Human Resources

New Employee Benefits Orientation

The New Employee Benefits Orientation (NEBO) is offered by the UCPath Center via live webinar. The webinar is designed to offer new faculty and staff the flexibility to learn about UC health and welfare benefits and retirement plans on a mobile device or at their desk.

New Employee

Monthly | First Friday | 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

• New Full-Benefits Eligible Employees: view the Full Health & Welfare Benefits and Primary Retirement Benefits
• New Limited-Benefits Eligible Employees: view the Limited Health & Welfare Benefits presentation
• New Faculty Orientation: UC Benefits Information
• New Employee Benefits: Onboarding virtual presentation

New Mid-Level Benefits Eligible Employees

Monthly | 2nd Thursdays | 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

How

For instructions on how to attend the New Employee Benefits Orientation, please review the New Employee Benefits Orientation flyer.

• You do not need to pre-register. To join the webinar online, go to Zoom.us, select “join a meeting,” and enter meeting ID: 951 787 5041. For audio, call 408-638-0968; meeting ID: 951 787 5041. 

If you have questions regarding NEBO, please contact the UCPath Center at (855) 982-7284 or by email at ucpath@universityofcalifornia.edu.

New Employee Financial Planning and Retirement Orientation

UCR offers assistance to employees required to make a selection on the UC Retirement Choice program and contributing to a voluntary UC retirement savings plan. Additional benefits re offered through California Casualty insurance, Altura and SchoolsFirst local credit unions.

Please visit the following section—Financial Planning & Benefits Resources—to learn from the plan experts, obtain information, receive guidance and answers to your questions in order to make quality decisions about investing in your future.  Each tile provides access to important information about the vendors, the benefits and services each offers, contact information, interactive webinars and resources, and tips on maintaining health and overall well-being in all areas of life.

How to Enroll in Benefit Plans

The UCPath Center and the UCPath Portal is where all employee health and welfare benefits are managed. Once you receive your UC Net ID—benefit elections for newly eligible employees, qualifying mid-year plan changes, and annual open enrollment updates are processed through the UCPath portal by visiting the UCPath portal at https://ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu. You may also view your personal information, leave balances, income and taxes and retirement and savings plan information.

Dependent Enrollment Verification

UC requires all faculty and staff who enroll household family members into medical, dental and/or vision insurance plans to provide supporting documents to verify the family members' eligibility for coverage. For more information, please review the Family Member Eligibility Verification - Dependent Definitions and Documents Required.

UnifyHR is the organization responsible for administering the dependent verification process for UC health and welfare plans. UnifyHR sends a Request for Verification packet to employees within 90 days following adding dependents. Recipients must respond by the deadline noted on the cover letter or risk disenrollment of household family members from UC benefits. Employees adding dependents during Open Enrollment will also receive requests for eligibility verification materials to complete the enrollment process. UnifyHR offers assistance in multiple languages. For more information and resources (i.e., definitions, eligibility, FAQs, documentation) please visit the UCnet Family Member Eligibility Verification webpage.

Benefits Eligibility

UC offers three benefits packages—Full, Mid-level and Core. Your eligibility for a particular package depends on the type of job you have, the percentage of time you work and the length of your appointment.

• Faculty & Staff Work Percentage and Duration Chart for Benefits Eligibility

For more information, please visit the UCnet Benefits Eligibility webpage.

Making your choice of UC Retirement Plans

A very important benefit available to you is contributing to the UC Retirement Plan and it is equally important that you take swift action to make an election. The sooner you decide which option is best for you—Pension Choice or Savings Choice—the sooner you begin receiving service credit towards vesting and UC contributions. You have 90 days from your retirement option eligibility date to choose a primary retirement benefit; your enrollment window closes once you submit a choice and elections are irrevocable.

Once you’ve decided which option is best for you, making your choice is fast and easy—view the UC Retirement Choice Program—Steps For Electing Pension Choice or Saving Choice. If you don’t choose a primary retirement option, you will be automatically enrolled in the Pension Choice plan at the end of the 90-day period. Ready to make your choice, please visit this website to proceed https://myucretirement.com/choose.

