In preparation for open enrollment, the state of Florida usually captures address information in August; therefore, it’s important to make sure your address is current so that you do not miss any important mailings. To ensure you receive important benefit and human-resource related communications — particularly relating to fall benefits open enrollment — make sure your home and work addresses are up-to-date by August 24 in the myUFL system by completing the following steps:

Log on to the myUFL portal with your GatorLink username and password. (Call 392-HELP if you don’t know your GatorLink username or password.)

1. Click “My Account” in the myUFL systems menu.
2. Select “Update My Directory Profile.” Once you are on the Gatordex Self Service page, you may modify the appropriate address information by clicking on the orange hyperlinked text that reads “Addresses and Phone Numbers.”
3. To modify an address, select the radio button then hit submit. Make the necessary change, and hit submit again. To ensure you receive benefits mailings you must have a “Permanent Home,”
   “Local Home,” and “UF Business” Mailing Address listed.  
• IMPORTANT NOTE: Foreign nationals are required to maintain a foreign address for tax purposes and therefore should not modify the Permanent Home Mailing Address which is reserved for the foreign address. Instead, the Local Home Mailing Address field should be used for the local address. Questions regarding foreign addresses or tax implications should be directed to the Tax Services Office at 392-1324.
4. If the “Permanent Home,” “Local Home,” or “UF Business” Mailing Address is not available, you must add the address by clicking on “Add New Address and Related Phone Numbers” found in the menu options located at the top left of the page.
5. Fill in your updated address information and click “submit” at the bottom of the page to complete the address change.

It is also important that you update your address, email, or telephone number with any changes throughout the year.

Contact your directory administrator or the UF Help Desk at 392-HELP or helpdesk@ufl.edu with questions pertaining to the UF Directory. Need additional help? Visit http://www.bridges.ufl.edu/training/docs/AddANewAddress.pdf for an instruction guide.

Save the date: Benefits Fair and new dates for Open Enrollment

This year's annual Open Enrollment and Benefits Fair is just around the corner. Open Enrollment, initially scheduled by the State for mid-September through mid-October, has been changed. The new dates are October 1 through October 26. The Benefits Fair, which provides more information about available programs and options, will be held on October 1 and 2 in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom. 

Additional information will be provided in the September InfoGator.

Questions? Please contact University Benefits and Retirement at 392-2HRS (SC 622-2477) or at benefits@ufl.edu.

New look and functionality for People First online

Users logging onto the State of Florida’s system to access benefits information via the People First web site will notice a new look and navigation within the system. The benefits screens within People First were redesigned to provide online users new functionality. Some of the enhancements include:

• Review enrollment history
• Additional premium information
• Request early effective dates for Health and Life
• View additional dependent information

With open enrollment just around the corner, now is a good time to go online to view your current state benefits summary and become familiar with the screen changes. To access your information, visit the People First web site and log in with the user id and password previously established. If you have misplaced or forgotten your password, please contact the People First Service Center at 1-866-663-4735. General questions may be directed to University Benefits and Retirement at 392-2HRS (SC 622-2477) or benefits@ufl.edu.

Registration for fall training courses opens August 13

Registration for the fall training schedule opens August 13 at www.hr.ufl.edu/training. Look for workshops on a variety of topics such as the Pro3 Series, supervisory skills, computer courses, myUFL (PeopleSoft) classes, business communication, and “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Fall classes include:

• NEW! Pro3 Series HR/Payroll Certification
  This new addition to the University of Florida’s Pro3 Training Series, a comprehensive training program designed for administrative professionals at UF, focuses on the procedures and policies in place for hiring and paying employees. Classes include:
• PRO318 Hiring Graduate Assistants and Fellows
• PRO319 Guide to Faculty Appointments, Recruitment, and Hiring for UF Administrators
• PRO313 Guide to OPS Employment for UF Administrators
• PRO320 UF Leave Policy
• and many more

• UF “ManagerSpeak” Series
  Spend some time cultivating specific management competencies to ensure that you are as effective as you can be. In these small group sessions, we’ll discuss topics of concern for UF managers. These discussions are designed to provide more in-depth understanding of supervisory scenarios. Limited to current supervisors and managers only, registration is required, and space is limited. Topics for fall include “Building Team Trust” (MGR040), “So, How Am I Doing?” (MGR050), “How’s My Team Doing?” (MGR060).

Registration
To register, log on to myUFL, select “My Self Service,” “Training and Development,” then “Request Training Enrollment.” When searching by course name or number, leave the field blank to get a list of all available courses.

Organizational Development
Training and Organizational Development also offers organizational development services and activities based on performance management principles.  These include strategic planning, customer service and performance needs assessments, retreat planning and facilitation, team development, department training visits—tailored for specific environments and related to identified work-related competencies, and meeting facilitation.

