HR News

Syracuse University has received notification from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that the University successfully retained its accreditation status. In the notification letter, the commission commended the University for the quality of its self-study process and noted that the next eight-year evaluation visit would take place in 2026-27.

The notification culminates an exhaustively comprehensive two-year-long self-study process that directly involved more than 140 faculty, staff and students and incorporated input from all campus constituencies. The commission’s action to reaffirm accreditation was based on the University’s self-study report, submitted by the reaccreditation steering committee last December, and the findings of a team of representatives from Middle States-accredited peer universities who visited campus last March. During that visit, the team determined whether the information in the self-study report and supporting evidence accurately reflected the reality on the ground.

“We are pleased that Middle States has reaffirmed our accreditation status,” says Provost Michele Wheatly. “This important process is critical to assuring the future success of our university, our faculty, staff and students. This affirmation sends a message to the public that Syracuse University is committed to maintaining the highest standards of excellence and to operating in a way that solidly aligns with its vision and mission. I am grateful to the steering committee and the administrative team that drove this effort, and I thank them for their hard work. They really did an outstanding job.”

Like all Middle States-accredited universities, Syracuse must undergo the full self-study process every eight years and a midpoint peer review every four years in order to retain its accreditation. In addition to serving as a public indicator of quality and accountability, accreditation is required in order for the University to be eligible for any federal funds, including federal financial aid for its students.

In an effort to meet the growing needs of faculty, staff and graduate students, and to continue to attract and retain skilled team members, Syracuse University is expanding benefits offered to assist with child care, elder care and other family needs. Following a recommendation of the Chancellor’s Workgroup on Diversity and Inclusion to provide better support for families, the Benefits Advisory Council (BAC), a diverse representation of the campus community, assessed current needs, reviewed best practices and presented findings intended to ease pressures on families regarding availability, accessibility and affordability of dependent care.

For faculty and staff, the new subsidies will benefit a greater number of families by increasing the household maximum eligibility for the subsidies and the dependent age limit, as well as the actual annual amount of the subsidies. Also, a newly designed online resource will provide a central hub for helpful information families are seeking to support their needs. Plans also include an increase in the child subsidy amount provided to graduate students.

“We are grateful for the thoughtful approach taken by the Benefits Advisory Council as they looked at ways to alleviate some of the stressors on our employees in balancing work/life issues,” says Andrew Gordon, senior vice president and chief human resources officer. “Part of the solution is to bring together in one place information that can help families, an on-line resource where they can become more aware of the many options available to them.  Another part of the solution is to provide more subsidy support to help offset the growing pressures on families faced with child care and other dependent care needs.”

Gordon says the steps being taken now and the changes to the Child Care Subsidy Program that will become effective January 1, 2019, are part of a continuous effort to support the changing needs of families. Details of the newly expanded subsidy programs include:

Faculty and staff

• Broadening the number of eligible families by increasing the annual faculty and staff household income maximum from the current $100,000 to $150,000;
• Providing increased financial assistance for faculty and staff by raising the annual tax-free child care subsidy for children under age 6 from $1,000 to $1,500 per child;
• Providing additional support for older children of faculty and staff, ages 6 to 12, who may need after-school or other care with a new annual tax-free subsidy of $750 per child;
• Providing increased support for faculty and staff caring for an elder or disabled dependent with a new annual tax-free subsidy of $750 per dependent; and
• Increasing the annual cumulative household maximum tax-free subsidy for faculty and staff from $2,000 to $3,000.

Graduate Students

• Doubling subsidy support for graduate students earning less than $65,000 from $500 per child to $1,000 per child under age 6, raising the maximum subsidy per family to $2,000. This program will continue to be run by the Graduate School Office, with the same application process. As required by federal law, the subsidy is taxable.

As many of the University’s graduate students have or are starting families, Peter Vanable, dean of the Graduate School, says this increased subsidy is essential to providing greater support to this important population.

“Our graduate students are critical to the University’s short- and long-term success, from both student experience and research excellence perspectives,” says Vanable. “This increased subsidy, combined with our recent efforts to enhance healthcare benefits at a reduced cost, will allow us to better support our graduate students, both current and future.”

