Announcements from the Senior Vice President

Dear Rutgers Colleagues,

Rutgers University is committed to supporting the well-being of our employees and their families. We are pleased to highlight two valuable programs available to eligible Rutgers employees:

Rutgers Caregiver Support Program

Through Care.com, employees can access reliable care for children, aging loved ones, household needs, and more—whether you require short-term assistance or ongoing support. Additionally, the LifeMart discount program provides exclusive savings on holiday travel, gifts, and everyday essentials. To learn more about eligibility, enrollment, and how to take advantage of these programs, please visit the Rutgers Caregiver Support Program website.

Dear Rutgers Colleagues,

Through the State of New Jersey, Rutgers is pleased to offer plans to allow employees to shelter a part of their wages from federal income taxes while saving for retirement. These plans include the IRC Section 457 New Jersey State Employees Deferred Compensation Plan and the IRC Section 403(b) Tax Savings Plan.

The New Jersey State Employee’s Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan) is a voluntary investment program that provides retirement income separate from, and in addition to, your basic pension plan. The IRC Section 403(b) Tax Savings Plan (also known as a tax-sheltered annuity plan) is a voluntary investment program that allows employees to defer a portion of their salary into individual accounts, including designated Roth accounts.

Dear Rutgers Colleagues,

Dear Rutgers Colleagues,

As we enter the time of year during which adverse weather conditions may become more prevalent, it is important to review Rutgers University’s policies regarding operations during adverse weather events, and for supervisors to update essential employee rosters and adequately communicate responsibilities to employees designated as essential in the event of university closure or delayed opening due to weather conditions.

Dear Rutgers Colleagues:

Each year, Rutgers University participates in the New Jersey Employees Charitable Campaign (NJECC). The NJECC provides an opportunity for state employees to make contributions toward their choice of over 650 New Jersey approved and registered charitable organizations partaking in the campaign. Donations can be spread across the year through biweekly payroll deductions or made as a one-time payment.

Assistance is needed in our communities, throughout our country, and around the world.

Dear Colleagues:

Rutgers Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, Lyra Health, is pleased to present several workshops this month to support mental health and wellness.

Mental Health 101

Date: December 8, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Description:
We all have mental health, shaped by our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. This workshop explores what mental health is, why it matters, and how reducing stigma can help us support ourselves and others. Learn practical tools like mindfulness, self-care, and gratitude—and practice one skill together during the session.

Dear Colleagues,

Please note that there is an update to the University Holiday and Closings Schedule. The university will be closed on Friday, January 2, 2026. This closure will not impact clinical operations. All clinical operations will remain open.

Sincerely,

Vivian Fernández
Senior Vice President for Human Resources

Dear Colleagues,

As part of Rutgers University’s ongoing commitment to compliance with federal and state requirements, University Human Resources (UHR), in collaboration with the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA), has updated guidance regarding posting language for faculty and staff positions. The EEO statement in ROCS has been updated automatically on your behalf.

What You Need to Do

Update Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement on all Faculty and Staff postings outside of ROCS and locally saved recruitment materials for Rutgers University to reflect the following updated language:

Dear Rutgers Colleagues,

As a reminder, on February 4, 2019, Governor Murphy signed legislation that progressively raised the minimum wage in New Jersey. Effective January 1, 2026, the New Jersey minimum wage will increase to $15.92 per hour.

For individuals employed on January 1, 2026, no further action is required. UHR will continue its practice of automatically increasing all hourly employee salaries to the new minimum wage, effective January 1, 2026. For newly appointed hourly employees, including student workers, hiring units must ensure that appointments are processed with salaries at or above the new minimum wage.

Dear Rutgers Colleagues:

Rutgers Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, Lyra Health, is pleased to present the "Mental Health 101" workshop on December 8 at 10:00 a.m. To attend, please complete the registration form.

