News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.
Employees who participated in Flex-Plan for the 2012 calendar year have a grace period of January 1, 2013 to March 15, 2013 that will allow them to maximize their 2012 benefit. Employees have until March 31, 2013 to submit claims for expenses incurred on March 15, 2013 or before.
Claims can be submitted online at www.flex-plan.com or through a paper form available at www.up.edu/hr (http://tinyurl.com/b7xha33). Contact hr@up.edu with questions.
Two investment professionals and a tax attorney from TIAA-CREF will host a brown bag lunch presentation on 2013 tax law changes and how they affect personal finances on Wednesday, March 6, at noon in Buckley Center room 163. Contact Andy Sherwood, human resources, at sherwood@up.edu for more information. Snacks will be provided.
Employees who participated in Flex-Plan for the 2012 calendar year have a grace period of January 1, 2013 to March 15, 2013 that will allow employees to maximize their 2012 benefit. Employees have until March 31, 2013 to submit claims for expenses incurred on March 15, 2013 or before. Claims can be submitted online at www.flex-plan.com or through a paper form available at up.edu/hr, Employee Benefits, Flexible Spending Account Information (http://tinyurl.com/b7xha33). Contact hr@up.edu with questions.
Starting on February 4, Andy Sherwood, formerly of the UP alumni relations office, has taken on the position of benefits administrator in the human resources office. He is located in the HR offices in Waldschmidt Hall room 502 at extension 8981 and can be reached by e-mail at sherwood@up.edu. Please direct any benefits-related question you have directly to Andy.
Mark Gilgan from TIAA-CREF will be on campus on Tuesday, February 26 to give a brown bag presentation on the state of UP employees’ retirement accounts. The presentation will be held at noon in Buckley Center room 163. All are welcome to bring their lunches and join fellow employees and HR staff for an informative session on retirement.
University president Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C. has announced the appointment of Thomas Greene as provost, effective immediately. Greene has served as interim provost since August 2012. Greene’s administrative duties on The Bluff include oversight of all faculty and academic personnel and programs, as well as the Clark Family Library, the Garaventa Center, the Franz Center for Entrepreneurship, the registrar’s office, institutional research, and the studies abroad and honors programs. Greene is also a professor in the School of Education.
He assumes the position last held by Br. Donald Stabrowski, C.S.C., who left the University last September to serve as assistant provincial for the Congregation of Holy Cross, U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers.
Greene has served the University in a variety of leadership positions, including dean of the Graduate School, interim dean and associate dean of the School of Education, and director of teacher education. In 2010 he won the Culligan Award, the University’s highest faculty honor. For more information contact the president’s office at 7101 or simek@up.edu.
W-2 tax forms for employees who signed up for electronic delivery for 2012 are now available in Employee Self Service at http://tinyurl.com/8y5yq65 (you will need to provide your UP login and password). Instructions for accessing and printing W-2 forms can be found on the UP web at http://tinyurl.com/ay8sfrz. For 2012 you will need to click the “Printable W-2” button in the lower left-hand corner to get the official document to submit with tax returns. Paper forms were mailed on Wednesday, January 30. New this year is code DD in box 12. This is an informational box that lists the total cost of healthcare that employees and the university paid for the calendar year. For more information contact payroll at 8338.
University employees have until Sunday, February 17 to form their teams for the second round of competition for Thrive Across America and Mix it UP, according to Carol Welch, human resources. Winners from the fall competition will be enjoying their catered lunches in the next few weeks, so now is the time to team up and work toward being in the spring competition’s winner’s circle. Remember, you don’t need to be a star athlete to compete in Thrive Across America or Mix It UP; much like the story of the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady can win the race.
For Thrive Across America, start or join a team of 4-10 coworkers and for every 30 minutes or more of exercise per day, you earn a Thrive Across America star. The more stars you earn, the higher your score. Those who signed up last year do not need to sign up again. For more information go to http://up.thriveacrossamerica.com or contact Welch at 7461 or welch@up.edu. For Mix It UP, start or join a team of 4 to 10 coworkers and prepare your taste buds for adventure (team membership is not required to participate). Each day, try different kinds of fruits and vegetables and log them on the Mix It Up website at http://up.gomixitup.com. Keep in mind that while employees don’t have to create a new log in and password, they do have to create a new team and sign up teammates. Teams can use the same team name from fall or create a new name. For more information contact Welch at 7461 or welch@up.edu.
Mix It Up is back for all University of Portland employees, according to Carol Welch, human resources. All you have to do is eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, in a variety of colors — there are more than 120 choices. Start or join a team of 4 to 10 coworkers and prepare your taste buds for adventure (team membership is not required to participate). Each day, try different kinds of fruits and vegetables and log them on the Mix It Up website.
Look for these important dates:
If you’ve already registered for Mix It Up, there’s no need to sign up again but you will need to form your new team for this second competition. You can download the Mix It Up app for the iPhone or Android from the App Store (http://tinyurl.com/a6uopok) or Google Play (http://tinyurl.com/ahq2wxk) and log your produce servings as you go. For more information contact Welch at 7461 or welch@up.edu.
Thrive Across America is back, and if you didn’t participate in this online physical activity program the first time, now’s your chance to join in the fun. Start or join a team of 4-10 coworkers and rise to the challenge. Each day you record 30 minutes or more of exercise, you earn a Thrive Across America star. The more stars you earn, the higher your score.
Look for these important dates:
Those who signed up last year do not need to sign up again. You can also download the TIA app for iPhone or Android from the App Store (http://tinyurl.com/azxcsjk) or Android Market (http://tinyurl.com/bjvjget) and log time as you go. For more information go to http://up.thriveacrossamerica.com or contact Welch at 7461 or welch@up.edu.