Letter to faculty, staff outlines human resource initiatives
Jennifer (J.J.) Davis

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9:20 a.m., Sept. 13, 2010----Following is a letter to University of Delaware faculty and staff from Jennifer (J.J.) Davis, vice president for finance and administration, outlining human resource initiatives.

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Dear Colleagues:

The start of the 2010-2011 school year is now upon us. With that in mind, I want to take this opportunity to let you know about several human resource initiatives and programs that may be of interest to you.

First, I want to give you a round of applause for helping to make UD one of the best universities in the United States. This month we were profiled in U.S. News and World Report as the 8th national up-and coming university; listed as a “Great College to Work For” by the Chronicle of Higher Education and ranked 9th in the “Best in Business” category for large employers in Delaware by The News Journal.

In the area of benefits and wellness, I would like to share several important updates.

Increase in UD Wellness Dollars

I am happy to announce that our annual Wellness Dollars have increased. Effective July 1, fulltime UD employees' and retirees' wellness dollars have been increased from $50 to $75 (parttime employees from $25 to $38). Wellness Dollars can be used towards a variety of University sponsored health and fitness programs, including screenings, group fitness classes, motivational campaigns, personal training sessions and locker rentals.

'Dare to be fit' Fitness Challenge: Sept. 27 - Nov. 7

Are you doing all you can to live a heart healthy lifestyle? Register now for this 6-week challenge and join your fellow UD employees as we “Dare to be fit.” For more information and to register, visit this website or call 831-8388.

Employment verification process

To improve efficiency and provide better service to employees, we have selected TALX for automated employment verification services. The automated employment verification service will provide proof of employment quickly for those employees seeking to buy a home or car, establish credit or apply for a loan. This fast, secure service will enable UD employees to verify employment via the phone or web.

DelaWELL program administrator change

Effective July 1, the State of Delaware has partnered with Alere, a leading provider of health and wellness solutions, to administer Nurse 24, the DelaWELL health portal, and the Condition Care Program. As part of the Condition Care Program, Alere is contacting individuals with certain chronic health conditions. If you are contacted by Alere, please keep in mind that this is in conjunction with DelaWELL and replaces the disease management programs that were previously administered through Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Retirement planning

In addition to your physical wellness, we believe that planning for your financial wellbeing is also important. Representatives from Fidelity and TIAA-CREF, our retirement savings plan vendors, are available on campus several times each month to provide one-on-one sessions to review your individual retirement planning and savings goals. To schedule an appointment, call 800-642-7131 for Fidelity or 800-842-2010 for TIAA-CREF.

Short term disability - State employees' pension plan participants

As of August 1, the benefit waiting period for the Short Term Disability Insurance Program for State Employees' Pension Plan participants has been reduced from 60 to 30 days. Employees who expect to be out of work for at least 30 calendar days should file a short term disability claim with The Hartford. Please see this website for additional information or contact the UD Benefits Office at 831-2171 if you have any questions.

Tuition exchange

Tuition exchange is a program of exchange scholarships offered to UD employees for their dependent children through Tuition Exchange, Inc. (TE). The deadline for TE applications for the 2011-12 academic year is Wednesday, Oct. 20. For more TE information, call Human Resources at 831-2171, visit this website and watch UDaily for news about the application process.

Over-the-counter medications change the Health Care FSA process

Effective Jan. 1, 2011, as a result of recent healthcare reform legislation, drugs available without a prescription (i.e., over-the-counter, or OTC) may be reimbursed through the Health Care Flexible Spending Account Plan only if prescribed. This change in OTC eligibility applies to medicines or drugs only. Insulin retains its special status and does not require a prescription. If you participate in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account Plan, Ceridian's FSA Benefits card will not approve any OTC drug transactions after Dec. 31 -- participants will need to submit a claim in order to be reimbursed for these expenses. Debit card merchants will remove OTC drugs from their Inventory Information Approval System lists as of the effective date.

In addition to all these changes in benefits and wellness, the Human Resources team has been working to develop additional programs and services to support diversity, equity, inclusion, recruitment and retention of our most valuable asset -- you. Please see below for some other important updates.

Office of Equity and Inclusion news - 'Dare to be you'

The Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) advocates for an equitable and inclusive work and learning environment. Personnel policies have been expanded to institutionalize our commitment to diversity, including updates to the AA/EO policy statement, the recruitment/hiring policy and the sexual and other unlawful harassment policy. UD now has a policy that also addresses accommodations for nursing mothers. You can view all our personnel policies by visiting this website.

President Harker recently announced the formation of a new Diversity and Equity Commission (DEC). DEC is empowered to enhance the visibility of all aspects of diversity on campus and throughout the community.

Compensation system strategy

In order to achieve the strategic goals in the Path to ProminenceTM, we are in the process of assessing UD's compensation system in order to attract, retain and engage highly qualified talent. With input from the Compensation Leadership Group and a number of advisory groups, the assessment will:

  • Define a compensation program that aligns with overall UD strategy;
  • Review the salary structure to maintain competitive and internal equitable salary ranges;
  • Establish pay guidelines that ensures the University's policies and expectations for pay are documented and available to promote transparency; and
  • Establish benchmarking standards.

New criminal background check policy

The University is committed to protecting the safety and security of all members, property and assets of the UD community. To meet these objectives, starting Jan. 1, 2011, we will begin criminal background checks for all NEW employees -- faculty, staff, student workers and other individuals who hold paid positions. Currently, criminal background checks are required for a limited number of positions at UD. The policy, which has the support of the University's Board of Trustees, is similar to policies at other comparator institutions of higher education and can be found at this website.

Search committee toolkit available

Attracting diverse and talented faculty and staff is a vital part of UD's strategic plan. Starting Sept. 1, HR Recruitment and OEI staff will be meeting with all search committee chairs to discuss affirmative action, legal interviewing and other issues surrounding the recruitment process. At this meeting search committee chairs will receive a Search Committee Toolkit that contains several important aids for search committees to successfully recruit new employees, such as: information about partner career transition assistance; frequently asked questions about affirmative action; a memo about the importance of diversity in recruitment; tips for interviewing candidates and a manual detailing the UD recruitment/hiring process.

In sum, the University remains committed to our employees and will continue to work hard to ensure our programs, benefits and policies provide you with compelling reasons to stay. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of our team. I hope you have a wonderful year at the University.

Jennifer ( J.J.) Davis
Vice President for Finance and Administration

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