myHR Archives
myHR: February 10, 2016
Penn Recognizes Outstanding Staff Members with 2016 Models of Excellence
At Penn, going the extra mile gets you noticed. In its 17th year, the Models of Excellence Program will honor 77 outstanding staff members who play key roles in Penn’s successes every day.
President Amy Gutmann will present honorees from across 13 schools and centers with awards for their exemplary service on April 21, 2016 in Irvine Auditorium.
The Models of Excellence program spotlights remarkable staff contributions to the University’s standing as a global leader in education, research, and public service. It’s also a unique opportunity for staff to appreciate and be appreciated by their colleagues along with entire Penn community. The awards are presented in three categories: Models of Excellence, Pillars of Excellence, and Model Supervisor.
Models of Excellence
The Models of Excellence Award recognizes staff member accomplishments that reflect initiative, leadership, increased efficiency, and a deep commitment to service
Both the Penn Wellness/Be in the Know Team and the Penn Wharton China Center Project Team will be presented with the Models of Excellence award.
The Penn Wellness/Be in the Know Team implemented a University-wide health initiative that engaged thousands of employees on a path to wellness.
Penn Wellness/Be in the Know Campaign Team
Amy Blake, Human Resources
Chris Blickley, Human Resources
Stephanie Brown, Human Resources
Elizabeth Devietti, Perelman School of Medicine
Matt Gauntt, Human Resources
Tamika Graham, Human Resources
Ashlee Halbritter, University Life, Student Health Service
Moriah Hall, Perelman School of Medicine
Sheila Hall, Human Resources
Rebecca Huxta, University Life, Student Health Service
Chris Hyson, Human Resources
Karen Kille, Human Resources
Soncerae Lewis, Human Resources
Erica Schulke, Human Resources
Sara Solomon, Perelman School of Medicine
Katrina Terrell, Human Resources
Geri Zima, Human Resources
The Penn Wharton China Center Project Team was chosen for their work supporting research opportunities and fostering Penn’s faculty and student relationships with Chinese partners.
Penn Wharton China Center Project Team
Dan Alig, The Wharton School
Jessie Burns, Provost’s Center
Laura Cavender, President’s Center
Leo Charney, Provost’s Center
Christina Cook, President’s Center
Edwin Datz, Facilities and Real Estate Services
Tara Davies, Development and Alumni Relations
Malini Doddamani, The Wharton School
Jeffrey Edwards, Information Systems and Computing
Stefan Frank, The Wharton School
Amy Gadsden, Penn Global
Eric Greenberg, The Wharton School
Yanan Guo, The Wharton School
Michael Hugel, The Wharton School
Marko Jarymovych, The Wharton School
Artemis V. Koch, Division of Finance
Karuna Krishna, The Wharton School
Jimmy Lieu, The Wharton School
Anna Loh, The Wharton School
Maureen McGinness, The Wharton School
Amanda Mott, President’s Center
Alison Noji, Penn Global
Maria O’Callaghan-Cassidy, The Wharton School
Kelly O’Connor, Development and Alumni Relations
Janice Orlov, Provost’s Center
Roman Petyk, President’s Center
MaryAnn Q. Piccolo, Division of Finance
Josh Piven, Provost’s Center
James Quinn, The Wharton School
Orna Rosenthal, Development and Alumni Relations
Charles Rumford, Information Systems and Computing
Elizabeth Santilli, The Wharton School
Scott Sharpe, Development and Alumni Relations
David Siedell, The Wharton School
Jane Simons, The Wharton School
John Singler, The Wharton School
Laura Park Smith, Facilities and Real Estate Services
Jerold Steinbrink, The Wharton School
Mark Wehrle, Information Systems and Computing
The Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES) ACE Mentor Team, the Springfield Mills Restoration Team, and the Wharton Course Match Team will receive Models of Excellence Honorable Mentions.
FRES ACE Mentor Team
Mariette Buchman, Facilities and Real Estate Services
David Dunn, Facilities and Real Estate Services
Marilyn Jost, Facilities and Real Estate Services
Susan Long, Facilities and Real Estate Services
Springfield Mills Restoration Team
Robert Gutowski, Business Services
Thomas Wilson, Business Services
The Wharton Course Match Team
Frank DeVecchis, The Wharton School
Alec Lamon, The Wharton School
Jason Lehman, The Wharton School
Hugh MacMullan, The Wharton School
Amy Ortwein, The Wharton School
John Piotrowski, The Wharton School
Margaret Troncelliti, The Wharton School
Pillars of Excellence
The Pillars of Excellence Award, introduced in 2014, recognizes the important support Penn’s weekly-paid staff members provide to promote the University’s mission.
