Vol 10. Issue 32 / November 1, 2010

In Brief

Career Seminar Series: "Career Transitions Workshop"
A three-session group workshop on career transitions, facilitated by Daphne Lurie of Scripps Research Counseling and Psychological Services and Ryan Wheeler of Career and Postdoctoral Services, can help you think through the decision of whether an academic career or other career options may be best for you. In a confidential small group environment, participants will discuss how knowing your values, interests, skills, and goals can help you take your next step. Participants must register and commit to all three sessions, which will be held on: Wednesday, November 3, 10, and 17, from 3 – 4:30 PM. To participate, sign up at the following web page: http://hris.scripps.edu/training/course/11 (click on "view dates and times").

Open Enrollment Continues Until Friday, November 5
Open Enrollment runs through Friday, November 5, at 5 PM Pacific time. This is the annual opportunity for participants to make changes to their Scripps Research benefit selections and, if eligible, enroll or re-enroll in the Healthcare and/or Dependent Care Spending Accounts for the 2011 plan year. Open Enrollment materials were e-mailed out to all participants on October 11. The Open Enrollment information booklet can be viewed at http://www.scripps.edu/hr/benefits/open_enrollment/information.html.

Changes to the benefit plans for next year are minimal, but include the following: child dependents up to age 26 will be eligible for medical and vision coverage regardless of student status, lifetime limits on the total payouts for the PPO Plans will be eliminated, and pre-existing limitations for covered children under the age of 19 will be lifted. These and other important changes were outlined in the News&Views article "Open Enrollment News." In addition, informative Open Enrollment meetings will take place on both campuses over the next few weeks; see the Open Enrollment Calendar of Events for California and Florida.

ONLINE ACCESSIBILITY AND TRAVEL DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT

The online system is accessible from any computer with Internet access whether it is a work, home, or other computer. Even if you're traveling during Open Enrollment, if you have Internet access you'll be able to log on to review and make changes to your benefits. However, if you will be traveling during the two weeks of Open Enrollment and will not have Internet access, please be sure to contact Human Resources to make arrangements to complete a hard copy enrollment form. If you do not make changes through the online system between October 25 and November 5 or make arrangements in advance to complete a hard copy, you will not be allowed to make any changes to your benefits (including enrolling in the health care and dependent care spending accounts) for the 2011 plan year unless you have a qualified status change at a later date. There will be computer kiosks available for use in Human Resources for anyone who does not have Internet access at work or at home.

Participants with questions regarding Open Enrollment should contact Benefits Administration at x4-8487 or benefits@scripps.edu.

Worldview Travel to Provide Service for Scripps Research
Procurement is pleased to announce that Worldview Travel (WVT) has been selected as the new travel services provider for Scripps Research, effective Monday, November 1. With WVT, employees have the option to select direct billing for business travel, and those employees who prefer to use their personal credit cards for rewards can still choose to do so.

Some additional benefits of WVT include:

  • Ongoing travel support
  • Access to a custom web portal for booking travel with access to negotiated rates and discounts on airfare, hotels, and rental cars
  • A 24/7 customer service desk and after hours support
  • Executive desk and VIP support
  • Optional traveler alerts and custom notifications
  • Unused ticket management

In addition, Scripps Research will now benefit from:

  • Reduced booking fees for agent-assisted travel through WVT
  • An improved online booking system, Reardon Personal Assistant
  • Reardon Mobile, a smart phone application similar to Trip It (optional)

If you are currently registered in Cliqbook, you have automatically been registered in Reardon Personal Assistant, WVT's custom web portal for online booking. You will receive your activation e-mail from Worldview Travel on November 1, 2010 at 9 AM, Pacific time. If the e-mail ends up in your junk folder, move it to your inbox prior to opening. The tool will walk you through the registration process. You will need to update your traveler profile. There have been recent changes in the security laws and now is a good time to ensure your information is correct. Please check or add the following information in your profile:

  • Verify that your name in your profile matches exactly your form of identification per the new TSA regulations
  • Verify your business address and phone number
  • Put in your birth date and gender
  • Your department code should be named using the LAST NAME of the SCIENTIST heading your project (ie: Smith )
  • Put in a personal credit card for hotel guarantees and flights if desired. Direct Bill will be an option in the booking tool.
  • Put in your air, car, and hotel membership numbers
  • In the Travel Preferences pages, under "View Price Results By," change from Segment to Trip

If you are not currently registered in Cliqbook and would like to register on the new web portal, follow this link to register: https://scripps.reardencommerce.com. Click on the link "Create a New Account". Complete instructions for first-time users will be posted on Procurement's web page in the Travel section.

Please note that Cliqbook will no longer be available after October 31, 2010.

Training sessions have been set up for La Jolla employees that are interested in learning more about WVT's Reardon Personal Assistant. They will take place on Monday, November 1, at 10 AM in MEM IEP (Podium Side) and 2 PM in the Beckman Amphitheater; and Thursday, November 4, at 10 AM in CIMBIO CB107 and 2 PM in the Beckman Amphitheater.

Contact Sandy Dierdorff, associate director of procurement, x4-9717 or sandyd@scripps.edu, with questions or comments.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu