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| July 2010 | |
UF announces salary increase
plan for
eligible employees
On June 11, President Machen announced a salary increase plan for faculty, staff, and graduate assistants for the 2010-11 year. Merit salary increases will be in the Friday, August 27, paycheck (retroactive to July 1 for 12-month employees).Merit increases for faculty
A 4 percent merit increase pool has been created for salaried faculty. Individual merit increases should be based upon approved departmental merit criteria recommended by the chair, approved by the dean, and supported by completed performance evaluations. Any merit increases awarded will be added to the base salary and will be effective July 1 for 12 month faculty, August 12 for 10-month faculty and August 16 for 9-month faculty.
For faculty in the Health Science Center colleges who derive some or all of their salary from clinically-funded sources, a merit raise pool allocation will be created.
To be considered for the merit increase,12-month faculty must have a hire date of June 30, 2010, or earlier; 9-month faculty must have a hire date of May 15, 2010, or earlier; and 10-month faculty must have a hire date of June 9, 2010, or earlier. Faculty must also have a current satisfactory performance evaluation.
Part-time salaried faculty who were hired on or before the eligibility dates in the above paragraphs and meet performance criteria may be considered for a merit increase.
Faculty members who have received notification of non-renewal or layoff are not eligible for a merit increase.
Faculty members in the collective bargaining unit will be governed by the terms of the agreement with the faculty union. Negotiations are currently underway with the faculty union related to 2010-11 salary increases. Another communication will be sent once agreement has been reached with the union.
Merit increases for staff (TEAMS and USPS)
A 3 percent merit increase pool has been created for all eligible staff.
Any merit increase awarded to staff members will be added to the base salary and will be effective July 1 for 12 month staff. August 12 for 10-month staff and August 16 for 9-month staff.
To be considered for the merit increase, 12-month staff must have had a hire date of June 30, 2010, or earlier; 9-month staff must have a hire date of May 15, 2010, or earlier; and 10-month staff must have a hire date of June 9, 2010, or earlier. Individual merit increases should be supported by completed performance evaluations. Employees must have a current performance rating of minimally achieves or better to be considered. In the absence of a current performance evaluation, the employee will be considered to be performing at a satisfactory level.
Part-time staff hired on or before the eligibility dates in the above paragraphs and meet performance criteria may be considered for a merit increase.
Employees who have received notification of non-renewal or layoff are not eligible for a merit increase.
Staff in collective bargaining units are governed by the terms of their respective contracts. Agreement has been reached with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the union representing USPS employees in positions covered by the respective bargaining unit. Additional communication will be sent once agreement has been reached with other applicable unions.
Increase to minimum wage for non-exempt TEAMS and USPS employees
Effective July 1, 2010, the minimum wage for non-exempt TEAMS and USPS employees increased from $9.02 to $9.75. TEAMS and USPS staff pay range minimums lower than $9.75 were adjusted effective July 1, 2010.
Employees with questions regarding the salary increases may contact the appropriate core office. Please contact Classification and Compensation at (352) 392-2477 or compensation@ufl.edu with questions about TEAMS and USPS employees. Please contact Academic Personnel at (352) 392-2477 or hrsacademicper@admin.ufl.edu with questions about faculty salary increases.
This month marks the beginning for a number of the changes that will impact the state-sponsored plans this year. Beginning with the July 2 paycheck, participants enrolled in either the spouse program or executive service plans began paying a biweekly premium for health coverage. There will also be other changes communicated during this year’s open enrollment that will affect the new plan year. Some of the changes include:
- Increased employer and part-time employee health premiums
- Adjusted co-pays for some health services and prescriptions
- Reduced coverage on the basic state life plan
- Additional optional life coverage levels available for employee purchase
- New Medical Reimbursement debit card
- Over-the-counter medication reimbursement changes
- PPO prescription mail order requirement
- Prescription coverage to include smoking cessation medications
- Expanded dependent eligibility criteria
- PPO preventive care coverage to include mammograms
- Elimination of the PPO 2 million dollar coverage limit and pre-existing condition limitation for dependents under age 19
- Vista HMO name change
Additional employees may be impacted by AvMed security breach
In February 2010, AvMed health plans notified members of a security breach. The breach was the result of stolen laptops containing personal health information of State of Florida employees including active and inactive subscribers, their dependents, and retirees who may have had the plan since 2003.
