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Annual benefits Open Enrollment period runs Sept. 14 through Oct. 9

This year’s benefits Open Enrollment period begins September 14 at 8:30 a.m. and ends October 9 at 5:30 p.m. (EST). Open enrollment is an annual window of time that provides an opportunity for UF employees to make plan changes without requiring a qualifying event (e.g., change in marital status, birth/adoption, leave of absence, FTE changes).

During Open Enrollment, all state- and most UF-sponsored plans will be available for changes. Be sure to make elections early. All transactions must be completed by the October 9 deadline.  Any changes you make during this period will be effective January 1, 2010.

In preparation for Open Enrollment, please ensure you have your People First User ID and password ready.  People First will be available to provide assistance with your user ID or to establish/reset expired passwords needed to log into the People First web site by calling 1(866) 663-4735.

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Open Enrollment web site provides helpful news and information

Human Resource Services has established a 2009 Open Enrollment section of its web site filled with articles and important information relevant to this year's Open Enrollment period. Please visit the site for the following news stories and much more!

• Annual Benefits Open Enrollment period runs Sept. 14 - Oct. 9
• Benefits Fair, information sessions provided
• Adoption benefits enrollment runs through Sept. 30
• Watch your mail and visit People First's web site for current Open Enrollment news
• Keep track of your People First User ID and password
• Open Enrollment timeline
• Watch for state-sponsored plan changes
• UF-sponsored plans available to add or update during Open Enrollment
• Dependent eligibility enhancement and opportunity to increase term life or personal accident insurance coverage
• Health plan costs for full-time employees hold steady for fourth consecutive year
• Contribution limits for Health Savings Accounts increases for 2010
• Signing up for a state-sponsored supplemental plan?
• Be sure to report all work/life-event changes

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Drug-free workplace statement summarizes UF’s policy

The federal law known as the Drug-Free Workplace Act requires the University of Florida to maintain a drug-free workplace. The University of Florida is committed to providing a campus environment free from the abuse of alcohol and the illegal use of alcohol and drugs. To enhance this commitment, the university has adopted and implemented programs that seek to prevent the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol by university community members. For more information and to read UF’s Drug-Free Workplace Statement, please visit the Employee Relations section of HRS’s web site.

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Davis Productivity Award nominations due September 30

Nomination forms for the 2010 Davis Productivity Awards program, which annually honors state government employees throughout Florida, are now available. 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 the award winners announced in March.

The Davis Productivity Awards nomination forms must be completed and submitted online to the Agency Coordinator by Wednesday, September 30, 2009. For instructions on the online nomination process, please visit the Davis Awards section of the HRS website. If you have questions, please contact Kenya Williams, awards coordinator, at (352) 273-1761 or kenya-williams@ufl.edu.

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“Introduction to RCM” Workshops offered this September

As part of the university's transition to a Responsibility Center Management budget system, the Office of the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer is conducting several "Introduction to RCM" workshops this fall.

Responsibility Center Management (RCM) is a new budget system to which the university is currently transitioning.  RCM decentralizes decisions and financial authority/responsibility to academic leadership and encourages academic units to take greater responsibility for revenue generation and spending decisions, promoting "entrepreneurial thinking."  It is designed to support growth even when government funding is limited.

These "Introduction to RCM" workshops are designed for anyone who is interested in learning more about RCM—both faculty and staff—and will be held throughout September.  The workshop will introduce the new budget system, explain why a different budget system is being implemented, define key concepts, and describe the expected impact of RCM once it is fully implemented. 

If you are interested in attending, please register with UF Training and Organizational Development via the myUFL system at https://my.ufl.edu, My Self Service, Training and Development, Request Training Enrollment.  Search for course number RCM100.

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Superior Accomplishment Awards nomination period kicks off Sept. 15

Do you know a UF staff or faculty member who makes the extra effort to succeed? Why not nominate him or her for a Superior Accomplishment Award?