UC Retirement Plan Counseling

Need a little help understanding your options and which pension plan to elect? Fidelity Investments Financial Counselors are available to assist you. Please visit the Fidelity Consultations & Workshops webpage to schedule a counseling appointment with our dedicated Fidelity representative or call a Fidelity Investments consultant for counseling at (800) 558-9182.

UC Retirement At Your Service

Once you have made your benefit and retirement plan elections, UC Retirement at Your Service (UCRAYS) is available to you at any time to view and track your retirement service credit and run estimates of your retirement benefits. 

Once you have made your pension plan election, please complete the next steps by visiting the UCRAYS website to designate your beneficiaries for your life insurance plans, pension benefits and UC business travel insurance. 

CalPERS/CalSTRS Pension Reciprocity

If you are a member of both the University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) or the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), you may become vested sooner or be able to retire with a higher benefit than if you were a member of just one plan. To take advantage of these benefits, you will need to establish reciprocity between the two plans.

To learn more about how reciprocity works, who is eligible and how to establish reciprocity, please visit the following resources:

• UCRP/CalPERSReciprocity
• UCRP/CalSTRS Concurrent Retirement 

Voluntary Retirement Plans Beneficiary Designation

If you decide to enroll in additional retirement savings options like the 403(b), 457(b) or Defined Compensation Plan (DCP), remember to take the next step and designate your beneficiary for these savings options. These beneficiary elections are separate from your UC Retirement Plan beneficiaries.

Please visit Fideltity NetBenefits website to enter your beneficiaries.

• For Postdoctoral employment and general information visit the Graduate Division website at https://graduate.ucr.edu/postdoctoral-studies .
• For Postdoctoral benefits, visit the Gallagher Postdoctoral benefits enrollment website at https://c2mb.ajg.com/uc/home/ . Questions regarding Postdoctoral benefits, please contact Gallagher directly via phone at 800-254-1758 or via email at UniversityServices.GBS.psbp@ajg.com .

Altura Federal Credit Union

Serving Riverside County and existing to meet the needs of the members by providing many financial savings and planning options available exclusively to UC employees and ways your financial well-being will be positively impacted. The Altura Federal Credit website also details all the benefits and services offered to UCR employees through our partnership.

Information | Resources

• Altura Federal Credit Union website

Altura Credit Union Representative

Email: jsmith@alturacu.com
Phone: (951) 571-5379
Cell: (951) 565-7951

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

Serving the educational community in the state of California, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union was established to "help improve each other's lives." SchoolsFirst prides itself on the commitment to work for its members, providing many benefits to the education industry.

Information | Resources

• SchoolsFirst Credit Union website

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Representative

Cynthia Covarrubias, Membership Development Specialist
Phone: (714) 380-9846
Email: ccovarrubias@schoolsfirstfcu.org

Wescom Credit Union

Since 1934, Wescom Credit Union has been dedicated to helping members throughout Southern California build better lives. Anyone in SoCal can open an account and experience better banking.

Information | Resources

• https://www.wescom.org/

Wescom Credit Union Representative

Andrea M. Ortega, Corporate Partnership Manager
Phone: 888-493-7266 x8047
Email: AOrtega@wescom.org  
 

The curriculum at the UCR Early Childhood Services follows guidelines set by the California Department of Education and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. All of our programs are accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs.

Teachers provide developmentally appropriate experiences in math, science, language, art, music, motor skills and social/emotional skills. They use a range of learning materials including books, puzzles, computers and art materials with regular access to outdoor play equipment. Teachers follow a daily schedule, prepare weekly lesson plans and conduct two parent-teacher conferences each year. Parents receive a written progress report at the end of each year.

We provide breakfast, lunch and a morning and/or afternoon snack. Our active parent association meets regularly to plan family-oriented events and fundraisers. Students and researchers are welcome at ECS, which features observation rooms that are available to parents as well.

For more information, please visit the Early Childhood Services website.

The University of California Riverside has partnered with ComPsych® to assist you and your household family members with counseling regarding personal concerns that may be affecting your personal life and/or job performance. They utilize licensed counselors who are trained and experienced in working with people who find themselves facing normal but unexpected difficulties in their lives.

