HRF Meetings -- 2006 - 02 [Winter]

See http://ehs.unc.edu/healthy/pandemic_flu.shtml for details.

Ann E. Penn, most recently director of the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Women's Resource Center at Kent State University in Ohio, has accepted the position of Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) officer at UNC-Chapel Hill. She is scheduled to begin working here March 15.

She will be responsible for developing and administering the university's equal opportunity plan, and working closely with facilities on matters of accessibility and ADA compliance for buildings.

The pilot process is nearing its end and will soon be completed, at which time SPA RecruitmentWeb will be rolled out to all departments.

Training classes will be held the weeks of February 21 and 27 at the Center for Leadership Development, which is located near the Friday Center. Four sessions -- two in the morning (8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.) and two in the afternoon (1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.) -- will be offered on each of the days listed below.

Departments wishing to begin using the system must send at least one person to one of these classes. Sign up at www.training.unc.edu.

• Tuesday, February 21
• Wednesday, February 22
• Thursday, February 23
• Tuesday, February 28
• Wednesday, March 1
• Thursday, March 2

If you have questions, contact project co-leads Linc Butler (843-8159, linc_butler@unc.edu) or Shannon Roberts (843-0499, shannon_roberts@unc.edu).

See presentation for details.

The Office of Human Resources is drafting a teleworking policy and is meeting with a focus group of campus employees in the next week to explore the issue.

Employee Services administers the SPA Dispute Resolution and Staff Grievance Policy.  Annually, we recruit employees and train them to function as grievance panelists and/or support persons. This day-long training session will be held on Tuesday, March 7, in AOB room 1500A from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.

Participants will learn specific guidelines about how the policy is administered and will have an opportunity to apply their skills as they participate in a mock hearing during the afternoon. Go to the Training and Development Program Guide (www.training.unc.edu) to enroll in this upcoming training program.

Carolina Kids Camp:  Carolina Kids Camp, a summer day camp located on campus, features activities such as drama, sports, arts and crafts and nature programs. Field trips to locales on campus are also made during the course of the summer. The camp is open to children, ages 6 through 12, of university faculty and staff, UNC students and hospital employees. A limited amount of spaces will be available for Junior Counselors ages 13 and 14.

There will be four two-week Sessions from June 12 - August 4, and one single-week Session from August 7 - 11. 

Camp Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis (NO LOTTERY process this year) beginning, Monday, February 20, at 8:00 a.m. at the Administrative Office Building, Suite 1500.  Applications will be accepted via fax and mail beginning on this date.  

Junior counselor applications will be accepted February 20 through March 3. These applications must include a hand written essay from the child stating their desire to be a junior counselor. Decisions on acceptance of junior counselors will be based solely on the handwritten essay.  

A limited amount of scholarships will be available to those parents in need.  Scholarship applications will be accepted February 20 through March 10.  Results will be announced in late March. 

For more information, please visit the Camp website at http://hr.unc.edu/Data/benefits/workfamily/childcare/kidscamp.

Work/Life Expo:  The first Work/Life Expo is an event to highlight resources to help employees balance their work and life.  This event will be held on Tuesday, March 7, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Great Hall in the Student Union. Representatives from campus departments and outside agencies will be on site to present information on a healthy work/life balance to employees of UNC-Chapel Hill. Topics covered will include: child and elder care, health and wellness, benefits, financial planning and community service. 

Adverse Weather Child Care:  In an effort to address concerns raised by the Task Force for a Better Workplace, the University's Child Care Advisory Committee has attempted to come up with a plan for adverse weather child care.  Unfortunately, we have experienced many obstacles, including space, costs, and staffing. The Committee would like to encourage HRFs to remind employees to plan ahead in the event of adverse weather on how to make up leave should they need to take it (weeks that are not 40-hour workweeks, i.e, those with a holiday).

WeSave: WeSave cards were distributed to campus the week of January 3.  WeSave is a new discount program for State employees and retirees. If you have questions about this program, contact Employee Services.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance:  The Master in Accounting Program, the Law School and the Student Poverty Reduction Outreach Club are offering free income tax preparation service to the campus community again this year through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.  The volunteers are trained to assist those with household incomes of $50,000 or less, who do not itemize deductions and are not self-employed. Volunteers are not trained to assist those holding international visas.  Appointments are being taken at 800-807-6349. The full appointment schedule was published in the January 11 issue of the Gazette, but if you have questions about that schedule, contact Employee Services. 

Earned Income Tax Credit:  The campus community is now being notified about the Earned Income Tax Credit program for low-income earners. This year, the income limits for qualifying for EITC have increased. You may qualify if: 

• You have more than one qualifying child and your earned income was less than $35,263 ($37,263 if married filing jointly). Last year, this was $34,458/$35,458.
• You have one qualifying child and your earned income was less than $31,030 ($33,030 if married filing jointly).
• You do not have a qualifying child and your earned income was less than $11,750 ($13,750 if married filing jointly).

Summer Blood Drive: The 18th annual Carolina Blood Drive will be held Tuesday, June 6, from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Dean Smith Center on campus. A theme and logo contest will be advertised in the next issue of the University Gazette. Donors and volunteers may begin making appointments in early May. Watch future editions of the Gazette for more information.

Emergency Loan Program:  The UNC-Chapel Hill Emergency Loan Program, launched in October 2004 with an anonymous gift of $25,000, has provided emergency funds to permanent employees in need. In December 2005, the budget committee approved an additional $5,000 to be added to this program. Since its inception, the Program has provided loans to 224 employees.

Chancellor's Awards for Excellence & Excellence in Management Awards:  The Chancellor's Award Program recognizes the contributions made by University employees based on meritorious or distinguished accomplishments in the categories of devotion to duty, innovations, public service, safety/heroism, human relations, and other achievements. The call for nominations will be made in March. Nomination forms will be mailed to all employees and award results will be announced in May. The five award recipients, who receive a monetary award and leave time, will attend a luncheon with the Chancellor in the fall.

The EMA Award is designed to recognize meritorious and distinguished accomplishments in management at UNC-Chapel Hill. The call for nominations for the Excellence in Management Awards will be made in May. The two award recipients, who receive a monetary award, will attend a fall luncheon with the Chancellor and Nancy Suttenfield, Vice Chancellor for Finance & Adminstration.

Service Awards:  HR Facilitators have been emailed TSSD dates to verify for employees reaching their twentieth through fiftieth anniversary dates (in five year increments) for this fiscal year (7/1/05 - 6/30/06). Please confirm all SPA and EPA-Non Faculty employees are listed with correct service dates. Report any changes or additions to Shelly Green via email at: sogreen@unc.edu by the deadline date. These employees will be recognized this spring.

In April 2006, service award date verifications for employees reaching 5-, 10- and 15-year anniversaries will be emailed to HR Facilitators. These awards will be distributed in July 2006 for the upcoming fiscal year (7/1/06 - 6/20/07).