HR News

Syracuse University Community Invited to Help Make Holiday Season Brighter for Local Families

Photo: people wrapping gifts for holiday giving

The employee Holiday Sharing Program is again partnering with PEACE Inc.’s Adopt-a-Family Program and the Salvation Army’s Christmas Bureau to make the season brighter for local families. University departments and groups are invited to register now to participate in the program, which provides gifts, food, toys and more to families in need.

Visit the University’s Holiday Sharing website for full details on each program and to register your group or department to participate. The deadline for departments to sign up is Friday, Nov. 17. The online form to sign up for the program can be accessed here.Participation options through PEACE Inc. include purchasing gifts for an assigned family, providing a basket of household supplies or donating food. PEACE Inc. will assign families to participating departments. Individuals, departments or groups may also elect to donate food or toys to the Salvation Army. The items will be distributed at the organization’s annual Christmas Bureau event at ShoppingTown mall.

The Syracuse University Holiday Sharing program is voluntary. In 2016, 31 University departments participated in Holiday Sharing. Their efforts provided food and gifts for 28 families in the Syracuse region and an additional 10 baskets of food, toiletry items and grocery store gift cards.

Open Enrollment Has Ended – Don’t Forget Important Application Deadlines

Child Care Subsidy

The child care subsidy—$1,000 per child younger than age 6, up to a maximum of $2,000 per year—is available to eligible faculty and staff with gross household incomes of $100,000 or less. Applications [PDF] are due to Human Resources by Friday, Dec. 8.

Reduced Medical Contributions

Depending on an employee’s household size and income, reduced medical contributions are available through Schedule B. Learn more online and apply by Friday, Dec. 8.

Supplemental Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability

If you chose to enroll or increase your supplemental life insurance, please remember to complete your statement of health. If you chose to enroll in long-term disability insurance, please remember to complete your medical history statement [PDF].

Questions?

Please visit the benefits website or contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Open Enrollment Ends Tomorrow: Don’t Miss Out

Tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 10, is the last day to make your benefit selections for 2018.

This is your opportunity to:

Learn more about your benefits at openenrollment.syr.edu.

Questions?

Contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu

Learn About the Valuable Benefits Available to You

Open Enrollment is a good time to learn about the total rewards for working at Syracuse University. The following benefits are available all year long at no cost to you:

Carebridge Work-Life Resource

Through our Faculty and Staff Assistance Program partner, Carebridge, counselors are available anytime for confidential consultation, assessment, and referrals at no cost to you. Some of the helpful work-life benefits include financial experts, work-life services, counseling benefits and money management specialists.

Financial Planning Services

Your benefits provide you with free financial advice from a TIAA consultant to help you plan for your future. Call 855.842.CUSE (2873) to set up an appointment for personalized investing advice. You can adjust your contributions any time of year, but it’s easy during Open Enrollment because you make the changes through MySlice.

Will Preparation Services

If you already are enrolled in or are considering supplemental life insurance through MetLife, remember that with enrollment, you can take advantage of will preparation services at no cost.

Emergency Travel Assistance

Supplemental AD&D enrollees have access to a variety of travel concierge services, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year free of charge.

Questions?

Visit the Open Enrollment website or contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Flexible Spending Account: A Great Way to Save Money

You can save hundreds of dollars in taxes through effective use of a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for health or dependent care expenses–and WageWorks makes reimbursement easy. You must sign up during Open Enrollment to elect the FSA benefit and set your 2018 contribution level.

Learn more on the Open Enrollment website: openenrollment.syr.edu. Update your benefits online by logging into MySlice through Nov. 10.

Questions?

Contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Nominations Sought for Advisory Work Group on Staff Climate Matters

Members of the University community are invited to nominate staff members for the Advisory Work Group on Staff Climate Matters, one of the accepted recommendations from the University’s Climate Assessment Planning Committee (CAPC). The deadline for submission is Monday, Nov. 6.

Working directly with Chief Human Resources Officer Andrew R. Gordon throughout the academic year, the staff advisory group will examine and form recommendations on staff-related issues identified in the Climate Assessment Survey. Some of the issues that may be addressed include staff morale, staff retention, career pathways and training opportunities, as well as avenues for addressing confidential matters.

