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University of Florida

HR Inside Edition October 2024

The CJC-HR team is excited to introduce to you a monthly Inside Edition designed to provide you with monthly and timely updates related to the CJC Human Resources Operations. Going forward, the newsletter will be published the first week of every month. We hope you find this information useful.

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

  • Benefits open enrollment: Oct. 14 at 8 a.m. to Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. Open Enrollment is your opportunity to make benefits changes for 2025, including changes to State Benefits via People First and changes to UFSelect and GatorCare Benefits via myUFL. If no changes are submitted, existing plans will remain in effect. The first payroll to reflect the changes will be Jan. 10, 2025.
  • Sick leave pool open enrollment: Oct. 1 – 31.
  • CJC Fall Fest/Chili and Desert Cook Off: Oct.30 from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. in G009
  • Fall UF Engaged Deadline: Oct. 31
  • Higher Education Opportunity Drawing: Nov. 1 deadline
  • December Leave Cash Out: TEAMS employees may cash out up to 16 hours (per FTE) of vacation leave between Oct. 28 and Nov. 7. A minimum balance of 40 hours (per FTE) of vacation leave is required after cashing out the leave.

Meet the CJC-HR Team!

Keisha M. Reynolds

Keisha Reynolds

Keisha has served the Gainesville community in a HR capacity for over 24 years, 11 of those at UF. She joined CJC in October 2019 and considers CJC as the best place to work! Keisha oversees the strategic direction of the CJC Human Resources Department, including labor and employee relations, employee engagement and strategic initiatives to sustain climate health and the retention of human capital. Keisha serves on the CJC Faculty Welfare and Development Committee and Community + Culture Community, and is the HR Campus Liaison for the College. Fostering a workplace of inclusive voices, collaboration and a world class employment experience is a vital mission.

Fun Fact: Keisha served the Gainesville community as a law enforcement officer with the Gainesville Police Department from 1997-2004. She is married and has a blended family of 8 kids and 13 grandchildren. Holidays are fun!

Julia Seay

With over a decade of experience, Julia oversees several key HR programs at CJC, including faculty and staff onboarding, leave of absence management, tenure and promotion administration, immigration processes and payroll oversight. She is actively involved in the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), where she has served as both treasurer and president of the Florida board. Julia is passionate about fostering joy and laughter in the workplace, and she embraces a whole-person approach to human resources, treating individuals not just as employees but as people with unique needs and contributions.

Fun Fact: Outside of the workplace, Julia lives in Lake Butler on 40 acres with her husband and three children. She enjoys fishing, crocheting, cooking and going to Disney!

April Welcome 

April has 19 years of human resources executive experience and an exceptional track record delivering constructive solutions for people and process problems. She serves as a dedicated HR Generalist for the Division of Media Properties, Innovation News Center and The Agency.  She oversees multiple HR processes including recruitment, hiring, employee relations, performance management and other duties in support of HR operations. April’s experience includes direct responsibility for ensuring high organizational performance in the areas of employee and labor relations, talent acquisition, organizational training, development and so much more.  She prides herself on her ability to establish and maintain effective, respectful and professional relationships with work colleagues, supervisors and managers.

Fun Fact: I play Table Wars with my family of Facebook

Maria Di Mauro

Maria is an HR generalist with over two years of experience at CJC specializing in the hiring of adjuncts, graduate assistants and student assistants. Maria manages CJC rewards and recognition programs and takes pride in recognizing others. She is passionate about fostering a positive work environment and is dedicated to streamlining recruitment processes and supporting the growth of the College community. She also serves as the HR administrative assistant liaison for the College.

Fun fact: A long, long time ago, Maria was a radio host at one of the most popular radio stations in her country.

October Employee Spotlight: Meet Terrell Jenkins

Terrell Jenkins

Terrell Jenkins, CJC’s first outreach coordinator, hated school when he was young so never imagined he would now be working in higher education. After years in the military and working odd jobs, he decided to get his college degree. That decision helped him find his passion — empowering others through education. “College wasn’t just about earning a degree. It opened doors to opportunities and allowed me to rewrite my story.” Read more.

Exploring Benefits and Wellness

2025 UF Benefits Open Enrollment:  Oct. 14 at 8 a.m. to Nov 1 at 6 p.m.

Open Enrollment is your opportunity to make benefits changes for 2025.  If no changes are made, existing plans will remain in effect.

  • Make changes to State Benefits via People First
  • Make changes to UFSelect and GatorCare Benefits via myUFL
  • First payroll with FSA/HSA and UFSelect OE changes – Jan. 10, 2025

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – The UF Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, provides you and your family the support you need to navigate life’s challenges. Click here to learn more.

