HR News

Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues:

As announced this week, Syracuse University will require all faculty and staff to submit documented proof of vaccination status or information supporting their application for a medical or religious exemption. This process will occur electronically and the documentation provided by you will be retained in a secure and confidential electronic file that is separate from your official employment records.

The electronic form will be available on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. We ask that you submit your documentation as soon as possible after this date to allow sufficient time for it to be approved prior to the beginning of the spring semester (Jan. 18, 2022). Detailed in this message are the processes for submitting documentation for review and verification by the University.

Submitting Proof of Vaccination (Available Monday, Dec. 13, 2021):

To submit proof of vaccinations, including the booster vaccination, please follow this process:

• Log in to MySlice.
• On the “Employee Home” page, select “Employee Resources.”
• In the “Employee Resources” section, select “eForms.”
• Once in “eForms,” click on “Human Resources.”
• Under “Human Resources,” select the “COVID-19 Vaccination Status Form.”
• In the “COVID Vaccination Status Form,” enter the exact dates of your vaccinations along with the type of vaccination received. (Please do not enter future dates even if you have a scheduled appointment.)
• Upload proof of vaccination by clicking on the “Attach Proof of Vaccination” option. Acceptable forms of proof include:
  • A photo of your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card clearly showing the dates of vaccinations
  • Record of immunization from a public health or state immunization system, such as the Excelsior Pass
  • Record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy
  • Medical records or other official documentation verifying vaccination status with information on the vaccine name, dates of vaccination and name of health care professional or clinic site that administered the vaccine
• Once you’ve completed the above step, enter your preferred phone number or email address so Human Resources can contact you if there are any questions about your submission.
• Click the check box next to attest to certifying that the information provided is accurate and complete.
• Click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the documentation to submit your form.
• You will receive an email to your Syracuse University account once your information has been reviewed and verified.

Submitting a Medical Exemption (Available Monday, Dec. 13, 2021):

To apply for a medical exemption, please take these steps:

• Download and complete the top portion of the “Health Care Provider Certification of Medical Exemption from SU Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement” (“Provider Certification”). This document will be available on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021.
• Have your health care provider complete the “Provider Certification.”
• Once complete, log in to MySlice.
• On the “Employee Home” page, select “Employee Resources.”
• In the “Employee Resources” section, select “eForms.”
• Once in “eForms,” click on “Human Resources.”
• Under “Human Resources,” select the “COVID-19 Vaccination Status Form.”
• While in the “COVID Vaccination Status Form Section,” click on “Apply for a Medical Exemption.”
• Click the check boxes to attest to certifying your responses.
• Upload your completed Provider Certification.
• Once you’ve completed the above step, enter your preferred phone number and email so someone can contact you if there are any questions about your submission.
• Click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the application, which will automatically send your completed application to the Syracuse University Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator or their designees who will review it and engage you in an interactive process, if necessary.
• If your application is approved, the Syracuse University ADA coordinator or their designees will record your vaccination status as compliant with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
• If the exemption is for a limited period of time, you will be required to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements at the conclusion of that time.
• Please note that the review of your request for an exemption may take up to five to 10 working days and this review time will not extend any deadlines for complying with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
• If you have questions or problems completing this form, please contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 and we will be happy to assist you.

Submitting a Religious Exemption (Available Monday, Dec. 13, 2021):

To apply for a religious exemption, please take these steps:

•  Log in to MySlice.
• On the “Employee Home” page, select “Employee Resources.”
• In the “Employee Resources” section, select “eForms.”
• Once in “eForms,” click on “Human Resources.”
• Under “Human Resources,” select the “COVID-19 Vaccination Status Form.”
• Once here, click on “Apply for a Religious Exemption.”
• Click the check boxes to attest to certifying your responses.
• Next, upload a Word document or enter your information in the eForm with your personal responses to the following questions:
  • What are the religious principles that you sincerely hold that are contrary to receiving any of the COVID-19 vaccinations? Please note that social, philosophical, political or economic views and personal preferences do not qualify as religious beliefs.
  • Do your sincerely held religious beliefs prevent you from receiving other vaccinations or taking certain medications? If not, describe the religious basis that specifically prevents you from receiving any of the COVID-19 vaccinations.
• Enter your preferred phone number or email address in case there are any questions about your submission.
• Click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the application.
• If your application is approved, you will be recorded as compliant with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
• Please note that the review of your request may take up to five to 10 working days and this review time will not extend any deadlines for complying with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements
• If you have questions or problems completing this form, please contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and commitment to safeguard the health and well-being of our campus community and our neighbors. Please continue to visit Syracuse.edu/staysafe for the latest public health information.

