Table of Contents From the Office of Human Resources
Overview
From the Office of HR
P.g 2-3, Important Updates
2024 Staff Performance Evaluation Timeline
Employee Policy Review Acknowledgement Educational Assistant Program University is Closed: Thanksgiving Break Tuition Scholarship Programs
Friendly Reminder: HR office move
P.g 4, Professional Development
As we embrace November, it’s a time for gratitude and growth within our community. From October through December, we will conduct the 2024 Staff Performance Evaluations, providing an excellent opportunity to reflect on your accomplishments and set goals for the year.
Thank you for your hard work and commitment!
Communication & Resiliency: Practices to Cultivate Team Effectiveness and Trust
Polished, Persuasive, and Professional:
Email Best Practices
P.g 5 -7, Health & Well-Being Initiative
National Diabetes Month
World Kindness Day
TIAA Financial Webinars
Magellan Wellness Webinars
Health New England Health Webinars
Free Yoga with Andrea!
P.g 8, Community Happenings
Presidential November Election
Wildcat Pantry
P.g 9, BPU Discount
P.g 10 -11, HR & PAYROLL TEAMS, & Contact Us
We hope you will join us for our upcoming professional development events “Communication & Resiliency” and “Email Best Practices” which aim to enhance our skills and strengthen collaboration.
This week, all employees will receive HR’s 2024 Annual Policy Review Acknowledgment forms. Please sign and return promptly to stay informed about our policies.
We’re excited to announce the newly expanded Educational Assistance Program for 2025, allowing employees and family members to take classes at Bay Path and Cambridge College! We encourage you to take advantage of this benefit to enhance your educational achievements.
As we recognize National Diabetes Month and World Kindness Day, we will also offer Financial & Health Webinars along with resources for the upcoming Presidential Election.
We appreciate each of you and your unique contributions to our learning community. Wishing you a warm and inspiring November!
October 28th- November 15th: Employees complete and submit Self-Evaluations.
November 18th- December 13th: Managers Complete Evaluations. Manager & Employees Meet to Discuss Evaluation & Employees Sign Off on Evaluations.
December 13th: All Evaluations Signed and Completed in Hirezon.
IMPORTANT:
All staff hired prior to July 1, 2024 should receive a 90 day evaluation and an annual evaluation. All staff hired July 1st, 2024 or later should complete a 90 evaluation in the appropriate time frame.
More information will be coming soon from HR@baypath.edu. You can also visit https://one.baypath.edu/pages/performanceevaluation-forms for more information
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
New Application Form Available for January 2025 - Fall 2025!
Bay Path is committed to supporting employee growth through our Educational Assistance Program, which provides higher education benefits to employees and their families to enroll in courses at Bay Path and Cambridge College! This investment in our teams helps drive personal growth and the success of our Institution. Explore BPU & CC’s wide range of programs available in 2025!
2025 Course Descriptions: BPU & Cambridge College
Eligibility & Policies:
HR Portal: Educational Assistance Benefits See Application form for eligibility & policies Application Steps: Apply to programs for admission & enroll in courses. 1. Complete Educational Assistance Application on HR portal. 2. Obtain signatures from supervisor and divisional VP. 3. Email the application to HR at hr@baypath.edu. 4. Employees will receive application decisions by email 5
As part of Bay Path University’s annual compliance process, HR is required to distribute the Policy Review documents and Conflict of Interest Disclosure form for all faculty and staff, including those in full-time, part-time, and adjunct roles.
You will soon receive an email requiring your response from HR Email account name:
“Bay Path HR Policy Acknowledgements via Adobe Acrobat Sign”
Policy Review (required of ALL Full-Time Faculty, Staff, Adjuncts)
Conflict of Interest Disclosures (required of ALL FullTime Faculty, Staff)
Signed forms via Adobe Sign are due to HR by: November 18, 2024
Questions or Concerns? Contact hr@baypath.edu. Thank you for your attention to this important process
IMPORTANT UPDATES
TUITION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
CIC and TE Tuitions Scholarships
Bay Path University offers two programs to help full-time employees provide educational assistance for their dependents. Through the Tuition Exchange (TE) and the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Tuition Exchange Programs, dependents have access to tuition scholarship opportunities at hundreds of colleges and universities nationwide.
