A-to-Z Index

August HR Update

New Total Compensation Calculator

Have you ever wondered about the value of your JMU compensation?  Your direct pay and your indirect pay make up your total compensation. Direct pay is generally identified as your ‘pay check’. Indirect pay is the value of your benefit package. Check out the Total Compensation Estimator to see an estimated value of your total compensation. It also offers a colorful visual representation of the total compensation package you have as a full-time employee!

There is still time to Complete Your Biometric Screening

In order to continue the premium reward reduction on your health insurance from January-June, 2014, you/your enrolled spouse must complete a biometric screening. The biometric screenings continue through October 31. All employees and non-Medicare retiree group participants who are enrolled in COVA Care, COVA HealthAware, or COVA HDHP health plan, their spouses and adult dependents are eligible for the screenings.

Another Chance to Earn Premium Rewards
Employees enrolled in COVA Care or COVA HealthAware who did not complete the Health Assessment during May can do so at www.myactivehealth.com/COVA and complete their biometric screening by October 31 to receive the six-month premium reward beginning January-June, 2014.

Three Options to Get Your Biometric Screening
You may make an appointment or print a requisition form by visiting www.myactivehealth.com/COVA, logging in using your MyActiveHealth user name and password, and clicking on the link in the Welcome Message for biometric screening information. Choose one of the following:

1. On-site agency screening: James Madison University will be a site location for the biometric screenings. There will be a drop-down list of available agencies at the above-listed link, and you will see the following list of dates to choose from for your/your spouse’s screening:

  • August 28: Festival Conference & Student Center, Alleghany Room, 9:00 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.
  • September 10: University Services Building, Room 102, 9:00 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.
  • September 25: Festival Conference & Student Center, Alleghany Room, 9:00 a.m. – 2:50 p.m. 
  • October 10: Wine Price Building, Inspirations Room A & B, 9:00 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.

2. Visit a LabCorp Patient Service Center: Print out the requisition form, and take it with you when you have your screening done. You will only get the free screening if this form is presented to LabCorp at the time of the screening.

3. Submit a Physician Form: Download a physician form that pre-populated with your information. This form can be completed by your physician if you had a biometric screening done on or after April 1, 2013. If you are unable to visit your physician, you may submit a completed form without your physician’s signature with one of the verifiable biometric/health screening results listed below with at least five of the nine measurements:

  • Copy of lab results sheet from lab tests, or
  • Copy of physician report with lab results report

If you do not have access to the Internet or need assistance, please contact 1-866-938-0349.

As a reminder, in order to continue the premium reward reduction January-June, 2014, you/your enrolled spouse must complete the biometric screening.



Classified Employee Performance Evaluations

The performance management process is a partnership between the supervisor and the employee. As part of this partnership, performance evaluations are a necessary and beneficial process which provides an opportunity for supervisors to provide feedback to employees regarding job performance. The performance evaluation is intended to be a fair and balanced assessment of an employee's actual performance during the review period.

The annual performance cycle for non-probationary, classified employees runs October 25 through October 24 of the following year. The completed Annual Performance Evaluation Form is due in Human Resources, MSC 7009, no later than September 30, 2013. Supervisors should also attach the employee’s completed IPDP to the evaluation form.

Please note the change to this year’s process for rating an employee as an overall Extraordinary Contributor or Below Contributor: The Acknowledgement of Extraordinary Contribution or Notice of Improvement Needed (unless a Written Notice is on file) must be attached to the completed performance evaluation to support these overall ratings.   

Contact your HR Consultant at (540) 568-2296 with questions about the performance evaluation process.



Reminder: New JMU e-ID Activation Process

Supervisors of new full-time and part-time non-student employees and affiliate sponsors received an email at the end of July containing information and instructions the new employee/affiliate will need to activate his/her JMU e-ID. 

If you have any questions about the new activation process, please contact Human Resources at (540) 568-6165.

Activate JMU e-ID



Promoting Positivity: Here to Help

Picture a substance abuse prevention toolbox available to JMU students. One of the tools in that toolbox is Here to Help.

Here to Help is a training session September 13, 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (lunch provided), in the Festival Conference Center Highlands Room, to orient faculty and staff to the spectrum of campus resources available to students in distress or crisis, including those students experiencing problems related to alcohol use and abuse. Registration opens August 19.

Increasing awareness among faculty and staff about the substance abuse prevention tools and resources available for students can help in two ways:

  • Increase awareness in the community about JMU’s substance abuse prevention efforts for its students
  • Empower faculty and staff to be involved and serve as points of access for students in need of referral                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Bookmark jmu.edu/toolbox. Contact the University Health Center’s Substance Abuse Prevention (SAP) office at healthctr@jmu.edu or (540) 568-3317 for more information. Look for continued communications highlighting additional substance abuse prevention tools and resources that are in the SAP Toolbox.



Meal Plans Provide JMU Employees a 44% Discount!

It’s true! JMU faculty, staff and affiliates qualify for Faculty/Staff Meal Plans that provide a top-notch lunch that’s affordably priced. But what’s this about a 44% discount? Read on.

A Meal Plan is Affordable

  • A bundle of 15 meals costs $96—only $6.40/meal including sales tax. At the all-you-care-to-eat facilities (D-Hall, E-Hall, Mrs. Greens and Let's Go Local), that’s 44% less than the door price!
  • You’ll also get a great deal at Market One, PC Dukes, Top Dog, Festival or Corner Bistro at Memorial Hall, where a meal plan covers Duke Deal combos (considered one meal no matter the menu price), $5 meal equivalency ($5 toward a larger purchase) and double punching (using two meals at a time) at the food courts.

A Meal Plan is Convenient

  • You don’t have to shop for food and fix it ... or make yourself late to work by foraging through your cupboards for lunch fixings.
  • You don’t have to go far ... or jeopardize your parking place by going off campus ... or sit in a long drive-thru line waiting for mediocre food.
  • You can enjoy a relaxing lunch with friends or grab something quick.
  • No need to carry cash or credit cards ... or search your desk drawer for lunch money. All those delicious meals are right on your JACard.
  • You can pay for your meal plan by credit card, check or FLEX. Full-time JMU employees also can purchase a meal plan through payroll deduction (follow link for more info).

A Meal Plan = Variety & Good Food

  • Instead of being stuck with whatever you threw together in the wee hours of the morning, at lunchtime you can pick from an almost endless variety of choices that strike your fancy.
  • You can choose to eat healthy (easily check nutrition info); pick hot or cold entrees, sides and desserts; try new dishes or old favorite; and find gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan selections.

With a meal plan, you can spice up your life (at least 15 times a semester!), reduce your stress and aggravation, and enjoy food that is nationally recognized for quality. You deserve the best ... and a meal plan provides it (follow link for more info and to sign up).

For additional savings, join the dining discount program exclusively for JMU Faculty and Staff! Purple & Gold Perks is Dining Services’ way of expressing gratitude for everything you do to support the JMU Community.  Please email croswekm@jmu.edu to join!



A Snapshot of Upcoming Training Sessions Offered by JMU Training and Development

Congratulations! You’re the Supervisor, Now What?
Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)
Performance Management Info Session for Supervisors of Classified Employees

For additional information or to arrange customized sessions for your department, please contact Suzanne Vance, Training Coordinator, vancesn@jmu.edu, (540) 568-4101.



Human Resources is dedicated to customer service, a positive approach to change and the pursuit of excellence that promotes university and individual success.