Your First Month

Once your onboarding tasks are complete, learn more about how to make the most of the benefits available to you and explore opportunities to get involved.

On this page:

• Benefits Enrollment
• Retirement Savings
• Time Away from Work
• Policies, Handbooks and Guidelines
• Training Requirements and Opportunities
• Supervisor Relationship

• Discounts and Perks

• Opportunities to Stay Involved, Informed and Healthy

• Full-time and part-time benefits-eligible employees: Benefit elections must be submitted in Workday within 30 days of your hire date. You will receive weekly reminder emails noting your submission deadline.
  • You will receive a notification from Workday once your benefit elections are approved. Your benefit elections cannot be changed until the next Open Enrollment period, unless you experience a qualifying life event.
  • If you do not enroll or waive benefits in Workday within 30 days, you will be auto-enrolled in default benefits.
  • See the Benefit Elections Enrollment System Guide [pdf] for instructions.
• Adding Dependents: Dependents must be verified in Workday with documentation [pdf] that confirms their relationship to you. Documentation must be submitted within 30 days of your enrollment date.
• Adding Beneficiaries: Log in to Workday to designate your life insurance beneficiaries [pdf] with MetLife.
  • Evidence of Insurability (EOI) may be required for optional life insurance. If applicable, MetLife will send the EOI form to your CMU email address.
• Carrier Information: Your enrollment information is sent to the insurance carriers the Monday morning after your elections are approved. Beginning the Wednesday after your elections are sent to the carriers, you can create user accounts on your insurance carriers’ websites.
  • Temporary insurance cards (ID cards) can be printed through your user account.
  • Permanent insurance cards are sent within 7–10 business days.
  • UPMC requires your ID number to create a user account. Call UPMC customer service at 855-497-8762 to get your ID number.
  • Vision Benefits of America does not issue ID cards.
• AFL-CIO Local 95 — International Union of Operating Engineers are covered under their own contract, which specifies their benefits coverage options.

There are two retirement savings plans available through Carnegie Mellon University:

• Carnegie Mellon University Faculty and Staff Retirement Plan: Eligible faculty and staff who are U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents automatically receive university contributions. Employees can make supplemental contributions.
• Carnegie Mellon University 401(k) Plan: Eligible employees who are, on their hire date, either a non-U.S. citizen or a non-U.S. resident (non-resident alien) automatically receive university contributions. Employees can make supplemental contributions.
• Retirement Guides and Forms:
  • Complete the Prior Service Credit Request [pdf] if you have worked at another non-profit college or university.
  • Learn how to roll over assets from an outside institution to CMU [pdf].
• TIAA Account: Create a user account with TIAA [pdf] to make your contribution elections, designate/update your beneficiaries or change investment options.
• Retirement Education: View retirement savings education opportunities, including one-on-one counseling sessions, webinars and on-campus workshops.
• AFL-CIO Local 95 — International Union of Operating Engineers are covered under their own contract, which specifies their retirement program options.

Carnegie Mellon provides various types of paid time off for eligible employees, including:

• Eleven official holidays and up to three floating holidays, depending on your start date
• Paid Time Off according to the program's guidelines and accrual schedule
• AFL-CIO Local 95 — International Union of Operating Engineers are covered under their own contract, which specifies their time off options.

CMU employees are required to adhere to university policies and all applicable handbooks, guidelines and required employee notices.

• University Policies
• Handbooks, HR policies, guidelines and required employee notices
• Equal Opportunity Services and the university's Affirmative Action Plan
• Resources for addressing workplace concerns
• Staff ombudsperson
• Disability Services for faculty and staff — self-identify a disability or request an accommodation

• You will receive an email invitation to complete Preventing Workplace Harassment online training. This important training should be completed within 30 days of receiving the email.
• Review New Hire Resources, a list of links for new employees.
• New staff members are highly encouraged to attend the Office of Human Resources' New Hire Orientation to learn about personal and workplace safety and security, university policies, CMU's mission and culture, and the benefits and perks of being a CMU employee.
• New faculty members should attend the Eberly Center's Incoming Faculty Orientation.
• FocusU and LinkedIn Learning provide faculty and staff members with opportunities for professional and personal development. See the Development Program Guide for learning resources based on role or need.
• You may be required to complete Finance training to receive access to essential job functions.
• Employees who interact with minors are required to obtain Child Protection Clearances.

• Meet with your supervisor early on to discuss department specific information, including departmental goals and mission, organizational structure, and expectations for work hours, lunch breaks and daily attire.
• Review job duties and performance expectations during your provisional period and beyond.
• Maintain an open dialogue to clarify expectations and facilitate feedback.
• Learn your department's process for reporting and submitting Paid Time Off.
• Discuss professional development and personal growth opportunities.

• Staff Council's Perks & Discounts
• Discounts available to CMU employees including banking services, transportation, real estate services, entertainment discounts and wireless communication savings
• Family and Child Care Resources including the Care for Business program

• Learn about Carnegie Mellon's history and its two founders, Andrew Carnegie and Andrew Mellon.
• Take a campus tour geared to CMU employees. (A tour may also be offered during New Hire Orientation.)
• Traditions and Events:
  • Find information about campus events.
  • Explore and enjoy some of the university's longest standing traditions including The Fence, Spring Carnival and Sweepstakes/Buggy Races.
• Volunteer and Resource Groups:
  • Volunteer opportunities on campus
  • Employee resource groups
  • Staff Council opportunities
  • Contribute to United Way by volunteering or donating
• Newsletters and Resources:
  • The Piper, the university's weekly community newsletter
  • Be Well newsletter
  • Community health & well-being resources
  • Fitness facilities and programs, including free Group-X classes for faculty and staff
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion resources
  • CMU=You, the university's go-to location for celebrating our culture
• Sustainability at CMU:
  • The Sustainability Initiative and Global Goals
  • Environment at CMU and ways to get involved

Once you have completed your onboarding tasks and reviewed all the information for New Faculty and Staff please refer to the Current Faculty and Staff section for information as you continue your career at Carnegie Mellon.