Deadline: October 31, 2024
Tuition Scholarship applications due to Bay Path Human Resources, following the BPU Application Process TE and CIC 2025-26
Notification: November 29, 2024
Bay Path Human Resources will notify employees of Tuition Scholarship eligibility decisions by or on November 29th. Once employees are approved by Bay Path for Tuition Scholarships, their application will advance to the Export Institution for TE & CIC Export institution review and final decisions.
To learn more about the tuition scholarship programs please visit: HR Portal
BPU Application Process TE and CIC 2025-26 Tuition Exchange (TE) program Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) program
Tuition Exchange (TE) Family Webinars for Fall 2024!
Interested in learning more about Tuition Exchange (TE) and how to be successful with your employee, student and application award process? Join one of these new one-hour webinars! Topics include:
What is Tuition Exchange? Key Terminology The Application Process Tips for Communicating to Ensure Success TE Scholarship(s) Secured--Now What?
Q&A Wrap-Up
Webinar Dates & Times (register in advance through TE):
Monday, October 7, at 7:00 pm
Wednesday, October 23, at 8:00 pm Tuesday, November 5, at 7:00 pm Thursday, November 21, at 7:00 pm Monday, December 9, at 4:00 pm Tuesday, December 17, at 7:00 pm
This is a friendly reminder that HR has officially moved to 17 Emerson!
Stay tuned for more details, as we will be hosting an Open House soon! We look forward to staying connected with everyone and will be scheduling office hours and additional opportunities to meet.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at HR@baypath.edu
We look forward to seeing you at our new location!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNICATION & RESILIENCY:
PRACTICES TO CULTIVATE TEAM EFFECTIVENESS & TRUST
Wednesday, November 6th, 3:30-5:00 PM
(Zoom)(Eastern Time - New York)
Facilitators:
Dr. Jennifer Wade, Executive Director & Special Assistant to the President, for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
Dr. Ruth Lahti, Dean, School of Education, Psychology & Humanities
Organizers:
Human Resources, Academic Affairs, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
In this scenario-based, small-group practice session, facilitators Dr. Jennifer Wade and Dr. Ruth Lahti will illustrate powerful communication strategies for teams, particularly during change and uncertainty. Drawn from Brene Brown's influential work on leadership, this learning session will highlight the importance of vulnerability, risk-taking, building trust, active listening, and empathy. When members communicate in ways that demonstrate these priorities, individuals and teams are more resilient-able to thrive amidst change, uncertainty, and even setbacks.
POLISHED, PERSUASIVE, & PROFESSIONAL: EMAIL BEST PRACTICES
Wednesday, December 4th 11am-12pm (Zoom) (Eastern Time - New York)
Facilitator:
Erin Boutin, Director of Hatch Learning Commons
Organizers:
Human Resources
Hatch Learning Commons
Enhance your communication skills with our upcoming training. This one-hour session will cover key strategies for crafting clear and professional messages, including best practices for tone, formatting, and response times. Through interactive scenarios, participants will explore how various email tones and writing styles can be interpreted, engaging in group discussions to identify the most effective approaches. Whether you ' re writing to colleagues or students, mastering email etiquette can improve your productivity, relationships, and professionalism. Join us to ensure your emails always leave the right impression.
NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH WORLD DAY
New Program for Your Employees!
Nutritional Therapy for Weight Loss and Diabetes Reversal
Health New England is excited to announce a new program through Virta Health available for members as of October 1.*
Virta is available for eligible members (18 years and older, including covered dependents) with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or a BMI of 27 or greater. Virta is a guided nutrition program for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes reversal, and for safe and sustainable weight loss. Powered by technology and digital health tools, Virta’s care team provides expert medical care, coaching, and ondemand virtual support. Virta's personalized approach will help members sustainably lose weight while controlling blood sugar with fewer or no medications. For members who qualify, Virta will send full program details via mail and email on behalf of Health New England. Participation is optional.
Members can check their eligibility and get started by visiting this webpage: virtahealth.com/join/healthnewengland
*Self-Funded Groups with prescription coverage through Health New England have the option to opt into the program. Please work with your Sales Account Executive. For more details, see the Virta flyer >>
November 13th
Kindness at Work Assessment
Your journey toward a kinder workplace starts here
To get started take our Kindness in the Workplace assessment below. (You will need to log into your account or sign up if you don't have one yet.) For each question or statement, you simply decide if it resonates with you, if you feel neutral about it, or if it does not resonate with you.
The key is to consider the question or statement as it might resonate (or not) with you at work Sometimes we operate differently at work than we do at home, and this assessment is for your workplace persona If a question doesn't seem to apply to your situation, just go with your gut or mark it neutral.
