HR News

On Thursday, May 11, 2023, the federal government’s COVID-19 public health emergency expired. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) indicates that the health emergency declaration will not be renewed, citing a dramatic decline in new COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations since January of 2022.

Given the end of the federal health emergency, and in consultation with Barnes Center medical staff and local health officials, effective today, May 15, 2023, Syracuse University students, faculty and staff are no longer required to be vaccinated for the virus that causes COVID-19. This includes new students, faculty and staff, who will not be required to demonstrate proof of vaccination as a condition of attendance or employment.

The Public Health Emergency (PHE) that was first declared by the Department of Health and Human Services during the COVID-19 pandemic will end on May 11, 2023. For those employees and their dependents who are covered under the Syracuse University health plan, this serves as an update regarding the health plan’s coverage for COVID-19 related services after the end of the PHE, beginning on May 12, 2023:

Summer office hours for Syracuse University will begin on Monday, May 15, and will be in effect through Friday, Aug. 25. Summer office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Academic-year hours will resume on Monday, Aug. 28.

If you have any questions, please contact Shared Services at 315.443.4042.

“One of the best training sessions I have ever had at the University.”

“I believe all leadership should be required to take this course … the content is relevant to all levels of management/supervision.”

“This subject matter is so critical—the learning environment was very well-constructed and made for a safe and fun experience.”

These are just some examples of what faculty and staff members are saying about Crucial Conversations, a popular professional development workshop series offered by the learning and development team in the Office of Human Resources. The next installment, coming in June, is offered to individuals in leadership positions, so supervisors, managers, directors and above are encouraged to sign up.

At the 2022 Syracuse WorkForce Run/Walk/Roll (formerly the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge), Syracuse University held the distinction of being the largest employer represented among dozens of local companies participating in the annual tradition. Next month, University faculty and staff members will have the opportunity to reclaim that title and enjoy an evening of camaraderie, networking, food, fun and movement. Participants of all abilities and fitness levels are encouraged to join the Syracuse University team, captained for the second year by J. Cole Smith, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The University is pleased to announce the return of its participation in “On My Own Time”—a celebration of local visual arts that highlights the often-unsung artists who create art on their own time.

2023 is the 50th anniversary of this program, organized by CNY Arts, and faculty and staff are invited to showcase their talents along with other employers and businesses in the region.

Syracuse University’s retirement plan administrator, TIAA, offers personalized advice and education to help faculty and staff pursue their retirement goals. In-person meetings with the University’s dedicated TIAA financial consultants will resume on a regular basis beginning on Tuesday, April 18.

TIAA’s financial consultants are able to help participants answer these questions and more:

• Am I saving enough?
• Am I properly invested based on my retirement goals?
• How do I receive income in retirement?

Registration is required. Visit TIAA.org/syr to make an appointment and watch a short video to help prepare for your meeting.

For questions or accommodations, contact Human Resources at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

For faculty and staff who had a flexible spending account (FSA) through Syracuse University in 2022, the deadline to submit eligible expenses from the previous calendar year (Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2022) for reimbursement is April 30, 2023. Additionally, up to $570 in unused funds from 2022 may be rolled over to a health care FSA for use in 2023. No funds may be carried over to the following calendar year for the dependent care FSA.

Buying a home can be a confusing process, especially for first-time home buyers.

Luckily, for Syracuse University employees, it’s not too late to take advantage of two free upcoming informational sessions that will answer any questions you might have about purchasing a home in the City of Syracuse.

The Office of Community Engagement, in collaboration with the Office of Human Resources, the Real Estate Office and Home HeadQuarters, Inc., is pleased to invite all University employees to attend one of the following sessions:

As announced earlier this week, a draft of the Academic Strategic Plan framework was released today and is available for review on the Academic Strategic Plan webpage. We are eager to share this document, which represents months of hard work and participation by so many members of our campus community.