The University of Florida’s 2010 Superior Accomplishment Awards nomination period runs from September 15 through October 30, 2009. Eligible for nomination are Academic Personnel, TEAMS, and USPS employees. This awards program honors faculty and staff who contribute outstanding and meritorious service in their fields or to the university. It also seeks to recognize those employees who have made exceptional contributions to the University of Florida’s efficiency and economy and/or to the quality of life provided to students and employees.

Superior Accomplishment Awards are presented each spring semester for the period covering the previous academic year. The 2010 awards honor work done between August 1, 2008, and July 31, 2009. Awards are given in the following six categories, first at the divisional level and then at the university level:

• Clerical/Office Support
• Support Service
• Scientific/Technical
• Administrative/Supervisory
• Administrative/Professional
• Academic Personnel

Division-level winners each receive $200 along with a certificate of appreciation and university memento. Each division winner then is eligible to be selected for one of six university-level awards of $2,000 each or one of eight $1,000 awards sponsored by The Gabor Agency (four awards) and Willis-HRH of Gainesville Inc. (four awards). In addition, each of the six university-level winners and his or her guest will be invited to attend a University of Florida football game in the President’s Box the following season.

For additional information about the Superior Accomplishment Awards program, nomination criteria, and nomination forms, please visit the awards’ web site or contact your divisional committee chairperson, listed below. The divisional award committees are responsible for the nomination processes and for winner selections in their divisions. Self-nominations are not accepted.

DIVISION 1 – All departments, divisions, and units under the Office of the President, the Office of the Senior Vice President for Administration, the Office of Research and Graduate Programs, the Office of the General Counsel, the Vice President for Human Resources, and the Office of University Relations as well as all UF departments, divisions, and units under the Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs (UFF)
Contact: Melissa Orth, 249 Tigert Hall, P.O. Box 113157, 392-4574, Fax 846-3124, maorth@ufl.edu

DIVISION 3 – All schools, colleges, departments, and units under the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Contact: Susan Ciccarone , 429 Yon Hall, P.O.Box 112020, 846-1138, Fax 846-1345, susancic@ufl.edu

DIVISION 4 – All schools, departments, and units under the Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources (IFAS)
Contact: Joel Mcquagge, Bldg 459 Shealy Drive, P.O. Box 110910, 392-6363, Fax 392-7652, mcquagge@ufl.edu

DIVISION 5 – All colleges, departments, and units under the Senior Vice President for Health Affairs (Health Science Center to include Vet Med)
Contact: Colette Cimino, 1600 SW Archer Rd Rm M-105 , P.O. Box 100215 , 273-5329 , Fax 273-9108, ccimino@ufl.edu

DIVISION 6 – All departments and units under the Vice President for Student Affairs
Contact: Myra Morgan, 155 Tigert Hall, P.O. Box 113250, 392-1265 x401, Fax 392-7301, myram@ufl.edu

DIVISION 7 – All departments, divisions, and units under the Vice President for Business Affairs
Contact: Tom Cassarly, 2008 NE Waldo Rd, Rm 118, P.O. Box 113359, 273-1381, Fax 392-1285, tcassar@ufl.edu

UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE CHAIR – Kevin L. Clarke, Employee Relations, Office of Human Resources, P.O. Box 110281, 392-4777, kevin-clarke@ufl.edu

UF’s Superior Accomplishment Awards program was developed to recognize deserving university employees and is coordinated by Human Resource Services. The success of this program depends on all of our participation as we seek to express appreciation for exceptional employees and their superior accomplishments.

For more information, please visit the Awards section of HRS’s web site or contact Kevin Clarke at (352) 392-4777.

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2009-10 UF Academy participants selected

Sixteen UF professionals have been selected to participate in the 2009-10 class of the University of Florida Academy. The UF Academy was established to develop emerging leaders at the University of Florida by increasing participants' knowledge about the university.

