Campus Concerns

It's time to choose during Benefit Choice Period

During the Benefit Choice Period, May 1-31, employees may make changes to their current coverage under the state's insurance program. Employees can change health and/or dental insurance, apply to add dependents, drop dependents, change life insurance elections and enroll or re-enroll in one of the flexible spending account programs for medical or dependent care expenses.

The coverage selected during the Benefit Choice Period becomes effective July 1, 2002, and runs through June 30, 2003.

Please take time to read the Benefit Choice Options booklet being mailed to campus addresses and understand the benefit options available. By doing so, employees will be able to make informed decisions regarding the benefits available to them and their families.

If you have questions about the Benefit Choice Period, please contact the Employee Benefits office at 453-6668.

A reminder to departments regarding separation, termination

The end of the academic and fiscal years are drawing near, and many term appointments will expire. Employing departments must complete a faculty, administrative/professional and civil service resignation/separation form for employees exiting the University. This is true for civil service employees, continuing and term faculty and administrative/professional staff.

It is important to note that the resignation/separation form must be completed when an appointment is not renewed under a term contract or when a new appointment is declined. The completed form is necessary to alert Human Resources to terminate benefits and to offer the continuation of health, dental and life insurance coverage required by federal law. Human Resources also notifies the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) of the termination.

If the resignation/separation form is not completed, the University may fail to provide legally mandated benefits, and the employee may be unable to obtain a refund from SURS.

The resignation/separation form can be completed online at http://ums2.siu.edu:8000/SIU/oracle/EForms/Cdale/index.html.

Are there human resource topics you'd like to see in future "Campus Concerns" columns? Send your suggestions to Mary Ann Martin, Human Resources, Mail Code 6520, or by e-mail to marymart@siu.edu.

May 1, 2002