HR News

The University will be operating under its Orange Appreciation Days format for the Winter Break period from 5 p.m. on Friday, December 21, 2018, through Tuesday, January 1, 2019.

During the Holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period

• All academic and administrative buildings will be locked or closed.
• Building temperatures will be lowered to 60 degrees, unless prior arrangements have been made.

Request for Building Access

If you require your building to be open over the Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days period, please submit a request to your building coordinator, noting the specific dates and times. Requests should be made by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19. (Note that faculty and staff will be able to access all buildings, as usual, by swiping their SUID cards, even when the buildings are locked.)

Request for Adjustments to Temperature and Lighting

Deans, directors and department heads may submit a detailed request for adjustments to temperature and lighting during the Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days period. Please review the University’s temperature guidelines. Requests should be made using the online form by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19. Requests will be reviewed and approved by either the vice president and chief facilities officer or the provost.

Important: Buildings Not Affected During Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days

Due to academic and research needs, the following buildings will be excluded from these adjustments and will remain on normal access, temperature and lighting settings:

• Heroy Geology Laboratory
• Bowne Hall – Fourth Floor
• Lyman Hall – Fourth Floor
• Sims Hall – Department of Public Safety
• Center for Science and Technology
• Bird Library — Operating hours are listed on the library website
• Life Sciences Complex
• Link Hall
• Physics Building
• Women’s Building

Additional information regarding Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days services and resources

• University services available during Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days: http://news.syr.edu/winterbreak/
• HR Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days info: https://hr.syr.edu/benefits/paid-time-off-and-leaves/winter-break-orange-appreciation-days
• Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days FAQ: https://hr.syr.edu/benefits/paid-time-off-and-leaves/winter-break-orange-appreciation-days/orange-appreciation-days-faq
• Winter Break Energy Saving Tips: http://sustainability.syr.edu/

Questions on building occupancy may be directed to the Department of Energy Systems and Sustainability Management at 315.443.1535 or energy@syr.edu.

In support of all the great work of the University’s faculty and staff, the Office of Human Resources is partnering with Syracuse University Athletics to offer faculty/staff appreciation discount tickets to two upcoming men’s basketball games and one women’s basketball game.

The discount tickets are for the following games:

• Men’s Basketball – Saturday, Dec. 22, 2 p.m.: SU vs. Arkansas State, $5 ticket
• Men’s Basketball – Saturday, Dec. 29, 2 p.m.: SU vs. St. Bonaventure, $15 ticket
• Women’s Basketball – Sunday, Jan. 13, 3 p.m.: SU vs North Carolina, $2 Ticket

Faculty and staff are invited to purchase up to eight tickets for each game at the identified price with their SUID.

Tickets for the men’s basketball games may be purchased on the official online ticket office, in-person at the Dome Box Office or by phone (call 315.443.2121 and press 2).

Tickets for the women’s basketball game may be purchased by calling Bria McLaurin at 315.443.2434.

Giveaway
The first 50 faculty/staff to stop by the Faculty and Staff Appreciation table at each game and present their SUID will receive a free hat.

Share Your Orange Spirit
Those in attendance are encouraged to share their game-day photos on social media using #CuseGameDay for a chance to appear on the Dome video board.

Parking 
A University parking permit will be honored for free game-day parking at the University Avenue Garage, Booth Garage and Manley Field House North parking lot.

For faculty/staff who do not already have a University parking permit, a limited number of parking passes for Manley North will be available for both men’s basketball games; passes may be picked up Dec. 19 and 20 at Human Resources in the Skytop Office Building, with an SUID and proof of ticket for the game.

Parking is free in the Carrier Dome west lots for the women’s basketball game.

Questions? Call the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042 or email hrservice@syr.edu. For questions about basketball tickets, call the Dome Box Office at 315.443.2121.

The Office of Human Resources wants to remind faculty and staff about important information and benefits application deadlines that are approaching:

Dependent Care Subsidy

As part of Syracuse University’s ongoing efforts to support the changing needs of families, the University is offering increased subsidies to assist with dependent care. The application deadline is Dec. 7. For more information and a copy of the application, visit the Dependent Care Subsidy website (hr.syr.edu/dependentcaresubsidy).

Reduced Medical Contributions

Depending on an employee’s household income and size, reduced medical contributions are available through Schedule B. The application deadline is Dec. 7. For more information and a copy of the application, visit the Schedule B website (hr.syr.edu/scheduleb).

