Human Resource Services

Home | Jobs@UNI | My Benefits | Forms | About Us
  • August 2020

August 2020

Employee Benefits & Well-being - Human Resource Services
August Newsletter

COVID-19 and Your Benefits

To view frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and your benefits, visit the Forward Together website. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Retirement Readiness: Retiring from UNI

Human Resource Services will host an informational session on retiring from UNI for faculty and staff planning to retire soon or in the foreseeable future. Participants will learn guidelines and benefits available at retirement from UNI. This hour long session will be presented by Therese Callaghan, Employee Well-being Coordinator, via Zoom on August 12 at 3 p.m. Please register in advance.

Retirement Readiness: Social Security Q&A

Human Resource Services will host an informational session to expand on the concepts discussed in Social Security 101. This session provides additional time for questions and answers to your social security questions. You may send questions in advance to therese.callaghan@uni.edu. The hour long session will be presented by John Morgan with AIG, via Zoom, on Aug 13 at 10 a.m. Please register in advance.

Retirement Readiness: What You Need to Know About Medicare and Medicare Supplements 

Human Resource Services will host an informational session on the basics of Medicare and how to integrate healthcare into your retirement plan. Presented by SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) the hour long session will be held via Zoom on September 2 at 3 p.m. Please register in advance.

Participation in events that occur during scheduled working hours must be approved by your supervisor. Employees on a university-approved leave should contact hrs-leaves@uni.edu for approval. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UNI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact a benefits team member at 319-273-2954, or hrs-benefits@uni.edu, at least one week prior to the event.

TIAA Logo

TIAA August Financial Wellness Webinars

  • August 11 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST

    • Social Security Basics for Married Couples

  • August 11 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST

    • 2020 Investment Outlook - Post Corona-Virus Recovery

  • August 12 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST

    • Money at Work 2: Sharpening Investment Skills

  • August 12 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST

    • Retiring in the ‘New Normal’

  • August 13 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST

    • Financial Housekeeping for Now and Later

  • August 13 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST

    • Postcards from the Future - A Woman’s Guide to Financially Ever After

TIAA webinars are open to all employees. To register visit: www.tiaa.org/webinars

Times through the webinar link will be shown in Eastern Standard Time.

Financial Wellness

IPERS Individual Retirement Counseling Sessions

Individual counseling sessions are available to be scheduled for UNI IPERS participants on August 24, 25, 26, and 27 via teleconference. Individual sessions provide information on retirement accounts with IPERS, consider possible retirement dates, learn benefit payout options, and service purchase options. Appointment dates fill up quickly. To schedule a session contact IPERS at 800-622-3849, and have your membership number ready. You can find your membership number at the top of your IPERS statement. Pre-registration is required.

Schedule a Visit with a TIAA Advisor

For individuals with a TIAA retirement plan or Tax-Deferred Annuity, you can schedule a meeting with a TIAA Financial Advisor any time. These meetings are confidential, free of charge, and are currently being held virtually. It is recommended that you meet with a TIAA advisor annually to discuss changes to your accounts and ensure you are on track for retirement. To schedule a session visit the TIAA webpage or call 800-732-8353 Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (ET).

My Well-being

Plan to get your flu vaccine this year!

With the continued spread of COVID-19 in our communities and across the country, experts are recommending that everyone who is able plan to get a flu vaccine early. The flu vaccine will not protect you from COVID-19 but it will provide you with protection from the flu and decrease your risk of multiple infections. 


According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are a number of important reasons to receive the flu vaccine every year. First, it has been proven that the flu vaccine provides the best protection from flu infections. Individuals that receive a flu vaccine decrease their risk of experiencing complications and/or hospitalization due to the flu. Lastly, like wearing a mask, individuals who receive a flu vaccine help protect others from getting sick along with protecting themselves. 


Each year UNI Employee Well-being partners with the Student Health Clinic to provide FREE flu vaccines for faculty and staff on-campus. Flu shot clinics will begin in September with dates, times, and locations to be announced. Local pharmacies expect flu shots to be available sometime in August. It is recommended that you call ahead to ensure flu vaccines are available. UNI health insurance plans cover one annual flu vaccine at no cost. For additional information, please visit our Free Flu Vaccination webpage. Plan ahead to get your flu shot and we hope you stay well all season long!

Own Your Benefits

UNI's Health Insurance Covers Your Preventive Eye Exam

UNI’s self-insured health plans, the UNI PPO (Alliance Select) and the UNI Blue Advantage (HMO) both cover one preventive eye exam per calendar year for anyone that is insured on the health plans. When going to an in-network optometrist or ophthalmologist, be sure to provide them your Wellmark ID to have your exam covered. If you are on the UNI Blue Advantage (HMO) you will be charged the $15 copay for the visit. For other vision options, visit our Vision webpage.

Recognizing Our Retirees

We are thankful for the service of all of UNI's retirees! With their consent we are able to celebrate their years of service and share their information with the entire campus community.

Carol Bean
Secretary III, Health, Recreation & Community Services
20 Years of Service, Retired in July
tncbean@aol.com

Mary Goodman
Food Service Supervisor, Commons Catering
28 Years of Service, Retiring in August 
marycg@cfu.net

Ross Porter
Storekeeper II, Kinesiology
43 Years of Service, Retiring in August 

Retirement Readiness

Retirement Benefit Questions? The HRS Benefits Team is here to assist!

The Human Resource Services Benefits Team is continuing to help employees with retirement benefit questions. If you plan to retire in 2020 please email hrs-benefits@uni.edu or call 319-273-2423. For additional information on retirement visit Retiring from UNI.

Coming In September

September Calendar
Subscribe to HRS Latest News and Events

Be the first to hear the latest news and events from UNI Human Resource Services including benefits and well-being news. Subscribe to receive the HRS News emails right to your uni.edu email account.

Is Your Personal Information Up-to-Date?

To make changes to your office and/or home (confidential) contact information:

Login to MyUNIverse > My Page > Update My Personal Information. This information is sent to Human Resource Services and will be updated within four working days.

Past and Present Benefits & Well-being Newsletters