Dialog, UA Faculty and Staff News

March 7, 2005

HRD Training

Benefits Review — Sandra Abrams, Manager of Benefits

Group Universal Life Opportunity Available
Pre-Retirement Seminar Scheduled
New PPO Blue Shield/Blue Cross Cards Mailed
H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004 — $500 Free to be Paid by UA Departments Sponsoring H-1B Workers

HRD Training

To register for a class contact Daphne Wright at 348-9700 or dharbin@fa.ua.edu

Building Community: Human Relations for the 21st Century

The Diversity Experience — TBA
Advanced Connections, Moving Quality Service Beyond the Basics — TBA
Assertiveness Skills and Communication — TBA
How Would You Like to be Treated? — Mar. 7, 2-4 p.m.
Who Moved My Cheese? — Mar. 24, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Computer Courses

E-Course — Mar. 21-23, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Advanced Computer Classes — TBA

The Management Project

Register now for The Management Project — an in-house management certificate program for UA managers. This course is a comprehensive training program designed to give participants practical knowledge and skills enabling them to effectively manage within the University's work environment. It was created to assist managers with the increasing challenges they are facing and to prepare potential managers to accept future challenges.

Performance Management and Development — Mar. 15 and 17, TBA

Performance Management and Development

Four Step Performance Plan — March 11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
First Level Supervision Series — Mar. 23-25, 8:30 a.m.-noon

Personal Growth and Development

Conflict Management/Resolution — March 8, 9-11 a.m.

Personal Safety

Right to Know — March 17, 8:15 a.m.

Policy and Procedures

Independent Contractor Procedures — Mar. 16, 9-10 a.m.
Purchasing Procedures — Mar. 16, 2-4 p.m.

Professional Development Series

These programs are intended to benefit UA employees, departments and customers by enhancing the professional development of office employees.

Legal Issues and Workplace Safety — March 9, TBA

Job Openings

The University of Alabama is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. For the latest job updates, call the UA job line, 348-7780. For a full line listing of available positions, visit http://hr.ua.edu/employment. Remember that office, technical, clerical, maintenance and service positions stay on the Job Line only five days. Faculty positions are listed under the appropriate college or school.

Group Universal Life Opportunity Available

The University of Alabama has given employees access to a Group Universal Life (GUL) program through MetLife. The program provides the financial protection of term life insurance with the added financial protection of a voluntary cash accumulation fund. Because coverage is part of a larger group, cost is generally much lower than individual coverage.

During a limited-time special enrollment period, UA employees are eligible to enroll in the GUL program by answering several health questions. Coverage is available for employee, the spouse, and child(ren). The special enrollment period begins March 21 and ends April 8. Watch your home mail for more information regarding this special offer. For more information, call 1-800-336-9422 or visit www.personal-plans.com/uasystem.

Employees who contribute to the GUL cash accumulation fund don't have to pay taxes on the earned interest until it is withdrawn. It is tax-deferred. Interest can compound much faster when it isn't eroded by income taxes each year. When the money is withdrawn, due taxes are based on the income tax rate in effect at that time. Taxes are paid on the amount of the withdrawal that actually exceeds the amount of total contributions. Total contributions include both the premiums paid for the life insurance coverage and contributions made to the cash accumulation fund.

To enroll in the GUL program, you don't have to participate in the cash accumulation fund. However, once you're enrolled in the program you may begin contributions to your cash accumulation fund at any time.

Pre-Retirement Seminar Scheduled

UA's annual Pre-Retirement Seminar will be Tuesday and Wednesday, March 21 and 22, in Room 188 at the Law School beginning at 5:30 p.m. each night as follows: Monday, TRS representative at 5:30; Tuesday, TIAA representative from 5:30 - 7:30, Social Security Representative at 7:45 pm. For details contact the HR Service Center at 348-7732.

New PPO Blue Shield/Blue Cross Cards Mailed

Cards for the new BlueCard PPO program have been mailed to home addresses. (For more information on this enhanced benefit, see the Feb. 21 issue of Dialog.) If you did not receive your card, contact the HR Service Center at 348-7732.

H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004 — $500 Free to be Paid by UA Departments Sponsoring H-1B Workers

On Dec. 8, 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush signed the Fiscal Year 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 4818) into law, which incorporates the "H01B Visa Reform Act of 2004." This act contains significant provisions affecting the H-1B specialty worker category as follows: A new $500 "fraud protection and detection fee" will have to be paid by all employers (including institutions of higher education) who file an H-1B petition: a) initially to grant an alien H-1B status, and b) to allow an H-1B non-immigrant to change employers. The effective date for petitions filed on and after March 8, 2005 [Sec. 426]. If you have questions about this law and application, contact Katie Gilbert, Capstone International Services at 348-5402 or kgilbert@aalan.ua.edu.

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