HR News

The following email was sent by Andrew R. Gordon on Monday, Oct. 28, 2019:

Dear Syracuse University Colleague:

The upcoming Open Enrollment period begins next Monday, Nov. 4, and runs through Nov. 15.

Open Enrollment is the one time of year when you can reflect on your benefit options, connect with the variety of available resources to help make the decisions that best meet your needs and enroll for the coming year.

I am pleased to share that the University will continue to offer a comprehensive and diverse set of benefits for 2020—a direct result of the great work of many members of our University community—including the faculty and staff of the Benefits Advisory Council.

Beginning today, all of the relevant Open Enrollment information, including benefit plan and contribution details, dates for information sessions and office hours, and answers to frequently asked questions, are posted online at openenrollment.syr.edu. Visit the What’s New for 2020 page to learn about the top things you need to know for Open Enrollment. Then, from Monday, Nov. 4, through Friday, Nov. 15, you can log in to myslice.syr.edu and enroll.

If you have any immediate questions, please contact HR Shared Services by phone at 315.443.4042 or by email at hrservice@syr.edu. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Office of Human Resources
Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Resolution Services

Syracuse University Athletics is pleased to offer all University faculty and staff the opportunity to purchase specially priced tickets to this Friday’s football game vs. the University of Pittsburgh.

The game starts at 7 p.m. with ’Cuse on the Quad pregame festivities on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle beginning at 4 p.m.

Tickets

The ticket price is $10 each for University faculty and staff, their children and their guests. Faculty and staff may purchase tickets online, in-person at the Dome Box Office (now located at the Ensley Athletic Center) or over the phone by calling 315.443.2121 (press 2).

Parking

University parking permits will be honored for free game-day parking at the Skytop parking lot starting at 3 p.m.

The Barnes Center at The Arch and the Office of Human Resources, in collaboration with the Onondaga County Health Department, will continue their partnership to offer free flu vaccines to the Syracuse University community. This year, health care providers from the Barnes Center will be immunizing with the quadrivalent flu vaccine to protect against four strains of influenza viruses.

There are several upcoming opportunities for students, faculty, staff and retirees to get the flu vaccine on campus; mark your calendars for this important step in preventing the flu this season. In addition to on-campus flu clinics, Syracuse University medical plan participants have alternative options [PDF]  for receiving the flu vaccine, as well as other vaccines.

For faculty, staff and retirees:

• Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Flanagan Gymnasium, Barnes Center at The Arch
• Monday, Oct. 28 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 621 Skytop Rd., room 1051
• Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m., the Barnes Center at The Arch, room 309

For students:

• Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Flanagan Gymnasium, Barnes Center at The Arch
• Additional clinics for students will be announced as needed.

Individuals must present a valid Syracuse University I.D. at the clinic to receive the vaccine. Temporary employees may show an alternate picture I.D. No appointments are necessary.

For general questions about the flu vaccine or if you are a student with questions, call the Barnes Center at 315.443.8000. Faculty and staff with eligibility questions, contact the University Wellness Initiative at 315.443.5472 or wellness@syr.edu.

Have you ever found yourself in a discussion with colleagues where stakes were high, emotions were strong, and opinions widely differed? That is what is known as a “crucial conversation”—and the majority of people faced with these types of conversations tend to either handle them poorly or avoid them altogether.

Crucial Conversations is a program that teaches skills for creating alignment and agreement by fostering open dialogue around high-stakes, emotional or risky topics, at all levels of an organization. It’s a great way to develop one’s conflict resolution skills, whether you’re facing a major interpersonal hurdle or simply want to add more tools to your toolbox. Supervisors and staff are invited to sign up to attend the upcoming eight-week session! Advance registration and departmental approval* is required.

Tuesdays, Oct. 8-Nov. 26, 9:30–11:30 a.m., 204 Physics Building

Skills learned each week build upon skills from the previous week, so it’s critical that you are able to attend all sessions. Participants in Crucial Conversations will learn how to:

• Spot when conversations become crucial
• Hold the right conversations
• Avoid repeatedly having the same conversation
• Understand their own style under stress
• Recognize and diffuse violence and silence
• Clearly identify and express what they really mean
• Separate facts from stories and emotions
• Make it safe for others to speak up
• Make clear decisions and commitments

Here’s what past participants are saying:

“I thought that the program was very informative and really dug down into what really happens when people are at an impasse.”