A central hub of information and resources available to help employees access Work Life Benefits and Resources provided by the University, includes caregiving and child care resources, adoption assistance and financial consultation, among other areas of interest.

The Benefits Advisory Council and other campus constituents have identified a growing gap in the demand for child care among faculty, staff and graduate students, and the availability of child care resources.  A feasibility study will be launched in the fall to thoroughly assess options for addressing that gap.  Further, the BAC will explore opportunities for expanding elder care benefits and ways to assist employees with aging parents and other dependent adults.

A cross-functional team continues to make progress to introduce timesaving systems to improve timekeeping and core HR transactions. This technology will bring new, simpler processes that result in the quicker inputting of more accurate data, ultimately allowing employees to spend less time on administrative functions and more time on their individual priorities. With the assistance of operational leaders and a knowledge network of department administrators, the project remains on track for a July 30 go live.

Technology Solutions and Benefits

The timekeeping process change brings more efficiency and reliability to the way individuals track their time, whether they are hourly or salaried employees reporting vacation. The system replaces the iJAN (Job Action Notice) and Appointments tools with simpler online forms designed for each transaction. The streamlined system is also mobile-friendly and provides flexibility for managers and employees.

Many core human resources transactions, including approvals, position requests, hiring and mid-year compensation changes will be simplified. Security for viewing data and approving transactions can be tailored for each school, college or administrative unit to ensure reliability and confidentiality of the data.

Training Sessions Available

A number of training opportunities and resources are now available for individuals who currently use the system to perform their job responsibilities or will in the future. The schedule for July is posted on the Answers website.

Individuals who should attend these training sessions will receive more information through their operational leaders, as well as email and other campus communications channels.

Questions?

To learn more about the project, visit the Answers website. Contact the HR Service Center with questions at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

As the shared reading program gets underway for all first-year and transfer students entering this fall, the campus community is invited to get involved too. Free copies of Trevor Noah’s memoir “Born A Crime” are now available at the Syracuse University Bookstore for current students, faculty and staff with valid SU I.D.

To obtain your complimentary copy of “Born A Crime,” visit the Customer Service Desk on the third floor of the Bookstore and present your valid SU I.D.

Those who read the book are also encouraged to consider facilitating a five-week discussion session with new students during the fall semester. Discussion groups will be co-led by a student peer facilitator and a lead faculty, staff or graduate student facilitator. Additionally, training facilitators with previous dialogue experience are needed to train peer and lead facilitators. Facilitators will be compensated and receive training.

The Syracuse Reads shared reading and discussion sessions are part of efforts to enhance the first-year experience by engaging new students in shared reflection and discussion about themes of identity, belonging, diversity, inclusion and health and wellness. Campus community members are invited to host their own discussions or book club readings with colleagues as well.

For more information on the Syracuse Reads Program and the First-Year Experience Initiative, contact Amanda Nicholson and Kira Kristal Reed, co-chairs of the First-Year Experience Initiative.

In an effort to modernize decades-old timekeeping systems and improve core Human Resources transactions (e.g., iJANs and Appointments), cross-functional teams are working to introduce new, simpler processes and one modern system. The upgrades are planned for launch on July 30, and MySlice will remain the main access portal. This project will bring more efficiency and reliability to the way employees record their time, whether they are hourly employees tracking time or salaried employees reporting exceptions. The improved system replaces paper punch cards, paper timesheets and manual data entry with technology to swipe ID cards or online entry including mobile devices.

The system and process changes are designed to reduce administrative burdens across the university.

Training and reference materials to prepare student employees, faculty and staff for the change will be released in July, and additional support will be in place as the 2018-19 academic year gets underway.

Interested in learning more about the role of the new system and the changes it could mean for employees? Here’s an overview of what you need to know:

How will timekeeping change for hourly employees?

Currently, timekeeping for hourly employees varies by department, with some using time clocks and punch cards and others using paper timesheets that an administrator manually enters into the system. After the July 30 system launch, time will be recorded directly by employees electronically via a computer or mobile device, or in other cases, by swiping ID cards in time clocks at venues like the Dome.

