Contact Us

UW Staff Senate

Merica Hall, Room 320

1000 E. University Ave.

Dept. 3413

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-5300

Email: staffsen@uwyo.edu

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Staff Newsletter

December 2013 Newsletter

View the PDF version of the December 2013 Newsletter 


Holiday Food Drive

Staff Senate is currently accepting donations for the 2013 Holiday Food Drive. It is the goal of the Staff Senate food drive to assist those University employees and their families that may need a little extra help during the holidays. Food donations will be accepted on campus at various locations through December 18. Contact your staff senator for donation box locations.
Staff Senate is also collecting snack items for the Wyoming National Guard 133rd Engineering Company based in Bahrain. The company is requesting the following items:

  • Cookies
  • Brownies
  • Jerky
  • Trail Mix
  • Snack bars
  • Small Packages of dried fruit or nuts
  • Water flavorings

To nominate a UW employee to receive a food basket fill out a nomination form. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 13.


Ask A Question

Got a question about the University of Wyoming or your employment here? Ask away at staffsen@uwyo.eduAnd here’s the answer to the first “Ask a Question” query:

QUESTION: Domestic Partner Health Insurance Policy

I understand that employment benefits at UW have been extended as a stipend amount to same-sex partners of benefited employees. How does this stipend amount compare with benefits available for married couples and their children?

ANSWER:

The Domestic Partner Health Insurance Benefit policy went into force in September 2011, and has recently been updated. A Domestic Partner must meet stated eligibility criteria and must not be eligible for coverage under another employer plan in order to qualify for this benefit. All statements made hereafter assume that the Domestic Partner qualifies for the benefit. For questions concerning this, please see the full policy.

How Does the Benefit Work?

In brief:

Qualifying domestic partners cannot be put on a UW employee’s insurance.

  • Qualifying domestic partners must purchase their own insurance for themselves and/or their qualifying dependents (who are not also dependents of the UW employee).

  • The UW-provided financial benefit is intended to offset the cost of insurance premiums from outside providers.

  • Qualifying domestic partners with no qualifying dependents will receive a financial benefit equal to the difference between the employer contribution for Employee Only and Employee Plus Spouse coverage, or the cost of the insurance, whichever is less. In other words, if the actual insurance premium cost is less than the financial benefit amount offered, the actual cost will be used.

  • Qualifying domestic partners with qualifying dependents will receive a financial benefit equal to the difference between the employer contribution for Employee Only and Family coverage, or the cost of the insurance, whichever is less. Again, if the premium cost is less than the financial benefit offered, the actual cost will be used.

The Domestic Partner Health Insurance Benefit offers the best benefit available to UW employees and their qualifying Domestic Partners within the confines of State law and insurance rules. For additional questions on the policy, please contact the Human Resources Department at 766-2437.


Points to Ponder: Employee Assistance Program

As of December 1, 2013, the University of Wyoming is offering an employee assistance program (EAP) that provides benefited employees and their household members with professional counseling, as well as legal and financial assistance.

Services are available through www.MINESandAssociates.com, or by calling 1-800-873-7138, and are available at no cost to UW employees.

Participation in the EAP is voluntary and strictly confidential. Employees can choose to meet face-to-face or access professional assistance online or by telephone, 24/7. MINES provides a network of doctoral-level licensed psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, certified alcohol counselors, master's level therapists and certified employee assistance professionals. Assistance is offered in the following areas:

Counseling -- MINES professionals offer up to six free counseling sessions per year to help employees and household members deal with issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, stress, anxiety, financial problems, legal referrals, work-related issues and other problems. Please call for a referral: 1-800-873-7138.

Financial -- Each employee and household member can receive a 30-minute office or telephone financial consultation on topics including credit counseling, debt and budgeting assistance, tax planning, retirement and college planning services and other services. Log on in the lower portion of the Employee Services tab: USERNAME: mines, PASSWORD: associates

Legal -- Employees and household members are also entitled to one initial 30-minute office or telephone consultation at no cost, with a 25 percent rate reduction thereafter. Legal assistance is offered in areas including civil/consumer issues, personal and family legal services, business legal services, criminal matters, do-it-yourself legal forms and more. Log on in the lower portion of the Employee Services tab: USERNAME: mines, PASSWORD: associates

Online Resource --  PersonalAdvantage, an online interactive resource offers free assistance through assessments, courses, calculators, quizzes, articles, and more. These online resources can help UW employees prepare for and deal with challenges involving:

  • Health

  • Emotional well-being

  • Financial stability

  • Personal growth

  • Relationships

Log on to PersonalAdvantage anytime on the top portion of the Employee Services tab:  USERNAME: uofwy, PASSWORD: employee


Did You Know: W-2 Electronic Delivery

Don’t wait for mail delivery--sign up for electronic delivery of your Form W-2 and get your taxes done early!  Currently, nearly 2000 employees are signed up for this option, which is more convenient and which also significantly reduces postage expenses.

It’s easy to sign up:

  • Log into WyoWeb

  • Click on the My Workplace tab

  • Under Administrative Systems, click on UW Employee Self Service

  • From the Main Menu, click on Self Service

  • Go to Payroll and Compensation

  • Choose W-2/W-2c Consent

  • Once you are on the W-2/W-2c Consent page, you simply need to check the box to consent and hit Submit

That’s it! Have more questions? See the Electronic W2 Delivery webpage.


Know Your Senators – Aimee Appelhans, Parlimentarian

Aimee Appelhans is a Programmer Analyst, Sr. in IT/ADS at the University of Wyoming. She has been employed at UW for over 8 years and has served 3½ years on Staff Senate, and currently serves as Parliamentarian, where her attention to detail is much appreciated. Aimee’s goals for Staff Senate are to foster better recognition across the entire campus of the irreplaceability and importance of staff to the workings of the University.

Aimee has been married for almost 10 years, and has three kids and four siblings, three of whom live in Laramie. In her spare time, Aimee enjoys reading and improving her cake decorating skills. Aimee is also a Member of P.E.O., which is a philanthropic organization that celebrates the advancement of women through education and achievement, and serves as a den leader for Cub Scouts.

You can reach Aimee at Aimee@uwyo.edu.


Be Informed. Inform Others. Join Staff Senate!

Staff Senate currently has member-at-large openings (for all interested parties) and Division Openings in:

  • Academic Affairs

  • Government, Comm & LA

  • Institutional Advancement

  • Research & Econ. Dev

  • Student Affairs

  • Office of the President/Athletics

If you are a benefited staff member who has been at the University for at least a year and work at least 20 hours per week, you’re eligible to serve as a Staff Senator.

Why Join?

  • Receive at least 8 hours of release time each month for participation in Senate activities/duties

  • Advocate for UW Staff at an important time of change

  • Take a leadership role in campus initiatives related to staff

  • Work with University, Outreach, and Laramie communities to foster connections and collaborative work

  • Participate in community service projects such as the collection of holiday food baskets for deserving UW families

  • Be a part of the planning and coordination of the annual Staff Recognition Day

Find more information about serving on Staff Senate here.

Have More Questions?

Send an email to staffsen@uwyo.edu or call 766-5300.

Contact Us

UW Staff Senate

Merica Hall, Room 320

1000 E. University Ave.

Dept. 3413

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-5300

Email: staffsen@uwyo.edu

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