UNT World Employees:
As departments begin to resume on-campus operations and prepare for the return of employees to the workplace, we expect that some individuals will have requests for leave or other needs related to COVID-19, particularly those who are considered high risk as defined by the CDC.
All requests for temporary work environment or job modifications for employees in a high risk category as defined by the CDC must be facilitated through Human Resources.
Contact your Campus HR office:
UNT HR
UNTHSC HR
UNT Dallas HR
Upon receipt of the required forms, Human Resources will facilitate the request with the employee and supervisor to determine appropriate temporary modifications to enable the employee to complete the essential functions of the job while also minimizing the direct threat of contracting the COVID-19 virus in the workplace.
Please note, this process excludes those employees who are seeking reasonable accommodations due to a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All disability accommodation requests will continue to follow the normal procedures.
Please contact your Campus HR office with any questions related to employee leave, the high-risk temporary modification request or disability accommodation processes.
Thank you,
UNT System Human Resources
AskHR@untsystem.edu
Most insurance companies and group health plans must provide participating members with easy-to-read summaries of common services that are covered—and some that aren’t—by the health insurance plans. It’s the law. These documents are meant to help us compare the features of different plans and can help with decisions about which health plan to choose. The Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) also has information about what we can expect to pay, if anything, for medical services and prescription drugs. Each of our health plans has an SBC on the ERS website. Consider reviewing the SBC for your health plan before Summer Enrollment.
When signing up for health insurance, a lot of us are familiar with the most common types of plans: preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). But HealthSelect of Texas is a point-of-service plan, what’s the difference?
The HealthSelect of Texas (in state) plan is a statewide point-of-service plan. A point-of-service plan provides both in-network and out-of-network benefits, but requires the designation of a primary care physician (PCP) and referrals to see specialists. In other words, your PCP should be your primary point of service for getting the care you need. Your PCP is responsible for helping direct you to the appropriate specialists for treatment and obtaining referrals for you to see those specialists. HealthSelect of Texas participants pay less out of pocket if they designate an in-network PCP and get referrals from that PCP if they need to see a specialist, such as a dermatologist or cardiologist. Using a PCP to help decide the most appropriate care helps keep plan costs in check while ensuring members get the care they need.
The Consumer Directed HealthSelect plan is a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA) and PPO network. This plan is available to people not enrolled in Medicare. The PPO network means that participants have both in-network and out-of-network benefits, but don’t have to designate a PCP or get referrals to see specialists. However, there is a high deductible that must be met each calendar year before the plan will begin to pay for any covered health services (other than preventive care) and prescription drugs. To help offset the cost of the high deductible, the University contributes funds to a HSA, which can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses.
The HealthSelect Out-of-State plan is a PPO that provides coverage outside Texas. This plan is available only to active employees, retirees not enrolled in Medicare and their eligible dependents living or working outside Texas. As a PPO, this plan offers both in-network and out-of-network benefits, but does not require a PCP or referrals to see specialists.
Human Resources continues to enhance the PeopleAdmin System, and will soon launch a new module, “Performance Management,” to allow for electronic processing of staff performance evaluations. Faculty evaluations will be processed using established campus processes. UNT Dallas and UNT System Administration will launch their staff performance evaluation programs on June 1, followed by HSC on July 6. UNT will initiate their annual staff performance evaluation program later this year. The UNT Campus HR team will communicate once a timeline is established.
Employees and supervisors can access the performance management system via the employee portal: https://my.untsystem.edu; navigate to the PeopleAdmin section and select the link for Performance Management.
Benefits of the new Performance module include:
• Transitioning to an electronic performance management system that provides automatic notifications and management of program steps
• Creating a more efficient and less manual evaluation process
• Improving employee and supervisor experiences in the evaluation process
• Maintaining a central location for storage of employee goals, position responsibilities, performance notes and evaluation results
Training for each of the UNT World organizations will be scheduled through UNT World Learning.
Email HRcomp@untsystem.edu with any questions.