In recent weeks, through a forensic analysis, AvMed has learned that an additional group of state employees may be impacted. Please visit the UF Benefits Alerts section for more details on the Avmed security breach update. In response, AvMed mailed letters on June 7 to this group of employees explaining the steps taken and the credit protection available to them. Second letters were not mailed to those who received one in February 2010.
AvMed has secured Debix Security to help provide credit/identity protection for 24 months to those who were affected. The protection coverage is not automatic. If you received a letter, you will need to take appropriate action explained in your letter to activate the Debix account either by phone or online.
For additional information, please call AvMed’s toll-free number (877) 263-7998 or for general questions contact the Benefits Office at (352) 392-2477 or email to benefits@ufl.edu.
UF Academy accepting applications for 2010-2011: Discover your leadership potential!
UF Training and Organizational Development, Office of Human Resource Services, is pleased to announce a call for applications to join the UF Academy for 2010-2011. Applications to participate are being accepted from July 26 through close of business on August 27. Participation in the Academy will last from October 2010 through June 2011. Designed for emerging leaders at our institution, the UF Academy is a 9-month program that provides a UF-specific approach for up to 15 recognized star achievers who are “emerging leaders” at UF. Participants are selected via a competitive application process. Entering its eighth year, the UF Academy focuses on immersion in the university culture and exposure to its organizational structure as well as exploring important leadership competencies.
To participate in the Academy, an employee must be exempt with at least two years of supervisory or decision-making responsibility at the University of Florida and meet the additional criteria described on the web site. The “two years of experience” criterion is waived for employees at the assistant director level and above as well as interested faculty members.
For more information, including the application, please visit: http://www.hr.ufl.edu/training/leadership/academy.asp.
Is your department ready for a hurricane?
Hurricane season is upon us again. It is important for each UF department to be ready for potential storms. Here are a few key facts to keep in mind regarding your hurricane response: The UF home page will be the primary source of information regarding class cancellations, campus closures, and work schedules. Announcements will also be sent to faculty, staff, and students via e-mail.
Checklists are available on Environmental Health & Safety’s Emergency Management page to assist departments in preparing their work spaces for hurricanes should the university close. The Departmental Tropical Weather Response and Recovery Plan template assists departments with developing their hurricane plans.
UF will follow forecasts and information provided by the National Weather Service-Jacksonville and the National Hurricane Center. Additional weather resources are available on UF’s weather page at www.ufl.edu/weather.
Are you personally ready for a hurricane?
An important part of UF preparedness is making sure your family and home are ready for a storm.
- Take actions now to be prepared including assembling a disaster supply kit.
- Know in advance if your role at UF will require you to work during or immediately after a storm and make necessary arrangements for your family and pets. Tips for preparing a personalized family disaster plan are available from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and IFAS Solutions for Your Life.
- If Alachua County is threatened by a hurricane, shelters will be opened on campus for UF faculty, staff, students, and their families. Shelter locations and information will be posted on the home page. In most cases, on-campus residents and those living in sturdy construction, non-flood prone areas can shelter in their home. If using a shelter, please bring a change of clothes, bedding, pillow, toiletry items, and your prescription medications.
- In the event of a power outage, have a battery-powered radio in your home to monitor local media including announcements from UF. Campus radio stations will provide information and simulcast WCJB TV-20 newscasts when appropriate.
to upgrade
People First, the state of Florida’s benefits administrator, anticipates “going live” with its system upgrade on July 20. The system will boast a brand new look and feel designed to make your benefit experience easier when enrolling in state-sponsored plans online. Some changes you can expect to see with the system upgrade include:
- New logo and color on the web site’s login page
- Easy-to-read message center
- New employee home page with alerts
- Feature to update a temporary home address.Note: Permanent address changes must be made with UF Human Resource Services
- Improved performance (quicker reaction time)
- New hire benefits or QSC events can be enrolled on separate days without a system lock
- Support internet browsers such as Internet Explorer 7.0, 8.0 and Mozilla Firefox
- Allows up to 30 characters (min. of 8 required)
- Alpha characters will now be case sensitive (upper/lower)
- Require at least one of each: a numeric character, an upper case & a lower case letters
- Special characters will still be allowed, but not required
- Users will not be allowed to use their last 10 passwords
As People First prepares to launch the upgrade, the system will be shut down from July 9 at 5 p.m. until July 19 at 5 p.m. New hires or employees with qualifying status changes (QSCs) during this time must complete benefit enrollment forms and fax them to the People First Service Center by the appropriate deadlines. All elections must still occur within the 31-day QSC or 60-day new hire window; no extensions will be granted.
