CSUN HUMAN RESOURCES COMMUNICATION NEWSLETTER "INFORMATION THAT IMPACES PEOPLE"
August 8, 2005
PHONE: 818-677-2101
MAIL DROP: 8229
UNIVERSITY HALL 165
LINE
LEFT ARROW HRIS Update Plans
 HR QUICKLINKS:
HR Communication Archive
http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/newsletters/
http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/benefits/
http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/comp/
http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/payroll/
http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/relations/
http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/training/

The campus will be engaged in a major upgrade of the PeopleSoft HR system starting in mid 2006. This major upgrade will be completed in mid 2007. In addition to improvements in the current functions, we hope to add new functionality in the recruitment and benefits areas. The time and labor module will be improved with the addition of new absence management features.
LEFT ARROW HR Data Warehouse

The HR data warehouse went live on July 11 and it is now available for authorized users as an excellent resource for management data. Each major academic and administrative unit has one or more people authorized to access information within the warehouse. Please contact your representative to learn more about the type of information available.
LEFT ARROW Organizational Charts
A new software system has been purchased to work in conjunction with our HRIS system to automatically produce organizational charts. This software is expected to be operational by mid-September for use at the university, college, and unit level.
LEFT ARROW Professional Development
During the period of June 2004-July 2005 the Human Resource Office provided 30 professional development opportunities attended by 363 people. The average rating was 4.6 on a 5.0 scale. In addition, 12 Benefits classes were attended by 237 people, and 198 people attended 12 Wellness classes. New classes will be starting in September. Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to improve your skills and abilities.
LEFT ARROW Open Enrollment - Benefits
Open enrollment for health insurance will be available within the next several weeks. We now have the premium rates for the various plans available to CSUN faculty and staff. For the "employee only" option in the Blue Shield HMO, faculty and staff do not pay anything. The same is true for the Kaiser Permanente HMO for the "employee only" and "employee plus one dependent" categories. Other plans and categories increased premiums by 7-19%, depending on the plan and category (excludes public safety and skilled crafts units). For more information, please consult the HR website at http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/benefits/INSURANCEPREMIUMS.html.
LEFT ARROW Savings Plans
In addition to the CalPERS deferred benefit plan offered to faculty and staff in covered positions, we are also eligible to save for retirement through a 401K plan, a state deferred compensation plan (457), and an optional tax-sheltered annuity plan (403b). Please see our website for additional information on these vehicles to save for retirement (http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/benefits/tsa.html).
LEFT ARROW Vision Plan - Medical Eye Services (MES)
Have you had your vision checked lately? The CSU provides an employer-paid vision plan for you and your eligible dependents. Don't delay in taking care of your eyes. For information, claim forms, and participating providers, visit our website at http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/benefits/index.html. MES is the vision care provider. The policy group number is F21426.
LEFT ARROW Notification of Life Event Changes
Please report life event changes which may affect your eligibility or your dependents' eligibility immediately to the Office of Human Resources, Benefits Administration. Examples of reportable life event changes are marriage, divorce, birth/adoption, reduction/increase in time-base, and dependents who reach age 23.
LEFT ARROW CalPERS Long-Term Care
CalPERS has created a DVD that helps make the CalPERS Long-Term Care Program easy to understand. The purpose of the DVD is to make the program both simple and meaningful to you. If you missed our first viewing session in July, we invite you to bring your lunch on Thursday, September 8th, from 12-1 p.m., in the Oviatt Library, Human Resources Training Room 16 to view this DVD. You may enroll by emailing the following information to hrs.training@csun.edu: employee name, department, extension, and name and date of program.

