Benefits

Q: Are there plans for free admission for staff at UT Rec Sports/Gregory Gym?

A: Gregory gym is funded through student fees and therefore, membership for staff cannot be paid for out of university monies, however...

• If an employee has PayFlex and a letter of medical necessity, they can request reimbursement through PayFlex for the membership to RecSports. This cannot be used for pre-payment and reimbursement is not guaranteed. This does not apply to other gyms. More info: http://www.utrecsports.org/about/faculty-staff
• UT Select BCBSTX offers a Member Discount Program; however, the number of gyms in the program are limited to some locations of Anytime and Curves and a few others. They sometimes have special offers that include things like waiving the enrollment fee, etc. More info: http://www.bcbstx.com/fitness_program/
• Through LifeMart, our employee discount program, there are also other gym discounts available. More info: http://www.utexas.edu/hr/edp/

Q: Faculty can enter the Blanton and bring a guest for free. Can staff?

A: Yes, as of September 2014, the Blanton has a new benefit for staff – free admission for you and a guest when you show your UT ID. Go to http://blantonmuseum.org/ to learn more about the museum. 

Q: I'd like to have a more flexible work schedule. How do I do this?

A: HRS's HealthPoint EAP provides consultation for employees about proposing and evaluating flexible work arrangements. Call 512-471-3366 if you would like to meet with a counselor about how to propose a flexible work arrangement to your supervisor or manager. Give the Flexible Work Arrangement form [PDF] to your manager to make a request. See http://www.utexas.edu/hr/current/services/wl_services.html for more info.

Q: Does UT offer adequate child care for staff?

 A: Yes.  The University of Texas at Austin Child Development Centers provides renowned child care services to university students, faculty, and staff.  The centers are accredited by NAC, the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs.

There are two locations to choose from.  The San Jacinto Child Development Center is located on the main campus in the SSW building and the Comal Child Development Center is located east of IH35, one block off Manor Road.

For more information about eligibility, rates & how to apply, please visit http://www.utexas.edu/childcenter/

Q: Can I donate my excess sick time to a specific person?

A:  Employees may make voluntary contributions of accrued sick leave to the Sick Leave Pool by submitting a Sick Leave Pool Transfer Form to Human Resources. The form is available from Human Resources or on the Human Resources website. Contributions may not be designated for a specific person or for a particular illness. 

Time Off

Q: How is the university’s annual holiday calendar determined?

A: The university sets the holiday calendar according to guidelines set by the state legislature (Chapter 662 of the Texas Government Code: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/). The state code provides for 17 holidays each calendar year. The list of holidays can be viewed here: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/GV/htm/GV.662.htm#662.003

Institutions of higher education are allowed to take these 17 holidays at the time of their choosing. Rather than spread these holidays out through the year, the university has historically chosen to cluster them around Christmas and New Year’s. If the stars align this can create a full two-week vacation.

However, as required by the state legislature, if any of those 17 holidays fall on a weekend, or fall on the same day as another holiday, we lose that holiday. This means that, as required by state law, our holiday calendar varies from year-to-year, with some years having fewer holidays than others. Also, skeleton crews are required when the university closes on days which are not federal holidays, although skeleton crews are not required December 24, December 26, and the Friday after Thanksgiving.

In 2015, July 4 is a Saturday. Therefore, instead of 17 holidays, we have only 16. Further, in 2015, December 26 also falls on a Saturday, so we are down to 15 holidays. Finally, in 2015, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Confederate Heroes Day both fall on January 19, so we lose another holiday. As a result, in 2015, instead of 17 holidays we have only 14.

Occasionally the university decides to reserve one of these holidays as a floating holiday, which gives employees the flexibility, given supervisor approval, to observe one of the holidays at the time of their choosing.

Shared Services

Q: Where can I find more information about Shared Services?

A: The best place for the most up-to-date information on Shared Services is at http://www.utexas.edu/transforming-ut/shared-services.

• You can also sign up for updates via email at https://utlists.utexas.edu/sympa/subscribe/transformingutupdates.

Staff Education Benefit (SEB)

Q: Can staff use the SEB for family members?

A:  No.  The SEB only for active university employees that are appointed full-time (40 hours a week). The SEB isn't available to faculty or to students employed in positions that require student status as a condition of employment. However, If you're in a regular position that doesn't continue for 12 months you may be eligible on an exception basis (e.g. elementary teacher, University Health Services). If you're in such a position you can contact the Human Resource Service Center at 471-HRSC (4772) to request an exception.  For more information about SEB, go to http://www.utexas.edu/hr/current/career/seb.html

Q: Can staff use SEB for other courses – extension courses, PDC, etc.?

A: No.  Staff Educational Benefit Doesn't Cover:

• Courses through the Division of Continuing Education (including Extension Credit Courses)
• Courses through Executive Education
• Courses offered through Option III programs
• Online courses
• Courses at any other college or university

Q: Can I use the SEB for dissertation hours?

A:  SEB cannot be used for dissertation courses with numbers ending in 99 

Professional Development

Q: I'm interested in professional development. What are my options?

A: There are several options available to you at no charge:

• HRS's CareerSmart program offers the Management Essentials and Managing Beyond the Basics certifications. For those not interested in management, it offers the Essentials for Developmental Excellence certification.
• University Operations offers Professional Development for its employees including a Reading Group, a Breakthrough Workshop, and an extensive Leadership Growth Program for those who have completed the Breakthrough Workshop and met other criteria.
• UT Austin has a campus-wide subscription to Lynda.com, the #1 online training site. If you can think of it, Lynda probably has a course for it. You can log in here. 
  
  
  

Miscellaneous

Q: Is there a way to see Departmental budget reports?

A:  Yes.  The Budget Office is responsible for budget operations, strategic planning, reporting, financial tables, comparisons, and impact studies on proposed and actual legislation affecting the University's budget.  You can find the reports at: http://www.utexas.edu/business/budget/

Q: Where can I find information about alternative transportation?

A:  Parking and Transportation manages alternative transportation for the campus, including:

• BikeUT, your source for bike registration, "The Kickstand" bike hub, and maps for on-campus bike racks and pumps, as well as routes to campus.
• A car-sharing initiative with ZipCar
• UT-Austin’s relationship with Capital Metro to provide campus shuttles.