On July 20, transactions faxed during the shutdown period will be processed in the order received. If you have questions, please contact University Benefits and Retirement at (352) 392-2477 or benefits@ufl.edu.
New Supervisory Challenge certification and curriculum available this fall:
Managers-only cohort also launched
Starting in the fall of 2010, “Managing at UF: The Supervisory Challenge” will be redesigned to align with the University of Florida’s leadership/management competency model, with new workshops and certification requirements. This new certification will include a range of workshops designed with UF in mind. Workshops are free and open to all faculty and staff who are interested in learning more about being an effective manager.
To achieve the new “Managing at UF” certification starting this fall, participants will attend ten required workshops and two electives—for a total of 12 workshops. Employees who choose to work toward the new “Managing at UF: The Supervisory Challenge” certificate can do so at their own pace and complete workshops in any order. There is no time limit for completion of the new certificate. Certain workshops taken under the earlier version of the “Supervisory Challenge” certification will count toward this new certification as well.
Look for the new “Managing at UF: The Supervisory Challenge” curriculum and certification requirements in the fall 2010 catalog. Registration opens August 2. Note: Summer is the last chance for employees to complete the current Supervisory Challenge certificate program (four core courses and two electives).
New! Managers-Only Cohort Opportunity
If you are a manager, you have a unique opportunity to complete most of the “Managing at UF: The Supervisory Challenge” certificate with a cohort of peers. Participating in the cohort can provide managers with a forum in which to discuss issues related to leadership and management with like-minded leaders on campus. If you’re a manager and would like to attend this training, let us know by applying; a call for applications will occur starting August 2 when fall registration opens. Spaces are limited. Managers who apply for the cohort option will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
As part of this program, each participant will engage in a 360-degree evaluation process to help direct his or her professional development.
Designed to provide participants with insight into skills and behaviors needed to be effective leaders and based on the UF competency model, this 360-degree evaluation will provide feedback from the employee’s manager, peers, staff members, and others (identified by participant).
Look for more information and a call for applications on August 2.
Ongoing Training
In keeping with current practice, the “Managing at UF: The Supervisory Challenge” workshops will continue to be available for all managers and those who are interested in management.
To learn more, visit http://www.hr.ufl.edu/training/leadership/sc.asp, and watch for our fall schedule, available starting August 2.
Campus Preview session for myUFL Financial System Upgrade available spring
Registration is now open for Campus Preview Sessions, designed to introduce some of the changes to the myUFL system that will occur in conjunction with the myUFL Financial Systems Upgrade slated for spring 2011.
As an initial step toward preparing campus, these preview sessions are designed to give participants a sense of what to expect when the systems are upgraded. As such, these sessions are appropriate for system users who are responsible for financial transactions in their areas as well as managers who may be interested in learning more about the upgrade generally. Additional detailed training will be provided in fall 2010 and spring 2011.
To register to attend a Campus Preview Session, please navigate to my.ufl.edu, My Self Service, Request Training Enrollment. Search for course number PST150. These sessions will run through the end of July and also will be made available online by the end of July.
For more information about the preview sessions, please contact UF Training and Organizational Development at training@ufl.edu, (352) 392-4626. For more information about the myUFL Financial Systems Upgrade project, please visit its web site at upgrade.my.ufl.edu.
Refresher "Preventing Sexual Harassment" training now available online
Human Resource Services has now added refresher training to its online "Preventing Sexual Harassment" curriculum.
All UF employees who previously attended the instructor-led "Mini-Conference on Sexual Harassment" (GET119), but did not complete the online training since it's inception in November 2008, should complete the online refresher version. These employees should complete the refresher version by September 30, 2010, and all UF employees should review and complete this training content every two years. An 80 percent score on the course's mastery test is required for training credit to be given.
New employees (faculty and staff, including OPS) are expected to complete the "First Time User" version of the "Preventing Sexual Harassment" tutorial within their first 30 days of employment.
Both the refresher training and the new version of the "Preventing Sexual Harassment" training may be accessed via the myUFL system (my.ufl.edu). To access the training, please navigate to My Self Service, Training and Development, Training and Development Home. Under the Online Learning heading, click the "Preventing Sexual Harassment" link, at which time you will have two options: First Time User or Refresher.