Sincerely,

Office of Human Resources

In response to health plan transparency rules in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Excellus BCBS will issue new member ID cards to those enrolled in the Syracuse University health plan for 2022. The cards will be mailed this week and include expanded information about member cost sharing, including copays, coinsurance, deductibles and annual out-of-pocket limits. Members can still use their old cards as member ID numbers are not changing.

OptumRx, which provides prescription drug coverage, will only issue cards to newly enrolled members beginning in January 2022 and current members who request new cards. All required information will be included on members’ electronic cards, which will be available in the OptumRx member portal and mobile app in 2022.

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

With winter weather now upon us, it’s a good time to remind the campus community about how the University makes decisions and how you can stay informed about weather conditions and University operations. In general, we remain open for business even in challenging weather conditions, but we will always prioritize the safety and well-being of our community members when determining operating status.

The University works with an independent weather service, Precision Weather Service, to inform our decisions about weather delays, closings or other operational changes. Input is also provided by Academic Affairs; Business, Finance and Administrative Services; Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services; and the Student Experience.

In the event of extreme weather and if a change in the University’s operating status becomes necessary, it will be announced via the University’s emergency broadcast notification system and will carry the notice SU WEATHER ALERT. To ensure you receive these messages, please confirm your Orange Alert settings are up to date in MySlice.

SU WEATHER ALERT information will be announced via the following communications channels:

·         via campus email;

·         via text message;

·         via a “crawl” on campus TV monitors and University websites;

·         on Twitter: @SUCampus, @SyracuseUNews and @SyracuseDPS;

·         on Facebook: @SUCampus, @SyracuseUniversityNews and @SyracuseDPS;

·         on news.syr.edu and Syracuse.edu; and

·         via Syracuse University public radio station WAER-FM/88.3 and other local media outlets.

Only Syracuse University’s Internal Communications and Media Relations teams are authorized to transmit to the campus community and the news media announcements about closings, work-schedule changes or class-start delays.

Although Syracuse University rarely closes for inclement weather, individuals must make personal decisions based on a risk assessment related to travel. We encourage all employees to take precautions and use good judgment when traveling to/from work. Faculty and staff concerned about travel conditions should contact their department chair or supervisor, respectively.

For information on winter weather preparedness, visit the Department of Public Safety website.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Ritter
Vice Chancellor and Provost
Gwenn Judge
Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff:

I am writing today with an important update related to the University’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the health and wellness of our campus community, and our plans to ensure a robust academic and student experience when we return to campus in January. Please review this message carefully, as it includes policy changes and other information relevant to all members of our residential campus community and other Syracuse University programs operating elsewhere.

The Syracuse University Public Health Team continues to monitor public health conditions locally and across the U.S., including data related to the new omicron variant. We are also closely following changes to public health policy recently announced by New York State and federal authorities that may impact our campus operations into the spring semester. Accordingly, this message will address the following topics:

1. COVID-19 Booster Shot Requirement for Eligible Students, Faculty and Staff
2.  New Federal Contractor Vaccine Compliance/Verification Requirement for Employees
3. Spring Semester Return and Arrival Testing
4. Flu Vaccination Compliance

COVID-19 Booster Shot Requirement for Eligible Students, Faculty and Staff:

In April of 2020, Syracuse University was among the first U.S. academic institutions to announce a vaccination requirement for our residential campus community. That proactive decision proved central to our ability to safely resume campus activities, events and student services throughout the fall semester. For that reason, given data and counsel from public health experts indicating that booster shots are critical to enhancing immunity and public health, Syracuse University will require all eligible students, faculty and staff who routinely access any Syracuse University campus location or facility (to include Washington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles and all study abroad locations) to receive a booster shot prior to the start of the spring semester, or as soon as they become eligible. Eligible individuals are those who:

• Received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination at least six months ago.
• Received the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccination at least two months ago.

Individuals who previously received other World Health Organization-approved vaccinations should receive a Pfizer booster dose if they received their initial vaccine series at least six months ago, in accordance with CDC guidance.

• Students: Like for your initial COVID vaccine, once you receive a booster you should upload the relevant documentation via the student Patient Portal. In the coming days, you will receive an email from the Barnes Center with additional information related to how and when to upload your documentation. If you have not yet received a booster, visit Vaccines.gov to find a location to make an appointment.
• Faculty and Staff: Verification requirements associated with employee vaccinations are currently being updated given a recent change to federal guidance impacting any entity considered a federal contractor. The implications of this change for Syracuse University employees are described below.