Supplemental Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance

If you chose to participate in supplemental life insurance above the special enrollment options provided for during this year’s annual Open Enrollment period, please remember to complete your MetLife Statement of Health form (hr.syr.edu/lifesoh). If you chose to enroll in long-term disability insurance through The Standard, please remember to complete your Medical History Statement form (hr.syr.edu/ltd).

Questions? Visit the benefits website (hr.syr.edu/benefits) or contact the HR Service Center at hrservice@syr.edu or 315.443.4042.

Open Enrollment, the annual period when University employees make their benefit choices for the coming year, ends today. This is the only time of year when you may elect or change your coverage for many benefits, unless you experience a qualifying life event.

Human Resources offers a variety of resources to assist employees during Open Enrollment:

• Recorded webinar
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Employee Newsletters
• Office Hours
• HR Service Center

Other news and information is available on the Open Enrollment website: openenrollment.syr.edu.

Eligible employees must complete their enrollment by Nov. 9 by logging into MySlice (myslice.syr.edu). Computer kiosks are available inside the Office of Human Resources, Skytop Office Building, 640 Skytop Road, during normal business hours to provide additional computer access for online enrollment. For other locations, review the ITS website.

If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or other benefits, please contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042.

Open Enrollment, the annual period when University employees make their benefit choices for the coming year, continues through Friday, Nov. 9. This is the only time of year when you may elect or change your coverage for many benefits, unless you experience a qualifying life event.

Human Resources offers a variety of resources to assist employees during Open Enrollment:

• Recorded webinar
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Employee Newsletters
• Office Hours
• HR Service Center

Other news and information is available on the Open Enrollment website—openenrollment.syr.edu.

Eligible employees must complete their enrollment by Nov. 9 by logging into MySlice. Computer kiosks are available inside the Office of Human Resources, Skytop Office Building, 640 Skytop Road, during normal business hours to provide additional computer access for online enrollment. For other locations, review the ITS website.

If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or other benefits, please contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042.

The Office of Human Resources welcomed more than 1,000 attendees at its annual Benefits Fair on Oct. 30 in Goldstein Auditorium in the Schine Student Center.

The fair—open to faculty, staff and retirees—featured 39 vendors with information on health care, wellness, financial security, lifestyle enrichment, safety resources and diversity and inclusion resources. Flu shots were administered to 301 attendees.

“The Benefits Fair is an excellent opportunity for employees and retirees to engage with our benefits vendors and on-campus partners to learn more about the comprehensive suite of benefits and services available to them,” says Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Andrew R. Gordon. “We are very appreciative of those who participated in this year’s event helping to highlight all of the many facets that make Syracuse University a truly exceptional place to work.”

Open Enrollment is happening now through Nov. 9. Employees interested in learning about Syracuse University benefits may visit the Open Enrollment website at openenrollment.syr.edu. To update benefits information, individuals should log into MySlice.

Open Enrollment, the annual period when University employees make their benefit choices for the coming year, begins today and continues through Friday, Nov. 9, through MySlice. This is the only time of year when employees may elect or change their coverage for many benefits, unless they experience a qualifying life event.

A recorded webinar, information sessions and on campus office hours, benefit newsletters and other news and information is available on the Open Enrollment website—openenrollment.syr.edu.

Also, employees are reminded to join the Office of Human Resources and other experts at the Benefits Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 30, for an educational, fun and health-oriented event. Those attending can take advantage of free flu shots, stress reduction techniques and healthy living information, and learn more about the University’s comprehensive suite of benefits and get answers to questions right in time for Open Enrollment.

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits, the enrollment process or the Benefits Fair may be directed to the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042.

As part of the total rewards for working at Syracuse University, the Office of Human Resources will offer a Benefits Fair featuring a variety of resources for being healthier at work and at home. The event will take place Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium in the Schine Student Center. It will include free flu shots with an SUID and is open to Syracuse University faculty, staff and retirees.

“This an excellent opportunity for employees and retirees to engage with our benefit vendors and learn more about our comprehensive suite of benefits offered at Syracuse University,” says Kristen Otter, senior human resources benefits specialist. “We encourage everyone to attend this health-oriented event to obtain a wealth of benefits information, flu shots, stress reduction techniques and healthy living information.”

