Human Resource Services
Frequently Asked Questions
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General Questions
Q. How do I apply for a position at UF?
A. GatorJobs is UF's online applicant system. You can view open positions and apply for them at http://jobs.ufl.edu. For a list of frequently asked questions about the application process, please visit the FAQ section for Recruitment and Staffing.
Q. Where is HRS?
A.The Human Resource Services building is located at 903 West University Avenue. There also are satellite offices located on campus at the Health Science Center, Physical Plant, and McCarty Hall. Click here for directions to the HRS Building.
Q. I see information about USPS, OPS, TEAMS, and Academic Personnel - what do these mean?
A. All of these terms refer to the different type of pay plans that exist within UF. USPS stands for University Support Personnel System and is a pay plan composed of some university staff members. While there are current staff in this pay plan, there have been no new hires into the USPS since 1/7/03. The other pay plan for UF staff is TEAMS—Technical, Executive, Administrative, and Managerial Support—like the USPS, this pay plan includes employees such as biological scientists, accountants, custodians, program assistants, etc. Both USPS and TEAMS positions are benefits-eligible positions.
OPS (Other Personnel Services) includes temporary employees who are not eligible for the standard benefit programs but are automatically enrolled in an alternative retirement program. Academic Personnel includes professors, associate professors, curators, university librarians, and lecturers—to name a few. There are both benefits- and non-benefits eligible positions in the Academic Personnel category of employment.
Q. What is myUFL?
A. UF’s portal, or myUFL, is an internal communications vehicle for university faculty and staff. Located on the web at my.ufl.edu, the portal is where you will find your personal payroll statement, update your contact information, report time and leave, check your benefits information, and more. Many employees also use myUFL to perform job functions including human resource and financial transactions. For access to myUFL, you will need a GatorLink username and password; security roles also must be requested by your departmental security administrator (known as a DSA) if you are going to use myUFL to complete transactions on behalf of your department.
Orientation
Q. What type of orientation programs are available to me as a new employee?
A. As a new TEAMS employee, you will attend a ½-day orientation that provides an overview of UF policies and procedures as well as benefits of being a UF employee. Physical Plant employees have an additional ½-day session immediately following. New faculty attend a New Faculty Orientation session held once a semester, sponsored by the Provost’s Office. All new benefits-eligible employees also should plan to attend a Group Enrollment Session at which they will enroll in benefits of interest, such as health and life insurance.
In addition to these orientation sessions, there are also a number of supporting workshops that can be useful for new employees. For more information, visit the “8 Things a New Employee Should Do” section of this web site. Your department or supervisor may also provide a more specific orientation for you individually.
Q. As a researcher, how can I learn more about labs at UF?
A. Environmental Health & Safety has compiled a "Welcome to Your New Lab" web page with links to important information about safety, policies, contact information, and more as you begin your research.
Gatorlink
Q. How do I get an email account and password?
A. UF employees are provided email service via our Gatorlink program. As a UF employee, you will be issued a GatorLink username and password, which includes a free email inbox, free web space and a monthly dial-up quota at a minimal cost. A GatorLink account also provides a username@ufl.edu e-mail address. Every student, faculty member, and staff member is expected to have a GatorLink username and password. GatorLink also offers access to a variety of campus computing services at no cost, in addition to fee-based services. For more information visit http://help.gatorlink.ufl.edu/.
Q. What is my UFID, and when do I receive one?
A. The UFID is the identifier number for all University of Florida faculty, staff and students. Your UFID is an eight-digit number displayed using a dash between the fourth and fifth digits as in 1234-5678. All employees are assigned a UFID number upon hire. You will then need to obtain your Gator 1 card.
Gator1 Card
Q. What is a Gator 1 card?
A. The Gator 1 Card is the official University of Florida picture ID card. It is required of all students, faculty, and staff. Many activities on campus are only available upon presentation of the Gator 1 Card. For more information visit http://www.gator1card.ufl.edu/Gator1C_info.asp.
Q. Where do I go to get my Gator 1 card?
A. For those employees located on main campus, visit ID Card Services located in the Reitz Union in Room G071. Health Center employees may visit Biomedical Media Services located in the Communicore Bldg, Room C3-3.
Parking and Transportation
Q. How can I purchase a parking decal?
A. Parking decals may be purchased at Parking and Transportation Services, which is located at the corner of Gale Lemerand Drive and Mowry Road. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You must present your vehicle’s tag number and your UF ID when purchasing your decal. Decals may be purchased either annually, for the current semester, monthly or weekly. Annual decals may be renewed each year beginning April 1. The decal year begins May 1. Visit their web site for pricing information.
