will be provided to the Administrative Council in January of each year, outlining the number of suggestions submitted and approved, and the amount of cash awards issued.
   

Questions on this process may be referred to the Financial Operations Office.

Attachment:  Suggestion Form

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