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Mark your calendar!

Registration for Training and Org. Development’s summer schedule of workshops will open May 12. In addition to our ongoing offerings, the last track of the Pro3 Series—Academic Department Support—will be launched. Look for more details in the May issue of the InfoGator.

Consultants available to help employees with 403(b) retirement planning

Investment company representatives are on-site on a regular basis at the HRS Building, 903 W. University Avenue. Please refer to the schedule below if you wish to call for an appointment.

AIG Retirement
1-800-892-5558, x87260
Mondays

Fidelity
1-800-550-4068        April 22, May 28, June 19

TIAA-CREF
1-877-267-4510 x5109  
April 16-17, May 13-15

Representatives from ING and MetLife are available to meet with you at a location of your choice.  Please call to schedule an appointment.

ING
(352) 372-1802

MetLife
(352) 371-7638

Retirement and financial planning presentations offered

This spring, University Benefits and Retirement is offering a variety of informational workshops for employees who want to make informed decisions regarding their investments, retirement planning, and financial well-being. Visit the Training and Organizational Development web site to register and view a full list of classes.

Overview of Social Security and Medicare Programs (course GET598)

 Wednesday, April 30, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., HRS Building, Room 120 

This presentation will focus on how Social Security benefits are earned and calculated and will discuss the requirements and benefits associated with the Medicare program.

Instructor: Clif Copeland, Public Affairs Specialist for Social Security Administration 

Need assistance with retirement questions?  
If you have a question about your retirement plan or need assistance with retirement forms, please call us at (352) 392-2477 to schedule an appointment to meet with a retirement coordinator. 

UF decals expire May 1; renew today

All University of Florida and Shands faculty and staff parking decals will expire on May 1, 2008. Please order your new decal by April 15 to receive it on time and avoid parking tickets. There are three ways to order:

1. ONLINE (recommended): Benefits-eligible employees purchasing decals by payroll deduction may order online and will receive their decals by mail.

2. BY MAIL: OPS employees and others wishing to purchase decals by check may visit parking.ufl.edu to complete and print a mail order form.

3. IN PERSON: Visit the Transportation and Parking Services offices at Gale Lemerand Drive and Mowry Road, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Please bring your UFID and vehicle license plate number(s).

If you are considering the Carpool Parking Program, remember that UF GreenRide carpool matching services can help you find carpool partners by searching for other employees who live near you or along your commute path and have similar schedules and commuting preferences. UF faculty and staff registered with GreenRide are eligible for drawings for a variety of special prizes including free dining at the Fresh Food Company or Gator Corner, Pepsi products, Gator items from the UF Bookstore, and an autographed football from Coach Urban Meyer.

Visit UF GreenRide today for enrollment details. Please note that any outstanding parking fines must be resolved before a new decal may be issued. Questions? Contact Transportation and Parking Services at (352) 392-6655.

Suncom numbers no longer active

Effective April 1, SUNCOM numbers became inactive. Callers who were using SUNCOM to call UF by dialing 622-XXXX will now need to dial the regular ten-digit number (352) 392-XXXX. Similarly, when calling out to former SUNCOM numbers, you will now need to use the location’s normal 10-digit phone number.

- For all long distance calls: dial 9 + 1 + Area Code + number.

- Discontinue using SUNCOM prefixes for Florida agencies. (UF SUNCOM prefixes were 602, 622, 623 and 626.)

- Remove 7-digit SUNCOM numbers from published material (business cards, letterhead, web sites, etc).

Questions? Contact Suzanne Leahy at (352) 392-2061.

Need to be certified in CPR or First Aid?

Get certified at the CPR & Safety Training Center on campus! Stop by 266 Yon Hall, East Stadium, on April 24 and 25 for discounted sessions on Heartsaver Adult and Child CPR certification and/or First Aid certification. Faculty and Staff can get certified for just $10 for each class or $20 for both programs. Available sessions are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CPR class) and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. (First Aid class).

Please call 392-1161 x4283 or stop by to sign-up in advance and bring your Gator ID card.

The CPR & Safety Training Center also will host Gator Saver Day, a mass CPR training event that will teach participants CPR.

The event will be held on Saturday, April 19, at Kanapaha Middle School. Two sessions are available: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Participants will receive a t-shirt and participation card. Giveaways include a six-month membership to Gainesville Health and Fitness Center, movie tickets, gift certificates, and more. You must pre-register for the event. Visit ufgatorsaver.weebly.com to learn more.

Emergency test planned for April 18

The University of Florida will conduct a test of its emergency communication system on April 18 to ensure that all components are operating smoothly and identify any areas that need improvement.

The University of Florida Police Department and the Office of Environmental Health and Safety will work with other campus entities to test a four-pronged system that utilizes text messaging, e-mail alerts, an automated telephone notification system, and web site updates. This is the first time all four systems have been tested simultaneously.

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Employees must report 2007-08 compensatory leave use by May 25

All non-exempt employees and exempt USPS employees may use overtime and special compensatory leave through the end of the fiscal year (June 30), but it must be entered into the system by 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 25.

If you need to use overtime or special compensatory leave before June 30, the leave should be entered accurately for the future date on which you will be absent from work using the Weekly Elapsed Screen in the myUFL system.

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Open enrollment for Adoption Benefit is moving to the fall

Each year the state of Florida conducts an open enrollment for the Adoption Benefit during April and May. This program enables eligible state employees to apply for a monetary benefit for qualified Florida adoptions.

