Starting November 2, eligible faculty & staff will be able to log in to the CU Benefits Enrollment System 24hours a day, 7 days a week, until Friday, November 20.

Benefits in Brief for 2010 downloadable PDFs are now available online. 

Information Session for Officers: 2010 Benefits is now available online.

CIGNA Call Centers and the mycigna.com websites will be unavailable this weekend (10/16-10/18), due to scheduled system maintenance. 

Members can call or log back into the mycigna.com website after 7am EST, on Monday, 10/19.

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Each year at this time, we ask all Columbia University faculty and
staff to verify and update personal information, including mailing
addresses and telephone numbers. This helps to ensure that we
communicate efficiently with you about important Human Resources
matters, including benefits and retirement.

Many of you will soon receive Benefits Open Enrollment materials at
your home address, so please check that the address in our system is
accurate.


ADDRESS VERIFICATION

*For benefits-eligible faculty & staff: to receive your Open
Enrollment materials on time, it is critical that you verify your
address information before October 22, 2009.*

You may also choose to provide a mailing address (which is handy if
you are away temporarily, or for non-resident alien staff); when
provided, it will be used rather than a home address for correspondence.

Please take this moment to click on the link below to connect to the
University's Human Resources system to confirm that your personal
information is up to date:
http://www.hr.columbia.edu/personal-data/

alternative link

Please also take this opportunity to review other personal data on the
Summary page, including your gender, birthdate and marital status; if
any of these are incorrect, please contact your Departmental
Administrator or HR Manager so that they can update your record.


VOLUNTARY SELF-IDENTIFICATION

We are also taking this opportunity to ask that you let us know if you
are a veteran and/or a person with disability.

As part of the Federal Government's Affirmative Action requirements,
Columbia is obligated to report information about the percentage of
our workforce who are either disabled or veterans. While we cannot
compel any person to provide us with this information, we are required
by law to report on it.

Providing the information to us helps us comply with the law, and no
data collected is used for any other purpose, nor is it associated
with any individual's job record.

The following links will bring you to forms that you may complete and
return to us:

Vietnam and Other Veterans Form:
http://hr.columbia.edu/files_humanresources/imce_shared/veterans-selfid....

Disability Self-Identification Form:
http://hr.columbia.edu/files_humanresources/imce_shared/disability-selfi...

If you have any questions regarding either of these forms please
contact your DA or call our HRPC Help Desk at (212) 851-2888.

If you have trouble logging in, please visit the CUIT Helpdesk at
http://www.columbia.edu/cuit/support to report your problem.

You can also reach the CUIT Helpdesk by phone at (212) 854-1919 (M-Thu
8 a.m.-11 p.m.; F 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sa 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Su 3 p.m.-11 p.m.)

Thank you for helping us keep your information current.

Sincerely,

Cindy Durning
Vice President
Columbia University Human Resources

NOTE: To confirm this is email is legitimate, please visit the Columbia University HR website to see a copy of this message.

Harris, Rothenberg International, the vendor for Columbia's Employee Assistance Program, offers a wide variety of resources. This month HRI is highlighting the SpendLess program: "You may still be making summer memories, but school is just around the corner. This year, you can make back-to-school errands as stress-free as possible with SpendLess, your FREE discount program. ..." Read more ...

A letter was mailed Thursday, July 9 by benefit provider EBPA to any participant in Columbia University's Transit and Parking Reimbursement Program (T/PRP) who has a remaining balance for 2008.

If you have any questions, please call EBPA at 888-456-4576.

Harris, Rothenberg International, the vendor for Columbia's Employee Assistance Program, offers a wide variety of resources; this month HRI has written a short article on travel preparation.

Don’t Unravel When You Travel: "Advance planning can help prevent travel stress. Navigating security and check in, and boarding calmly when traveling by air, for example, can start any trip on a positive note ..." Read more ...

Harris, Rothenberg International, the vendor for Columbia's Employee Assistance Program, offers a multitude of resources, including money management.

This week, HR Benefits highlights an article that can help you with your food budget.

Spend Less on Food and Still Have a Great Time: "If you write down everything you spend on food and drink for a month, you may be astonished at what you learn. And many of your purchases may be quite small: a muffin here, a soda there. But they add up. After you have figured out where your food money goes, you can start deciding where to cut back." Read more ...

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report findings on Influenza A(H1N1) in New York City and the United States, University leadership is actively monitoring the situation and will post further information as it becomes available.

For the most recent news, please visit Columbia's Preparedness website. HR also recommends visiting the page on flu prevention.

Parents may wish to visit the CDC page on Information for Concerned Parents and Caregivers.

