OU hires interims for temporary stability, potential permanent positions

Paige Fisher For The Post

To provide continued support within certain departments, Ohio University hires interim employees.

Nick Wortman, director of human resources services, said interim positions vary depending on the need of a given department. There are currently 22 employees in interim positions within OU.

Interim employees are still eligible for benefits that are defined by university policy 41.010, much like full-time employees, Wortman said.

The benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, medical and daycare flexible spending accounts, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance and voluntary supplemental life insurance.

“Interim positions can vary depending on the needs at hand in specific departments, however, interim positions also provide opportunities for individuals to immerse themselves in both the responsibilities of a new role and its day-to-day pace while helping them determine if the position is one they’d be interested in pursuing on a more permanent basis,” Wortman wrote in an email.

Lyn Redington was recently hired as the university’s interim vice president of student affairs. In her role, Redington is responsible for enhancing student engagement.

“President Sherman asked me to come in to support, help guide, and to help ensure that the budget is on track with the university and to really focus on student engagement,” Redington said. “That’s what I’m doing.”

Redington has prior experience in student affairs, having previously served as the vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at Idaho State University, according to a previous Post report.

Redington said her primary goals are well-being, student engagement, equity and social justice.

“The ‘why’ I’ve worked in higher education for as long as I have is students,” Redington said. “I learn from them, I laugh with them, I appreciate all that they offer. I remember how much I enjoyed my college experience and that’s always what I hope for students.”

Wortman said it is also possible for interim employees to have the “interim” removed from their title eventually. The change would signify the individual has been selected to serve in the role on an ongoing basis.

Kathy Fahl recently dropped her “interim” title and is now OU’s dean of students.

Fahl said she has taken on a greater number of responsibilities since she assumed the permanent position. However, her responsibilities have changed very little.

“I would say that once you’re not an interim anymore, people then ask you to do more things,” Fahl said. “It’s like ‘great, now you’re in this role, you can take on some additional tasks.’”

Fahl said she expected her term as an interim employee to be between six and eight months but is excited that she now has the opportunity to be in the position permanently.

“There’s a sense of relief and an opportunity to start thinking about the future,” Fahl said. “I think when you’re in an interim space, you don’t want to be stagnant, but the reality is, you can’t do too many changes because you’re not permanent in your role.”

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