HR News

VALIC Mutual Fund Program

Effective June 1, 2013

Effective June 1, 2013, the University of New Mexico will begin offering the VALIC mutual-fund-based program for the University of New Mexico 403(b) and 457(b) Plan.  Some of the benefits of the new mutual-fund-based program include the following:

• Array of investment options from well-known mutual fund companies
• No front- or back-end sales charges on contributions for mutual funds and no surrender charges if you choose to convert your annuity account to the mutual fund based program
• Continued personal face-to-face services including financial planning and investment education
• Secure account access 24 hours a day, seven days a week through VALIC Online or by calling

VALIC by Phone, our toll free interactive telephone service

• Ongoing account statements with complete account and investment summaries

Open Enrollment Ends May 17, 2013

Open Enrollment for medical, dental, vision, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), life, and long-term disability plans for the 2013/2014 plan year will continue through Friday, May 17, 2013.  You must make all changes to your medical, dental, and vision plans during this time period using LoboWeb, which can be accessed via https://my.unm.edu.  You must make all changes to your life, AD&D, and long-term disability plans during this time period using the Standard enrollment website, which can be accessed via http://standard.com/enroll/#.  For more important Open Enrollment information, visit: http://hr.unm.edu/benefits/open-enrollment.php      

Read the full article for additional details.    

VEBA Information Session Video

The faculty, staff, and retiree members of the Retiree Health Care Task Force were charged with the task of preparing recommendations to reduce UNM’s unfunded liability for post-retirement benefits.  

After careful consideration, the Task Force recommended, and the Regents approved, that UNM establish a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) Trust, with contributions beginning July 1, 2013. The VEBA will be funded by equal contributions made by UNM and benefits-eligible UNM employees who choose not to opt-out of post-retirement benefits.

Watch the VEBA Information Session Video for more information. 

Benefits Open Enrollment for 2013

Open Enrollment Starts Wednesday, April 24

Open Enrollment for UNM’s medical, dental, vision, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), life insurance, and long term disability plans is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, 2013 through Tuesday, May 17, 2013.  Open Enrollment is your opportunity to enroll in, cancel, or make changes to your insurance plans without experiencing a Qualifying Change of Status event. 

To learn about how to make changes, rates for fiscal year 2013-2014 (effective July 1, 2013), and additional details, visit the HR Open Enrollment page.

May 2013 Training Calendar

Take a look at the May 2013 Training Calendar to explore what Employee Organizational Development (EOD) has to offer during the month of May. 

For more information, contact EOD via email: eod@unm.edu or by phone: 505.277.1555  

UNM’s 2013 Youth Summer Hire Program

Make a Difference in the UNM Community This Summer

It’s that time of year, and the 2013 Youth Summer Hire Program has officially been launched. The Division of Human Resources will once again administer the 2013 UNM Youth Summer Hire Program, which offers several opportunities for UNM departments to employ high school and non-UNM students for the summer season, through June, July and August. The program also provides UNM with student recruitment opportunities by highlighting UNM as an employer and higher education institution of choice to participating students.

Read the Newsletter article to learn more.

EHP Calendar of Events - May 2013

Glucose, Hemoglobin A1C, and Cholesterol Testing

When:             May 2, 2013 (First Thursday of Each Month)
Time:               7:00 am – 9:00 am
Where:            Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Johnson Center, B-143
Current Cost:   Cholesterol (full lipid panel) testing costs $17, glucose testing costs $10, and HbA1C costs $20 (cash or check only). Come in and take advantage of these prices this month.

Instructions:     No appointment necessary. Eat nothing and drink only water for 12 hours before the test. If only getting HbA1C, no fast is necessary. Call 277-2658 for more information.

*Note: Prices are increasing in June*
Cholesterol (full lipid panel) testing will cost $20, and HbA1C will cost $22. (Glucose testing will remain the same.)

Recreational Services Fitness Classes
Due to lack of interest, and enough interim passes sold, there will be no interim classes for this session. Passes for the summer semester will go on sale soon. Call Recreational Services at 277-0178 for more information. Visit the Recreational Services website for the summer class schedule, which will go up towards the end of May.

Gale Case - Wellness Champion

UNM offers many ways to practice a healthy lifestyle: campus-wide, with your department, or individually. Gail Case has these three bases covered.  She has been involved with Employee Health Promotion’s (EHP) lifestyle campaigns, her department has been working with EHP to “Advance the future of healthcare as a wellness oriented, preventive care model”, and Gail currently holds a WOW fitness pass with Recreational Services.