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Paying for your dental care just got a little easier
A new UF employee payroll deduction option allows you to pay for your dental care with interest-free payments over time at most UF College of Dentistry clinics. All faculty, TEAMS, and USPS employees who work at least half time are eligible for this benefit.
“We know that some people delay important dental services because they can’t afford to pay for them. We are pleased that UF’s Human Resources department was able to work with us so that for the first time we can offer payroll deduction for dental service for university faculty and staff,” said Teresa A. Dolan, D.D.S., M.P.H., dean of the college. “Signing up for the service is easy – patients just need to let us know at the time of their care,” she said.
The college offers a full range of dental services including cleanings, fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, braces and Invisalign, gum treatment, and implants, as well as more specialized services including oral and maxillofacial surgery, and oral cancer screenings and treatment. Patients can choose to be seen by dental faculty, residents, or students training for their D.M.D. degrees in clinics where work is overseen by dental faculty.
For more information about the college’s services, visit its web site at www.dental.ufl.edu.
Employee Education Program accepting applications for the fall semester
The Employee Education Program (EEP) is a popular benefit available to eligible UF faculty and staff. The program provides tuition assistance for up to six credit hours of eligible college-level courses per semester.
Employees interested in participating in the EEP during the fall semester should register and turn in applications to the institution they plan to attend by the following deadlines:
University of Florida:
EEP Registration Period: August 12 – 27
EEP Applications Due: 5 p.m. on August 28
Registration after August 27 is subject to a $100 late registration fee.
Santa Fe College:
EEP Applications Due: July 15
If you register on or before this date, your EEP application is due to the SFC cashier’s office by 4 p.m. on July 15. Registration is still permitted after July 15; however, the EEP application must be turned in by 4 p.m. the next business day after registering.
Employees attending other institutions due to work location should register before the registration deadlines at their approved institutions. Completed EEP applications for the fall semester must be turned in by Friday, July 23, to Kenya Williams, Education Coordinator. Applications may be faxed to (352) 392-1055 or e-mailed to kenya-williams@ufl.edu. For complete program participation requirements, eligibility, and application deadlines, please visit www.hr.ufl.edu/education/eep.
For questions about this program, please contact Kenya Williams, UF Training and Organizational Development, at (352) 273-1761 or kenya-williams@ufl.edu.
UF Equal Employment Opportunity is now the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity 
Beginning in July, the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity’s name was changed to the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. This name change captures the comprehensive responsibilities of the area and its role in the campus community and reflects a more current approach to the area’s function—working with departments to promote fairness, respect, and excellence through diversity. The office’s goal of providing quality services to the entire campus community continues to be its top priority.
Registration for fall training opens August 2
Look for revised Supervisory Challenge curriculum and other popular workshops, including the Pro3 series, myUFL systems training, and business communication training.
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UF is now Tobacco-Free
UF officially became a Tobacco-Free Campus on July 1. Employees, students, and visitors may now visit tobaccofree.ufl.edu to find up-to-date information and resources. The official policy and additional information may be found on the Policies section of the HRS web site. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Employee Relations at (352) 392-1072.
"Grants Accounting Update" course is now available online
Register to view GET195, “Grants Accounting Update,” via the myUFL system (my.ufl.edu> My Self Service> Request Training Enrollment). To improve accountability and provide enhanced accounting controls for the university, several changes to grants accounting were introduced July 1.
The changes, a result of audit recommendations, are designed to help the university manage grants more effectively and to provide better documentation for certain transactions. This overview session explains these changes, which are designed to support standards surrounding grants accounting at the University of Florida.
New! View your job-related health assessment in the
myUFL system
Employees required to have a health assessment before beginning work at UF, needing periodic assessment renewals, or involved with research that requires an assessment, can now check the status of job-related health assessments by logging into the myUFL system and navigating to My Self Service > UF Health Assessments.
UF health assessment requirements are documented in the Occupational Medicine Program managed by Environmental Health & Safety and the Student Health Care Center. Policies and procedures, along with other OCCMED details, are available at http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/OCCMED/
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Mark your calendar for important Open Enrollment dates!
This year's benefits Open Enrollment period and Benefits Fair are only a couple months away –don’t forget to mark your calendar with these important dates. Open Enrollment runs September 27 through October 22. The Benefits Fair, which hosts various insurance and retirement vendors, will be held October 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Touchdown Terrace, which is located in the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Watch for details about these and other events in upcoming editions of the InfoGator. Questions? Please contact University Benefits at (352) 392-2HRS or benefits@ufl.edu.