Congratulations to the following employees selected to participate:

• Kelli Brown, Associate Dean, Health and Human Performance
• Dianna Brook Covington, Accounting Coordinator, Purchasing and Disbursement Services
• Lauren Pasquarella Daley, Associate Director for Career Development, Career Resource Center/Student Affairs
• Christopher Easley, ERP Infrastructure Manager, Computing and Networking Services
• Lynda Fender Hayes, University School Professor, PK Yonge Developmental Research School
• Joseph Mandernach, Director of Development, IFAS Development Office
• Brook Mercier, Employee Relations Manager, Human Resource Services
• Michael Richards, Assistant Director, College of Medicine, Dean’s Office
• Uma Sethuram, Accounting Coordinator, Office of the VP for Research
• Grace Strawn, Accounting Coordinator, Smathers Libraries
• Julie (Xiaohui) Wang, Budget Coordinator, CFO’s Office
• James Webb, Assistant Director, Medical/Health Admin, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Michael Weigold, Professor, Advertising, College of Journalism
• Alan West, Controller, UF Foundation
• Chris John Whitehurst, Accounting Coordinator, Physical Plant Division
• Paul Zwick, Associate Dean, Design, Construction, and Planning

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Sick Leave Pool Open Enrollment will run October 1- 31

Qualifying University of Florida employees may sign up for the Sick Leave Pool during its Open Enrollment period from October 1 to 31. During the Sick Leave Pool Open Enrollment, all applications must be received by the Sick Leave Pool administrator by 5 p.m. on October 31. Please note that Open Enrollment for the Sick Leave Pool is a separate process from Benefits’ Open Enrollment and has its own deadlines.

The University of Florida’s Sick Leave Pool enables participating employees to combine a portion of their individually accrued sick leave for collective use. As a member of the Sick Leave Pool, you may draw upon the pool—with approval from the Sick Leave Pool Committee—in instances in which you have used all of your leave hours because of personal, not family, catastrophic injury or illness.

All Academic Personnel, TEAMS, or USPS employees are eligible to participate in the Sick Leave Pool. Employees must have a minimum balance of 64 hours of sick leave. If the employee is a part-time employee, the minimum sick leave balance requirement is pro-rated.

Once the application is approved, employees will contribute eight hours of sick leave to the Sick Leave Pool that will be deducted from their account automatically. This is a one-time contribution of eight hours, unless the total available hours in the pool drops to an unacceptable level.

Applications for membership may be obtained at any human resources satellite office or online. Current members of the Sick Leave Pool do not need to rejoin. For more information, please contact Leave Administration at (352) 392-5732, 392-2477, or central-leave@ufl.edu.

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One Less Car Challenge is October 23

Join your fellow Gators and pledge to take alternative transportation on Oct. 23, One Less Car Day, and throughout the fall semester. Last year, nearly 1,800 people participated—avoiding more than 48,000 trips and keeping 245 tons of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere!

Alternatives to single-occupancy travel include walking, biking, taking the bus, and sharing the ride in a carpool. All participants will receive a button indicating the mode of transportation they have pledged to take, which can be worn throughout the year.

Individuals and teams can track their collective commitment online with new, easy-to-use software. This year, the challenge includes points for recruiting new participants, encouraging everyone to invite a friend or coworker to participate. Prizes will be awarded for the most active individuals and teams.

Members of the UF community can get more information, sign-up for the challenge, and join a UF department or organization’s team online at the UF Office of Sustainability’s web site.

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Deadline for HEO scholarship applications is November 1

The University of Florida’s Higher Education Opportunity (HEO) provides children of full-time TEAMS employees with the opportunity of tuition assistance for an undergraduate education at the University of Florida. In March 2010, Human Resource Services will select, at random from a pool of eligible HEO applicants, 50 TEAMS employees to participate in this program. Each eligible employee may submit one child’s name into the drawing. To be considered for this benefit, the TEAMS employee must apply for the HEO by November 1, 2009.

For the child of each selected employee, the university will pay the in-state matriculation fees (the actual tuition minus any additional fees for tuition differential, building, capital improvement, financial aid, technology, activities, athletic, health, transportation, etc.) for up to 12 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters and six credit hours during the summer semesters.

Please note that any Bright Futures scholarship award will be subtracted from the amount the student can receive from the HEO. As long as the student remains eligible for the program, the Higher Education Opportunity will assist with the student’s tuition until he or she has accumulated a maximum of 132 credit hours or has been enrolled in college for six years (whichever comes first). Please visit the HEO website to read about additional eligibility requirements.