Beginning July 1, 2009, Columbia University will convert all University Officers of instruction, research, administration, the libraries and student officers to a semi-monthly pay cycle. The new semi-monthly pay cycle will replace the existing monthly cycle. This change means that while your total monthly earnings will remain the same, you will be paid twice every month rather than once. Please note, fellowships and stipends will continue to be paid on a monthly basis, as they are now.

Changes to New York State law require that all employees below a certain earnings threshold be paid at least semi-monthly. Several pay frequency options were considered and the conversion of all Officers to a semi-monthly cycle was determined to be the most effective way to comply with this law. This change will provide you with earlier and more frequent access to your earnings, giving you more flexibility to manage your money.

Human Resources mailed letters home to all affected Officers on April 29, 2009:

• Letter to Salaried Officers (PDF)
• Letter to $0-Salaried Officers (PDF)

For your reference, we have created several useful materials:

• Working at Columbia
• Officer Pay Cycle Change FAQs
• External Budgeting Resources

We are here to help you think through any issues that may result from this change. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Human Resources Processing Center (HRPC) Helpdesk at (212) 851-2888. For benefits-related issues, please call the HR Benefits Service Center at (212) 851-7000.

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which raised the monthly transit allowance to $230 for both transit and parking. Transit is increasing from $115 to $230; Parking is increasing from $220 to $230.

You now have an opportunity to enroll in or change your 2009 monthly Transit and/or Parking election.

The new contribution amount will be effective May 1, 2009, provided you enroll before April 22, 2009.

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR ELECTION ONLINE:

• Go to the benefits website at http://hr.columbia.edu/benefits.
• Select the "CU Benefits Online Enrollment System" link on the left side and click "LOG IN."
• Log in with your UNI and password.
• Select "Choose Your Benefits" under Elect Your Benefits Section.
• Select "Make a Qualified Life Status Change" on the elect menu.
• Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select "Begin."
• Under "Colleague Events" section, select "Change in Commute."
• Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select "Continue."
• Enter today's date; select "Continue."
• Scroll to the bottom of the screen.
• To change your Transit Reimbursement amount, click on "Transit Reimbursement Program."
• Enter your desired pre-tax contribution in the box below "Monthly Amount."
• "Save & Submit."
• To change your Parking Reimbursement click on "Parking Reimbursement Program."
  • Enter your desired pre-tax contribution in the box below "Monthly Amount."
  • "Save and Submit."
• Click on "Continue" at the bottom of the page.
• Review your benefits; if correct, "Save & Submit." If corrections are needed, select, "Return to LSC Worksheet."

EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHANGE:

If you make your change prior to April 22, 2009, your new monthly Transit/Parking amount will be effective May 1.

Any changes after that date will be effective the first day of the following month after your election is made.

QUESTIONS?

The Transit/Parking Reimbursement Program is administered by Employee Benefit Plan Administration (EBPA). If you have any questions, you may contact EBPA at 888-456-4576, or you may contact the HR Benefits Service Center at (212) 851-7000.

NOTE: Thank you for attending our April workshops! Human Resources will host additional financial planning workshops in Fall 2009. 

To help you with some of the economic challenges we face today, the University offers financial and retirement planning workshops throughout the year.

In upcoming financial planning workshops, a certified financial planner from Ernst & Young, LLP offers independent guidance about investing during times of crisis, diversification, portfolio building, choosing investment funds and retirement planning.

If you would like to know more about balancing financial goals so you can save for your first home, a new car, college education for your children or your retirement, please attend a financial planning workshop.

Audience feedback has been extremely positive.  Here are some comments from prior workshops:

"The cash flow statement will help me manage my personal finances better."

"I have a better understanding about the CU Retirement Plans." 

You will learn how to create a personal action plan for meeting your individual goals, develop basic investment strategies for retirement and know the pros and cons of investment risk.

The workshop focuses on three important objectives:

• Financial Planning Basics: Money Management/Budgeting/Cash Flow
• Retirement Planning: Understanding the CU Retirement Plan, the Voluntary Retirement Savings Plan (VRSP), Social Security and IRAs
• Investing for Your Goals: Discuss Investment Asset Classes and how they fit into an investors overall portfolio. Define risk and identify tools to minimize risk.  

Each workshop is four hours long; during that time the individual segments will last 1 hour and 15 minutes. You are welcome to attend the entire workshop or only the segments that interest you. 

Please note: You do not need to rsvp to attend the workshop. All you need to do is come to one of the sessions listed below. 

The workshop is offered three times in April 2009:

Date	Location	Time
April 22	Studebaker, Room 469 615 West 131st Street	9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
April 22	Studebaker, Room 469 615 West 131st Street	1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
April 29	CUMC 701 West 168th Street (at Ft. Washington Ave.) Armand Hammer Health Sciences Center Riverview Lounge -Room 312	1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Click here for the intercampus shuttle schedule.

If you participated in the Healthcare or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) in 2008, any remaining claims for last year must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2009.

