Work, Family, and Life Resources
The University of Arkansas recognizes the challenge of balancing
both work and personal life. With our mobile society and more women in the workforce
than ever before, we have weakened our support system of extended family, friends,
and neighbors.
This page has been created as a resource of current University programs and benefits
available to help our employees achieve balance between work, family and life. It serves as an index to the additional details plus applicable state policy and University memoranda cited
in the University of Arkansas
Staff Handbook.
If you are aware of other existing University programs that serve to assist our employees in balancing work, family
and life, we'd like to include the information on this site.
Also, if you have any suggestions for programs that will serve to recruit, develop,
and retain the highest quality students and employees, please contact the Employee Development and Special
Programs Manager at
HR.Programs@uark.edu.
Work Schedules
You and your supervisor may agree to a work week with a time schedule that differs
from the regular daily schedule of the University if it serves both your needs and
those of the University. A full-time employee must work 40 hours per week. The schedule
must not create a pattern of overtime work or cause undue hardship for your work
unit. Any flex- time agreements must be put in writing and be signed by you and
your supervisor.
With departmental approval, two people may arrange their work hours in a way that
covers a single, regular, full-time salaried position. The combined number of hours
worked by the two part-time employees cannot exceed the number of hours a full-time
employee would work in the same position (usually 40 hours per week). Both employees
must be part-time and both must use the position in the same way (i.e. both employees
must perform secretarial duties if the position is classified as a secretary).
RazorTemps is a temporary staffing service exclusively
for our campus. If you are looking for flexibility of working assignments in varied
UA business and academic environments, RazorTemps may be the solution for you.
Leave Time
Full-time classified staff initially earn 8 hours annual leave per month (accrual
increases over time). Full-time 12-month faculty and non-classified staff earn 15
hours per month (22.5 days per year). If you are not full time, but in an appointed
position at 50% or greater, you accrue annual leave in proportion to the time you
work. A maximum of 240 hours may be carried over to a new calendar year. Athletic
coaches and 9-month faculty are not eligible for annual leave.
Eligible full-time employees accrue 8 hours sick leave per month. You may use sick
leave when you must be absent from work due to illness or injury or to keep a doctor's
appointment. You may also use sick leave when a member of your immediate family
is seriously ill or dies.
A maximum of 960 hours may be carried over to a new calendar year. If you are not
full time, but in an appointed position at 50% or greater, you accrue sick leave
in proportion to the time you work.
The paid holidays usually include: Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day,
the Friday following Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day,
Martin Luther King's Birthday, the Friday of Spring Break (in lieu of President's
Day), Memorial Day, and the employee's birthday.
The University ordinarily closes for the entire week between Christmas and New Year's
Day. Two to three days of annual leave will be charged for any days during that
period not covered by regular holidays or declared an additional holiday by the
Governor.
Eligible employees who have a catastrophic illness or who need to care for an immediate
family member with a catastrophic illness may apply for paid leave from a pool of
donated sick and annual leave when their own leave has been exhausted.
Other Leave
Family & Medical Leave
Maternity leave
Leave for Children’s Educational Activites
Bereavement leave
Court and Jury Leave
Military Leave
Leave without pay
Educational leave
Leave for Organ or Bone Marrow Donation
Off Campus Duty Assignment
Personal Growth and Development
If you are a full-time appointed employee, you, your spouse, and your dependent
children are eligible for education benefits at reduced rates when you enroll in
University courses. Additional information about this benefit can be found in the
Staff Handbook and on
the Office
of Treasurer website.
Human Resources coordinates an on-going program of free or low-cost employee development
sessions and courses designed to help you do your work more efficiently and manage
your relationships and other life activities more effectively. A
resource library of books and
videos to promote personal and professional development is also available. A number of other
University departments offer short courses and other training opportunities that
will help you develop your skill and abilities. For information about scheduled
classes please see the
Employee Development Training Calendar
Employees may check out materials from the University libraries with appropriate
staff identification card. Information on holdings can be accessed and searched
from computers within the library, as well as from home or office computer through
modem or network connection.
Recognition of Service
Full-time appointed employees who are not defined as faculty become eligible for
annual career service recognition payments when you have completed ten or more years
of service in a full-time appointed position or positions at the University. If
you have worked for another state agency or state-supported institution of higher
education in an eligible position, you will be given credit for your years of full-time
service. Proof of prior service is required.
This program recognizes and rewards individuals and teams exhibiting outstanding
commitment to diversity. The awards are presented annually and include a monetary
gift.
Each quarter, five outstanding University of Arkansas employees (classified or non-classified)
are nominated and selected for Employee of the Quarter. The winners in each category
in each quarter are also nominated for the Employee of the Year.
