The Reporter: June 1996, Vol.7, No.3
Personnel News

Home Sweet Home Made Easier

You already know that your benefits as an employee of Columbia University include medical insurance, tuition reimbursement, and retirement savings options, but did you know your employment also includes a mortgage program to assist all full-time employees in purchasing and refinancing a home? Through an alliance with PHH US Mortgage Corporation, the program provides access to mortgages and cooperative loans with highly competitive rates, reduced closing costs, liberal qualification requirements, and easy application procedures.

PHH US Mortgage is a wholly owned subsidiary of PHH Corporation, which specializes in developing and managing mortgage programs for universities, Fortune 500 corporations, affinity groups, and credit unions. The program was designed principally to help with owner-occupied primary residences, but it also offers financing on second homes, vacation homes, and residential investment property. The program may be used to obtain bridge, construction, and home equity loans.

Besides offering competitive rates for all qualified employees, the program also offers additional discounts for groups of employees that PHH deems to carry a lower risk than the general population. More than 40 different mortgage products are offered and special programs help firsttime home buyers, modest wage earners, and individuals with past credit problems. Participants are refunded the application fee at closing. No processing or document preparation fee is assessed, and there is only a low credit-check fee. The program also offers free lock-ins on interest rates for 60 and 90 days, among other features.

More information on the program can be obtained by calling a PHH representative at 1-800-818-4201.

Paperless Update

A form on Columbia's World Wide Web site now allows employees to update their personnel records. Colleen Crooker, vice president for human resources, says this new capability is one of many enhancements her office has planned for the next few years as a way to improve the quality of information on the University's central systems.

The new Web form allows users to inform their departments, human resources, and the payroll office simultaneously of a personnel change, e.g., a change in home address. The form can be accessed by using a World Wide Web browser, such as Netscape, and setting the URL to http://www.cc.columbia. edu/cu/hr/update.html.

Once the updated information has been submitted, the appropriate departmental or divisional administrator will verify the update before it is entered in the University's system. And for those who prefer the traditional update method, the same information can be changed by giving the new details to the appropriate administrator, who will submit a personnel action form in writing to effect the change.

More information is available by calling 870-3462.

HR at Interchurch

The Morningside campus human resources office has moved to new offices at the Interchurch Center at 475 Riverside Drive. Benefits, compensation, employment, operations, information services, and the office of the vice president of human resources now occupy Room 1901 on the building's 19th floor. Employee and labor relations and training and development have moved to Room 1220 on the 12th floor. Mail can be addressed to Columbia University Human Resources, Interchurch Center Room 1901, Mail Code 7705, 2960 Broadway, New York, NY 10027. Further details can be obtained by calling 870-2832.

Q&A

Q: I've heard that Columbia offers several child care options for employees, but how do I find out more about those services?

A: For parents who work or go to school, child care is a high priority. That's why the Office of Public Affairs has published a brochure for Columbia employees and students that lists day care centers affiliated with Columbia and information on the care they provide. In addition, public day care facilities on the Upper West Side are listed with addresses and telephone numbers. "A Guide to Child Care at Columbia University" is available by calling Miguel Marquez at 854-7007.

Reminders

Keep in mind that the next benefits open enrollment period for the new plan year-Jan. 1, 1997, to Dec. 31, 1997-will be during the month of October 1996. That reflects a change in the enrollment period from a fiscal year cycle to one based on the calendar year. Watch for further details in the coming months.

Also, the University is about to enter a new fiscal year, which applies to vacations as well as budgets. All vacation time earned through June 30, 1995, must be taken by June 30, 1996. If vacation time from fiscal year 1995 is not used by June 30, it will be forfeited. Questions can be directed to the Health Sciences human resources office at 305-3819 (ext. 73819).