AUGUST 2024
OVERVIEW
From the Office of HR
TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
P.G 2, IMPORTANT UPDATES
Summer Hours Schedule Reminder
United Educators Training Vacation and Sick Banks
Fitness Center Reopening
P.G 3 -7, HEALTH & WELL-BEING INITIATIVE
National Eye Exam Awareness Month
Supporting Summer Family Mental Health
National Financial Awareness Day
Magellan Health Webinars
TIAA Health Webinars
HNE Health Webinar
Free Yoga Classes resume in Fall
P.G 8 - 9, CORE VALUES
Core Value of the Month
TED talk Videos
Golden Compass Nominations are open Core Values Cookbook
P.G 10 -11, COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
Community Summit
Community BBQ
Puerto Rico parade
P.G 12, BPU DISCOUNT
P.G 13 -14, HR TEAM, PAYROLL TEAM, & CONTACT US
Greetings BPU Colleagues!
We hope that you are enjoying the beautiful summer and last weeks of August. Summer hours will return to the regular University schedule on Monday, August 19th.
Please save the date for the Community Summit on August 26-28th and the Community BBQ on August 27th! We hope to see you in person!
Is there a special colleague you would like to nominate who exemplifies a Core Value? The Golden Compass committee welcomes your recommendations. The unveiling of the new Core Values Cookbook is here, thanks to the hard work of the Health and Wellness Committee! We hope you will enjoy and share. Please mark your calendar and join our community and students at the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade on September 15th!
August is National Eye Exam month and National Financial Awareness Day. Enclosed are resources and tips to support you and your family!
If you haven’t done so already, be sure to take the required United Educators Mental Health online training due September 1st. We hope you will gain some helpful suggestions and resources to support our learning community
IMPORTANT UPDATES
SUMMER HOUR SCHEDULE REMINDER
Friendly reminder that the summer hour schedule ends on Friday, August 16th.
Standard university schedule resumes: August 19th
Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
We hope you are enjoying your summer!
VACATION AND SICK BANKS
UNITED EDUCATORS TRAINING
All Faculty, Staff, Adjuncts
Deadline: September 1, 2024
Bay Path University is requiring all faculty, staff, and adjuncts to undergo specialized training aimed at Fostering Student Mental Health. This proactive approach underscores the University’s commitment to cultivating student success, promoting student wellbeing, and creating a supportive environment.
Training Details: Login to United Educator's here Handout: Helping Students in DistressClick here for the link
FITNESS CENTER REOPENING
As we begin the new fiscal year, you may have noticed the personal bank of time has reset to 0 on July 1st, 2024. Your bank of sick time will be moved to your long-term sick bank and reset to 0 as well.
Under certain circumstances, BPU allows employees to use time before it is accrued. Should you resign from your position, your final paycheck will be adjusted accordingly to reflect any paid time off used but not yet earned.
To view your carried-over time off balances in ADP, please refer to the carryover column adjacent to your vacation days.
Reopening: August 15th
HEALTH & WELL-BEING INITIATIVE
AUGUST IS NATIONAL EYE EXAM MONTH
August is National Eye Exam Month, a dedicated time to emphasize the importance of regular eye exams for maintaining good eye health and overall wellness. Established to raise awareness about the necessity of eye care, this month encourages everyone to prioritize their vision by scheduling comprehensive eye exams.
Why Are Eye Exams Important?
1.
Early Detection of Eye Conditions: Regular eye exams can help detect eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration in their early stages when they are most treatable
2.
Overall Health Indicators: Eye exams can also reveal signs of other health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
3.
Vision Correction: Many people experience changes in their vision as they age. Regular exams ensure that prescriptions for glasses or contact lenses are up-to-date.
4.
Preventing Eye Strain: With the increasing use of digital devices, eye strain is becoming more common. Eye exams can help identify problems and suggest solutions like special glasses or adjusting screen time.
PLEASE REVIEW OUR VISION BENEFITS WE OFFER ALTUS / VSP VISION PLAN CLICK HERE
SUPPORTING FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH
DURING SUMMER HOURS
Summer hours and new routines can be great but also challenging for families with dependents, teens and young children. This article provides helpful reflections and supportive tips.
NATIONAL FINANCIAL AWARENESS DAY
COPING WITH FINANCIAL CRISES
• Life has a way of throwing unexpected financial roadblocks, detours and potholes in our path. These might be large medical bills, car or home repairs, a death in the family, loss of a job or expensive legal situations. Such financial emergencies can derail your efforts to save for retirement. The following are some strategies for managing financial crises.