This year’s Pillars of Excellence awards will go to Brian Anders of Development and Alumni Relations and Greg Szydlowski of Facilities and Real Estate Services.
Anders is recognized for his leadership, problem solving and customer service in his role as Sweeten Alumni House Building Manager.
With his electrical expertise, Szydlowski is being honored for his exemplary customer service and initiative in situations of urgent need.
Collin Anthony of the College Houses and Academic Services, S. Tyler Hoffman of The Wharton School, and Wilma Smith of Residential and Hospitality Services will receive Pillars of Excellence Honorable Mentions.
Model Supervisor Finalists
The Model Supervisor Award honors supervisors who are effective and productive leaders for the University.
The three finalists for the Model Supervisor Award are Gary Garofalo, Parking Services, Business Services; Erika Gross, University Life, Student Health Service; and Rosey Nissley, Administrative Information Services, of Information Systems and Computing. The recipient of the Model Supervisor Award will be announced at the Award Ceremony.
Each Models of Excellence, Pillars of Excellence, and Model Supervisor Award winner and winning team member will receive $500.00 and a symbolic award. Staff members who have earned Honorable Mentions will receive $250.00 and a symbolic award.
The 24-member 2016 Selection Committee included people from across the Penn community: administrators, faculty, weekly-paid staff, supervisors, and past Models of Excellence honorees. This year, the selection committee carefully reviewed 11 Models of Excellence nominations, 11 Pillars of Excellence nominations, and 7 Model Supervisor nominations submitted by University colleagues and supervisors. All nominees merit recognition for their noteworthy work. Honorees were selected based on their distinguished efforts and impact above-and-beyond expectation.
Congratulations to all honorees, finalists and nominees!
The Penn community is invited to attend the Models of Excellence Award Ceremony and Reception on Thursday, April 21, at 4 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium.
Are you eligible for a $2,000 tax credit?
If you put money toward a retirement plan last year, you could get a tax break. (If you aren’t saving for retirement, now’s a good time to get started for 2016. Simply sign up at Penn’s secure online retirement plan site.)
Thanks to the Saver's Credit, you may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $2,000 ($4,000 for joint filers). It gives a special tax break to low- and moderate-income taxpayers who are saving for retirement. The amount of the credit depends on your adjusted gross income (AGI), tax filing status, and how much you contributed to your retirement plan in 2015. It can be 50%, 20%, or 10% of your retirement plan or IRA contributions up to $2,000 ($4,000 if married filing jointly).
Take a look at the table below to see if you’re eligible and to find your credit.
|
2015 Saver's Credit |
|||
|
Credit Rate |
Married Filing Jointly |
Head of Household |
All Other Filers* |
|
50% of your contribution |
AGI not more than $36,500 |
AGI not more than $27,375 |
AGI not more than $18,250 |
|
20% of your contribution |
$36,501 - $39,500 |
$27,376 - $29,625 |
$18,251 - $19,750 |
|
10% of your contribution |
$39,501-$61,000 |
$29,626 - $45,750 |
$19,751 - $30,500 |
|
0% of your contribution |
more than $61,000 |
more than $45,750 |
more than $30,500 |
*Single, married filing separately, or qualifying widow(er)
Keep in mind that you can’t be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return if you want to take advantage of the Saver’s Credit. For more information, visit the Internal Revenue Service website.
To learn how Penn’s retirement savings benefits help you prepare for a secure future, visit the Penn's Retirement Plans website for detailed plan information and professional retirement counseling links.
Form 1095-Cs to Arrive in March
This tax season, most Penn faculty and staff members will receive a new IRS document called Form 1095-C. Required by the Affordable Care Act, Form 1095-C includes information about the health insurance coverage offered to you by Penn.
Where is my form 1095-C?
You’ve already received your W-2 form, so you may be wondering when you’ll get your 1095-C and why you don’t have it yet.
Even though in future years Penn will be sending your 1095-C by January 31, this year the IRS gave employers such as the University additional time to send these forms out because it is the first time we are required to do this.
When will I get my form?
Penn will mail your 1095-C form to you by March 31.
Do I need a 1095-C form to file my taxes?
No, you do not need the 1095 form to file your taxes. There will be questions on your tax form asking if you had health insurance coverage each month in 2015. You can answer based on your own knowledge or look at your records such as wage statements showing health insurance deductions, insurance cards, or explanation of benefits statements.