Mindfulness: Did you know UF faculty and staff can sign up for a free subscription to Calm, a mindful app that helps manages stress and anxiety, click here for more information.

Want to get away? Explore Orlando this month! Catch the breathtaking Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life at Disney Springs—save $12 on tickets through Tickets at Work! Stay at a Disney Springs resort and enjoy up to 40% off with Gator Perks’ Booking.com link! Stroll through Disney Springs and indulge in bites from over 60 restaurants. Check out more deals here: Gator Perks Travel and Entertainment Section.

Looking for more wellness opportunities, please check out UF Wellness Programs.

Rewards and Recognition 

Thomas Garvey
Thomas Garvey

CJC Superior Accomplishment Award Winner – Congratulations to Academic Adviser Thomas Garvey for winning this year’s CJC Superior Accomplishment Award. He will be honored at the Awards Banquet in the spring and receive $1000, and his name will be submitted, along with a letter of endorsement from CJC, for the University Superior Accomplishment Award. Congratulations to all of the nominees!

CJC Standing Ovation Award:  The CJC Standing Ovation Award recognizes employees who are making a positive impact on the College. This award embodies excellence in performance and service, willingness to go above and beyond, and a spirit that demonstrates collegiality and teamwork. These exceptional individuals exhibit unwavering commitment and exceptional contributions to our College community.

2024 CJC Standing Ovation Award winners: Adela Van Antwerp, Steve Kippert, Taylor Johnson, and Daniela Mojica. Want to nominate a colleague? Click here.

Mark your calendars for our Fall Service Awards Recognition on Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. in Weimer 3032.

Professional Development Opportunities

Next Level Cohort Program for Staff – This program is designed to provide structured career development support through monthly group sessions and quarterly one-on-one meetings with the program director. Interested in learning more, contact Julia Seay at jseay@jou.ufl.edu .

Professional Development Workshops –  The CJC Professional Development series offers engaging workshops and resources designed to enhance skills, foster growth and support career advancement. Recent topics have included Leadership Development through Inclusive Strategic Practices, People Management, All About the Benjamins, and FMLA 101. Looking ahead, we are excited to introduce new sessions on emerging trends in the workplace, such as Student Care and Remote Team Dynamics. Come share your expertise and insights in the next CJC Professional Workshop. For more information, contact April Welcome at cjc-hr@jou.ufl.edu.

Senior Leadership Journey Workshops – In partnership with UFHR Tricia Bachus, senior leaders will attend a series of leadership workshops to enhance leaderships skills. Want to learn more? Please contact Keisha Reynolds at kereynolds@ufl.edu.

Additional UF Training and Resources: UFHR has many training programs. The “keep growing” track is a hidden gem! This training track is every-growing with new and innovative resources to help you work smarter. In October, try picking up some new AI skills with these bite-sized tutorials.

HR Director’s tip for leaders:  Did you know employees feel more valued, appreciated and more connected to their job when you set aside time to meet with them on a regular and individual basis. One-on-one meetings are a valuable tool to open up the channels of communications to build relationships, trust and affirm direction. When is the last time you met with your employees? #Coummunicationmatters

Recruitment: We have recently introduced a powerful new resource to streamline our recruitment process: Spark. Last month, we hosted a training session with supervisors to explore the features and benefits of Spark’s one-way interview tool. As part of the demonstration, several employees participated by submitting mock interviews for a “dog walker” position. After a popular vote, April Welcome was officially “hired” as CJC’s dog walker! Curious to see how Spark interviews work? Watch April’s interview here: https://hire.li/kNqvjtdGuzcD34ObYOIro

 Safety and Security Matters: CJC’s security profile is being fine-tuned continually by College leadership, working with UPD and UF’s Department of Emergency Management, to ensure the safety of faculty, staff, students and visitors. We are constantly striving to ensure Weimer Hall is a welcoming and safe environment for all. Our system of security access zones is designed to limit access to more sensitive areas while providing a level of protection for areas such as the on-air studios, the INC, etc. Important reminder: Never prop doors open to areas that require a GatorOne card to access. Propping a single door open undermines the entire system designed to ensure the safety of everyone in Weimer Hall.

For more information on safety and security, please contact Randy Wright at randallcwright@ufl.edu.

Sign up for UF Alerts: https://ufalert.ufl.edu/join/

Resources and Policy Reminders

 

 

Posted: October 14, 2024
Category: HR Inside Edition

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