Read the Newsletter article to learn more. 

Video of the Month: 10-Minute Pilates Thigh Workout

Coach Nicole will take you through one short set of 6 Pilates exercises (plus stretches). If you're new to Pilates, we recommend that you watch our short Intro to Pilates video first.

If you are interested in more ideas customized for your work group, contact EHP. We offer a variety of stretching and strength building classes, including Stretch Away Stress and Ergonomic Stretch Breaks. We also sell resistance bands for only $10.

On the Hunt for Wellness

Celebrate Employee Health and Fitness Month this May

Let’s face it, we spend a lot of our waking hours at work. We usually try to fit healthy activities into the few remaining hours, making even the best efforts a challenge. Now just imagine what you could do if wellness were integrated into your workday. Employee Health Promotion wants to help you do exactly that this May, with On the Hunt for Wellness, our celebration of Employee Health and Fitness Month.

Employee health and wellness is an integral part of UNM culture. There are numerous services on campus to keep your body, mind, and soul as healthy as possible. On the Hunt for Wellness is about re-familiarizing employees with those services. Join your co-workers and sample several wellness offerings throughout the month.

Read the Newsletter article to learn more. 

2013-2014 One-Time Pay Supplement

August 30, 2013

A One-Time Pay Supplement of $1,000 has been approved for FY2014. The pay supplement will be distributed to eligible staff on August 30, 2013. For more information, review the frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions, call 277-HRPR (4777) for guidance and referrals to the appropriate resource.

2013-2014 Open Enrollment

April 24 - May 17

Open Enrollment for UNM's medical, dental, vision, life, disability, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance plans is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, 2013 through Tuesday, May 17, 2013. Benefit changes made during Open Enrollment are effective July 1, 2013. You will not be able to make changes to your plans after Open Enrollment unless you experience a Qualifying Change of Family Status Event. It is very important to prepare yourself for Open Enrollment so you can make educated decisions about the options available to you.

To learn about how to make changes, rates for fiscal year 2013-2014 (effective July 1, 2013), and additional details, visit the HR Open Enrollment page.

Retiree Health Care Task Force Results

UNM Implementing Post-Retirement Benefit Changes

UNM is presently faced with a large unfunded post-retirement benefit liability, which, if not corrected, will grow each year. This increasing liability will jeopardize UNM’s financial stability, and could lead to the complete elimination of post-retirement benefits if not immediately addressed. The faculty, staff, and retiree members of the Retiree Health Care Task Force were charged with the task of preparing recommendations to reduce UNM’s unfunded liability for post-retirement benefits.  

Read the following memos to learn more about post-retirement benefit changes:

• Current Employees (includes faculty and staff)
• Retirees

There will also be Information Sessions held for faculty, staff, and retirees. See the schedules here:

• Faculty and Staff
• Retirees

If you have additional questions, contact The Division of Human Resources at 505.277.MYHR(6947) or hrinfo@unm.edu.

Join the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor2.0 Program

A UNM Volunteer Initiative

Big Brothers Big Sisters is launching a new mentoring program that President Frank believes will be a great fit for faculty and exempt staff at UNM.  The program is called mentor2.0 and focuses on high school students.  This new program places mentors with 9^th grade students at South Valley Academy located on Coors and Black SW.  The goal is to match every incoming freshman at this school with a mentor.

We understand that you may be hesitant to volunteer for a program that you don’t know that much about.  Here is a video (http://youtu.be/D360ZVSwqvA)  that describes a similar program in New York City called iMentor.  This is the program upon which Big Brothers Big Sisters is building their mentor2.0 program. 

Read the full article for more information. 

Regents Approve Mass Salary Update

On April 9, 2013, the Board of Regents approved a Mass Salary Update (MSU) allocation of 1% for regular, non-bargaining unit staff employees.  The effective date of the MSU increase will be July 1, 2013 for both monthly and bi-weekly employees.  For more information, please visit the Mass Salary Update (MSU) page.

2013-2014 Catastrophic Leave Program

Information for Fiscal Year 2014

What is the Catastrophic Leave Program?
The Catastrophic Leave Program provides financial assistance to eligible employees when they or their immediate family member experiences an approved catastrophic illness/injury.  A catastrophic illness or injury is an acute or prolonged illness or injury that is considered life-threatening, or with the threat of serious residual disability, which results in the employee’s inability to work.  Each request to receive benefits is evaluated under the program guidelines and includes a medical review and determination. 