For your 2015 return, you will not have to send in a copy of your 1095-C to the IRS, However, you should store it with the rest of your important tax information, like W-2s and interest statements, when you do receive it.
For detailed information and updates about Form 1095-C, visit www.irs.gov/form1095c and the IRS Questions and Answers about Health Care Information Forms for Individuals web page.
To view your W2 form, visit the Penn Portal at www.upenn.edu/u@penn and click “My Tax Info” in the My Pay section of the site.
Everyone’s family structure and income situation is different, so ask your tax preparer or advisor if you have specific questions while filing your taxes.
Care.com Services Expanded
Your home life doesn’t stop just because 
you’re at work. That’s why Penn offers benefits-eligible faculty and staff backup care through Care.com to help you care for loved ones when you can’t be there yourself.
Penn’s services provided through Care.com have been expanded, giving you more ways to take care of your family and even your home.
In addition to backup care, benefits-eligible faculty and staff now have access to Care.com’s complete network of providers, from nannies and home health aides to housekeepers. You can also call on Care.com to consult with qualified professionals about senior care or get help locating other care advisors and providers.
Penn’s expanded services through Care.com include:
Backup Care for Yourself
At times, you may need temporary home care for yourself. This service is now available for Penn faculty and staff. Simply visit penn.care.com to enroll, then click on “My adult loved ones” for details.
Access to Care Nationwide
Do your loved ones live in other parts of the country? Go online to connect to Care.com’s wide network of care providers for these services across the United States:
- For Children: Babysitters, nannies, au pairs, special needs caregivers, tutors
- For Adults and Seniors: Senior caregivers, home health aides, special needs caregivers
- For Home: Housekeepers and providers for errands, housesitting, and more
Whether you need ongoing help, occasional assistance, or one-time backup care, these web services can save you the time and stress of finding help on your own. Select a provider with confidence, knowing that Care.com pre-vets its members and gives you access to detailed profiles, reviews, and ratings.
Senior Care Managers
Consult with a Licensed Geriatric Social Worker to help you navigate the questions and concerns that arise when you’re considering care for an older loved one, such as:
- How do we talk about what needs to happen?
- How do we get all our family members on the same page and come up with a plan?
- How do we manage health, legal, and financial issues?
- How do we find—and pay for—the necessary resources?
Assistance with Finding Help
Work with Care.com staff to find advisors, care providers, and other services to help you handle the challenges of caregiving. Connect to resources that can assist you with issues such as managing work and personal responsibilities, addressing legal and financial issues, and more. Assistance is available in any of the areas of care offered by Care.com.
Enroll at penn.care.com to access Care.com services. If you registered with Care.com before January 2016, please register again to ensure that your record is up-to-date. To consult with senior care managers, you may also call toll-free (855) 781-1303.
Enrollment is free for benefits eligible faculty and staff. Care.com backup care is subsidized by the University. Backup care co-pays will be charged on a sliding scale at the time of service. Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/myhr/worklife/family/backupcare for eligibility and service cost details.
If you have questions about any of these services, email qwol@upenn.edu.
Make Your Best PIQ
Writing a clear and precise job description is one of 
the first steps toward hiring a great new staff person or requesting a possible reclassification of a current staff member’s job.
To make sure the roles and responsibilities for each staff job are properly understood, competitively compensated, and clearly communicated to potential candidates, Penn schools and centers use a PIQ --Position Information Questionnaire--to report the job duties and required skills.
For many jobs, breaking down the activities and qualifications involved and compressing all that information into the PIQ form can be a challenge.
To help you successfully complete your next PIQ, Penn offers Writing an Effective Job Description and PIQ on Wednesday, February 17 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. If you plan to fill a new position or request a reclassification for an existing one, register for this free workshop now.
At Writing an Effective Job Description and PIQ, a Human Resources compensation expert will share the logic behind the PIQ. With the aim of making sure that each Penn job description is accurate and attractive to the most qualified job-seekers, this workshop will guide you through the essential parts of PIQ writing, including:
- Accurately describing the major activities and tasks of the job
- Assessing the level of formal education and experience really needed to perform the job
- Analyzing the scope, complexity, and level of decision-making involved
- Evaluating the problem-solving and communication skills required
- Estimating the amount of time spent performing the major tasks
Writing an Effective Job Description and PIQ not only helps you successfully submit a form and get jobs posted with minimum hassle; it will give you a new perspective on the tasks and services your team members provide to the University.
