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News Link –Oct. 15, 2009
Oct. 30 Is Deadline to Change Your Employee Benefits for 2010
Open/Switch Enrollment Period for Benefits Under Way – Changes Effective January 2010
Open enrollment for vision and dental insurance and switching enrollment for medical and dental insurance is under way. To submit changes please contact your Human Resources Technician to schedule an appointment. The last day to enroll or switch enrollment for the 2010 plan year is October 30. The effective date for these changes will be January 1, 2010. If you have questions regarding benefits, contact Human Resources at Ext. 4600.
CNM’s Cafeteria Plan Can Save Some Employees Hundreds on Taxes in 2010
By joining CNM’s Cafeteria Plan (Flexible Spending Account), you can guarantee tax savings for yourself, and therefore put more money into your own pocket. Your payroll taxes are calculated at about 25 percent of your pay. When you put some of your salary into the Cafeteria Plan, that 25 percent goes back to your pocket instead of to taxes like federal and state taxes, Medicare, and Social Security. How much would you save?
If you defer this amount: Your pocket receives approximately this:
$2,500 $625
$2,000 $500
$1,500 $375
$1,000 $250
$500 $125
- You can be reimbursed through the Cafeteria Plan for expenses that aren’t covered by your health plan, along with other out-of pocket expenses like co-pays, prescription costs, and over-the counter medications.
- If you have children in day care, you can pay for day care expenses this way and save lots of money in taxes.
- Deductions for this plan are taken from your paycheck before taxes are taken out and deposited into an account for you. Then you submit receipts for these expenses. The plan reimburses twice each month.
Since 2009, a local firm, The Cafeteria Plan Company, was hired by CNM to administer the plan and will continue to do so for year 2010. Note that the deadline for enrollment is close of business on Friday, October 30, 2009. If you have questions, contact The Cafeteria Plan Company at 505-822-9300 and ask for Dionne Wright. You may also contact Ms. Wright via email at dwright@rsabq.com. Or call CNM Human Resources at Ext. 4600.
Consider Donating to CNM’s Leading the Way Campaign
The CNM Foundation has officially kicked off this year’s “Leading the Way” employee giving campaign. Leading the Way gives employees the opportunity to make a donation to the charity of their choice, local or national, or to a CNM program or scholarship through the CNM Foundation. The donation can be payroll deducted and spread evenly across a year of paychecks. Your donation is tax deductible. With a minimum donation of $1 per pay period, or $24 for the year, you will receive a free camping chair. For the upcoming week, there will be sign-up tables at the following times and locations:
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Thursday, Oct. 15 |
1:00pm-3:00pm |
MS Breeze Way |
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Friday, Oct. 16 |
9:00am-11:00am |
Montoya Campus Food Court |
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Monday, Oct. 19 |
9:00am-11:00am |
SVC |
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Wednesday, Oct. 21 |
5:00pm-7:00pm |
SVC |
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Wednesday, Oct. 21 |
1:00pm-3:00pm |
WSC Rotunda |
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Thursday, Oct. 22 |
9:00am-11:00am |
Max Salazar 5th Floor |
For the complete sign-up table schedule, click here. For more info, call the Foundation at Ext. 4685.
Cookie Gram Campaign Also Under Way
In conjunction with the Leading the Way campaign, the Leading the Way team is also organizing the popular “Cookie Gram” campaign. You can purchase a half-dozen cookies for $5 or a dozen cookies for $10 and have them delivered to one of your favorite co-workers. Funds from the cookies will go to the Rust Opportunity Assistance Fund, which provides emergency assistance to students in need. For more info, call a committee member: Chris Cavazos (AACD) Ext. 5315; Julie Avitia (SVC) Ext. 5010; David Martinez (Purchasing) Ext. 4530; Pam Nicolary (WTC) Ext. 5260; Merlene Rueda (ITS) Ext. 3027.
Don’t Take the Bait – October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month
October is designated as National Cyber Security Awareness Month to bring attention to the importance of protecting yourself, your family and your organization from online crime. All the members of the CNM community are encouraged to learn more about cyber security and put that knowledge into practice in their homes and at CNM. To learn more about how to avoid getting hooked by fraudulent online activities, please click here.
Learn About ‘How War Injuries Affect Your Veteran Students’
CNM’s Student Services Veterans Task Team will sponsor a workshop titled “How War Injuries Affect Your Veteran Students” on Oct. 23 from 9-11 a.m. in Jeannette Stromberg Hall, Room 311. Representatives from the department of neuropsychology at the Veterans Affairs (V.A.) Hospital in Albuquerque and the Women’s Stress Disorder Treatment Team will address how the common injuries and affects of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, may affect veteran students at CNM and how CNM can support these students’ success in the classroom. Refreshments will be served. Faculty, staff, students and the general public are welcome. For more info, call Ext. 3000.