Benefits Fair participants include the following:

• Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
• Optum Rx
• Carebridge
• SU Health Services
• TIAA
• MetLife
• Delta Dental
• VSP (eye health)
• SEBF (dental, vision and disability information for SEIU employees)
• The Standard
• WageWorks
• Embody Wellness Initiative
• Mindful Eating and Wellness Consultants
• Healthy Monday Initiative
• Gebbie Clinic
• SU Athletics
• SU Bookstore
• SU Food Services
• SUID Card Services
• SU Real Estate Office
• Human Resources (event host and will assist with any questions about employee/retiree benefits)
• Risk Management (international SOS travel information, worker’s compensation and disability information)
• Recreation Services
• SU Stage/SU Drama
• University College
• SU Libraries
• On My Own Time
• Information Technology Services
• Public Safety
• Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services
• Crouse Hospital (blood pressure screenings and healthy living information)
• SUNY Upstate Cancer Center (cancer screening information)

Complimentary parking is available in Booth Garage and University Avenue Garage, with shuttle service. For directions, visit parking.syr.edu/category/lot-directions.

In addition, the Centro Bus Shuttle Schedule (#344) to College Place for employees on South Campus is available from the parking website: parking.syr.edu/transportation/shuttle-information/fall-shuttle-information/.

Open Enrollment, the annual period when University employees make their benefit choices for the coming year, begins Monday, Oct. 29, and continues through Friday, Nov. 9. This is the only time of year when individuals may elect or change their coverage for many benefits, unless they experience a qualifying life event.

The first of several information sessions will be held on Friday, Oct. 26 at 9:30 a.m. in Heroy Auditorium in the Heroy Geology Laboratory. For additional information sessions, office hours, benefit newsletters and other details, visit the dedicated Open Enrollment website.

Open Enrollment will be conducted online through MySlice beginning Oct. 29. Computer kiosks are available during normal business hours inside the Office of Human Resources in the Skytop Office Building to provide additional computer access for online enrollment. For other locations, review the ITS website.

Additionally, Human Resources will host the annual Benefits Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. Attendees can take advantage of free flu shots, stress reduction techniques and healthy living information. They can also learn more about the many services and resources available to employees and retirees. Complimentary parking is available in Booth Garage and University Avenue Garage, with shuttle service. For directions, visit parking.syr.edu/category/lot-directions.

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits, the enrollment process or the Benefits Fair may be directed to the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042.

Open Enrollment, the annual period when University employees make their benefit choices for the coming year, begins Monday, Oct. 29, and continues through Friday, Nov. 9. This is the only time of year when participants may elect or change coverage for many benefits, unless they experience a qualifying life event.

In an Oct. 17 email to benefits eligible faculty and staff, Andrew R. Gordon, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, shared information and updates about the University benefits package for 2019. Some important highlights include the following:

• For the second year in a row, employee per-paycheck contributions for the medical plan will remain the same.
• There will be no increases to existing deductibles, copays or coinsurance for SUBlue, SUOrange or SUPro.
• There will be reduced copays for outpatient treatment related to mental health and substance use in SUBlue and SUOrange.
• Biofeedback services will be offered as a new benefit under the medical plan when deemed medically necessary by a prescribing physician.
• There will be an expansion of the Dependent Care Subsidy, including a greater subsidy amount, an expansion of the age range of eligible dependents and an increase in the annual household income threshold used to determine faculty and staff eligibility. The application deadline for 2019 participation in the program is Dec. 7.
• A new two-year commitment cycle for the University’s dental and vision plans will start Jan. 1, 2019.
• Dental rates, set by Delta Dental, will increase for the first time in five years. However, the University will increase its annual dental subsidy of dental coverage from $100 to $110.
• Vision rates will decrease by 4 percent, and the contact lens allowance will increase by $20 when using a VSP network provider.
• Employee contributions for supplemental life insurance will decrease by 15 percent, and during this open enrollment only, employees may increase their supplemental life insurance coverage by one level (or elect the lowest increment if not currently participating), capped at $250,000, without requiring a statement of health.
• Employee contributions for dependent life, supplemental AD&D, and voluntary long-term disability insurance will have no rate increases or plan design changes.

Beginning on Monday, Oct. 22, all of the relevant information—including plan and rate details, dates for information sessions and office hours, and answers to frequently asked questions—will be posted online at openenrollment.syr.edu.

Employees who have any immediate questions about Syracuse University benefits can contact the HR Service Center by phone at 315.443.4042 or by email at hrservice@syr.edu.