The Benefits Expert Tip

Did you know… that you can get significant savings on eye exams, glasses, contacts and laser vision correction?  Check out this month’s “The Benefits Expert Tip!”.

Benefits Fair September 30th

Mark your calendars!  The annual USF Employee Benefits Fair will be held Tuesday September 30th.  State and other benefits providers will be available to talk individually with employees about their benefits.  Watch for this space for more information, coming soon.

Employee “Perks” & Discounts

Your USF Employee ID card is your ticket to fun and savings year ‘round with the Employee Perks Program  -- just one of many benefits offered at USF.  Faculty and staff can receive various discounts for goods, services and recreation.  Planning your summer vacation?  Check out discounts on theme parks, hotels and car rentals.  Get “connected” with phone and cable savings.  You’ll find discounts on auto club membership, car maintenance, flowers, vision care and more.   And be sure to visit Bulls Country for great discounts from our local Bulls Country community partners, including restaurants, shops, movies and local attractions.

Update Your Mailing Address for FRS Pension Plan

Do you participate in the FRS Pension Plan?  The Division of Retirement is preparing the 2008 Annual Statements for FRS Pension Plan participants.  Please review and update your mailing address on file with USF in order to ensure that you receive your statement. Your mailing address may be accessed through GEMS Self Service (click here for instructions).  There is a short on-line training that walks you through how to use GEMS Self Service here.  For questions contact an HR Benefits Representative at (813) 974-2970.

“Heart Walk” November 8, 2008

Plan now to join “Team USF” to walk and fight the #1 killer in the U.S. – heart disease.  Last year USF had 455 walkers and raised $35,000.  This year’s American Heart Association Heart Walk will be Saturday November 8th at Raymond James Stadium.  Expected attendance is 17,000 walkers.  Join your area’s team or organize a team of your own.  To learn more and register click here or call Judy Lowry, HR Communications, Programs & Events, (813) 974-5484.

USF Night with the Tampa Bay Rays August 2, 2008

Saturday August 2, 2008 is the inaugural USF Night with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, when the Rays will take on the Detroit Tigers. The game begins at 6:10 PM (gates open at 4:10 PM).  Free post-game concert with Grammy Award winning Hip Hop Artist LL Cool J.  USF Men’s Basketball Coach Stan Heath will throw out the first pitch.  There will be special appearance by USF icons, and a B.J. Upton figurine to the first 10,000 fans.  Discount tickets start at $14.  Baseline box tickets are $25 and include a limited edition Rays hat with USF logo (while supplies last).  Groups of 20 or more receive additional discounts and perks.  Join USF faculty, staff, alumni and students for this one-of-a-kind event!  Event information is here.  To order tickets click here or call 1-888-FAN-RAYS.

Using the eUSF Portal to Access GEMS Self Service

As a USF employee, you can use GEMS Self Service to print your paycheck, request leave, review your benefits, update your address and personal information, etc. 

The eUSF Portal is a more secure port of entry into GEMS Self Service (and other USF business systems).  All regular line employees have access to the eUSF Portal.

In the past employees have used their GEMS ID to log into GEMS Self Service.  The University is in the process of shifting all employees from that old way to the new way -- accessing GEMS Self Service via the eUSF Portal.  If you are not yet using the portal, follow the instructions below to get started.

You can access the eUSF Portal on or off campus.  You can set it up to automatically log you in using your regular computer ID and password, so you won’t need separate passwords for different applications. 

How to get started:

You’ll find the link to the eUSF Portal throughout the USF website.  For example, on the “A-Z Index” the Portal link is just above the “Search” box.

Step by step instructions, links, frequently asked questions and help are on the ePortal homepage here.  There is a short on-line training that walks you through it here.   

To log in:  click on the eUSF Portal link and log in using your “domain name\regular computer ID” and “regular computer password” in this format:

USERID:  domainname\jsmith

PASSWORD:  enter your regular computer password

Don't know your domain name?  Click here for a list of most USF domain names.  Still can’t find it?  Email helpdesk@admin.usf.edu.

Set up automatic access to the Portal by following the step-by-step instructions here.

Need more help?  Email helpdesk@admin.usf.edu.