In This Issue:
- Student Accounts Receivable Collaborates With Other Offices to Aid Students During COVID-19
- Payroll Services Works with Human Resources on Transition to Updated Benefits Portal
- Microsoft Teams as a Communication Tool During Social Distancing
- In Case You Missed It: Updated Office Hours for Accounting and Financial Management
- Submit Newsletter Feedback and Article Suggestions to AFM@austin.utexas.edu
Student Accounts Receivable Collaborates With Other Offices to Aid Students During COVID-19
As the University continues to deal with the effects of COVID-19, Student Accounts Receivable has increased efforts to help students during this time. Recent changes include ignoring all financial bars to allow students to register for summer and fall 2020 semesters, reducing the interest of student loans initiated in spring of 2020 to zero percent and facilitating the process of CARES Act and Student Emergency Services payments going directly to students.
“Student Accounts Receivable has collaborated with eBITS and Academic Information Services to streamline processes to better serve our students during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Hodges Mitchell II, director of Student Accounts Receivable. “Additionally, Students Accounts Receivable seamlessly transitioned to remote operations while continuing to provide excellent customer service.”
Student Accounts Receivables also continues to work alongside Texas One Stop which is tentatively scheduled to finish construction of its home office in room 1 of the Main Building by June. For more information on Student Accounts Receivable’s remote operations and contact information, please visit https://financials.utexas.edu/sar-coronavirus.
Payroll Services Works with Human Resources on Transition to Updated Benefits Portal
The My UT Benefits portal, which is managed by the UT System Office of Employee Benefits, was recently updated with a new look and additional features. Insurance coverage for employees will no longer be viewable in Workday, and has been relocated to the benefits portal. Payroll Services and Human Resources will continue to work together to ensure insurance is applied correctly with this transition.
This transition does not impact the retirement plans which continue to be viewable in Workday. To make enrollment changes in the voluntary retirement plans, please visit UT Retirement Manager.
To learn more about the new My UT Benefits portal, please visit https://hr.utexas.edu/current/insurance/new-my-ut-benefits. For more information on retirement and insurance deductions, please visit https://payroll.utexas.edu/payroll-info#retirement.
Microsoft Teams as a Communication Tool During Social Distancing
As we continue to work from home during social distancing, we would like to remind everyone that Accounting and Financial Management is available via Microsoft Teams during this time. Microsoft Teams is not only a great way to quickly chat and engage with your co-workers, but can also be used to share and collaborate on files when in-person communication isn’t possible.
If you aren’t familiar with how to use Microsoft Teams or need a refresher, the University has a guide on how to get started. LinkedIn Learning, which is free and accessible to all University employees, also has a detailed Microsoft Teams tutorial available to watch.
In Case You Missed It: Updated Office Hours for Accounting and Financial Management
The Accounting and Financial Management portfolio has updated its office hours. Read the previous newsletter to learn more about this.
Submit Newsletter Feedback and Article Suggestions to AFM@austin.utexas.edu
Many thanks to the readers who have written in with suggestions and feedback about the newsletter. Please continue to write in with any suggestions for improvements or comments to the AFM@austin.utexas.edu email address.