Establish an Emergency Fund
This can lessen the need to dip into retirement savings for a financial emergency. Building an emergency fund is tough if income is tight, but every dollar can help. Fund an emergency fund with pay from extra working hours or a temporary job, a tax refund or a raise. Put the money into a low-risk, accessible account such as a savings account or money market fund.
Insure Yourself
Insurance protects your financial assets, such as your retirement funds, by helping to take care of the really big financial disasters. Consider the following list of insurance coverage to help protect your assets.
• HEALTH. If you and your family aren’t covered under an employer’s policy, try to buy catastrophic medical coverage on your own.
•
•
•
DISABILITY. Social Security Disability Insurance can pay yours and your family’s benefits if you are severely disabled and are expected to be so for at least 12 months. Workers’ compensation only helps you if the disability is work-related. In addition, your employer may offer some disability coverage, but you may need to supplement it with private coverage.
RENTERS. Homeowners usually are insured against hazards such as fire, theft and liability, but the majority of renters aren’t. Renter’s insurance is inexpensive.
AUTOMOBILE. Don’t drive “bare.” In many states it is against the law to drive without auto coverage, and it is also very costly if you are in an accident.
Borrow
UMBRELLA. This provides additional liability coverage, usually through your home or auto insurance policies, in the event you face a lawsuit.
LIFE. Having life insurance can help you or your spouse continue to save if either one of you dies before retirement. Social Security may be able to pay benefits to your spouse and/or minor children. On the other hand, you may not need life insurance if no one depends financially on you. There are many types of life insurance, with a variety of fees and commissions attached.
LONG-TERM CARE. This insurance can help pay for costly long-term health care either at home or in a health care facility or nursing home. It protects you from draining savings and assets you could use for retirement.
If you must borrow because of a financial emergency, carefully compare the costs of all options available to you.
Sell Investments
It’s usually advisable to sell taxable investments first. Try not to touch your faster growing retirement accounts. Taking money out of your retirement accounts could trigger income taxes and penalties.
Article adapted from the U.S. Department of Labor publication of the same title. www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/ebsa/about-ebsa/ouractivities/resource-center/publications/savings-fitness.pdf
HEALTH & WELL-BEING INITIATIVE
MAGELLAN WELLNESS WEBINARS
Insurance Basics: Protecting Your Future & Assets
Tuesday, August 13th, 2024 - 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM
Insurance can be an essential tool for protecting your financial future, but with so many options, it can be challenging to know where to start We’ll look at the basics of insurance, including the different types of coverage available, such as life, health, home, and auto insurance. We'll also provide tips for how you might go about choosing the right insurance coverage, comparing policies, and getting the best rates
Protecting Childrens’ Emotional Wellbeing
Wednesday, August 14th, 2024 - 2:00 PM
While social media can help you stay connected, excessive use can disconnect you from your own mental health. Its effects range from addictive behaviors and withdrawal symptoms resembling substance abuse to developing distorted views of reality.
Retirement: Social Security Decisions
Thursday, August 29th, 2024 - 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM
We contribute for years to the Social Security system through payroll deductions, but we don’t always know our best options for receiving those eventual distributions This class will examine how benefits are calculated and how you can decide when to start receiving distributions in retirement. The session will also look at spousal benefits and factors that could influence whether you are taxed on the distributions you receive.
TIAA FINANCIAL WEBINARS
Financial Wellness & Mental Health
Wednesday, August 7th, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Register today for this webinar on the connection between emotional and financial wellbeing. We will examine the relationship between mental health and financial decisions to help you reach your goals.
Click here to register!
Opening Doors to The Future: Save in a 529 College Savings Plan
Tuesday, August 13th, 3:00PM - 4:00PM
In this webinar you can learn how 529 college savings plans work and how to invest in one for a child, grandchild, yourself or another loved one
Click here to register!
Live with Confidence in Retirement: 5 Steps to Creating Your Retirement Income Plan
Wednesday, August 21st, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
If you’re thinking about making the transition to retirement, this webinar is essential for understanding how to create an income plan that helps you maximize your savings. In five steps you’ll learn how different sources of income work, how to build your strategy for lifetime income and what to consider when planning withdrawals from your retirement assets.
Click here to register!
HEALTH & WELL-BEING INITIATIVE
Where Your Health Matters Webinar: Sleep 101
Discuss why balance and fall prevention are important for longevity and identify how to prevent falls and balance issues. This webinar will provide exercises to incorporate daily to help with balance and injury prevention.
Date: Thursday, August 8th
Time: 12:00 PM
Register: Here
Earn: 50 Healthy Choices points (for HNE members) and a raffle entry for a 1 in 5 chance to win a $50 Target gift card*
Click here to learn more about each webinar this year and to register. Employees can also watch on their own time and fill out the webinar completion form to earn 50 Healthy Choices points.
