HR Newsletter – December  2020

Events & Celebrations

Happy Holidays! Mark your calendars for 2020

December 23: January 2: January 6: January 13- 17: January 20: January 21:

Campus Closes for Winter Break at 5:00 P.M. Campus Opens for Spring Semester January Intersession Begins Faculty Welcome Week Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Campus is Closed Spring Semester Begins

Retiree Corner

Congratulations on Your Retirement Sue Chilless
Retiring January 3, 2020

Sue Chilless began her career with OCCC in 2012 as a part-time Adult Education and Literacy Teacher. In 2014 she started working full-time as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Instructor for the Department of Community Outreach and Education. As a member of the OCCC family, Sue ensures her program participants are prepared to complete their High School Equivalency diploma and then successfully enter college. She has been instrumental in the success of the TANF program working closely with OCCC Career Transitions and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Please join us in congratulating Sue on her upcoming retirement. She will be greatly missed.

Training

Professional Development Update

Director/Administrative Assistant Budget & Purchasing Training
February 4, March 10, and April 21
Registration begins in January 2020
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Microsoft Office Suite -- Level I Word, Excel, PowerPoint, March
Microsoft Office Advanced Excel -- Pivot Tables, April
Microsoft Access -- Level I and II, April
Registration for these Microsoft courses begin in January 2020
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New Employee Orientation

Scheduled for the last Wednesday of every month.
Invitations are sent to new employees and their supervisors one week before orientation.

Do you need specific skills training for your career? 

Send us a suggestion at HRdesk@occc.edu.

PEER-TO-PEER PRAISE

College Union Cafe

Delicious food, check; Friendly staff, check; Exceptional customer service, check; Consistency, DOUBLE CHECK!

These are just a few of the reasons this month's Peer-to-Peer Praise accolade goes to the entire team of the College Union Cafe.

This past summer, the cafeteria temporarily closed. However, in the fall of 2019, the new College Union Cafe, under the leadership of Chef Andre Coleman, Director of Dining Services, opened its doors and began providing healthy and homemade cuisine. Since day one, faculty and staff have praised the Administration's decision to bring this service in-house.

From left to right: Chef Andre Coleman, Monica Lopez Guillen, Tonya Thompson, Sous-Chef Carl Poe, Maria Hernandez, Beverly Haley, Chef Oliver Palms; not pictured: Lisa Hollingsworth and Crystal Abercrombie.

In Memoriam… Beverly Joe Haley

We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our colleague Beverly on December 15, 2019. She was a valuable part of the OCCC family and she will be truly missed. We are sending thoughts of peace and comfort to her family in this time of sorrow.

 

Wellness

How to Stress Less this Holiday Season

From planning the perfect celebration to crafting a gift budget, the holiday season can be an amazingly stressful time. To help combat holiday stressors, try out these tips to help you cope during the holiday season.

Make time for favorite traditions.  Instead of trying to fit everything into your busy schedule, spend time on traditions that mean the most to you and your family.
Make your health a priority. Schedule time to prepare meals, and exercise.  Even a moderate exercise like raking leaves or shoveling can help offset increased calorie consumption.
Set a budget and stick to it. Use an app that can help track spending and take advantage of holiday shopping deals.
Get organized and plan ahead.  Look ahead at your calendar and note family, friend and work obligations so you can plan time for shopping, baking, and wrapping.
Take time for yourself. Taking even just 15 minutes for yourself each day can refresh your mind so you are more prepared to tackle your next task.

Source: https://www.bcbs.com/

Contact OneLife, OCCC's Employee Assistance Program, for information, inquiries or support call 1-800-559-9544 or visit onelife.
 
Relax, Breathe Deep, and Improve Your Teeth

Check out Delta Dental's article on how decreasing your stress can also benefit your oral health. 

Benefits

2020 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits

The IRS released the 2020 retirement plan contributions limits recently and deferral limits are slightly higher next year.

The 2020 annual elective contribution annual limit for employees who participate in the 403(b) Plan for Employees of Oklahoma City Community College increases from $19,000 at $19,500. Additionally, for employees that are age 50 and over, the 403(b) plan permits a catch-up contribution of an additional $6,500 for an overall total contribution limit of $26,000 in 2020.

The new limits are effective January 1, 2020. For a complete list of changes, visit IRS.gov.

 

It’s never too early or too late to start. Make sure you’re on track to reach your financial goals.

Questions?

Here's who to call:

Paul Mariconda


Senior Financial Advisor
405-315-6134
paul.mariconda@aig.com

5929 N. May Ave., Suite 506, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 
 

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Get With The Program

Browse through the 10 Interactive Programs and the 14 Educational Programs to find one that fits your needs and health goals.  You will earn Blue Points that can be redeemed in the Well onTarget shopping mall. There you will find items such as electronics, sporting goods, apparel and more. To learn more click here and then:

Use your Blue Cross Blue Shield Login and Password
Click on the My Health tab on the top bar
Click to enter the Well onTarget site

Did You Know?

The OCCC Library is a great resource for employees. Here are some resources you may not know about!

OverDrive eBooks and eAudiobooks

The OCCC Library provides digital access to bestsellers, new releases, and old favorites through OverDrive. With over 4,000 eBooks to choose from and over 1,000 eAudiobooks, there is something for everyone! Read eBooks on your smartphone, tablet, or other device. Browse the Collections to see recently added and most popular titles. Check out the OverDrive LibGuide to learn more.

New York Times Online

The OCCC Library provides access to the New York Times Online! It is available to all OCCC employees for free. Check out the New York Times Libguide to set up your account.

Don’t forget about the physical collection as well! You can find best sellers, classics, cookbooks, audiobooks, graphic novels, and

Search the catalog or stop by the Library Assistance Desk for help. The OCCC Library also has New Books on display on the first floor. For any questions, call the Library staff at 682-7564 or stop by the Library Assistance Desk!

Tech Tips

Outlook Reminders With Sound 

Do find yourself constantly late for meetings because your Outlook reminder does not play a sound? Here is this month’s Outlook tip on how to set reminders and play sounds to ensure that you are never late again for another meeting.

Turn reminder sounds on or off:

Click the File tab.
Click Options.
Click Advanced.
Under Reminders, select or clear the Play reminders sound checkbox.
If you choose to play a reminder sound, you can either use the default sound file or click Browse to select the sound file that you want to play. Ensure that the volume on your desktop is audible.

Achievements

Help us celebrate employee success! Please submit to HRdesk@occc.edu any degrees or certifications earned by you or members of your team since December 1, 2019.

 

Send degrees and certifications earned!