“This is a great opportunity to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on a range of staff centric interests,” says Gordon. “The University has terrific staff, who along with faculty and students, provide the heart and soul of our great University. The work of this advisory group will provide the recommendations for continuous improvement of our campus environment.”

Nominations and interest should be addressed to staffclimate@syr.edu no later than Nov. 6. Members will be notified and announced shortly after the close of nominations.

Learn About Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

Open Enrollment is a great time to learn more about the strengths and capabilities of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, the Syracuse University medical plan administrator effective Jan. 1, 2018. The Upstate New York-based provider offers:

  • Dedicated, local customer service team that will deliver superior member support;
  • Comprehensive health management programs that ensure exceptional patient care;
  • Largest nationwide provider network;
  • 24/7 Nurse Line provides employees with free access to trained medical professionals around the clock; and
  • Comprehensive online and mobile resources.

Learn more on the Open Enrollment website. Update your benefits online by logging into MySlice through Nov. 10.

Questions?

Contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Skills-Focused Professional Development Opportunities Available

Continuous learning is a hallmark of higher education. The Office of Human Resources is pleased to offer two upcoming professional development opportunities that will help build a skills portfolio vital to career advancement and personal growth.

Graphic: Lynda logo

Lynda.com hands-on learning experience—Tuesday, Oct.24

The Office of Human Resources, in partnership with ITS, invites staff members to join a representative from Lynda.com on Tuesday, Oct. 24, in Steele Hall, Training Room 001, to learn how to leverage this valuable online learning resource to improve current skills and explore new ones.

Lynda.com is a leading online learning company that helps individuals learn business, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Members have unlimited access to the lynda.com video library of more than 3,600 engaging, top-quality courses, including 275,000 tutorials taught by recognized industry experts. All current students, faculty and staff have full member privileges.

This hour-long session will be offered five times throughout the day.

Learn more and register.

Graphic: View of glacier under water and above the water distinguishing between IQ and EQEmotional Intelligence seminar—Tuesday, Nov. 7

Current research reveals that emotional intelligence is sometimes more important than IQ in determining personal and professional success.

The Office of Human Resources and the University Wellness Initiative invite faculty and staff to attend a seminar on Nov. 7 in 500 Hall of Languages that will delve into the many facets of emotional intelligence. Facilitated by Alan Morse this seminar will offer a number of real-world strategies to increase your own emotional intelligence to improve your professional effectiveness and contribute to the continuing success of the University.

Two sessions offered; a one-hour session for all staff and a two-hour session for supervisors.

Learn more and register.

 

Dependent Tuition Presentation Is Oct. 19

Benefits-eligible employees with children approaching college age can learn more about Syracuse University’s dependent tuition benefit at a presentation Thursday, Oct. 19, at noon in 304 Schine Student Center.

The presentation will provide an overview of the University’s three dependent tuition programs: SU Tuition Waiver, Cash Grant and Tuition Exchange. The brief presentation will be followed by time for questions and answers.

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

There is no need to register, but those attending are encouraged to review the Dependent Tuition Benefits online. Employees also may want to review the University’s Dependent Tuition Benefit Policy. The deadline to apply for the dependent tuition benefit is Nov. 15, 2017.

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

Get a Flu Shot Wednesday and Help Health Services Stay Prepared

Photo: Employee receiving a flu shot from pharmacist

On Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Flanagan Gym, a flu clinic will be set up to administer flu vaccinations. This is free for all SU students, staff, faculty and temporary employees with SU ID.  No appointments are necessary.

Receiving the first flu vaccine that day will be Otto the Orange.

“This flu clinic is part of a point-of-delivery exercise for Syracuse University’s emergency preparedness plan,” says Ben Domingo, director of Health Services. “We encourage campus community members to attend this flu clinic if possible to support our preparation and planning processes.”

Last year, Health Services staff, Emergency Management staff and Falk College public health interns all worked in coordination with the Onondaga County Health Department to deliver 1,320 flu shots to faculty and staff in four hours.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination with an injectable flu vaccine for everyone six months and older before the end of October, if possible. The flu vaccination has important benefits, including reducing flu illnesses, doctors’ visits and missed work and school due to flu, as well as preventing flu-related hospitalization.

For questions, email Janelle Perry, administrative secretary for Health Services.  For more information, including guidelines on who should not receive flu vaccinations, visit the flu clinic webpage.