New Federal Contractor Vaccine Compliance/Verification Requirement for Employees:

Recently the White House announced that federal contractors must comply with COVID-19 safety guidelines issued by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (SFWTF). These guidelines require that federal contractors mandate vaccines for covered employees (subject to medical or religious exemptions), and review proof of vaccine status in the form of a COVID-19 vaccination card or other official medical documentation. Syracuse University is considered a federal contractor and by law must comply with the vaccination and verification requirements of the SFWTF guidelines by Jan. 18, 2022.

Importantly, the University’s prior practice was to permit employees to attest to their vaccine status without providing supporting documentation. However, given the verification requirement now mandated for most of our workforce under the federal contractor mandate, Syracuse University will require that all faculty and staff submit proof of vaccine status to the University.

Human Resources (HR) is partnering with other University offices to establish a process and procedure to accept and review proof of vaccine status or medical and religious exemption status from employees. This will include verification of a vaccine booster dose for those currently eligible. Later this week, all employees will receive a message from HR detailing those procedures and a timeline related to compliance.

Spring Semester Return and Arrival Testing:

Although the COVID-19 vaccines continue to perform well in terms of limiting serious illness and hospitalizations, breakthrough cases continue to occur. In addition, the uncertainty associated with the omicron variant requires that the University act proactively to ensure a safe return to campus in January. One of the most effective COVID mitigation tools we have at our disposal is testing. For that reason, all students (undergraduate, graduate and law), regardless of vaccination status, will be required to participate in on-campus return to campus testing. Specifically,

• Resident advisors will be required to test no later than Jan. 10.
• Orientation leaders must test no later than Jan. 13.
• All students living on campus must test no later than Jan. 17.
• All students living off campus must test no later than Jan. 21.

Arrival testing will be held at the stadium and Kimmel Hall. A full schedule of testing hours will be made available the first week of January and communicated to the community ahead of our return to campus. You can also find more information on the testing page of Syracuse.edu/staysafe.

Flu Vaccination Compliance:

All members of the campus community are expected to be vaccinated against the flu to provide additional protection against the spread of illness this winter. Under the Stay Safe Pledge, all students accessing campus are required to have the flu vaccine prior to the start of the Spring 2022 semester. If you haven’t already done so, please get a flu vaccine at your earliest convenience. Here’s how:

• Students can book an appointment in the Patient Portal to receive their flu shot at the Barnes Center Pharmacy.
• You can also get the flu shot at a doctor’s office, pharmacy or anywhere else in the community offering the vaccine.

The only exceptions to this requirement are for those with religious or medical exemptions.

For individuals who receive the flu vaccine on campus, no further documentation is required. Students who did not receive the vaccine on campus can document their flu vaccine status (or exemption) in the Patient Portal. Faculty and staff who did not receive the vaccine on campus can document their flu vaccine status (or exemption) by logging in to MySlice, clicking on the Employee Resources tile and then the Flu Vaccine Status tile.

You will continue to receive regular updates over the coming weeks and during winter break to ensure our community is prepared for a safe, healthy and seamless return to campus.

Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy and healthy holiday season!

Sincerely,
J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff:

As we return from Thanksgiving break and prepare for the final days of the semester, the University’s Public Health Team remains focused on the health and wellness of our campus community and neighbors.

Over the holiday, news spread of a newly identified COVID variant, the impact of which is currently being studied across the globe. Syracuse University continues to closely monitor campus and local public health conditions, including issues and concerns related to this new variant. As we have from the onset of the pandemic, our public health experts are regularly assessing the landscape and recommending new action as appropriate to safeguard the well-being of our students, faculty, staff, visitors and neighbors.

Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, despite the University’s very low level of COVID transmission and infection within our campus community, the Public Health Team considered several scenarios to support a safe return to campus. With that scenario planning in mind, today the University implemented several proactive actions to identify and respond to any changes in COVID transmission levels on campus attributable to the holiday break. Those actions include:

·       Beginning this week, conducting enhanced wastewater testing of our on-campus residence halls and select other buildings.

·       Expanding the percentage of the campus population (in all categories, including students, staff and faculty) selected for random testing. This action, combined with enhanced wastewater testing, will give us increased insight into the level of infection in the University community, and, if necessary, inform the best response.

·       Preparing to expand testing capacity if early data suggests a more aggressive community testing protocol is warranted.

·       Remaining at the RED level of the masking framework, which requires wearing masks indoors at all times and outdoors when in the presence of others or in a group.

·       Encouraging community members who have not done so yet to get a COVID booster vaccine.

We will continue to communicate regularly with our community about what our data is showing and what, if any, new actions need to be taken. And, of course, we encourage our community to visit Syracuse.edu/staysafe regularly for up-to-date information.