Employee Service Awards Program
Service award eligibility is determined by the total number of years a non-faculty
employee has worked for the University of Arkansas. The time frame is 5, 10, 15,
20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 years. Any employee who attains one of these milestones
from January 1 through December 31 in the current calendar year should be included
in that year's service awards program. Employees with five years of service receive
a certificate of appreciation from the Chancellor. The five year certificates are
distributed at the end of each calendar year quarter. Employees with 10 or more
years of service are honored at the annual Employee Service Awards banquet.
Each year in October, the Chancellor hosts a banquet to honor staff for its service
to the University of Arkansas. This annual celebration recognizes Employees of the
Quarter, Employees of the Year, and employees who have worked for the University
for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 years. The annual individual and team Diversity
Awards are also presented. The Chancellor and other administrators
are joined by members of the Staff Senate and the award recipients' supervisors
and guests to thank these valued employees for their contributions, their accomplishments,
and their years of service.
Each award recipient receives a gift of appreciation for their loyalty and commitment.
These tokens of appreciation are in addition to the annual career service payments
authorized by the State of Arkansas.
Health & Wellness
The University provides an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees who
have a half-time or greater appointment and for graduate assistants. You and members of your immediate
family who live in the same household may use the EAP's services. The EAP is designed
to help identify and resolve personal and job-related problems that may affect your
job performance. These include health, marital, family, financial, legal, emotional,
stress, alcohol, drug and other similar concerns.
The services of the University's EAP are
free to you and members of your household. If the EAP makes a referral to an outside
provider, you will be responsible for any costs associated with those services that
are not covered by your medical insurance. Additional information can be found at
http://hr.uark.edu/benefits/eap.asp
Appointments may be scheduled by calling (479) 973-9072 or 1-800-542-6021. The
1-800 number should be used after hours and on weekends.
A wellness and preventative care program sponsored by the U of A health plan.
The RazorFit Wellness Program is
an innovative fitness program that will complement the Choose Well wellness and
prevention care program sponsored by the University of Arkansas health plan.
Let's get walking! Campus walking
paths are divided into five simple trails, some easy and others strenuous. Pig Trails
maps are available online or by contacting
HR.Programs@uark.edu.
The Weight Watchers weight
management program is available on campus for the convenience of the University
community. The program is designed to promote a healthy rate of weight loss through
an educational program directed at lifestyle change in an atmosphere of support
in meetings. For additional information check out the Weight Watcher
website http://www.weightwatchers.com.
All tobacco products are banned
on campus effective July 1, 2008. If you are a tobacco user, the U of A offers resources
to help you quit.
Employee Health & Benefits Fair
Each fall, Human Resources
sponsors an event to provide University employees an opportunity to discover important
health information; to catch in the early stages certain life-threatening medical
conditions; and to showcase community and university resources which may improve
both the fiscal and physical well-being of our employees.
Community and university services are invited to provide employees with information
on topics addressing financial, family, individual growth, mental, and physical
health. Several health screenings and assessments are offered at no or low cost.
The event also includes drawings for door prizes and free food!
The Pat Walker Health Center is available to employees for medical examinations
and treatment, pharmacy services, immunizations, health education and illness prevention,
counseling and psychological services, and for emergency treatment of on-the-job
injuries and job-related illnesses.
Individual and family memberships may be purchased by employees who work 20 hours
or more a week. The facilities include swimming and diving pools, gyms, an indoor
track, a fitness center, and racquetball courts. The Outdoor Connections Center offers a climbing wall, equipment
rental, and schedules trips and activities for outdoor recreation. Exercise and other classes are offered for a nominal fee. A year round intramural program
of team sports is open to students, faculty, and staff... For additional information:
http://imrs.uark.edu/
Provides training in safety procedures and equipment use, including fire prevention;
fire extinguisher testing and hazardous materials management; hazardous waste; and
occupational health and safety.
The University of Arkansas Police Department (UAPD) provides comprehensive, 24-hour professional
police services to the University community. Emergency telephones with direct access
to the University police are located throughout the campus. The University police
may also be reached by calling campus extension 2222 or by dialing 911 on campus.
University police should be called in case of campus emergencies such as automobile
accidents, medical emergencies, or violent assaults. University police also provide
assistance with crowd control for University-sponsored events, motorist assistance,
escort services on campus at night, and assist in recovery of lost or stolen property.
They will work with other law enforcement agencies to resolve crimes against students,
faculty, and staff, and will provide assistance in dealing with harassing phone
calls, threats, and vandalism.
