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Post by Gaidin on Sept 28, 2013 9:51:31 GMT -5
I recall there seeing a post about how large the class sizes at Fall's Church could/should be. But I can't find it. I know there was some discussion that really large class was attempted and it was deemed unworkable.
Based on what we know there will likely be 100 and possibly many more openings next year. Basing this on the 60 unfilled spots this year plus the attrition for next year.
If they are following past practice there will be a June class and maybe a Fall class?
So do we think there will be a class of 100? 2 smaller classes? Obviously budget plays a huge part in this so its the wildest of speculation but its something to do.
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 28, 2013 12:24:33 GMT -5
When there was a big (100+) hire in 2010, IIRC, the start dates, and therefore the training dates, were staggered, a couple of weeks or so apart. I think there were three different groups.
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Post by privateatty on Sept 28, 2013 12:32:45 GMT -5
I recall there seeing a post about how large the class sizes at Fall's Church could/should be. But I can't find it. I know there was some discussion that really large class was attempted and it was deemed unworkable. Based on what we know there will likely be 100 and possibly many more openings next year. Basing this on the 60 unfilled spots this year plus the attrition for next year. If they are following past practice there will be a June class and maybe a Fall class? So do we think there will be a class of 100? 2 smaller classes? Obviously budget plays a huge part in this so its the wildest of speculation but its something to do. From podar (after a search on "class size"), 5/26/12: "I heard today from a reliable source that SSA plans to hire about 100 from this certificate, then about 100 more in 11/2012, and 20 more (emergency fill-in) in 01/2013 (similar to this year's small class). If you know the size of the training rooms (they accommodate about 35 a side or max of 70 if wide open), you would assume 2 classes in the 50 range for each of the large hires. The 1/2012 and 01/2013 certificates will (obviously) be FY2013. All hiring is from the current register because the new OPM ALJ test is not likely to be ready until March or April 2013 at the earliest." |
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Post by mcb on Sept 28, 2013 13:00:12 GMT -5
I was part of the 2010 Fall class. There were two groups and I was in the second group, which was 70+ ALJs. Each ALJ reported to the respective ODAR on 9/27/10 and then we all reported to Falls Church two weeks later for four weeks of ALJ training. Except for new ALJS who resided in Northern VA/DC area, we were put up at the Residence Inn in Pentagon City. The first group's training started in mid-August 2010. I believe their group was 50+ ALJs. If I remember correctly - at the time we were trained - our group of 70+ was the largest group of new ALJs trained at one time, but that was three years ago. Seems like yesterday.  |
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Post by alj on Sept 28, 2013 13:30:01 GMT -5
If I remember correctly - at the time we were trained - our group of 70+ was the largest group of new ALJs trained at one time, but that was three years ago. The class of 2001 was something like 120 or 130. It was a crowded mess. Training was at the hotel in, I think, four separate rooms. My class several years earlier was about 60, divided into two equal sections. The 2001 class started shortly after 9/11, so travel into DC was another problem. |
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Post by mcb on Sept 28, 2013 13:57:30 GMT -5
If I remember correctly - at the time we were trained - our group of 70+ was the largest group of new ALJs trained at one time, but that was three years ago. The class of 2001 was something like 120 or 130. It was a crowded mess. Training was at the hotel in, I think, four separate rooms. My class several years earlier was about 60, divided into two equal sections. The 2001 class started shortly after 9/11, so travel into DC was another problem. Well, I stand corrected. |
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Post by southeastalj on Sept 30, 2013 9:34:28 GMT -5
The national training center that is now used has 2 rooms. Each training class is divided in half. They don't like to go bigger than 25-30 people per room. So you won't see a training class bigger than 60 people
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Post by Gaidin on Sept 30, 2013 11:43:35 GMT -5
I want to be clear I understand that the budget and sequester and general combativeness between the executive and congress are the real deciding factors. If there is no budget or of the budget doesn't fund positions and hiring the below questions don't matter but I think the exercise will use up some time.
Has SSA ever done more than 2 training classes in a year? How fast can they fill vacancies if the money is there?
There are 60 vacant positions from this year that were not filled in the last cert. according to some estimates elsewhere on the Board there is approximately a 10% loss per year (and maybe a big loss in this coming year due to sick time calculation changes). 60 (2013 vacancies) + 145 (10% 2014 vacancies) = 205 open slots. That means that two big hires of 60 each would still leave 85 open slots.
If you really do get the big loss because of sick time recalculation and say there is a 15% loss then you are talking about 60 + 217 = 277 open slots.
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Post by southeastalj on Sept 30, 2013 12:09:01 GMT -5
There were 4 training classes in 2008, there will be as many classes as necessary to accommodate the number of judges there is funding to hire. There were more than 200 hires in 2008
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 30, 2013 12:11:01 GMT -5
I want to be clear I understand that the budget and sequester and general combativeness between the executive and congress are the real deciding factors. If there is no budget or of the budget doesn't fund positions and hiring the below questions don't matter but I think the exercise will use up some time. Has SSA ever done more than 2 training classes in a year? How fast can they fill vacancies if the money is there? There are 60 vacant positions from this year that were not filled in the last cert. according to some estimates elsewhere on the Board there is approximately a 10% loss per year (and maybe a big loss in this coming year due to sick time calculation changes). 60 (2013 vacancies) + 145 (10% 2014 vacancies) = 205 open slots. That means that two big hires of 60 each would still leave 85 open slots. If you really do get the big loss because of sick time recalculation and say there is a 15% loss then you are talking about 60 + 217 = 277 open slots. Based on the number of certs between mid 2010 and early 2012, (from the timeline thread), yes, they've done more than two training classes in a year period. As for the rest of it, I think it is just impossible (or too frustrating) to even discuss or speculate about. JMO. Watching the powers that be on the Hill and their latest antics (they can't even get near a budget). Once they get the money, SSA can move pretty quickly once they get a cert; since they will be interviewing lots of people with the new register, (and checking more references than they might have to on a cert down the road) that will slow down the process some. I know it's hard for you newcomers to imagine, as the board's been busy all year, really, but it is perfectly okay (and it has happened in the past with no ill effect) for this board to go quiet for extended periods of time while there is nothing to talk about....  |
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Post by philliesfan on Sept 30, 2013 12:38:25 GMT -5
In 2011, there was a training class in June of 24 (all insiders), one in July of 48 (split into 2 groups), including Bartleby and me, and one in August of at least 70. In addition, there was a small class of 19 that came on board in January 2012.
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Post by funkyodar on Sept 30, 2013 22:45:55 GMT -5
I know it's hard for you newcomers to imagine, as the board's been busy all year, really, but it is perfectly okay (and it has happened in the past with no ill effect) for this board to go quiet for extended periods of time while there is nothing to talk about.... Probably right. But, I bet there wouldn't be any ill effect for someone not interested in such conversations to just avoid the threads on such topics or maybe the board alltogether. I can certainly see where some of us newcomers may tread on ground well covered by someone thats going through the process a second time. Such a person doesn't really have to deign to read or participate in these time waster threads newcomers may enjoy |
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