More information is available in Penn’s Position Information Questionnaire Guide and Hiring Officer Handbook.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) System Upgrade by ADP
Penn’s provider of Flexible Spending Account services, ADP is upgrading its systems for improved functionality. Penn’s Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) website will relaunch on March 17, 2016. Please read below to understand the impact for you due to this change, including detailed information regarding the required blackout period (March 8th through March 16th), receiving your new FSA debit card (and when your current debit card will cease to be active) and ability to file claims.
Important Information and Action Items
Blackout Period: In order to complete the upgrade, there will be a blackout period from March 8 through March 16 during which all of your health care and dependent care account activity will be suspended, including the use of your debit card. Your current FSA debit card will not work after the blackout period, but you will receive a replacement.
Beginning March 17, you will be able to access the new website and all of your account information through www.pennbenefits.upenn.edu. You may submit online claims via the website while your new debit card is on its way. As is currently the case, you will not be be required to use the debit card; you can continue to submit claims using the online system or via a paper claim form.
A New ADP Spending Account Debit Card: Once ADP, Penn’s FSA provider, has validated your data in the new system, you will receive your new debit card 7 – 10 days after the end of the blackout period. Your card will arrive in a plain, unmarked envelope, so please watch your mail carefully.
Debit Cards for additional family members: A new card will be automatically issued for the participant only. If you need to request additional cards for your qualified dependents, you may go to the website and select “Request Duplicate Card” from the left menu.
Direct Deposit: If you currently use direct deposit for any of your spending account reimbursements, your information will transfer to the new website. If you have changes to your direct deposit information, you’ll need to make the updates on the new website by selecting “Direct Deposit” from the left menu. We urge you to take time to verify this information is still correct.
Reimbursement Checks: If you receive paper reimbursement checks for any of your spending account expenses, you’ll receive a different style of check after your upgrade.
The New Website
With the enhanced website, FSA participants will also get improved email notifications and easy-to-read enhanced account statements.
New website features include:
- User-friendly appearance and easy navigation
- Account summary and account balance at your fingertips
- Online claims processing
- Claim status alerts and notifications with important information about your account
- Detailed, easy-to-understand information about every claim and every reimbursement
- The ability to quickly search for all current and past claims, payments and contributions
- Access to all communications and forms
Customer Assistance: If you have any questions about your account or need additional assistance, please contact the Penn Benefits Center at 1-888-PENNBEN (1-888-736-6236). Representatives are available to assist you Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time, excluding holidays.
FSA participants will receive additional information via email or letter from ADP with details about the web service enhancements, including full instructions for account access and claims during the upgrade period.
Healthy Meals: Dark Chocolate Meringue Drops
These bold, but tender cookies are perfect for chocolate lovers on Valentine’s Day.
Find the recipe here or send us your healthy recipes and tips.
Did You Know? Penn’s Power Down Challenge Has Begun!
Penn’s Green Campus Partnership has an eco-friendly line up of Power Down Challenge activities in February, including:
2/19 Transportation & Energy Lecture
2/24 Energy Reduction Challenge
2/25 Sustainable Careers Panel
Visit the Power Down Challenge website for details and take the Penn Energy Survey for a chance to win free apparel from the Penn Bookstore.
Penn Perks Prize Drawing
Faculty and staff can enjoy many extra benefits for 
being part of the Penn Community. You weighed in on your favorite Penn Perks through a survey in myHR last month. Now the results are in.
Wellness and worklife are crowd-pleasers.
47% of those surveyed chose these free classes and workshops as a favorite Penn Perk.
Here’s a breakdown of the survey results.
- Free Wellness and Worklife Classes and Workshops, 47%
- Penn Transit Services and the LUCY shuttle, 35%
- Free and Discount Arts & Cultural Activities (ICA, Morris Arboretum, Penn Museum, and more), 34%
- Access to Penn Libraries Resources, 32%
- Deals@Penn Discounts, 22%
- Penn Rec and GlobalFit Discount Gym Memberships, 10%
- 215-898-WALK Walking Escorts, 1%
- On-Campus Car Lockout and Jumpstart Service, less than 1%
Free football tickets, public transit discounts, and Penn’s tuition benefits received write-in votes.
And the prize drawing winner is…
Dominique Fetzer, Clinical Research Coordinator at the Mariann and Robert MacDonald Women’s Cancer Risk Evaluation Center, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center. She’ll receive a stadium/picnic blanket courtesy of Penn Business Services.
Thanks to everyone who participated for the feedback!
Look out for more survey prize drawings in upcoming issues of myHR.