FRS Member Annual Statements available in 
late September
FRS Pension Plan Member Annual Statements (MAS) will be available by late September. If you already elected to receive your MAS via e-mail, now is the time to review your e-mail address in your online account profile and make any necessary updates. To view your e-mail address, login to your online services account at https://www.rol.frs.state.fl.us/
login.aspx and update your e-mail address, if necessary, on the Profile Settings page.
To sign up for MAS via e-mail, follow the above link to login to your account, then select the e-mail option on the Communications Preferences page. Accessing your state retirement communications online ensures you have access to your MAS and other publications as soon as they are available–and helps reduce waste.
Division of Continuing Education administrative offices moved to UF’s Eastside campus
Administrative offices for the following departments have moved from their current location at 2029 NW 13 Street, to the Eastside campus located at 2124 NE Waldo Road:
- Division of Continuing Education
- AP Finance and Administration
- Conference Department
- AP Information Technology
- Distance Learning
- Flexible Learning
- Leadership Development Institute
The offices support non-traditional academic programs and are located on the first floor of the administrative building, which will serve more than 300 employees. The new office building expands the university presence in east Gainesville and assists the economic revitalization in that area.
For more information, contact Rebecca Johnson at (352) 294-0868 or email rjohnson@dce.ufl.edu.
Apply for a passport on campus!
UF Mail and Document Services is now designated a United States Passport Acceptance Facility. Passport hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 715 Radio Road. To apply for a U.S. passport, bring an original birth certificate, current photo ID, and two passport photos. For more information, click here to view the flier, call (352) 392-1134, or e-mail egraeler@ufl.edu.
Employees honored for 35 years of service
Congratulations to the 31 employees recently honored for tremendous dedication and service. Click here for a list of those with 35 years of service to the University of Florida.
For more information, and to view photos from the longevity luncheon held at the president’s home, please visit http://www.hr.ufl.edu/awards/other.asp
New textbook rental program available this fall
In response to the increase in textbook prices, Rent‐A‐Text, a new program created through a partnership of the UF bookstores and the Follett Higher Education Group, offers 50 percent off more than 1,000 titles of textbooks. Faculty and staff can search for rentable titles by clicking the faculty tab and searching by ISBN, title, author, or discipline. Follett has compiled a comprehensive, national rental list, available at www.rent-a-text.com.
If you have questions, contact Lynne Vaughan, director of the University of Florida Bookstore, at lvaughan@ufl.edu or (352) 392-0194, ext 105.
Financial planning assistance available to employees
Investment company representatives are available to meet with UF employees on a regular basis. Please call for an appointment.
TIAA-CREF
On-site in HRS Building
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
(877) 267-4510, ext 5151
Fidelity
June 15 and 16
A representative will be available for appointments on Tuesday,
July 20
(888) 788-7500
VALIC
On-site in HRS Building
Monday mornings
(800) 892-5558, ext 87260
ING
On-site in HRS Building
Thursday mornings
(352) 372-1802
MetLife
(352) 371-7638 or (352) 219-0835
BENCOR
On-site in HRS Building
Monday afternoons
(386) 365-4448 or (386) 344-3788
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Retirement and Financial Planning Workshop
Registration for this information session, is currently open through myUFL.
- FRS/DROP Workshop (GET573): Wednesday, July 28, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
UF Eye Specialties Clinic offering a limited-time employee discount on iLASIK vision correction
To learn more about iLASIK and meet the surgeon, attend a free seminar
on July 21 at the Eye Specialties
Clinic at Hampton Oaks (UF Ophthalmology). The clinic is currently offering discounted pricing on LASIK procedures to UF faculty and staff. Seminar seating is limited, so register soon. To RSVP for the seminar, or for more information about iLASIK, please call (352) 273-8714.
Weight Watchers at work offered through Living Well
The Living Well Fitness Center for UF faculty and staff is sponsoring a Weight Watchers 12-week At Work meeting series Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. in the Florida Gym, Room 240. For more information, please contact Danielle Bean or Terri Tuttle. An open house will be held July 8, and the first Weight Watchers session begins July 15.
©2010 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, Angela Gould; Human Resource Services; P.O. Box 115006; (352) 392-4626; TDD 800-955-8771. The InfoGator is available in an alternative format upon request.