Will salaried/exempt employees need to record their time every day?

Salaried/exempt employees will not need to record their time daily or weekly, but will use the system to input their time off, including vacation and sick days.

Which HR transactions will be handled through the new system?

HR transactions previously conducted via iJAN or Online RAP will now be conducted in the new system. Managers will be able to easily view employee information including leave accruals. In addition, they will be able to request new positions, address vacancies, access job descriptions and request compensation changes. The ability to conduct these transactions will be limited by department rules based on administrative roles

Will managers who rely on administrative support staff to conduct iJAN and Appointment transactions be expected to perform the function themselves after July 30?

The intent is that the system will be easy enough that managers and supervisors will be able to initiate transactions themselves via simple online forms that capture the necessary information HR needs. They will also be able to easily track where a specific transaction is in the process. Depending on the rules of their particular department, administrative support staff may be able to initiate these responsibilities as well.

How will timekeepers and administrative support staff with significant job responsibilities in these areas be affected?

At the university level, we expect the overall administrative burden and activity to be reduced as a result of the system’s advanced technology. How that translates to the individual level will vary based on department and other job duties. For some employees, their workload may not change, but may become easier to manage. For others, the new technology may free their time up to engage in other important activities and functions that advance the mission of the University and the Academic Strategic Plan. The specifics of those changes may not become apparent until after the new system goes live.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu.

Summer office hours for Syracuse University will begin on Monday, May 14, and will be in effect through Friday, Aug. 24. Summer office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Academic-year hours will resume on Monday, Aug. 27.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Syracuse University faculty and staff are invited to view and enjoy their colleagues’ creative works of paintings, photos, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and other creations in the On My Own Time exhibition in the Noble Room of Hendricks Chapel.

The exhibit features more than 75 pieces of art and is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Employees are encouraged to view all entries and vote for pieces that may be displayed at the Everson Museum of Art in October, and also share favorite artwork via social media using #SUOMOT18.

Now in its 45th year, On My Own Time is a collaboration of CNY Arts and the Everson Museum of Art.

Questions? Contact Lucille Murphy at 315.443.4042 or lumurphy@syr.edu.

In an effort to reduce the administrative burden on schools, colleges and other units, Syracuse University has announced it will upgrade its timekeeping, payroll and human resources technology. This technology, which will go into effect on July 30, will introduce new, simpler processes that result in the quicker inputting of more accurate data, ultimately allowing employees to spend less time on administrative functions and more time on their individual priorities.

The timekeeping process change brings more efficiency and reliability to the way employees track their time, whether they are hourly employees tracking time, or salaried employees reporting vacation. This replaces a decades-old system that often involved antiquated paper punch cards, paper timesheets and manual data entry with technology to swipe ID cards or online entry including mobile devices, ensuring time is accurately recorded in human resources and payroll systems.

Many core human resources transactions, including approvals, position requests, hiring and mid-year compensation changes will be simplified. The system replaces the iJAN (Job Action Notice) and Appointments tools with simpler online forms designed for each transaction. Security for viewing data and approving transactions can be tailored for each school, college or administrative unit to ensure reliability and confidentiality of the data.

The streamlined system is mobile-friendly and provides flexibility for managers and employees.

Additional details on the initiative, including training and reference materials to prepare student employees, faculty and staff for the change, will be released prior to the July 30 launch, and additional support will be in place as the 2018-19 academic year gets underway.

If you have specific questions about this initiative, contact hrservice@syr.edu or call 315.443.4042.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is committed to providing Syracuse University’s health plan members with the highest level of customer service. As part of this commitment, a seasoned and knowledgeable representative from Excellus will continue to hold office hours on campus twice a week to assist members with any medical plan inquiries.

We encourage members to meet with an Excellus BCBS representative for personalized assistance regarding your health plan questions. Registration is not required and the schedule can be found on hr.syr.edu.

If you require assistance outside of the on campus office hours, you may contact our Excellus Dedicated Customer Care Team at 800.493.0318 (TTY/TTD: 800.662.1220) Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. EST. Friday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. EST.