Dear Colleagues,

To meet federal requirements from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the Office of Employment Equity has developed a new Title VI training module as a supplement to the annual mandatory online non-discrimination training. This training is designed to help employees better understand and uphold their responsibilities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin, including shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics, in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.  All employees are expected to complete this mandatory module by December 31, 2025. It should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Dear Colleagues,

As a reminder, in-person Open Enrollment Benefit Fairs begin next week. Meet the UHR Benefits team, vendor representatives, and take advantage of the opportunity to receive a flu vaccine at an upcoming Benefits Fair* near you. Visit the Benefits Open Enrollment website for more information.

Benefit Fair Schedule:

New Brunswick

• October 14 (10 am – 3 pm) – College Avenue Student Center, Multipurpose Room
• October 16 (10 am – 3 pm) – Busch Campus Center, Multipurpose Room

Newark

Dear Colleagues,

I’m pleased to share that beginning November 1, Rutgers employees and their eligible household members will have access to a new Employee Assistance Program: Lyra Health. Lyra Health replaces current university employee assistance programs.

This new EAP reflects our commitment to supporting you, the people who make our university a thriving, innovative institution, one that delivers exceptional education, research, and health care. By investing in mental health support, we are empowering the very individuals who drive Rutgers’ excellence and help fulfill our mission across New Jersey and beyond.

Dear Colleagues,

This is a friendly reminder that the annual Open Enrollment period is currently underway and will conclude on Friday, October 31. Given the anticipated increases in health plan premiums, it is especially important to take time to review your benefit options. Please use the available resources to:

• Explore the various benefit plan options and provider networks
• Compare out-of-pocket costs and premium estimates
• Determine which health plan best meets your needs

This is your once-a-year opportunity to make changes to your benefits elections. Don’t miss the chance to ensure your selections align with your personal and financial needs for the upcoming year.

Dear Colleagues,

The 2026 Open Enrollment Period for the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and NJ Tax$ave Program runs from October 1, 2025, to October 31, 2025. This is your opportunity to review and adjust your medical, prescription, dental, and pre-tax flexible spending account choices for the upcoming year. The deadline for making modifications is October 31, 2025, with changes becoming effective on January 1, 2026.

Dear Rutgers Colleagues:

As part of our ongoing “Planning for the Future” education programming, we are pleased to announce the next series of webinars focused on Social Security and financial wellness. These webinars are intended to provide employees with the tools and education necessary to manage finances and help make the best financial decisions for themselves, their families, and their futures. Webinars are available to all Rutgers employees and are free of charge.

Dear Rutgers Colleagues,

This is to inform you that all flexible work arrangements under the current FlexWork@RU Pilot Program are set to expire on August 31, 2025.

In preparation for the implementation of the new Oracle HCM Cloud HR and Payroll system, we are automatically extending all existing flexible work arrangements through January 31, 2026. This extension ensures continuity and provides a bridge to the new system.

Looking ahead, a new FlexWork@RU application process will be launched in conjunction with the HCM Cloud implementation. Detailed instructions and training resources will be shared in advance of the system go-live to ensure a smooth transition.

We appreciate your attention to this update and your continued collaboration.

Dear Colleagues,

We’d like to inform you of an important update regarding retirement plan contributions. As of April 2025, the New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits has adopted a provision under Section 109 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. This change allows for increased catch-up contribution limits for voluntary savings plan participants who turn age 60 through 63 during the 2025 tax year.

What’s Changing?

Eligible employees participating in the following plans are eligible for higher contribution limits:

Dear Rutgers Colleagues:

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that President Holloway has authorized a salary improvement program for eligible non-aligned employees for fiscal year 2026 as detailed below. Regularly appointed non-aligned staff employees who are on the Rutgers payroll in an eligible non-aligned position as of June 30, 2025, and who continue in such a position through the date of payment of the salary increase are eligible to receive a 3.5% increase to their base annual salary effective July 1, 2025. This includes individuals in non-aligned positions designated as Executive/Administrative/Managerial.

The 3.5% increase to the base annual salary will be calculated using the June 30, 2025, base annual salary and will be in the paycheck dated July 4, 2025.