As departments begin to resume on-campus operations and prepare for the return of employees to the workplace, we expect that some individuals will have requests for leave or other needs related to COVID-19, and particularly those who are considered high risk as defined by the CDC.
All requests for temporary work environment or job modifications for employees in a high risk category as defined by the CDC must be facilitated through Human Resources. Employees with a modification request due to their own high risk status should submit the work modification request form to the appropriate Campus HR office. Those requests related to an underlying medical condition will also need to furnish the completed medical certification form for high risk employees to the Campus HR office. Upon receipt of the required forms, Human Resources will facilitate the request with the employee and supervisor to determine appropriate temporary modifications to enable the employee to complete the essential functions of the job while also minimizing the direct threat of contracting the COVID-19 virus in the workplace.
Please note, this process excludes those employees who are seeking reasonable accommodations due to a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All disability accommodation requests will continue to follow the normal procedures. Please contact your Campus HR office with any questions related to employee leave, the high risk temporary modification request or disability accommodation processes.
Is that case of craft brew a necessity, or a luxury? What about that additional streaming channel, those designer mud flaps, and that second set of socket wrenches? When making financial decisions and formulating a financial plan, it’s important to know the difference between what we need and what we want. When developing a budget, focus first on the needs – those things you have to have – while allowing for “wants” as well. Necessities should be 50% of your budget, according to the “50 (needs)/30 (wants)/20 (savings)” method – but you can still have that craft brew and fishing channel – just maybe not the mud flaps.
Advice from Nerdwallet on defining needs and wants
About that 50/30/20 budget method… from The Balance and also check out:
as well as…
Needs-vs-wants from Smart Asset
Help your kids learn this, too – like Elmo did on Sesame Street.
With exclusive savings on Father's Day gifts from your UNT System Discount Program, buy him something great and make him proud of how much you save! Find a gift for every Dad with over thousands of discounts from your favorite brands.
For the Sports Fan: Buy him a new bike, a set of clubs, or tickets to a game. There are hundreds of gifts for the sports Dad.
For the Stylish Dad: Get exclusive discounts on apparel from Brooks Brothers, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Columbia, and others!
For the Techie: Help Dad stay connected with discounts on tablets, laptops and other devices from Dell, Lenovo, HP and more.
University of North Texas System Vice Chancellor for Organizational Effectiveness and Chief Human Capital Officer Barbara Abercrombie announced Wanda Boyd, UNT System Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, will additionally serve as Interim Director of Human Resources for UNT Dallas and UNT System Administration, effective immediately.
“Wanda is an experienced and trusted human resources leader who can be counted on to provide steady guidance as we navigate the many challenges of COVID-19,” Abercrombie said. “Wanda will serve as the lead HR contact for UNT Dallas and UNT System Administration on an interim basis, while continuing her important work as our lead for Title IX initiatives and Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.”
Boyd joined the UNT System Human Resources team in 2019, following 3+ years at Texas A&M University. The University of Houston graduate has worked in HR and employment relations for 25+ years, gaining rich experience in both the public and private sector that spans the full spectrum of HR and ER, with an emphasis in equity compliance.
Please note that TRS (Teacher Retirement System) will not call or email you to schedule an appointment or send you emails about scheduling appointments to “learn more about your TRS benefits.” There are scammers impersonating TRS. If you receive such a call, notify TRS at 1.800.223.8778. If you receive an email, report it to ITCompliance@untsystem.edu.
To learn more about your TRS benefits, here are helpful links:
TRS Benefits on the HR Benefits page
TRS Handbook at TRS.texas.gov
Or contact HRBenefits@untsystem.edu to schedule a retirement planning video meeting. Ready to retire? Email us to get that ball rolling. You do not have to go to Austin or meet with TRS – we will help you with your retirement and are hosting Retirement Meetings by videoconference.
Choose to Move: Physical Activity Challenge
Through the end of the month of May, this program will include:
For more information, click here.