Any unclaimed money remaining in your 2008 FSA account after March 31, 2009 will be forfeited.

For questions about your account balance, please contact the FSA administrator, EBPA, at 1-888-456-4576, or www.ebpabenefits.com.

To submit a claim, please use the FSA Reimbursement Request Form.

Please fill out, print and mail the form, along with any required receipts, to the address listed on the form.

Transit/Parking Reimbursement Program

Unlike Flexible Spending Accounts, unused money in a Transit/Parking Reimbursement Program (T/PRP) account will roll over into your 2009 account. 

The rollover money will be available in your account after June 1, 2009. In the meantime, please use the T/PRP Reimbursement Request Form to submit a claim.

If you have questions, please contact the HR Benefits Service Center at 212-851-7000 or hrbenefits@columbia.edu.

Originally posted January 22, 2009
Beginning Thursday, February 5, 2009, anyone enrolled in electronic W-2 will be able to reprint your 2008 W-2 form online.  To do this:

• Go to https://my.columbia.edu/ 
• Log in with your Columbia UNI and password
• Click on the Faculty and Staff tab
• Go to the Faculty & Staff Self-Service section
• Click on Print My W-2.

You will be transferred to our vendor's website where you can reprint your own 2008 W-2 form.  If you have any questions about your 2008 W-2, please call the vendor's toll free number (800) 360-1265.  Our vendor-supported Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system will assist you with your request.

You can also speak to a customer service representative if needed.
 
If you think you need a corrected 2008 W-2, you may use either the online or phone service to request a Form W-2C.

Past employees who no longer have secure access to our web portal and those without access to a computer should call: (800) 360-1265 on or after Thursday, February 5, or go to https://www.getmytaxform.com/columbiau/ and sign up.

PLEASE NOTE: For employees inquiring about prior year W-2 forms, please call (212) 851-2944 or email w2@columbia.edu. 

Originally Posted January 12, 2009
After a record-breaking Fall 2008, this spring HR Learning & Development will continue with many of the classroom learning courses we offered last fall.

We also provide new programs to complement the programs we are bringing back. 

Our Spring 2009 offerings are grouped under the following series:

• Personal Effectiveness Series

• Communication Skills Series

• Writing Skills

• Project Management Skills  

The Working at Columbia guide lists resources in and around the University, from University Holidays to Academic Opportunities to Purchasing.

Originally Posted July 7, 2008

Human Resources and Payroll are pleased to announce that you can now sign up for or modify your current election to directly deposit your pay into your savings account, checking account, or both. Simply log into the myColumbia portal with your UNI and password and choose "View Your Direct Deposit Information" on the Faculty & Staff tab.

For help, please see the Direct Deposit Instructions (PDF).

NOTE: This section represents HR announcements that expired prior to 1/1/2009.

Last Day: BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT

November 7, 2008
You have just 1 more day to enroll for 2009 benefits. Faculty & Staff can access the Online Benefits Enrollment System 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 11:59 p.m. TODAY, Friday, November 7. Visit the Benefits home page for more information.

October 24, 2008
New: Watch a video of one of our Information Sessions on Benefits for 2009:

QuickTime / RealPlayer  

Download RealPlayer at http://www.realmedia.com/ or QuickTime at http://www.quicktime.com/.  

October 21, 2008
ATTENTION, UHC PARTICIPANTS: As of January 1, 2009, Transition of Care will no longer be available under the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Choice Plus POS. This means that in-network benefits will no longer be approved if your former Oxford physician did not join the UHC provider network. Benefits will be paid at the out-of-network level for these physicians beginning January 1, 2009.
See the Guide to Benefits Open Enrollment on the Benefits home page for more details.

Open Enrollment for 2009 Benefits: October 20—November 7, 2008

October 20, 2008
Faculty & Staff can access the Online Benefits Enrollment System 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 11:59 p.m. Friday, November 7. Visit the Benefits home page for more information.

October 14, 2008
Information Sessions
In addition to our Open Enrollment Expos, we will host a series of Information Sessions about the Benefits for 2009.

October 1, 2008
Open Enrollment for 2009 Benefits will be from October 20—November 7, 2008.
This year, we will host six Benefits Expos, where you can speak to experts and enroll online.

FOR NEW HIRES: Benefits Orientation Reference Materials

June 30, 2008
For your reference after you have attended Orientation, we have created two multimedia presentations about the benefits available to you. Both are also available on our New Hires page.

You must have JavaScript enabled to view these presentations:

• Benefits Orientation Reference: Officers
  
• Benefits Orientation Reference: Support Staff

New for 2008: Updated Performance Management

May 7, 2008
Starting this year, we have developed a new Guide to Performance Management on the Manager Toolkit for non-academic Officers and a new online form to assist you.

