Your First Month

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

1. Benefits Enrollment

• Full-time and part-time benefits-eligible employees* must submit benefit elections in Workday within 30 days of your hire date. Reminder emails are sent weekly, noting your submission deadline. If you do not enroll or waive benefits in Workday within 30 days, you will be auto-enrolled in default benefits.
  
  • System Guide: Benefit Elections Enrollment (New Hire/Rehire/Change Job) [pdf]
  • You will receive a Workday notification once your benefit elections are approved. 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 carrier(s), you can create user accounts on your insurance carriers’ websites. 
  • Temporary insurance cards (ID cards) can be printed through your user account.^†
  • Log in to Workday to designate your life insurance beneficiaries with MetLife. 
    • System Guide: Designate Life Insurance Beneficiary [pdf]
    • Evidence of Insurability (EOI) may be required for optional life insurance. If applicable, MetLife will send the EOI form to your CMU email address.
• Permanent insurance cards are sent within 7–10 business days.
• Dependents must be verified in Workday with documentation that confirms their relationship to you [pdf]. Documentation must be submitted within 30 days of your enrollment date.
• Benefit elections cannot be changed until the next Open Enrollment period, unless you experience a qualifying life event.

*Members of the AFL-CIO Local 95 — International Union of Operating Engineers are covered under their own contract, which specifies their benefits coverage options.

^†UPMC requires your ID number in order to create a user account. Call UPMC customer service at 855-497-8762 to obtain your ID number. Vision Benefits of America (VBA) does not issue ID cards. 

2. Retirement Savings Enrollment

• Carnegie Mellon provides two retirement savings plans:*

  • Carnegie Mellon University Faculty and Staff Retirement Plan (FSRP) for eligible faculty and staff who are U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents

  • Carnegie Mellon University 401(k) Plan (401(k) Plan) for eligible employees who are, on their hire date, either a non-U.S. citizens or a non-U.S. resident (non-resident alien)

• The university contributes an amount equal to 8% of eligible base salary (9.78% for employees on a nine-month appointment) for eligible employees.
• Eligible faculty members, staff members and student workers can make supplemental contributions by payroll deduction. Employee contributions are effective the first of the month following the date the election is submitted in Workday, unless a future date is designated. You can elect to contribute up to 100% of your pay if you are eligible for the FSRP, or from .25% (¼%) to 100% of your pay if you are eligible for the 401(k) Plan. Elections cannot be made retroactively to a prior or current month or date, unless the election is changing to zero. Contact HR Employee Services to change your retirement elections to zero for the current month.
  • System Guide: Retirement Elections [pdf] 
• 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 and request distributions.
• Create a user account with TIAA [pdf] to designate/update your beneficiary(ies) or change investment options once your first contribution (employee or employer) is made. Changes can also be made by calling TIAA at 800-842-2776.
• View retirement savings education opportunities, including one-on-one counseling sessions, webinars and on-campus workshops.

*Members of the AFL-CIO Local 95 — International Union of Operating Engineers are covered under their own contract, which specifies their retirement program options.

3. Training Requirements and Opportunities

• 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 robust index of links for new employees.
• New staff members are highly encouraged to attend the Office of Human Resources' New Hire Orientation. Orientation informs new hires 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 curated lists of learning resources based on role or need.
• Depending on your role, you may be required to complete Finance and/or Workday training to receive access to essential job functions.
• Employees who interact with minors are required to obtain Child Protection Clearances in accordance with the Policy on the Protection of Children in Carnegie Mellon University Programs, Activities and Facilities.

4. Supervisor Relationship

• 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 six-month 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.

5. Policies, Handbooks and Guidelines

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

• Become familiar with University Policies.
• Know what is expected of you; review handbooks, guidelines and required employee notices.
• Be aware of Equal Opportunity Services and the university's Affirmative Action Plan, as well as resources for addressing workplace concerns and how to contact the staff ombudsperson.
• Learn how to request an accommodation for a disability.

6. Discounts and Perks

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

7. Opportunities to Stay Involved, Informed and Healthy

• Take a campus tour geared to CMU employees. (A campus tour may also be offered during New Hire Orientation.)
• Find information about annual campus events and ongoing event listings.
• Learn about opportunities to get involved through Staff Council.
• Explore volunteer opportunities on campus.
• Read The Piper, the university's weekly community newsletter.
• Review the university's community health & well-being resources.
• Consider joining an employee resource group. 
• Learn more about the fitness facilities and programs, including free Group-X classes, available to faculty and staff.
• Sign up for the Be Well newsletter and learn how to be well, be mindful and be connected.
• Learn how to contribute to United Way.

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.