Like all of you, I am looking forward to finishing off this semester strong. I wish you the very best of luck as you prepare for finals and as we wrap up 2021.

Sincerely,
J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff:

As the University continues to monitor updates regarding vaccine eligibility, I wanted to share with you the latest guidance from New York State and Onondaga County.

The state and county have announced that any individual age 18 or older who had a COVID-19 vaccine and feels they are at risk is eligible to get a booster shot, if they had their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna at least six months ago or had the single Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.

If you are eligible, booster shots are available at Onondaga County’s vaccine clinics and the New York State fairgrounds, as well as at pharmacies. Availability can also be found by checking the Vaccines.gov website. Any future on-campus booster clinics will be announced at such time as they become available.

Faculty or staff members who have questions about the booster should contact their physician; students who have questions can contact the Barnes Center at The Arch at 315.443.8000.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our community’s public health. And, as we head into the holiday week, I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

Dependent Care Subsidy

As part of the University’s ongoing efforts to support the changing needs of families, the University continues to offer subsidies to assist with dependent care. The application deadline is Dec. 3. For more information and a copy of the application, visit the Dependent Care Subsidy webpage.

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. 3. For more information and a copy of the application, visit the Schedule B website.

Supplemental Life Insurance and Long Term Disability

If you chose to newly elect or increase your supplemental life insurance during this year’s annual Open Enrollment period, please remember to complete your MetLife Statement of Health form. If you chose to newly elect long-term disability insurance through The Standard, please remember to complete your Medical History Statement form.

Questions?

Contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042.

Each year, Open Enrollment provides you with the opportunity to reflect on your needs and those of your loved ones. We encourage you to review your benefits on MySlice and ensure that your choices are in place for Jan. 1, 2022. This is the one time of year when you may elect or change your coverage for many benefits, unless you experience a qualifying life event.

Additional information, including various news items, can be reviewed on the Open Enrollment website to help answer your questions.

If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042.

You can save on taxes over the course of a year through effective use of an FSA, and HealthEquity/WageWorks makes reimbursement easy. If you wish to contribute to an FSA during 2022 to help pay for health care and dependent care expenses, you must take action during Open Enrollment to elect the benefit and set your contribution levels. Questions? Visit the Open Enrollment website or contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042. Make sure to check out Open Enrollment Highlights to educate yourself about the benefits program for 2022. Enroll Now

Visit MySlice and enroll today.

Open Enrollment is a time to reflect on the various benefits available to you and make choices that best meet the needs of you and your family. Regardless of what goals you’re striving for or what challenges you may be facing, there are benefits and resources available to assist you.

Caregiving Resources

In support of the changing needs of families, the University provides several resources, including a free premium membership through Care@Work by Care.com, where you can get help finding child care providers, tutors, elder caregivers, pet sitters, house cleaners and more through the world’s largest network of caregivers. In addition, the Dependent Care Subsidy Program provides assistance to households with an annual income of less than $150,000. Other resources can be found on Human Resources’ WorkLife Benefits and Resources webpage, including information on Carebridge, the University’s faculty and staff assistance program, which connects faculty and staff with information, resources and referrals for caregiving.

Tuition Benefits

A cornerstone of our benefits program, tuition assistance helps eligible employees and dependents afford the cost of college tuition. If attending college is on the horizon for you or a family member, be sure to review the eligibility policies and submit any necessary paperwork to HR Shared Services.

Wellness

The Syracuse University Wellness Initiative provides learning opportunities, activities, programs and other resources to empower and encourage you to make choices and changes that lead to a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Learn about upcoming programs and subscribe to the Wellness email list.

Adoption Assistance

Adopting a child is a joyous occasion, but one that often brings unique financial challenges. In an effort to assist employees who are building families, Syracuse University offers adoption assistance benefits to eligible employees.

Will Preparation Services

Experts recommend that you review your will with your attorney every five to 10 years. If you experience a major life event—such as a birth or death—it is extremely important to review your will to ensure your wishes are carried out. If you are already enrolled in or are considering supplemental life insurance through MetLife, remember that with enrollment, you can take advantage of will preparation at no cost. Don’t forget to submit the completed Statement of Health form directly to MetLife if you are newly enrolling or increasing your insurance amount.

Time Away From Work

The University provides you with time to enjoy away from work, as well as to protect you and your loved ones in times of sickness. Be sure to review and understand the time off that you are eligible for through your University benefits.

Questions?

Visit the Open Enrollment website or contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042. Make sure to check out Open Enrollment Highlights to educate yourself about the benefits program for 2022.

Enroll Now

Visit MySlice and enroll today.