The University’s TIAA-CREF representative, Andrew Martinez, will be on campus on Tuesday, December 8 and Wednesday, December 9. To schedule a meeting, go to www.tiaa-cref.org/schedulenow or call TIAA-CREF at (877) 842-2028, and press 5 to schedule an appointment.
Human Resources
Tuition Remission Reminder
Employees are reminded that Spring 2016 tuition remission requests are due by November 15 in order to avoid late charges on students’ accounts. There are separate application forms for undergraduate course work and graduate courses. A tuition remission summary is also available on the HR website at this link.
For more information, stop by the HR offices on the fifth floor of Waldschmidt Hall or e-mail hr@up.edu.
Lunch & Learn Session, Nov. 10
The human resources office’s Lunch & Learn session, “How Optimism Can Improve Your Quality of Life” by Lisa Mitchell of Cascade Centers, will take place on Tuesday, November 10, from noon to 1 p.m., in the Clark Library conference room (no. 222). Mitchell posits that people can change their outlook on life in a positive way, which can change their quality of life. A definition of optimism, how to think differently, and a process to help people be more optimistic will be provided.
For more information contact HR at hr@up.edu.
2016 Open Enrollment Period Information
Employees will need to either confirm their current coverage or make changes using the UP online Open Enrollment Tool by Tuesday, December 1, at 3 p.m. All coverage changes will be effective January 1, 2016.
The Flexible Spending Account is an annual election. Employees who had this benefit in 2015 and wish to continue will need to re-enroll online using the 2016 FSA Enrollment Form and return to completed form to HR.
For more information, please see Nicole Bresnahan, human resources, in Waldschmidt Hall 504 or bresnaha@up.edu.
Open Enrollment Coming Nov. 2-Dec. 1
The 2016 open enrollment period will run from Monday, November 2 through Tuesday, December 1 at 3 p.m. This is the time to either confirm or change medical and dental coverage and flexible spending account (FSA) elections.
The Open Enrollment Tool and the FSA Enrollment Form are available on the HR website. To access these resources, visit “up.edu/hr”. To confirm or change healthcare coverage, select “Open Enrollment Tool” and login with UP user name and password.
The University is switching FSA vendors for 2016 to Discovery Benefits. This new vendor will provide a higher level of customer service and more online resources to support employees. Any qualifying carry-over dollars will be kept whole during the transition. Employees who are not electing the benefit for the new year and have a balance must be sure to use the 3-month grace period to send in remaining receipts. All receipts for 2015 will be submitted to Flex Plan Services (recently rebranded to Navia Benefits).
Everyone who wishes to enroll in FSA for 2016 must complete a new enrollment form. To access the form select “FSA Enrollment Form” on the HR website and return to Nicole Bresnahan at bresnaha@up.edu.
Lunch & Learn Session, Nov. 4
The next Lunch & Learn session, titled “Cholesterol Counts: What You Should Know,” will take place on Wednesday, November 4, from noon to 1 p.m., in the Clark Library conference room (222). Lean about what cholesterol is and why the level of cholesterol in your body is important. A representative of Kaiser Permanente will review symptoms, diagnosis, and monitoring of cholesterol. Prevention and treatment strategies that can improve cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease will also be covered.
For more information contact human resources at 8981 or hr@up.edu.
UP Wellness Fair: October 28
All employees are welcome to attend this year’s UP Wellness Fair on Wednesday, October 28, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in Franz Hall Room 120. New and longtime vendors will participate to bring UP employees the latest news about benefits, and will offer massages and great raffle prizes. The University’s employee assistance plan vendor will be here as well as other health-oriented organizations.
For more information contact HR at 8981 or hr@up.edu.
On-Site Flu Shot Clinic, Oct. 28
Faculty and staff who are covered by Kaiser insurance will have the opportunity to receive a flu vaccine sponsored by the human resources office on Wednesday, October 28, during the Wellness Fair in Franz Hall room 120. Please remember to bring a Kaiser Permanente membership card and a photo I.D.
For more information contact Nicole Bresnahan, human resources, at 8752 or bresnaha@up.edu.
Flexible Spending Account Vendor Changing in 2016
Beginning in January 2016, the University will be using a new vendor for flexible spending accounts. Discovery Benefits promises to bring a higher level of customer service and more on-line resources to support employee needs. All claims for 2015 will be completed through Flex-Plan Services (recently rebranded as Navia Benefits). Employees who have an allowed carryover at the end of the calendar year will automatically have those funds moved to Discovery Benefits for 2016 claims. More information will be available at the Wellness Fair on October 28.
For more information, contact HR at 8981 or hr@up.edu.
New HR Director Named
Sandy Chung has been appointed director of human resources for the University of Portland, according to Alan Timmins, vice president for financial affairs.
Chung has extensive experience in human resources from her current position serving as director of employee and labor relations at Stanford University, and prior position as director of human resources and chief Title IX & diversity officer at Santa Monica College. She specializes in employment and equal learning opportunity laws, and has experience in work culture issues, compliance, processes, systems, and analytics.
A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College and a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, Chung is also a member of the California and Oregon State Bars. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, immigrated to the United States as a child, and grew up in the Portland area, where she graduated from Sunset High School. Chung will assume her new duties beginning December 1, 2015.
For more information contact financial affairs at 7507 or healyr@up.edu.