After finishing the assessment, your results will show which of the six kindness concepts resonates most with your workplace self. You’ll receive a one-page resource and toolkit with practical tips to help you enhance this concept at work, aiming to build a stronger culture of kindness. You can also explore toolkits for other concepts that resonate less strongly. While you may naturally align with one concept, you can work toward embodying them all!
Are you ready to get started?
FINANCIAL WEBINARS
Investing Essentials: 5 Principles to Invest with Confidence
Tuesday, November 5th, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
How you invest today can impact what you’ll have tomorrow No matter where you are in your career journey, this webinar can help you understand five key principles of investing for the future so you can get the most from your money. Click here to register!
Naming Your Beneficiaries: Why it Matters
Thursday, November 7th, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Naming beneficiaries to your financial accounts is probably something you’ve received a lot of reminders about, but maybe you haven’t known why taking care of it is important. Click here to register!
How to Get the Most from Your Employee Retirement Plan
Wednesday, November 13th, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Your workplace retirement plan is one of your most important employee benefits. In this webinar we’ll show you how to take advantage of all your plan has to offer so you can save and invest with confidence and get the most from your money. Click here to register!
Family Wealth Education
Tuesday, November 19th, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Family wealth includes more than just economic resources. Equip your family members for the responsibilities that wealth brings.
Click here to register!
MAGELLAN WELLNESS WEBINARS
Retirement: Understanding Medicare
Tuesday, November 12th, 2024 - 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM Medicare is a complex system, but understanding your coverage options can be essential to getting the healthcare you need at this stage of life. The webinar will cover some of the basics of Medicare, including the different plan parts and what services they cover, eligibility requirements, and enrollment periods. Also on tap for discussion will be considerations for choosing a plan, maximizing your benefits and navigating the Medicare system.
Managing Intense Emotions in the Moment
Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 - 2:00 PM
1. Define emotional regulation.
2. Identify intense emotions and how to manage them in the moment.
3. Discover skills to prepare for intense emotions before they arise.
HEALTH NEW ENGLAND WEBINARS
Where Your Health Matters Webinar: Stress and Mindfulness
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.
Join our WebMD Health Coach to define mindfulness and understand its role in stress management, eating behavior, and physical activity. Learn ways to become more resilient through positive choices and discover additional resources available for stress management.
Date: Thursday, November 14
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST
Register: Click here
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.
FREE YOGA WITH ANDREA!
Click here for the Zoom link
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
PRESIDENTIAL NOVEMBER ELECTION
Counseling Resources
If you are feeling impacted by the Presidential Election and would like resources to support your mental and emotional well being, counseling can help. Counseling provides a convenient, confidential, safe and nonjudgmental environment to work on issues and learn new coping skills.
Contact BPU's Employee Assistance Program at (TTY 711) or go online to Click here for link (Search for program offered to you by Principal Core Principal Core)
Confidential, no cost help available 24/7/365 for you and your household members.
Additional Support Resources
Election Stress: Tips to Manage Anxious Feelings About Politics
Politics Without Panic: Your Election Season Survival Guide
EVENT FOR EMPLOYEES & STUDENTS
Wednesday, November 13
Being the Change You Wish to See: Fireside Chat with Local Change Makers
5:30 - 6:30 pm ET Hybrid (D’Amour 7 & via Zoom)
In this session students will attend a fireside chat panel discussing the importance of personal resilience and the motivation to continue in the face of challenges. Presenters will discuss strategies for building a more inclusive world by encouraging students to begin with themselves and their communities.
Guest Speakers:
Yvette Frisby, Urban League of Springfield, CEO
LaTonia Naylor, School Committee Member, Springfield Public Schools
Ellen Moorhouse, Communications and Marketing Director, Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women
WILDCAT PANTRY
Your support makes a meaningful impact. The Wildcat Pantry provides essential items to our campus community members facing food or resource insecurity, helping them stay focused on their educational and personal growth. If you’d like to contribute, every item truly helps. For convenience, you can order directly from our Amazon Wishlist, and your donation will be shipped directly to the Wildcat Pantry. We are currently accepting the following items
To arrange a drop-off time for in-person donations, please contact pantry@baypath.edu.
Pantry Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 am-4:00 pm
For more information or any questions, reach out to Tanya Coles-Dailey at tdailey@baypath.edu
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.