Read the full article for more information. 

Educational Retirement Bill Signed by Governor Martinez

Senate Bill 115 Brings Sweeping Reform

Governor Martinez signed Senate Bill 115 on Friday, March 29, 2013. The bill is a sweeping reform measure designed to improve the solvency outlook of the state’s educational retirement plan, taking a balanced approach to long-term sustainability.  The changes should result in 100.7% funding in 2043. Educational Retirement Board (ERB) Stakeholders, who had been meeting with the ERB since last summer to draft a solvency proposal, supported the bill provisions. Changes will be effective July 1, 2013. 

Additional details, including key provisions of the bill, can be found in the complete memorandum.

Tuition Remission - Opportunity at Your Fingertips

The University of New Mexico recognizes the importance of an educated and competent workforce. To encourage the continued growth and enrichment of employees, UNM offers a variety of Tuition Remission benefits.

Tuition Remission can be used for classes at The University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, UNM Continuing Education and/or University departments for professional development.

Read the newsletter article to learn more.

Recruitment Corner April 2013

Get the Latest on UNM Staff Recruitment Resources and Events

UNM Staff Recruitment Services develops strategies that brand and market the University of New Mexico as an employer of choice to potential, qualified applicants and employees. Recruitment Services partners with UNM departments and researches, develops, and coordinates Staff position recruitment plans, advertising, job fairs, and other trending recruitment resources. Take a look at what’s happening, and spread the word.

Read the newsletter article to learn more. 

Video of the Month - Fitness

12-Minute Seated Core Workout

In this workout, Coach Nicole will lead you through a series of seated exercises that will help you tone your entire core, improve your posture, and increase your spinal mobility and flexibility. 

If you are interested in more ideas customized for your work group, contact EHP. We offer a variety of stretching and strength building classes, including Stretch Away Stress and Ergonomic Stretch Breaks. We also sell resistance bands for only $10.

Diane Solomon and Leah Saavedra

April Wellness Champions

Is your department trying to improve employee health on a limited budget? The UNM Medical Group (UNMMG) is an example of how creativity and a commitment to health can boost department wellness for minimal cost. By taking advantage of consulting services from Employee Health Promotion (EHP) and other resources already available on campus, UNMMG is working towards a wellness culture at their workplace.

Read the newsletter article to learn more. 

Laugh Your Way To Wellness

Josh Billings, a researcher from the late 1800s, said it best, “There ain’t much fun in medicine, but there’s a heck of a lot of medicine in fun.”

Over the years, researchers have categorized five types of humor that promote health: puns, exaggeration, surprise, silliness, and sarcasm. No matter which style you use, humor can provide a wealth of health benefits. Laughter has been shown to alleviate stress, reduce depression, enhance mood, and even improve immune function. 

Read the newsletter article to learn more. 

News U Can Use - April 2013

Back Pain: Strategies for Prevention and Management

At home or at work, heavy lifting, repetitive movements, and sitting at a desk can all take a toll on your body and potentially lead to back pain.  Injury can start in a variety of ways, including exerting too much force, repetitive movement that leads to fatigue, slouching, or tight muscles caused by stress. For more information about the causes of back pain and solutions for relief, visit the Mayo Clinic and Health Safety Executive. 

Catastrophic Leave vs. Short-Term Disability

What is the Difference?

The Catastrophic Leave Program (CAT Leave) covers staff employees when they or an immediate family member has a catastrophic illness or injury. A catastrophic illness or injury is an acute or prolonged illness or injury that is life threatening, or with the threat of serious residual disability, which results in the employee’s inability to work.  Each request to receive CAT Leave benefits is evaluated under the program guidelines, including a medical review and administrative determination of eligibility. 

Read the newsletter article to learn more. 

Express Scripts New Member Platform

Member Website Enhancement Effective April 1, 2013

Beginning April 1, 2013, Express Scripts is upgrading their member website to a new platform. Express Scripts members who log into www.express-scripts.com will be introduced to an improved website associated with the upgraded platform. This improved website will feature some new self-service capabilities, including tools that are designed to help members better understand their benefit, shop for lower-cost medications, determine the lowest-cost channel to obtain medications, and more.  The improved website is very intuitive and easy for plan members to navigate.

For more details and FAQs on this new member feature offered by Express Scripts, review the Express Scripts Member Communication and the Express Scripts FAQs.

For questions, please contact the customer service number on your Express Scripts member ID card, or call (800) 232-6549.