The application period for long-term care insurance ends on September 30, 2005. If you have questions or need assistance, please call 1-800-266-1050 or visit http://www.calpers.ca.gov.
LEFT ARROW CalPERS Member Benefit Booklets
You can find out more about your retirement benefits in the new CalPERS member booklet available at: http://www.calstate.edu/Benefits/pdf/CalPERS_Pub-6-booklet.pdf. This booklet includes our Benefit Formula 2% @ 55.

http://www.calstate.edu/Benefits/pdf/CalPERS_Pub7-booklet.pdf. This booklet includes information for public safety employees.
LEFT ARROW 2005/2006 Salary Range Adjustments

The 2005/2006 Salary Range Adjustments have been implemented and revisions made to the CSU Salary Schedule effective July 1, 2005. Please make sure you are referring to the most recent Salary Schedule. The direct link to the Salary Schedule is http://www.calstate.edu/hrpims/Salary/SalarySchd20050726.pdf.

LEFT ARROW Performance Evaluations
All annual evaluations for permanent and temporary appointments of six months or more need to be completed, signed, and submitted by Thursday, September 1, 2005.
LEFT ARROW Professional Development Programs and Fee Waiver Reduction Update

August 17th is the deadline for all Proposed Course Approval Forms to be turned into the Professional Development Programs (PDP) office. Any employee attending a CSU must have a proposed course approval form on file to maintain their fee waiver benefit. This form is needed in addition to registering for classes through Admissions and Records. Course fees are due to Cash Services based on their deadlines.

Applications for fee waiver benefits are now being accepted for Spring 2006. All participants are expected to meet posted deadlines. Completing and turning forms in prior to the deadlines ensures you will be enrolled into the fee waiver program. Available forms and posted deadlines are on the PDP website at: http://www-admn.csun.edu/hrs/feewaiver/deadlines.htm.

Congratulations to the 80% of employees that turned in their forms on time for the Fall 2005 semester. To utilize university resources more effectively, PDP has a goal of reducing late enrollments by 10% for Spring 2006. This is a great benefit to assist employees in obtaining educational programs at a minimal cost. If you have additional questions that cannot be answered through the information on the HR website, please direct them to Melissa Billeter at (818) 677-3820.

LEFT ARROW Sexual Harassment Training

The Chancellor's Office is planning to roll out a new online training module in mid-October. All employees who supervise or "lead" other employees (in addition to MPP) must complete this training by December 31, 2005. The Office of Human Resources or the Chancellor's Office will update the campus when the module becomes available. It is important that every MPP/supervisor/lead complete this training on time to ensure that CSUN is in compliance with state and federal laws.

LEFT ARROW Time Reporting Codes: JD and UTR/UTN

The Time Reporting Code Rule for Jury Duty (JD) has been updated in the Time Reporting Rules document (http://www-admn.csun.edu/Ps/hrs/trc_cms.doc). As of August 2004, State and Superior Courts are no longer paying jury duty fees to state employees. In the future, jurors will receive only mileage after the first day, which they may keep. Employees must provide proof of service documents to their department; departments are responsible for retaining proof of service in the files. See http://www-admn.csun.edu/Ps/hrs/trc_cms.doc for more detail.

The rule for Time Report Codes Union Time - Non Reimbursed (UTN) and Union Time - Reimbursed (UTR) have been updated to clarify the difference between the two codes:

"Reimbursed union release time is differentiated from non-reimbursed time in that the employee's department receives salary and benefit subsidy from the union for the former, while in the latter no subsidy is provided to the department for the absence. In both cases, the employee receives full pay with no impact on existing vacation, CTO, sick leave, or personal holiday balances."

To read the entire rule, please visit the Time Reporting Rules document at http://www-admn.csun.edu/Ps/hrs/trc_cms.doc.
LEFT ARROW State Controller's Office Uses Aggregate Method of Taxation for Multiple Payments in a Single Pay Period

When the State Controller's Office issues multiple payments for certain job codes for the same pay period, the payments are totaled and taxes are calculated on the aggregate total. Depending on variables such as the job code, payment amount, and personal withholding situation, each new payment could increase the tax bracket.

LEFT ARROW Withholding Allowances or Exemptions

Withholding allowances or exemptions can be changed as needed throughout the year by filling out and submitting an Employee Action Request form to HR/Payroll. Call x2101 to receive blank forms by interoffice mail, or stop by University Hall, Room 165. Completed forms should be delivered in person.