Q. Do I need to have a parking decal?
A. All individuals who wish to park a motor vehicle on campus during restricted hours must display a valid parking decal or permit or park in a metered space and pay the appropriate fee. Restricted hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., unless otherwise indicated. For more information about parking decals visit http://www.parking.ufl.edu/default.htm.
Q. Can I ride the RTS buses through campus- how much does it cost?
A. Any individual with a valid Gator 1 card may ride the RTS buses for free. View schedules and routes at http://go-rts.com/.
Training
Q. I’ve been hired by UF. When can I enroll for training and orientation?
A. You may enroll in training workshops as soon as your appointment is finalized in the myUFL system; please see your supervisor to confirm when this has occurred. New TEAMS employees are expected to attend New Employee Orientation within their first month of employment. Please contact Training and Organizational Development (392-4626 or training@ufl.edu) directly with questions about registering for training.
Q. How can I sign up for myUFL classes?
A. You can register for training workshops using the myUFL self service page and request training enrollment. At my.ufl.edu, click on My Self Service, then select Training and Development, then choose Request Training Enrollment. You also can contact Training and Organizational Development directly (392-4626). For specific lists of workshops, dates, and descriptions visit the training web site.
Q. How do I find other employee's phone numbers and email addresses?
A. UF provides an online directory as well as a published directory. To access the online directory visit http://phonebook.ufl.edu/. To locate an employee enter the name, email, or GatorLink to locate the person. Some individuals may elect to not have personal information posted.
Benefits
Q. How do I sign up for benefits?
A. New employees should attend a Group Benefits Enrollment Session to sign up for benefits. Please visit the training web site for specific dates of available session. Employees may also enroll themselves in state-sponsored pans online through the People First web site. For further information you may contact the Benefits office directly at 392-2HRS (2477) or benefits@ufl.edu
Q. What are the benefits the university offers to employees?
A. There are a number of benefits options available to employees including health, vision, dental, disability, and life insurance. Please visit the benefits web site or view the online benefits tutorial which provides you with current information relating to benefits information. A tutorial on retirement options is also available.
Q. When are my benefits going to be effective?
A. Provided you have completed enrollment within 60 calendar days of employment, your benefits will begin the first of the month following your initial payment and submission of completed paperwork.
Q. What happens if I do not enroll for benefits within my 60 days of employment?
A. Unfortunately, if you miss this window, you will have to wait until the university’s open enrollment period (typically in September or October of each year) before being able to enroll in benefits.
Q. What happens when I have a work or life-event change?
A. UF employees experiencing or expecting to experience a “qualifying status change” should contact University Benefits and Retirement as soon as possible to ensure they receive the appropriate benefits. Employees have only 31 days after a qualifying event occurs to make coverage changes.
A status change includes any of the following:
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Start of or return from leave of absence (i.e., parental, medical, or personal leave)
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Marriage
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Termination
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Birth or adoption of a child
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Death or ineligibility of a dependent
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Change in FTE
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Gain or loss of other coverage
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Eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid
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Court order pertaining to children (i.e., legal guardianship or a divorce decree)
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Change in spouse's employment
Q. Does UF allow employees to register for college courses?
A. Yes. All full-time benefits-eligible employees are eligible to register for college courses (TEAMS, USPS, and many Academic Personnel). Please visit the Employee Education Program web site for more information.
Paychecks
Q. How do I view my “paycheck” online?
A. The university currently follows a bi-weekly pay system. To view your paycheck (also known as an earnings statement) online you need to access the myUFL system at my.ufl.edu. Entering your GatorLink (described above) and password, then navigate to the “My Self Service” menu and select “Payroll and Compensation.” From there, select “View Paycheck.” Paychecks are available for view the Monday before they post to your account.
Q. Do I receive a paycheck, or is direct deposit required?
A. The University of Florida currently has a direct deposit policy that states, "All employees, including temporary hires and non-work study students, are required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program as a condition of employment, regardless of date of hire." Employees who are unable to establish an account at a financial institution must request to have their salary applied to a pay/debit card through Wachovia, called "My Direct Pay Card." For more information, visit Payroll's web site.
Q. How long does it take for direct deposit to take effect?
A. In most instances, if your authorization is received by the 10th of the month, the direct deposit will take effect the next month or within three weeks. If it takes longer than this, contact the University of Florida Payroll department at (352) 392-1231.