See the new Performance Appraisal Form for managers and read the FAQs.

Training for managers is also available starting this summer and continuing throughout the year, in conjunction with your school or department.   

Financial Planning for Retirement: Faculty & Staff Workshop

May 5, 2008: NEW DATES ADDED in May
Benefits is pleased to invite you to attend one of the upcoming Financial Planning workshops, presented by independent firm Ernst & Young.

NEW: Sign up for Text Message Notifications

March 13, 2008
Columbia is committed to keeping the members of the University community aware of important — and, at times, urgent — matters through multiple communication channels. Those channels include text messaging, email, web postings, phone calls and in-person communication. Text messages sent to cell phones will be used in rare cases when a very brief message can be sent. Sign up.  

SPRING Courses with Learning & Development

April 16, 2008
Looking for a course that will help you build your career skills? Learning & Development has courses in:

• Managing People
• Communications
• Customer Service
• Managing Teams and Workflow

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO UNITEDHEALTHCARE PARTICIPANTS

March 1, 2008
A letter was mailed to all UHC participants on February 27, 2008, detailing the Transition of Care process from Oxford to UHC. Read the letter.

VIEW YOUR 2008 BENEFITS and TUITION EXEMPTION

February 18, 2008
Use the CU Online Benefits Enrollment System to update your Transit election, view your other 2008 benefits elections, and to print your tuition exemption eligibility. Remember that Tuition Exemption is due at Student Services as early in the term as possible.  

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT 2007 FSA REIMBURSEMENTS: MARCH 31 , 2008

March 12, 2008
If you participated in either a Healthcare or a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) in 2007, March 31, 2008 is the deadline for submitting your 2007 claims for reimbursement. Please note that any unclaimed money remaining in your 2007 FSA account after March 31, 2008, will be forfeited. For questions about your account balance, please contact the FSA administrator, EBPA, at 1-888-678-3457, or http://www.cbaebpa.com/. Read more.

Temporary PAC downtime ENDED

March 10, 2008
We are pleased to share that the PAC system is again live after our recent upgrade.  

Attention, CIGNA HealthCare Participants

February 13, 2008
We are happy to announce that negotiations between CIGNA HealthCare of New York, Inc. and Continuum Health Partners are resolved. Click here for more information.  

UHC Transition of Care Application – Deadline: Return to UHC by January 31, 2008

[December 22, 2007-January 30, 2008]
Any active Faculty and Staff enrolled in Oxford for 2007, who did not change their election during Open Enrollment, automatically became United Healthcare members effective January 1, 2008.

We would like to remind you that a UnitedHealthcare [Transition of Care application is no longer available] (PDF) is available if your physician participated in the Oxford network but is not participating in the UHC network.

Transition of care is a service that UnitedHealthcare is providing to Columbia University employees so you can seek treatment from non-network physicians at the benefit level associated with UnitedHealthcare participating providers. Transition of care, provided the form was submitted by January 31, 2008, is available through December 31, 2008. (Link to form removed because it expired 9/26/08)

HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSINGS 

December 20, 2007
Human Resources will be closed on the following dates: December 24, 25, and 31, 2007; and January 1, 2008, for University holidays.   

TAKE A CLASS WITH HR TRAINING

October 15, 2007
Our Training and Organizational Development team is proud to announce the new Fall 2007 courses. This term, we offer classes in managing people, communications and customer service.

HR ON THE MOVE

October 15, 2007
Columbia University Human Resources (CUHR) is moving to the Studebaker Building in Manhattanville. Most departments have moved effective September 17; for our new contact information see our directory.

As of October 8, 2007, the new CUHR Information Services & HR Processing Center (HRPC) address is:

615 West 131 Street
Floor 4 Studebaker, MC 8702
New York, New York 10027
Telephone: 212-851-2888
Fax: 212-851-2990

HR Site Upgrade Complete

October 15, 2007
Please know that our site upgrade is complete. We recommend you clear your browser cache or delete your temporary Internet files in order to be able to view our site.

July 16, 2007
Summer 2007 New Hire Orientation dates and times are online. New hires are strongly encouraged to attend these sessions, where you can find out more about benefits and resources at Columbia.

July 16, 2007
Interested in an instructional job? Search the HERC database. For more information about employment at Columbia, visit our Jobs page.

June 26, 2007
Columbia University HR Benefits and The Vanguard Group invite all Faculty and Staff to meet one-on-one with a Vanguard counselor to discuss the financial issues that matter most to you. See the schedule and sign up.

AIDS WALK NEW YORK

April 18, 2007
We invite you to join Columbia University faculty, staff and students at AIDS Walk New York. On Sunday, May 20, the world’s largest AIDS fundraising event will take place in Central Park. Funds raised will support GMHC and other AIDS service organizations throughout the New York area. Learn more.