“I loved the class—I learned so many different approaches to having crucial conversations not only at work, but in my personal life, too!”

“Crucial Conversations was so helpful, it was the best training I have been a part of at Syracuse University.”

Interested in participating? Visit the program page to learn more or the registration link to sign up.

*Please note: There is a $350 cost per participant to cover program materials. This fee will be charged back to your budget center, so approval from your supervisor and budget manager is required.

Syracuse University will celebrate Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day with $5 football tickets at the Dome on Saturday, Sept. 28, when the Orange takes on Holy Cross at noon. Faculty and staff and their guests are invited to the Shaw Quad prior to the game to enjoy the Pride of the Orange Marching Band performance and food and beverage concessions.

The first 500 full-time, part-time or temporary faculty and staff with an SU I.D. to visit the University’s pregame Faculty and Staff Appreciation tent on the Quad will receive a game-day gift and a $5 concession coupon. Sept. 28 is also Fan Appreciation Day, and family-friendly activities will be featured on the Quad.

A few days prior to the game, a drawing will be held to invite faculty and staff members to enjoy an enhanced game-day experience. Those who have purchased tickets prior to Sept. 25 will be eligible for the drawing. Winners will be notified prior to game day.

Tickets

The ticket price is $5 each for University faculty and staff, their children and their guests (up to a limit of 10). Faculty and staff may purchase tickets online, in-person at the Dome Box (now located at the Ensley Athletic Center) or over the phone by calling 315.443.2121 (press 2). Tickets can be purchased until the day of the event. For more information on game-day rules, please visit carrierdome.com.

Parking

University parking permits will be honored for free game-day parking at the Skytop parking lot. For faculty and staff who do not already have University parking permits, a single one-time-use complimentary Skytop parking pass will be available for game day. These permits will be available Sept. 23-25 at the Office of Human Resources with proof of a Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day game ticket and an SU I.D.

Faculty and staff can share game-day photos on social media for a chance to appear on the Dome videoboard using #CuseGameDay.

For questions about Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042 or email hrservice@syr.edu. For questions about football tickets, call the Dome Box Office at 315.443.2121.

Prediabetes is a serious health condition that impacts one in three American adults. Without intervention, it often escalates to type 2 diabetes, which can have devastating effects on one’s health and quality of life.

The good news is that by committing to lifestyle changes, one can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and in some cases even eliminate prediabetes altogether.

Syracuse University is partnering with the YMCA of Central New York to bring a proven, evidence-based Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) pilot to eligible faculty and staff this fall.

Come learn more

To learn more about the DPP and see if you qualify, attend one of the following informational sessions:

• Thursday, Sept. 19, from noon to 12:30 p.m. at 114 Bird Library
• Friday, Sept. 20, from noon to 12:30 p.m. at 202 Skytop Office Building
• Monday, Sept. 23, from noon to 12:30 p.m. at 411 Whitman School Building
• Wednesday, Sept. 25, from noon to 12:30 p.m. at 209 Huntington Beard Crouse Hall

Ready to commit?

The DPP pilot requires a one-year commitment with a mandatory orientation session on Oct. 9, followed by 16 weekly sessions from Oct. 16 through Feb. 17. After 16 weeks, the frequency of sessions is reduced to every other week, then once per month for the remainder of the year-long period.

In a small-group environment, participants will get peer support while learning how to eat healthier, increase their physical activity and lose weight. To help achieve exercise goals, participants will receive a free YMCA family membership for the first 20 weeks of the program.

Visit the Diabetes Prevention Program pilot page to see eligibility requirements, learn more or express interest in participating.

With the exciting opening of the Barnes Center at The Arch, students can access a state-of-the-art health, wellness and recreation complex for integrated, holistic care. This hub of student wellness—which includes counseling, health care, pharmacy, recreation and health promotion, not only enhances the student experience—but the well-being of our entire campus community.