Opportunities in Education, Social Work Topics of Next ‘Careers in Uncertain Times’
The next forum in a series on ‘Careers in Uncertain Times’ will focus on opportunities in the fields of education and social work. Erica Volkers, CNM’s director of Education Programs, will be the presenter for the forums that will take place on: Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to noon on Main Campus in the Student Services Center, Room 203; and on Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to noon at Montoya Campus in Tom Wiley Hall, Room 204. For more info, call Ext. 3000.
Reps from D.C.’s Hispanic Caucus Institute on Campus Monday to Inform Students on Work, Scholarship Opportunities
Representatives from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, which is based in Washington, D.C., will be on Main Campus on Monday (Oct. 19) at the Student Services Center, Room 205, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. to inform students about how to apply for 2010 internships, fellowships and scholarships. The organization is recruiting Hispanic students for its nationally recognized leadership development programs and scholarships. The internship provides college students with the work placement opportunities on Capitol Hill to learn about the country’s legislative processes. Click here for more info or call CNM’s Job Connection Center at Ext. 3060.
NMERB Pre-Retirement Seminars Scheduled
The New Mexico Educational Retirement Board will be conducting pre-retirement seminars over the next several months. Here are the two seminars:
n Retirement 101 – Your Educational Retirement Benefits. It covers your retirement benefits and helps you to make wise decisions considering those benefits. It is presented in 2 ½ hours on a weekday evening, typically from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
n Retirement 201- Getting Your Ducks in a Row. In addition to the Retirement 101 contents, includes information about Social Security, New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority benefits, the New You – Aging Well, Estate Planning, and Financial Planning in Retirement. It is presented on Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 12:30.
Retirement 101 Retirement 201
October 20 APS Board Room
November 17 Rio Rancho January 9 CNM Workforce Training Center
February 23 APS Board Room
March 24 Los Lunas May 1 CNM Workforce Training Center
For more information and to register go to www.nmerb.org
Help CNM Build Green Momentum – Keep Your Personal Appliances at Home
Please leave personal appliances at home. The CNM Sustainability Team, in concert with CNM”s Budget Reduction Plan, is requesting that, effective immediately, no additional personal appliances be brought to the CNM campus. Please leave coffee machines, microwaves, small refrigerators, etc. at home and use the appliances already on campus. Many small appliances use significant amounts of energy. Please help CNM reduce its energy usage and costs.
Flu Hotline, Web Page Available to Monitor Flu Developments and Provide Information
With the flu season at hand, CNM has enacted a Flu Hotline at 224-3FLU (3358) that will provide information for those who might feel ill. It will also help the college monitor any potential outbreaks of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) and it will enable CNM to provide updates in the event that there are large numbers of students or employees absent. There is also a CNM web page, where you can access a variety of information, including frequently asked questions and links to the CDC and New Mexico Department of Health sites.
Student Success Workshops Set for Fall Term
CNM is offering several student success workshops for the fall term. These workshops are available to all CNM students, faculty and staff. Space is limited. To RSVP or for more info, call the TRiO office at 224-4375 or e-mail wsmoker@cnm.edu. The workshops are:
Friday, October 30 Money and Budget Management 10:00 to 11:30 SSC Cafeteria
Friday, Nov 13 Student to Student Q & A 10-11:30 SSC 102
Friday, Nov. 20 Career Exploration 1:30-3:00 SSC 203
WTC Offering Social Networking and Spanish Language Accelerator Training
WTC’s Social Networking for Business and Professionals will encompass the use of social networking for business purposes, focusing on social networking philosophies, tools and activities for business or professional gains. The class will be held on Oct. 20 and Oct. 22 from 3-7 p.m. The WTC is also holding a Language Academy/Language Accelerator-Spanish course on Oct. 26 and Nov. 16 from 5-8 p.m. For more info, call the WTC at Ext. 5200 or view their course offerings by clicking here.
Need to Know Your Current Budget Status?
Budget status reports are now available for everyone to obtain through the Argos report writer. You can now access your current budget status in real time, or your budget status as of a particular month, or even for past years. The Office of Planning, Budget and Institutional Research is offering a one-hour training session on how to print your budget status reports in Argos. Anyone may attend, but we encourage those responsible for obtaining budget information for your department to sign up as soon as possible. Please contact Jessica Forbes at ext 3450 or jforbes@cnm.edu. The next training will be held on Oct. 21 from 2-3 p.m. in S-21 on Main Campus.
Seasonal Flu Shots Available from Student Health Center
Students, staff and faculty can get a traditional seasonal flu shot at the Student Health Center for a cost of $12. The Student Health Center is located on Main Campus in the Student Services Center, Room 206. The site is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The flu shots will be made available at the South Valley Campus on Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dates will also be scheduled for Montoya and Westside campuses. The H1N1 vaccine is not yet available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Calendar
Save the Date for School to World Event
The annual School to World event will be held on Feb. 27, 2010, at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Mark your calendars if you plan to participate. For more info, call Ext. 4673.
News Link is a weekly e-newsletter provided by the Marketing and Communications Office for CNM faculty and staff. To submit an item for inclusion, please e-mail theMarketing and Communications Office. Please include “News Link” in the subject line of the e-mail. The deadline for News Link is 3 p.m. Wednesdays.