To be entered into the HEO drawing, the full-time TEAMS employee must:

1. Submit a completed HEO application form to UF Training and Organizational Development no later than November 1, 2009.

The child of the full-time TEAMS employee must:

1. Have applied for admission to the University of Florida no later than November 1, 2009.
2. Graduate from high school no later than July 31, 2010.

It is important to note that the University of Florida admissions process and the HEO selection process are separate. Selection for the HEO benefit does not indicate admission into the University of Florida. Application for admission to UF also does not automatically enter a child’s name into the HEO drawing. In the event that a child is not accepted to UF, the benefit may be used at a public community college in the state of Florida.

For questions about this program, please contact Kenya Williams, UF Training and Organizational Development, at (352) 273-1761 or kenya-williams@ufl.edu.

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Tuition Exchange Scholarship Program offers possibility of more affordable higher education

The Tuition Exchange Scholarship Program provides the opportunity for dependent children of the University of Florida’s full-time employees (excluding OPS employees) to attend a participating Tuition Exchange college or university at a significant tuition reduction.   The TEP scholarship application deadline is October 31 the year preceding the desired enrollment into the program—in this case October 31, 2009, for the Fall 2010 semester.  Entrance application to the college itself is the responsibility of the UF employee’s child.  The cost to the University employee to participate in the TEP is $5,000 per year.    For additional information on TEP, please visit the Office of the Provost’s web site.

Please note that the TEP is a scholarship opportunity rather than a fringe benefit.  The Office of the Provost will make every effort to assist employees during the application process, but it cannot predict the likelihood or guarantee the acceptance of dependent children into the program.  Should you have questions, please contact Robin Bielling at (352) 392-4792 or rbielling@aa.ufl.edu.

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Faculty and Staff meal plans available through Gator Dining

Gator Dining offers UF faculty and staff a meal plan that includes 30 meals at the Fresh Food Company (Broward Dining Hall), Gator Corner Dining Center, Home Zone and now, the Orange & Brew.  The meal plan comes with $25 in Flex Bucks, which are accepted at all Gator Dining locations including convenience stores and the Camellia Court Café at the Harn Museum of Art.

The faculty/staff meal plan offers a savings of 25% off the retail door price in the dining halls.  The meals and Flex Bucks never expire, and those who qualify may purchase the meal plan through payroll deduction.

Once an employee purchases a meal plan, the magnetic strip on the back of his or her Gator 1 Card serves as identification as a meal plan participant.  Employees may present their Gator 1 Cards at the register and inform the cashier they have a faculty/staff meal plan.

For more information and to purchase, please visit Gator Dining’s web site.

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Smoking cessation programs can help employees kick the habit

With the Health Science Center, Shands, and UF Physicians going Tobacco-Free Together November 1, and with the rest of UF’s campus to follow in 2010, many UF employees may be considering ways to stop smoking.

In a joint effort, the Student Health Care Center, UF’s Employee Assistance Program, and the UF Area Health Education Centers are offering UF employees a free smoking cessation program. All employees, including OPS, who are interested in quitting smoking, are encouraged to learn more about this program.

The groups will meet for approximately 90 minutes on six consecutive weeks and will include education, group support, and medical oversight with pharmaceutical smoking cessation medications. Medications will be available under the prescription and management of a skilled medical provider and offered to participants at a significant discount. Because success at quitting is more likely when partners quit together, spouses and partners also are invited to participate at no cost.

For more information, or to find out when the next group begins, please contact the EAP at (352) 392-5787, or visit the SHCC web site.

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©2009 University of Florida Office of Human Resource Services
The InfoGator is a monthly e-publication produced by the University of Florida’s Office of Human Resource Services. It is distributed electronically to UF faculty and staff and is available online. Please direct questions or comments to its editor, Angie Brown; Human Resource Services; P.O. Box 115006; (352) 392-4626; TDD 800-955-8771. The InfoGator is available in an alternative format upon request.