SHSU Update for Week of July 1

• Wednesday is Holiday
• Employee Scholarship Deadline
• Continuing Education Classess
• New Employee Orientation Schedule

Wednesday is Holiday

Final exams for the first summer semester will be held Tuesday (July 3), with registration for the second summer semester on Thursday (July 5) and first classes for summer II on Friday (July 6).

Final exams for the second summer semester are Aug. 8, and summer commencement is Aug. 11, with ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Employee Scholarship Deadline is July 2

The scholarship is for full-time benefits eligible staff and faculty, through the rank of assistant professor, who wish to take one class or one class with a lab (4 semester credit hours maximum) at SHSU.

The following selection criteria has been established:

• Applicants must have a minimum of one year full-time continuous employment at SHSU and have earned at least three semester hours at SHSU with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
  
• Undergraduate students with a 2.5 GPA or greater will be given first priority.
  
• Graduate students with a 3.5 GPA or greater will be given second priority.

For questions, e-mail Sandra Blair or contact her by phone at 936.294-1068 or by mail at Box 2356, Frels Bldg., or visit the Human Resources Department, room 122, Frels Building.

Continuing Education Classes

According to Marian Fletcher, continuing education coordinator, these courses are scheduled for the following dates:

E. M. T. Basic, Aug. 1 - Dec. 10; Paralegal, six weekends beginning July 7 - Aug. 12; medical terminology, by correspondence; Microsoft Word, July 10-Aug. 28; and the Internet, July 9-July 25. For more information, contact Fletcher or other continuing education staff members at 936.294.3802.

New Employee Benefits Orientation Schedule

"Please ensure that each new benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and graduate student employee in your department attends one of the group orientation sessions on or before the employee's first active duty date," said Cynthia Bennett, Office of Human Resources. "Time does not normally allow for individual sessions."

The paperwork completed at orientation includes the documents necessary to initiate an employee's payroll setup, and an employee cannot be paid unless these documents are completed and received by Human Resources before the appropriate payroll deadline.

"It is the department head's responsibility to make sure that each benefits-eligible faculty and graduate student employee is aware of his/her eligibility status," said Bennett. "Each benefits-eligible faculty and graduate student employee who has not already received a benefits packet, should obtain a packet from the Human Resources Department (Frels, Rm. 122).

In addition to the other documents necessary for payroll setup, insurance enrollment forms must be completed within 30 days of the first active duty date. Following the initial 30 day insurance enrollment period, the next opportunity to apply for insurance coverage (without a qualifying life event) would be during the next Summer Enrollment period.

Additional information is also available concerning Graduate Student Insurance Eligibility and Enrollment.

Bennett also pointed out that beginning September 1, 2001, the Employees Retirement System (ERS) has a new rule stating that insurance coverage does not begin until the enrollment forms are completed by the employee and entered into the system by our Benefits Coordinator.

"This makes it even more important for new employees to attend an orientation before their first active duty date, if possible," she said. "At the very least, employees must attend orientation on their first active duty date, and be prepared to select all insurance options on that date."

For more information, contact Bennett by e-mail or by phone at 936.294.1070.

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SHSU Media Contacts: Frank Krystyniak, Julia May
July 1, 2001
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