CORE VALUE OF THE MONTH
We Work Best as a Community that Collaborates
Working collaboratively is where we function best. In solving problems across silos, communicating transparently, embracing challenge together, and inspiring each other, we strengthen our community and, in turn, fulfill our mission. Collectively, we take pride in our work and celebrate our success.
4 Ways to Make Hybrid Work Better for Everyone
Collaborating at Work: The Collaboration Skills You Need to Succeed
Tsedal Neeley, Ph.D., Harvard Business School
Leadership expert Tsedal Neeley shares the changes that we need to make in order to create workplaces that actually work -- no matter where you ' re located.
Andrew Campbell, MBA, MA, Hult International Business School Howell Schroeder, MBA, London Business School
More work inside organizations is done through collaboration rather than close teams. Here is how to be good at this way of working.
Bay Path Golden Compass Award highlights a small but mighty act of how our colleagues are working to bring our Core Values to life. All community members are encouraged to nominate a peer they want to commend for being intentional when applying the Bay Path Core Values to their work and relationships.
Submit your nomination for next month HERE.
If you ' re new to the University, consider reviewing the Core Values section on the BPU Community Page Here you'll find....
The Core Values Resource Hub
History of the Golden Compass Award
Previous Recipients of the Golden Compass
Interested in serving as a Core Values Ambassador? Email us at corevalues@baypath.edu.
CORE VALUES COOKBOOK
We are delighted to announce the publication of the Core Values Cookbook!
This special collection showcases our community’s culinary talents and shared values. We’re excited for you to explore these recipes and enjoy the flavors that bring us together.
A big thank you to the Health and Wellness Committee and everyone who contributed.
Happy cooking!
Click Here for the Cookbook
SAVE THE DATE: THE COMMUNITY SUMMIT COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
AUGUST 26TH - AUGUST 28TH, 2024
As is Bay Path's tradition, we will bring together faculty and staff from Bay Path University and Cambridge College for three days of meetings, workshops, and social events Academic Affairs has organized this event to ensure we come together as one University. It is important to set aside this time to foster a sense of belonging and a shared mission.
Below is a schedule-at-a-glance, a more detailed schedule will follow:
Monday, August 26th
Arrival to Longmeadow by 12 pm
12:00 PM - Lunch
1:30-5:00 PM - Programming
5:30-7:30 - Community Dinner & Celebration
Tuesday, August. 27th
8:00 AM - Breakfast
9:00 AM -12:00 PM - Programming
12:00 PM -1:30 PM - Community Lunch
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM - Programming
4:00 PM - Departure
Wednesday, August 28th
Programming on Zoom
Downtown Springfield, MA
BPU Discount
Ashley Pereira AVP for People & Culture
Responsible for:
Strategy Operations
Total Rewards Compensation Budget Employee Relations
Megan Pierson HR Generalist
Responsible for:
Employee Engagement
Professional Development
Educational Assistance Operations Manual
Offboarding
HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM
Meghan Rosenberger HR Business Partner
Responsible for: Talent Management Recruitment Onboarding Performance Evaluations
Colby Cabral HRIS Specialist
Responsible for: HR Information Systems Reporting Data requests
HR Metrics Assistance
Lidon Weatherly Senior HR Manager
Responsible for: Operations
Employee Relations & Compliance
Employee Development Benefits & Wellness
Christine Fager HR Coordinator
Responsible for: Job Postings Onboarding New Hires New Adjunct Faculty Background Checks I-9 Compliance
Brenda Fletcher Benefits Specialist
Responsible for:
Benefits & Retirement
PFML/FMLA
Short & Long Term Disability Workers Compensation
Jeannette Mojica HR Support Specialist
Responsible for:
General Assistance
HR Communications
HR Newsletter
HR Events Special Projects
PAYROLL DEPARTMENT
Lori Moccio Payroll Supervisor (BPU)
Responsible for: Payroll Procedures and Process Updates
Adjunct Contracts Payroll
Management
Direct Deposit Requests & Changes
Paid Time Off (PTO)
The Human Resources Newsletter is a great way to get reminders as well as to advertise your own news to the rest of your colleagues.
If you have something you would like to have included in next month’s newsletter, be sure to send an email to hr@baypath.edu so that we can add your information to the issue. WE WANT TO
Shih Chi Chang Payroll Accountant (CC)
Responsible for: Payroll Procedures and Process Updates
Adjunct Contracts Payroll Management
Direct Deposit Requests & Changes
Paid Time Off (PTO)