ComPsych® offers referral services, brief therapy, services for you and your dependents, daytime/evening/weekend appointments, multiple locations, bilingual services, and a 24hr/7-day crisis hotline. Appointments are scheduled away from your place of employment to protect confidentiality and assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information, please visit the UCR Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.

Information | Resources

Please click on the following links for a general orientation for all of the services offered to all UCR faculty and staff by ComPsych. The legal and financial services shared are secondary offerings for those that are not eligible for or enrolled in a UC legal plan.

• ComPsych Answers Your Counseling Questions – YouTube video
• ComPysch - Faculty & Staff Assistance Program virtual presentation
• Faculty and Staff Assistance Program webpage

Farmers Insurance offers personal auto, homeowners, and renter’s insurance available to UCR faculty and staff. Farmers Insurance is a powerful tool that gives you access to multiple quotes from top carriers, so you can choose the auto, home and renter's insurance for your individual needs. 

The Farmers Insurance on-line quoting tool allows qualified employees to:

• Choose multiple quotes from highly rated carriers
• Choose coverage best suited to your needs

If you’re interested in taking advantage of this employee benefit, call Farmers at 844-297-3773, or visit the Farmers Insurance website to go get your quotes today.  

Disclaimer

*Based on the average nationwide annual savings in 2020 reported by new customers who called our employer and affinity call center, switched their auto insurance to an insurance policy issued through our employer or affinity program, and realized savings. Potential savings vary by customer and may vary by state and product.

Farmers Insurance is used by Farmers General Insurance Agency, Inc. (the "Agency") and other independent agencies and captive agents to provide consumers a broad choice of insurance providers.  

Program information provided by the following specific insurers seeking to obtain insurance business underwritten by Farmers Property and Casualty Insurance Company (a MA licensee) and certain of its affiliates: Economy Fire & Casualty Company, Economy Premier Assurance Company, Economy Preferred Insurance Company, Farmers Casualty Insurance Company, Farmers Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company (CA Certificate of Authority: 6730; Warwick, RI), Farmers Group Property and Casualty Insurance Company (CA COA: 6393; Warwick, RI), or Farmers Lloyds Insurance Company of Texas, all with administrative home offices in Warwick, RI. Farmers Insurance  Coverage, rates, discounts, and policy features vary by state and product and are available in most states to those who qualify. [3730835.1]

Need to make a decision about which UC Pension plan to select? 

The following tools and information are available to assist you with your UC Retirement Plan options—included are a few other benefits available to employees at any time. Be sure to visit the various informational webpages, review the presentations, and reach out to the plan representatives to answer questions or provide additional information.

Live Webinars | Overview

The following provides a detailed explanation of the primary retirement options.

• myUCretirement webinars – available classes for live webinars
• myUCretirement – Primary Retirement Benefits provide an overview of retirement options
• Fidelity Investments
  • Pension Choice, Savings Choice – https://www.myucretirement.com/UCRetirementBenefits/Primary
  • Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans (403(b), 457(b) – https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/retirement-benefits/ucrs/index.html
  • Defined Compensation Plan – DCP
    https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/retirement-benefits/ucrs/index.html

Contacts

Please contact Brandon Moore for inquiries and about the UC Retirement Plan and Voluntary Retirement Savings Plan options, a consultation or to request a virtual meeting via Zoom.

• One on One Consultation
  • Consultations with Brandon Moore, Fidelity Retirement Planner
  • Fidelity Appointment Scheduler - schedule an appointment for you one on one consultation

Brandon Moore, CRPC®
Director, Retirement Planner
Personal & Workplace Investing
Fidelity Investments
Telephone: (626) 372-3800
Email: brandon.moore@fmr.com

The Health Care Facilitator (HCF) is here to help faculty and staff, retirees, survivors and their eligible household family members to better understand and obtain the full benefits and services available from the UC-sponsored health plans. Health Care Facilitators are located in the Benefits Offices at all UC campuses.  

Assistance and Resolution

The Health Care Facilitator is a knowledgeable counselor who will provide you with confidential one-on-one assistance in resolving health plan issues. There is no charge for the services provided by the Health Care Facilitators.

