UNT SYSTEM HOME JOBS WELL-BEING REPORTS FORMS MY.UNTSYSTEM DIRECTORY
HR News
Dr. Harlan Jones, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science and Director of Diversity Center and International Programs, UNTHSC, talks about leaders on performance in the "Leaders on Leading" audio clip series. This series features quick, entertaining, and motivating Q&As with organizational leaders on having an impact and developing people. Listeners will get real-world advice, learn practical tips, and hear inspirational stories to help improve their own leadership skills.
Download & Listen here:
Spreaker- https://www.spreaker.com/user/10520231/harlan-jones
Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-leading-dr-harlan-jones-leaders-on-performance/id1519331562?i=1000485979537
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/episode/5clDeruI9lrIfKa8ejuMG2?si=jhYp3Xl3S26I_yu0E2j0SQ
Dr. Shanda Riley, Assistant Director of Counseling and Wellness Center, UNT Dallas, talks about what she has learned as a leader regarding creating a motivating environment in the "Leaders on Leading" audio clip series. This series features quick, entertaining, and motivating Q&As with organizational leaders on having an impact and developing people. Listeners will get real-world advice, learn practical tips, and hear inspirational stories to help improve their own leadershipskills.
Download & Listen here:
Spreaker- https://www.spreaker.com/user/10520231/shanda-riley-2
Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-leading-dr-shanda-riley-creating-motivating/id1519331562?i=1000485648864
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/episode/3lAuC6DnjCdBTlA7L9vdC7?si=HRCl9OAiQ0-q49o_ObGz1g
What is TexFlex? It’s a health savings account that you contribute to monthly, pre-tax. You determine the monthly amount to contribute, which is deducted from your paycheck before taxes. What can you use TexFlex for? Use your pre-loaded TexFlex debit card for co-pays, deductibles, contact lenses, prescriptions, glasses, orthodontia and other eligible health expenses.
If you are already participating, you don’t have to do anything during Summer Enrollment unless you want to decrease or increase your contribution.
Changes to TexFlex for Plan Year 2021:
- The annual contribution rate changes this year from $2,700 to $2,750 and the carry-over amount from plan year to plan year will increase from $500 to $550 starting 9/1/2020.
Learn more about TexFlex, including how contributing can impact your take home pay!
And learn more about all of your benefits on your Benefits page. Additionally, the In the Green: UNT World Wellbeing program offers access to videos on demand, suggestions for helpful apps, articles and resources, and hosts webinars and all kinds of virtual workouts – all great options you can enjoy from home, for free, as part of your own well-being.
Did you know that free counseling for help with family, legal, or financial issues is just a call or click away for UNT World employees? The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-800-343-3822.
To access benefits online, log in https://www.awpnow.com. When prompted for your code, enter AWP-UNT-384.
Services are available at no cost to active and retired employees, as well as members of their household. This confidential service includes skill-building webinars, resources, access to counselors and legal help, and much more. Many employees aren’t aware that this free resource is part of their UNT World benefit package and can make a difference in their day to day lives. Need to talk to someone about stress? Experiencing financial strain? Want to learn more about work/life balance? Access your EAP benefits for this type of help, and much more.
It is with great sadness that we inform the UNT World of the passing of Gary Finney. Gary had been a valued member of our Human Resources team since 2013 and will be deeply missed. Please keep Gary’s family in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time.
A UNT Dallas scholarship fund will be created in Gary’s honor. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to contribute to the fund may do so through the UNT Dallas Foundation.
Any colleagues that feel overwhelmed by grief may visit with counselors through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Our free, confidential, EAP is available to help employees at all UNT System locations with family, legal or financial issues, substance abuse or other stressful events. EAP programs are available to retirement-eligible employees, retirees, household members and dependents, and may be accessed at https://hr.untsystem.edu/EAP.
Employees may self-refer to EAP, or managers may refer an employee. EAP consultations (up to six per year per personal session) are free and confidential.
Memorial details for Gary Finney are as follows:
VIEWING
Friday
June 19, 2020
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Chamberland Funerals & Cremations
333 West Avenue D
Garland, TX 75040
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Saturday
June 20, 2020
11:00 AM
First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park
300 East Phillips Street
Richardson, TX 75081
INTERMENT
Saturday
June 20, 2020
Restland Memorial Park
13005 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75243
If you have received an estimate to purchase service credit under TRS, the estimated cost will no longer apply if you do not begin the purchase by September 1, 2020. After that date, the cost to purchase service credit will increase.