As faculty and staff members, there are a number of features and services available to you:

• The recreation and fitness amenities in the building remain free for faculty and staff, including use of the climbing walls, day-use lockers, courts, track, weight rooms and more. Fee-based fitness classes and personal training remain available as well. Details on membership fees and amenities for dependents and other constituencies are also available on the recreation membership webpage.
• The full-service retail pharmacy is available for faculty and staff to fill prescriptions and pick up common non-prescription items and health supplies.
• The Crowley Family MindSpa provides faculty and staff with a space to practice mindfulness and other guided relaxation techniques. A light therapy box, biofeedback tools, de-stressing items and more are all available when you book an appointment at the MindSpa.
• Faculty and staff can work with the Barnes Center team to schedule a workshop on working with students in distress to help learn how to recognize signs of distress and make a referral, as well as resources on campus. Additionally, connect with the Barnes Center team to request a workshop for your classes or student groups centered on topics spanning sexual violence prevention, bystander intervention, stress management, mental health and time management.

To learn more, visit the Barnes Center at The Arch website or call 315.443.8000.

Benefits-eligible employees with children approaching college age can learn more about Syracuse University’s Dependent Tuition Benefit on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at noon in 550 Bird Library.

The presentation will provide an overview of the University’s three Dependent Tuition Programs: SU Tuition Waiver, Cash Grant and Tuition Exchange, as well as an opportunity for questions and answers.

There is no need to register, but those attending are encouraged to review the Dependent Tuition Benefits and the Dependent Tuition Policy, which are available online at hr.syr.edu.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available. If you have requests for accessibility and accommodations, please contact the Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services office at 315.443.4018.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Greetings from Syracuse University to everyone in the Orange Family!

I especially welcome our 5,900 new undergraduate, transfer, graduate and professional students to Syracuse.

New students, you are joined this semester by more than 100 highly qualified new faculty members. They are starting their careers at Syracuse. Welcome to all of them, as well as to our returning students, faculty and staff. We are so glad to have you all here.

This is an amazing time at our University. We have momentum here. Our momentum has been building, and it is now tangible on this campus and among our people and programs around the world.

As Syracuse University begins our 150th year, we can remember the aspirations of those who came before us. Our founders looked beyond the one building and few students that made up our campus in our early days. They foresaw “a great University on a hill.” They inspired our community to believe in a remarkable future. And they worked hard to make that future real.

Today, this University has realized our founders’ vision. Indeed, we have moved far beyond it. It has taken us 150 years to get to this moment. We are poised to become one of the top 50 universities in this nation—and a greater force in the world—and we are poised to do this for the right reasons. So many of you are working hard to make this happen.

This semester, I call your attention to two examples of wonderful momentum that is defining a new, distinctive Orange experience.

First, we have reimagined our entire approach to student health and wellness. Academic success here grows from the development of the whole person—body, mind and soul. This semester we are integrating, in one central location, state of the art facilities for a holistic approach to student health. We have combined recreation services, student physical and mental health services, and wellness services in the Barnes Center at The Arch. It is among the very best integrated health and wellness centers in the world.

The Barnes Center is only one of scores of construction projects completed over the summer to benefit students. New and renovated buildings and classrooms are vital to our learning environment, but it is the engagement and activity inside and around them and across this University that matters. We have dramatically upped our commitment to student learning and success here on campus and around the world, and it really shows. I thank all of you who have helped so much in this effort.

Our momentum is also very evident in our work to grow our faculty by more than 200 new positions over the coming few years. These scholars and teachers will shape our University’s future. More than 100 searches are underway right now. Our approach to these faculty appointments must respect diversity, interdisciplinary work and dedication to disciplinary excellence. If we recruit and develop the right faculty now, our students in the future will be ready for the world and for meaningful careers.

One hundred and fifty years ago, passionate leaders sacrificed for a bold vision of our University. So many have followed them, enhancing that vision and giving so much for our students and the world. They had grit, strength and spirit, and they defined our Orange culture. I ask us all, in this 150th year, to emulate them at their best. We have so much to work with now, and the momentum to get even better. To all members of the Orange family: you are the architects of our momentum and the best people possible to build upon it, now and in the future. Go Orange!