Information | Resources

• Health Care Facilitator Program presentation
• UCnet Health Care Facilitators webpage
• UCR Health Care Facilitator Program webpage
• Health Care Facilitator Program brochure

UCR Health Care Facilitator

Ranada Palmer, UCR HCF
Email: ranada.palmer@ucr.edu
Phone: (951) 827-2636

UCR is taking an integrated and comprehensive approach to elevate health and well-being at UCR. Healthy Campus invests in improving the health and quality of life of our UCR campus community.

UCR’s Healthy Campus has formed partnerships with staff, faculty, students and the surrounding community to develop, implement, and institutionalize policies and environments essential for sustainable behavior change, making the healthy choice the easy choice.

Information | Resources

• Healthy Campus website
• Healthy Campus Media webpage

Landed's down payment program is currently waitlisted in your area. Regardless of waitlist status, you can still sign up to learn about other Landed programs to kickstart your homebuying journey and be the first to know when we open co-investment to new customers.

Thinking about homeownership? UCR is proud to partner with Landed to expand access to homeownership for employees. Landed offers up to $120,000 in shared equity toward a down payment on a home, as well as other comprehensive home buying resources.

Landed's shared-equity down payment program invests alongside UC Riverside employees to help them reach a 20% down payment. Landed’s funds come in the form of an equity investment, meaning homebuyers share in a portion of the gain (or loss, if any) of the home’s value once the partnership is ended—typically by sale or refinance.

Program Highlights

• Landed’s shared equity down-payment assistance program provides an option for employees who cannot benefit from UCOP’s Mortgage Origination Program (MOP), which is limited to academic senate appointment faculty and senior management group staff.
• For every 1% of the home's purchase price initially paid by Landed, Landed will receive 2.5% of the change in value. The equity share percentage is subject to change.
• Landed's program requires a 5-10% down payment, depending on the region, and not all regions are eligible.
• They plan to expand eligibility to Riverside County before the end of the year.
• Landed provides no special terms or discounts for UC employees.
  • All employees who work 20+ hours per week are eligible.
  • Participants do not need to be first time homebuyers and there are no income or asset limits needed to qualify.
• This would not be a UC endorsement of or partnership with Landed and the appropriate disclaimers should be used. This would be a sharing of an opportunity similar to how other unendorsed local services are shared.
• Landed works with numerous local and national lenders – Landed’s national network of lenders.

Online Information Sessions

Over the next few weeks, Landed is hosting online information sessions for all employees interested in learning more about their services, which include access to $120,000 in shared equity toward down payment on a home. Join Landed at an upcoming info session to learn more: www.landed.com/events

If you are unable to attend an info session or if you would like to connect with a Landed teammate sooner, visit landed.com/signup. An info session recorded in Spanish is available here.

Resources

• For additional information, please view the Landed How It Works video
  • Landed video - Spanish version
  • Landed video - Mandarin version
• Visit the Landed/UCR website
• Review the UCR and Landed Information Session Presentation

Contact

Landed
Phone: (650) 451-9075
Email: hi@landed.com

Mortgage Origination Program

For information regarding the University of California Mortgage Origination Program (MOP), please contact the following:

• Trisha Marcinko
  Real Estate Officer, Real Estate Services
  Email: trisha.marcinko@ucr.edu
  Phone: (951) 827-5263
• Yvonne Lujan CPM®
  Real Estate Officer, Real Estate Services
  Email: yvonne.lujan@ucr.edu
  Phone: (951) 827-5154

Disclaimer

Please note: This is not a UCR benefit. Landed works with many employers in several states and is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by UCR, UC or any UCSF affiliate or UC affiliate.

Any interested employee should independently review and investigate this program to ensure it meets their needs.

Landed’s down-payment support program will provide an option for employees who cannot benefit from UCOP’s Mortgage Origination Program (MOP), which is limited to academic senate appointment faculty and senior management group staff. The two programs will co-exist for the different employee groups.

The information provided below is being shared to bring awareness to the availability of the Federal student loan forgiveness program for all UC employees making payments towards paying off the loan. Please review the information below, visit the links to the program website, and contact FedLoan Servicing at (855) 265-4038 if you have any questions about the program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

If you are employed by a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit the PSLF website to see whether you might qualify.