TRS members have the option to purchase Service Credit, in addition to earning membership service credit for employment with a TRS-covered employer. Examples of eligible service purchase include:
Withdrawn Service Credit
Withdrawn service credit occurs if you left TRS covered service and withdrew your contributions. Withdrawing contributions cancels all TRS service credit and cancels your membership. To reinstate withdrawn service credit, generally you must resume membership in TRS — have an active account and account balance with TRS — and pay all costs for the withdrawn service credit to TRS.
Unreported Service
Unreported service is service that should have been reported to TRS but was not reported at the time the service was rendered. This includes service that would not be eligible by itself but becomes eligible when combined with eligible service performed for another TRS-covered employer during the same school year. Service on or after Sept. 1, 2011, must be verified within five years after the end of the school year in which the unreported service and/or substitute service was rendered and/or the compensation was paid. Unreported service prior to September 2, 2011 is not eligible.
Out-of-State Service Credit
If you have out-of-state service in a public school system or college and you have at least five years of TRS membership service credit, you may be eligible to purchase out-of-state service credit.
You may purchase one year of eligible out-of-state service credit for each year of service credit with a TRS-covered employer, up to a maximum of 15 years.
Military Service Credit
If you have at least five years of TRS membership service credit for actual service with a TRS-covered employer, you may purchase up to five years of service credit for active duty federal military service in the U.S. armed forces. Both voluntary and draft service is eligible. Service as a reservist or member of the National Guard who was ordered to active duty under the authority of federal law is also considered eligible military service.
For more service credit options, cost, rules and more, see TRS Service Credit Brochure (pdf).
Effective September 1, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas will begin managing your mental health and substance use benefits for HealthSelect participants, replacing Magellan Healthcare. With this transition, your benefit deductibles, copays and coinsurance will not change. Most providers who are in-network with Magellan will also be in the HealthSelect plan. If your current provider is not, a separate letter will be mailed to you in early July with additional provider options.
For additional information regarding this change, including Frequently Asked Questions, visit the “Mental Health” page under the “Medical Benefits” tab at BCBSTX. New insurance cards will arrive during the month of August. If you have any questions or need assistance regarding mental health, call the BCBSTX Personal Health Assistant at 800-252-8039, Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday between 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
UNT Employees: June 29 – July 11
UNTD, UNTHSC, UNTS Employees: July 6 – July 18
View more information on our Summer Enrollment page!
Marisa Clabby, human resources business manager at UNT System, has been selected to participate in the 2020-21 College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) Wildfire program, a 12-month leadership development experience designed for early-career higher education human resources professionals. Clabby is one of 12 chosen for the honor. Clabby and the other program participants will have the opportunity to develop their professional skills through tailored learning experiences including mentorship, learning events and courses, and the completion of a year-end project highlighting the insights they gain throughout the year.
CUPA-HR’s Wildfire program is made possible in part thanks to support from HigherEdJobs. This year’s program received more than 120 applications; participants were selected based on their HR strengths and areas for development identified on the program application as well as their interest in and commitment to the program.
Does UNT World Offer Employees Life Insurance Coverage?
Yes! Benefits-eligible employees will automatically receive a $5,000 basic life insurance policy when they enroll in the medical plan. Employees can elect additional optional life insurance coverage up to 4 times their base annual salary, to a maximum of $400,000, whichever is less. Employees have the option to elect Dependent Life Insurance, which will provide each covered individual with a $5,000 life insurance policy.
Employees can elect coverage during Summer Enrollment or when they experience a mid-year Qualifying Life Event.
How Can I Elect Life Insurance for Myself and Family?
During Summer Enrollment, you may apply for Optional Term Life and/or Dependent Term Life by electing the benefit and providing evidence of insurability (EOI).
EOI is a simple process of confirming for the insurance company that you are in good health. After applying for coverage online, you will be sent a form to complete.
For further information about the life insurance program as well as tools like a video and calculator, visit LifeBenefits.com/plandesign/ers
TexFlex Reminder – End of 2020 Plan Year is Approaching, Here’s What You Need to Know
Individuals enrolled in TexFlex Health Care or Limited FSA must use their 2020 funds no later than 08/31/2020 if they do not plan to re-enroll in these benefits during Summer Enrollment. For those who plan to re-enroll in TexFlex Health Care or Limited FSA, you may carry over up to $500 into the 2021 plan year.
Employees enrolled in TexFlex Dependent Care are eligible for a grace period. This means that employees have an additional 2 ½ months to incur eligible expenses and use their 2020 DCRA funds remaining in their account. Claims for expenses uncured during the grace period must be submitted no later than 11/15/2020 otherwise, your funds will be forfeited.
As a reminder, ALL TexFlex benefits are a use-it or lose-it benefit. This means that any funds not used will be forfeited, so you want to make sure that you use all your funds before the end of the plan year or end of the grace period.