HUMAN RESOURCES NEWS

The Office of Human Resources would like to announce the following new employees to the University of Baltimore community:

Joan Anson, director, Office of Admissions
Thomas Arendall-Salvetti, librarian, Langsdale Library
Michele Beall, administrative assistant, Robert G. Merrick School of Business administration
Michael Cather, assistant dean of development and alumni relations, School of Law
Melanie Coburn, admissions counselor, Office of Admissions
Jonathan Coppola, groundskeeper, Physical Plant
Linda Cortez, director of academic resources, School of Law
Michael Cuneo, executive administrative assistant, Office of the Provost
Mark Dee, IT support specialist, Office of Technology Services
Greg deLope, maintenance aide, Physical Plant
Tiffany Flood, security officer, Department of Public Safety
Kelly Hammett, student adviser, International Services Office
Shantell Harris, security officer, Department of Public Safety
Leisel Harry-Fowlkes, executive administrative assistant, Office for Institutional Advancement
Troy Hill, attorney, Schaefer Center for Public Policy
Charlotte Hoffman, administrative assistant, School of Law
Doris Holtzner, office clerk, Office of Admissions
April Johnson, security officer, Department of Public Safety
Rashida Jones, attorney, Schaefer Center for Public Policy
Seth Kamen, director of community outreach, Office for Student Affairs
Steven Kitchen, associate vice president, Administrative Services
Gloria Kunik, assistant provost, Office of the Provost
Lam Lim, IT web administrator, Office of Technology Services
Raymond McCree, director of operations, Office for Student Affairs
Angela Mosley, admissions counselor, Office of Admissions
Thaddeus Nongni, security officer, Department of Public Safety
Mason Paris, PeopleSoft project manager, Office of Technology Services
Kristin Redmon, graphic designer, Office of University Relations
Theresa Silanskis, vice president, Office for Institutional Advancement
Tara Sloane, attorney, Schaefer Center for Public Policy
Darlene Brannigan Smith, associate dean for graduate and executive programs, Robert G. Merrick School of Business
Deana Smith, security officer, Department of Public Safety
Pamela Steve, administrative assistant, Office of Auxiliary Services
Robert Streib, associate director, Office of Auxiliary Services
Williette Strong, legal assistant, Schaefer Center for Public Policy
Steven Thorpe, librarian, Langsdale Library
Sara Tomko, graphic designer, Office of University Relations
Stacey Walker, security officer, Department of Public Safety
Joan Weber, theater agent-special events, Office of Auxiliary Services
Kathy Vicarini, human resources associate, Office of Human Resources
Laura Vu, legal assistant, Schaefer Center for Public Policy
Paul Walsh, manager, IT technology, Office of Technology Services
Alvina White, IT programmer analyst, Office of Technology Services

And a fond farewell to those staff who have left UB:

April Baer, School of Law
Joyce Bauguess, School of Law
Vincent Blackburn, Office of the Comptroller
Alice Branham, Department of Public Safety (retired)
Ronald Briggs, Schaefer Center for Public Policy
Lorna Busch, School of Business
Sheila Cohen, Schaefer Center for Public Policy
Alison Davitt, School of Law
Jim Foster, Langsdale Library (retired)
Courtney Lausch, Office of University Relations
William McCrorey, Physical Plant (retired)
Antoine McNair, Department of Public Safety
Emma Shields, Physical Plant
Robin Travis, School of Law
Joan Wolk, Langsdale Library

Same Person, Different Name?

Lisa Park (formerly Lisa Way)–School of Business, Office of the Dean
Darlene Anderson (formerly Darlene Simpkins)– Office of Admissions
Leslie Stevenson (formerly Leslie Williams)—The Career Center

Health Benefit News

Open Enrollment: This is the first year that open enrollment will NOT occur in the fall; instead, enrollment will take place in the spring. The last enrollment began in mid-May and concluded after the first week of June.

Special Enrollment for UNUM Life: One of the benefits of working for the University System of Maryland is access to a separate life insurance policy through UNUM.  All new employees may enroll in UNUM life within 60 days of their start date and can obtain $50,000 of life insurance without medical review and $20,000 for a spouse. There is no medical review needed for dependent children.

There will be a special enrollment period in October (date TBD) to introduce a new general life insurance plan that will replace the Group Universal Life Program. 

Here are the highlights of the new plan, which will become effective Jan. 1, 2006:

• This is not a mandatory enrollment. Those who currently have UNUM Life will be converted over to the new life insurance plan unless the employee cancels.
• Plan rates will change and, in fact, will be reduced by 10 percent.
• Employees will be able to increase coverage (more than $50,000 requires medical review) and also increase spouse coverage up to 100 percent of the employee amount, not to exceed $150,000. The current plan only provides half of the benefit to a spouse.
• The minimum benefit of employee insurance will be reduced to $10,000 for the employed individual? and $5,000 for spouses (current plan minimums are $20,000 and $10,000, respectively).