PSLF Eligibility Requirements and Process

To qualify for PSLF, you must:

• be employed by a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization (federal service includes U.S. military service);
• work full-time for that agency or organization;
• have Direct Loans (or consolidate other federal student loans into a Direct Loan);
• repay your loans under an income-driven repayment plan; and
• make 120 qualifying payments.

You must be working for a qualifying employer at the time you submit the form for forgiveness and at the time the remaining balance on your loan is forgiven.

Whether you have made 120 qualifying payments, or working toward loan forgiveness, it is recommended to complete and submit the (PSLF) & Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification & Application (PSLF form) to determine if you are making qualifying PSLF payments. This will help you determine if you are on the right track for loan forgiveness as early as possible.

Submit the form to the UCPath Center for employer certification.

The UCPath Center is responsible for certifying the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) form only and will defer any questions about the program to the PSLF website for answers.

Here are the steps to submit the completed PSLF form to the UCPath Center:

• There is a five-day turnaround time for requests.
• You must complete Sections 1 and 2 fully prior to submitting the request.
• UCPath will complete Sections 3 and 4. These sections should be left blank when the form is submitted.
• Please specify along with your request, how and where to return the form.
• Written requests can be faxed to (855) 982-2329 or emailed to ucpath@universityofcalifornia.edu.

Submitting an Inquiry

1. Go to Submit an Inquiry webpage.
2. Select Topic Payroll.
3. Select Category Submit Form – Payroll Administration.
4. Enter your Subject.
5. Enter your Description.
6. Verify Best Contact Number and Email.
7. Click Add Attachment, if necessary.
8. Click Submit.
9. Keep copies of all documents and confirmation email from UCPath acknowledging receipt.

After UCPath signs the form, send the completed form to FedLoan Servicing, the U.S. Department of Education’s federal loan servicer for the PSLF Program. You may mail the form to the following address or fax to (717) 720-1628:

U.S. Department of Education
FedLoan Servicing
P.O. Box 69184
Harrisburg, PA 17106-9184

If FedLoan Servicing is already your servicer, you may upload your PSLF form on their website. For questions, review the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program FAQ webpage or contact FedLoan Servicing at (855) 265-4038

The All Sports Pass is a great way to support Highlander student-athletes, catch every game, and save money in the process. All Sports Passes are available for $80 per person, and grant the bearer general admission to all UC Riverside ticketed athletics events: Current and retired university employees are also welcome to purchase up to three All Sports Passes each.

For more information and to purchase tickets: https://gohighlanders.com/news/2021/11/1/general-uc-riverside-faculty-staff-and-administrators-offered-all-sports-pass.aspx

At the University of California, Riverside's Recreation department, our programs help Highlanders develop a positive attitude toward life-term fitness and healthy lifestyles, both mental and physical. Our programs, services and facilities are designed to enhance personal and academic success by providing a forum for people of similar interests and skills to meet and participate.

For more information, please review: https://recreation.ucr.edu/

UCR Staff Assembly is an association of many employees dedicated to promoting the interests and welfare of all UCR staff. It seeks to inform, involve, connect and recognize staff in one of the fastest-growing campuses in the UC system.

For more information, please review: https://staffassembly.ucr.edu/

UC supports employees who want to advance their education and offers tuition and fee discounts to those who are eligible. Tuition discounts are not available for certain self-funded academic programs and extension programs.

For more information, please review: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/other-benefits/tuition-discounts.html

"UCR is committed to a campus culture that promotes wellness through healthy lifestyles that enhance the quality of life for our faculty, staff and students." –Kim A. Wilcox, Chancellor

UCR cares about your health. The UCR Wellness Program focuses on promoting awareness and education, motivation for positive behavior changes, and influencing campus practices and policy to support a healthy environment. The program was created to encourage all faculty, staff, and retirees to live healthier lifestyles and create a culture of health throughout the campus. UCR prioritizes the health and quality of life of the campus community and offers resources and expertise to support a healthy and high performing workforce.

Information | Resources

• Workplace Health and Wellness Program Overview - video
• UCR Workplace Health and Wellness webpage

Contact

Hung Wu
Wellness Program Coordinator
Workplace Health & Wellness
Email: hung.wu@ucr.edu
Phone: 951.827.1009