Entertainment
Cultural Activities
The University offers a wide range of cultural and educational activities which
are open to all members of the University community and to the general public. Among
the resources are art exhibits
in the
Fine Arts Gallery,
Anne Kittrell Gallery,
and Multicultural Center, architecture
exhibits, theater performances, concerts and other musical performances, lectures,
panel discussions, films, symposia, historical and cultural exhibits, festivals,
international programs, and other events. You can find information about these opportunities
through University publications, flyers, posters, and electronic listings, including
Daily Headlines and the
Campus Calendar
Appointed employees and employees who meet the criteria for retirement privileges may receive a discount on season tickets to men's
football, basketball, and baseball home games, and all employees are occasionally
offered discounted or free tickets to individual women's softball, basketball, soccer,
and volleyball games. For additional information
contact the Razorback ticket office: 575-5151
Merchant Discounts
Many restaurants
and other businesses in the community offer discounts to U of A faculty and staff.
Although we cannot list each business on this website, we encourage you to ask.
You may need to present your University identification card as proof of employment.
Financial Security
The University provides eligible employees a basic financial foundation by making
monthly contributions to retirement accounts and paying premiums for basic life
insurance and disability income protection. Optional benefits are available, at
group cost, to supplement the basic coverage Contact the benefits office in Human
Resources for more information: 575-2167.
Retirement Planning
It’s never too late to start planning for retirement.
The University of Arkansas offers a generous retirement program where you direct
how the contributions are invested through TIAA-CREFF or Fidelity Investments. To
help you maximize your retirement savings, retirement counselors are available on-campus
for free retirement planning sessions. These sessions can be located by visiting
the
Benefits Retirement Sessions page
on the Human Resources website.
Housing Resources
Off-Campus Connections, a department
within the Division of Student Affairs, maintains the Off Campus Housing
database of local rental properties as a service to students, faculty and staff.
Convenience
Direct Deposit
You may have your pay deposited in up to six separate accounts. Approximately
three days before pay day you will receive an advisory form showing your gross pay,
deductions and the net pay that will be deposited into your account or accounts.
Contact the UA payroll office for more information: 575-4851.
There are ATM s and a branch bank available in the Arkansas Union. Razorbuck$ is
a debit card that allows you to deposit money to your account
and make cashless purchases on campus. You will receive discounts on some purchases
you make with your Razorbuck$ card in the University bookstore and in campus dining
facilities. You can establish a Razorbuck$ account through the
Campus Card Office
The University Bookstore, located in the Arkansas Union, sells textbooks, reference
and general reading books, magazines, and supplies in the main bookstore, and clothing,
cards, snacks, and gift items in the Razorback Shop. The Computer Store carries
computer hardware, software, parts, accessories, and supplies; its factory-authorized
service center provides repair and upgrade services. You will receive a 10% discount
on many bookstore items if you show your staff identification card at the time you
make your purchases.
Photo processing, dry
cleaning services, shipping services, school supplies, sandwiches, pastries, beverages,
health and beauty items and Razorback apparel are available in the Harmon Avenue Parking Facility
A FREE fixed-route bus provides service on campus and to major off-campus living
and shopping areas. Bus maps
and schedules are available at the Arkansas Union Information Desk, , at Transit and Parking Department at 155 Razorback Road, in
the Harmon Avenue Parking Garage, and all maps and schedules are available on the
Transit and Parking web page
Copying for personal uses is available at a reasonable price in the Union Copy center
located in room 213 of the Arkansas Union. Copying machines are also available
in Mullins Library.
Although the Mail Center
functions to provide for the official mailing needs of the University campus, a full-service post office is
located in the Arkansas Union. It sells postage stamps, processes certified, registered,
special delivery, and insured mail; provides express and parcel mailing services;
and assists with mailing to international destinations.
The UARK Federal Credit Union is a member organization open to University
employees, their family members, alumni, and employees of a few other organizations.
The credit union offers savings and checking accounts, credit cards, mortgage loans,
automobile loans, consumer loans, and other financial services. The credit union is
located in Fayetteville at 1025 N. Garland, phone number (479) 521-1199.
TheHumanResource is not an interactive list, but is a news vehicle about benefits,
employee development opportunities, classification and compensation news, payroll
deadlines and updates, and any other information Human Resources thinks may be of
general interest to the campus. Subscription to TheHumanResource is voluntary, and
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Child Care
CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL CENTER
Telephone (479) 751-3463 or 1-800-KIDS-LOG
A non-profit agency serving Washington, Benton, Madison and Carrol counties.
Department of Human Services / Division of Child Care
Search for a licensed child care provider in your area.