New Employees: If you just enrolled in health benefits, it most likely will take two paychecks before you see your deductions and your coverage begins. The plan booklet provided to new employees includes a schedule that lists when your coverage will begin. Once the enrollment form is submitted, it is first processed by the state’s benefits office, then forwarded to the central payroll office to set up payroll deductions, and then sent to the plan vendors you selected. Because several agencies and companies are involved, your coverage will begin about one month after you are hired. Your plan cards will be sent directly to your home address approximately two weeks after you see the first deduction on your paycheck.

21-Pay Faculty Benefits: If you are a 21-pay faculty member who elected to be paid 21 times during the academic year, you might want to consider switching your pay schedule for the next year that will begin in August 2006. Faculty who maintain health insurance must make a multiple payment deduction in the last paycheck received in June. These deductions could be rather large because you are paying for five or six deductions, to continue your coverage through August. 

Since health insurance rates now change on July 1, and 21 pay faculty are paying in advance for coverage through the summer, you will be billed for the difference of the premiums once you return in the fall.

Retirement News

State Pension or State Retirement Members: If you are a member of one of these systems and are planning for retirement, you might take advantage of attending a pre-retirement seminar. The fall 2005 schedule is available in the Office of Human Resources. Since the seminar is a full day, your supervisor must approve your absence.

Optional Retirement Members: Planning to retire from TIAA-CREF, VALIC or Fidelity optional retirement plans? If so, plans must be made directly with the ORP company you are enrolled in. Human Resources will provide a benefits packet to continue health insurance if you directly retire from an ORP without a break in service. ORP retirements always occur on the first of the month as well. A copy of your retirement application must accompany your enrollment form for health benefits.

Tuition News

A schedule for fall 2005 was forwarded to all UB faculty and staff in early August, noting the dates that all USM campuses will accept tuition forms for the fall 2005 semester. It’s important that you submit your tuition form if you are attending classes, or if your spouse and/or dependent child is attending. Failure to submit the form by the deadline date may cause serious problems since some USM campuses do not accept late forms. Here is a summary of the last date of acceptance by campus:

If you are attending an institution that has not yet published a deadline date, please call that institution to find out when its last date of acceptance will be.

Tuition forms are available online at www.ubalt.edu/hr. Click on “forms.” Download the form, sign it, submit to your manager for approval and send it on to the Office of Human Resources. It will then be faxed to the institution you are attending, and Human Resources will send a copy for your files.

Adjunct Contracts

Adjunct contracts are now overdue. The contracts are due to the Office of Human Resources BEFORE your new employee starts. (A minimum of two weeks is required to set up a new employee’s pay record at the central payroll office.) Since law classes began on Aug. 22, and business and liberal arts classes began on Aug. 29, all contracts should have been processed in advance of their teaching schedules. 

Pay dates are as follows:

Regular employees or regular faculty who teach on an adjunct basis:

Late contracts will be paid within the next scheduled adjunct pay period.

Adjunct faculty:

Late contracts will be paid within the next scheduled adjunct pay period.

Other Contracts

If you are hiring a student employee or a Contingent I or II employee, the contract must be turned in to the Office Human Resources prior to the start date. New employees require at least a two-week lead period; otherwise, late payments are almost guaranteed.

HR Self Service: The UB Portal

You’ve heard the news, and we are moving forward with our plans to bring the HR self-service portal right to your desktop. The system has been tested by pilot groups and we will be rolling it out to other user groups throughout September. Using the self-service function will allow you to view personal information and make online edits to your record. You can easily access: 

• personal information
• benefits information
• training and personal development
• timesheets
• leave balances.

In addition, you can send an e-mail directly to the Office of Human Resources and find answers to frequently asked questions, all from your desktop.

As with any new system, we welcome your comments and feedback since this is a “work in progress.” 

Stars in Excellence Program

The Stars in Excellence Program was launched in May 2005 with the intention of creating a culture of appreciation for UB employees. Managers are encouraged to take advantage of this program. We are happy to have an opportunity to recognize the many positive results achieved by our great employees.

On Aug. 25 the Office of Human Resources hosted the first Stars in Excellence monthly recognition hour. Employees who had earned five- or 10-star notes were asked to stop by the booth for a small token of appreciation.

Let’s keep this great program moving forward!

The next scheduled monthly recognition hour will take place on Sept. 17. The time will be announced via e-mail.