This year, the program has shifted from the Department of Management Services to the Department of Children and Family Services. Related to the change, open enrollment dates have not been finalized but will be announced for sometime in the fall. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

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Part-time employees' health insurance premiums and UF contributions to increase in June

Based on 2007 legislative changes, UF will begin paying higher rates for its employees’ health plans starting with the June 6 payday. Benefits-eligible full-time UF employees will continue to pay the same amount as in 2007. However, benefits-eligible part-time UF employees will experience a proportional increase based on their FTE beginning in June (for July coverage).

New biweekly contributions for full-time employees:

 

Employee

Employer/State

Total Contribution

Individual Coverage

$25.00

$199.63

$224.63

Family Coverage

$90.00

$417.99

$507.99

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Lapse in summer deductions for UF-sponsored plans does not impact coverage

If you participate in certain UF-sponsored insurance plans you will notice a temporary increase in take-home pay over the summer. Based on your appointment status, your deduction cycle for these university-sponsored plans will vary.

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People First logon process enhanced beginning April 12

People First has established new password requirements that will affect the way you log onto its web site or access your state benefits information by phone when calling the People First Service Center. Some of the changes include:

  • A requirement to select three security questions and provide answers. These will be used to verify your identity and allow you to unlock your user ID and/or reset your password.
  • When your password expires or the next time you want to change it, you will be required to create an eight-character, alpha-numeric password to log in to People First. For security reasons, passwords will continue to expire every 90 days.

If you call the Service Center, you will be prompted to enter the following information to verify your identity instead of your password:

  • The last five digits of your Social Security number.
  • Your six-digit date of birth in MMDDYY format; for example, June 29, 1975 would be entered as 062975.

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Employee Education Program now accepting applications for summer semesters

The Employee Education Program (EEP) is a popular benefit made available to eligible UF faculty and staff. The program covers the matriculation fees of up to six credit hours of covered college-level courses for eligible employees per semester. In the summer, a combined total of six credits taken during semesters A, B, and C may be covered under the EEP.

For program participation requirements, eligibility, and application deadlines please visit www.hr.ufl.edu/education/eep for additional information. For questions about this program, please contact Amanda Moore, education coordinator, at 273-1761 or amanda-moore@ufl.edu.

Employees interested in participating in the Employee Education Program (EEP) during the summer semesters should register and complete their application forms by the following deadlines:

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2008 Davis Productivity Award winners announced

The Davis Productivity Awards, an annual program honoring state government employees throughout Florida, has announced its winners for 2008. These winners include 12 teams and individuals from the University of Florida. 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.

The teams and individuals from UF identified as 2008 winners are:

Joe Hayden, Senior Engineer, IFAS
Distinguished Cash Award of $1,000

Developed a Maintenance & Utility Trouble Reporting System

 

NERVE Implementation Team, Public Health and Health Professions
Notable Cash Award of $300

Developed Patient Scheduling, Tracking, and Financial Accounting System

Team Members: Andrea Burne, Shankar Manamalkav

Richard Robinson, Wastewater Treatment Apprentice, PPD
Notable Cash Award of $300

Fabricated Lift Station Air Lance for Grit Removal

 

Anthony Stefanowicz, Sr. Electronics Technician, PPD
Notable Cash Award of $300

Completed Campus Fire Alarm/Sprinkler Documentation

 

MORE WINNERS>>
FRS participants should look for Personal Forecast Statements

Active Pension Plan and Investment Plan members with at least 12 months of service can expect to receive their Personal Forecast Statements soon. The statements began mailing in mid-March and will continue to be mailed over the next few months. This year’s statements will not project FRS and Social Security benefits. Instead, members can use the free resources available through the MyFRS Financial Guidance Program, including:

  • Obtaining a retirement income forecast
  • Maximizing deferred compensation retirement plans
  • Investigating the 2nd Election option, if available
  • Receiving a debt management checkup
  • Getting a Pension Plan estimate and DROP projection
  • Getting free investment guidance

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File 2007 flexible spending account claim forms by April 15

If you participated in a medical or dependent care reimbursement account during 2007, your claims must be submitted by April 15, 2008. Claims may be made for money spent on medical or dependent care expenses during 2007. Please refer to the March 2008 issue of the InfoGator for details on how to file.

Faculty and staff discounts available for UF band camp

The UF Band program is offering UF faculty and staff discounts for their children to attend band camp. The discount applies to attendance at one or both of the UF Bands’ summer camps. Interested individuals should register their children using the group discount rate at the online registration page, http://www.ufbands.ufl.edu, and type the phrase “UF FACULTY/STAFF DISCOUNT” in the comments box on the page.

Camps offered include:  

  • Gator Marching Band Auxiliary Camp, July 10-12
  • Gatorland Summer Music Camp, July 13-18
  • Advanced Drum Major, Student Conductor and Music Major Prep (elective for July 13-18)

For more information on the camps, please visit the UF Band web site. Questions? Contact John M. Watkins, Jr., 392-0223 ext. 212.

UF offers free program to help employees quit smoking

The University of Florida Student Health Care Center is inviting UF employees to take part in a free seven-week program to help them quit smoking.

Participants in the program, co-sponsored by the university’s Employee Assistance Program and Area Health Education Centers Program, will meet once a week during their lunch hour for informational sessions and group support. The first meeting will take place April 21.

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