Our organizational development services take a systems-based approach in that we focus on the performance of UF faculty and staff in the context of their work environment. Emphasis is placed on organizational purpose, values, and culture; workplace competencies; strategic alignment; and employee commitment and adaptability. Some fees may apply.

Questions or need additional information? Please contact Training and Organizational Development at training@ufl.edu, 392-4626 (SC 622-4626).

Recycling survey: Help UF work towards zero waste goal

The recycling program at UF is part of a comprehensive initiative to address waste issues at UF. Motivated by President Machen’s goal of creating Zero Waste by 2015, the Office of Sustainability is conducting a survey of faculty and staff to help guide the direction of recycling campaigns at UF. This online survey is designed to gather information on how employees feel about departmental recycling on campus and should only take about 5 minutes to complete. The survey can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/
s.aspx?sm=_2bd7FhT2SEaSGOwsrS1P3VA_3d_3d

Your participation is voluntary, and your answers will be kept confidential. If you have any questions, please contact Anna Prizzia at 392-7578 or aprizzia@ufl.edu.

2008 Prudential Financial Davis Productivity Awards: Online nomination forms due September 28

The Davis Productivity Awards program, which annually honors state government employees throughout Florida, will make the 2008 nomination forms available in early August. In addition to honoring “innovation, creativity, and smart work,” the awards program recognizes individuals and work units that have adapted or implemented previous years’ award-winning achievements to create added value. Eligible for nomination are individuals, teams, and work units as well as entire state agencies or their divisions, regions, districts, and institutions. Nominations are accepted each year in the fall with award winners announced in March.

This year, the Davis Productivity Awards Nomination Forms will be completed and submitted online. From the human resources web site you can link to the Davis Productivity Awards site and begin the nomination process. Instructions will be available to walk you through the new online process.

Nominations for the 2008 Davis Awards must be submitted online to the Agency Awards Coordinator, Amanda Moore, by Friday, September 28, 2007.

The program presents cash awards ranging from $250 to $2,500 as well as commemorative plaques, certificates of commendation, and letters of honorable mention. For information regarding the 2008 Davis Productivity Awards program and a link to the online application, please visit http://www.hr.ufl.edu/awards/davis.

The following are the award categories for the 2008 Prudential Financial - Davis Productivity Awards (DPA):

INDIVIDUAL NOMINATION - This form is to be used for nominating one state employee. 

TEAM, WORK UNIT, OR PARTNERSHIP NOMINATION - This form is to be used to nominate teams, work units and partnerships consisting of two or more persons.

EXEMPLARY ACHIEVEMENT OF A STATE AGENCY NOMINATION - This form is to be submitted by heads of agencies ONLY, to nominate an Agency, Division, District, Institution, or comparable organization (consisting of 100+ employees).

ADAPTING AND IMPLEMENTING NOMINATION - This form is to be used to nominate an individual, team, or work unit for adapting or implementing a previous Davis Productivity Award.

SUSTAINED EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE NOMINATION - This form is to be used to nominate previous DPA winners who have demonstrated exemplary performance for five years or longer. There are separate forms for nominating an individual versus nominating a team, work unit, district, institution, or comparable organizational unit.

RECOGNITION OF LONG TIME NOMINATORS - This form is to be used to nominate individuals who have submitted nominations to the Davis Productivity Awards program over a period of ten or more years.

The Prudential Financial - Davis Productivity Awards program is chaired by Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp and is sponsored by Florida TaxWatch, The Florida Council of 100, and the State of Florida.

If you have any questions regarding the new online nomination form or the nomination process, please contact Amanda Moore, Training and Organizational Development Awards Coordinator, amanda-moore@ufl.edu or (352) 273-1761.

UF faculty member receives Meritorious honor

Dr. Nancy Coleman, faculty member in the UF Counseling Center, was recently recognized with the Meritorious Service Award for 20 years of service to the University of Florida. This award acknowledges outstanding service of long-time employees who are leaving the university. The Meritorious Service Award was presented to Dr. Coleman by Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin at a retirement ceremony held in her honor on August 2, 2007.

“Dr. Coleman has been a dedicated employee throughout her 20-year career at UF. During this time, she has provided outstanding service to the university and its students,” says Dr. Jaquelyn Resnick, Director of the UF Counseling Center.

To be eligible for the Meritorious Service Award, employees who are leaving the university must have at least 10 years of service with the university, be nominated via a letter from the supervisor or department chair, and have the nomination letter signed by the appropriate vice president. For additional information on the Meritorious Service Award, please contact Amanda Moore, Training and Development Awards Coordinator, Human Resource Services, at amanda-moore@ufl.edu or (352) 273-1761.