Good afternoon! In today’s newsletter, Open Enrollment and Annual Required Training are underway, Ombuds Tessa Byer provides the latest insights from the Ombuds Office, Compliance and Ethics Week starts October 20-24, and more.
This year’s Annual Required Training launched September 30 and covers two essential areas:
Information Security Awareness (ISA)
Conflict of Interest (COI), including disclosure if applicable
The 2025 annual required training modules are accessible through Tiger Training on September 30, 2025, with a due date of November 18, 2025. The COI and ISA modules will again feature shorter versions for those employees who previously completed training. Faculty and staff will be presented with a knowledge check in both modules. If they pass the knowledge check, they will not be required to take the remaining course content.
Additional resources are available to support your training:
The annual insurance open enrollment period is now underway through October 31! During open enrollment, eligible employees can enroll in or make changes to insurance coverage to take effect January 1, 2026.
The Open Enrollment deadline is October 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
The South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA) is the state agency responsible for administering and managing the state’s insurance programs for South Carolina’s public workforce. PEBA’s 2026 Insurance Summary (PDF) is a helpful resource for detailed information about open enrollment options.
Where to Begin
Eligible faculty and staff should review their insurance elections and benefit deductions annually, even if they don’t plan to make changes.
Use PEBA’s Open Enrollment Worksheet (PDF) to review and plan your coverage. Find more information about election options on the 2025 Open Enrollment webpage.
Verify current benefit deductions by accessing your paycheck through Employee Self-Service.
If you are satisfied with your current insurance elections and want them to continue in 2026, you don’t need to make any changes during Open Enrollment, unless you wish to continue your MoneyPlus flexible spending account. Medical Spending Account (MSA), Limited Medical Spending Account (LMSA) and Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA) participants must re-enroll each year using the instructions below.
More information about insurance options and how to make open enrollment elections is available on the 2025 Open Enrollment Webpage.
CU Grow, Clemson’s professional development program for staff, is now accepting applications for its 2026 cohort! The year-long program offers full-time employees a unique opportunity to deepen leadership capabilities, strengthen workplace relationships and gain valuable career insights — all while building Clemson’s commitment to excellence and service.
Participants are selected in late Fall and begin the program in January. The year-long curriculum includes workshops, skills development, and experiential learning, intended to create opportunities for transformational growth.
Interest Sessions
The Office of Human Resources will offer several virtual interest sessions throughout the summer and early fall to answer common questions about CU Grow. Interested individuals may register for a session through Tiger Training. Attendance is not required for acceptance into the program.
Application Details
CU Grow is open to all full-time staff members with at least three years of Clemson service and performance ratings of “successful” or higher.
Applicants must complete the staff application form and request their supervisor complete the supervisor approval form. An optional letter of recommendation from a colleague or supervisor may also be submitted. The deadline to apply is September 30.
Application details and more information about the program are available on the CU Grow website.
Learn More about SC Deferred Compensation with Empower
Empower, the provider of South Carolina’s Deferred Compensation program, is offering monthly webinars to guide state employees through understanding and enrolling in Deferred Compensation plans.
These programs allow employees to set aside money, either pre- or post-tax, to fund retirement accounts like 401(k) or 457(b) plans.
The hour-long session is open to all benefits-eligible employees and will include an overview of plan options, enrollment steps and a live Q&A session, giving attendees the chance to explore their options and ask questions.
The next webinar is Monday, August 25, from 9 – 10 a.m. via Microsoft Teams. Registration is required, and spaces are limited for each session. Interested employees should register in this calendar entry.
Navigating Your Retirement Fall Schedule announced
The Office of Human Resources is hosting three “Navigating Your Retirement” sessions this fall, designed to support faculty and staff preparing to retire within the next three to 12 months.
These hands-on group sessions walk participants through the steps of the retirement process, outlining employee responsibilities and University protocols. Sessions will be held virtually from 3 – 4:30 p.m. on the following dates.
Good afternoon! In this month’s newsletter, Staff Senate extends a huge thank you to the participants and sponsors who helped Staff Senate Golf Tournament a great success. The Office of Human Resources is offering a session to learn about the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program. This month’s newsletter also highlights the various resources offered by Campus Recreation enhance overall well-being, Green Zone Training and more.
Beginning in June, Empower, the state’s Deferred Compensation provider, will host a monthly webinar to guide state employees through plan highlights and enrollment details.
Deferred Compensation allows employees to set aside an amount of their choosing, either pre- or post-tax, to fund retirement accounts like 401(k) or 457(b) plans.
The sessions are open to all benefits-eligible employees and will cover the basics of both the 401(k) and 457(b) retirement plans available through the Deferred Compensation Program. The hour-long session will have a 30–45-minute presentation followed by a Q&A, giving attendees the chance to explore their options and ask questions.
Other key points of the session will include:
How to enroll
Differences and benefits of pre-tax or post-tax contributions
Managing investment choices
Contribution limits
Catch-up provisions
The first session will take place on Monday, June 23 at 9:00 a.m. via Microsoft Teams.
Registration is required, and spaces are limited for each session. Interested employees should register using this registration link.
It is time again to celebrate the thousands of faculty and staff members who make Clemson truly special.
The annual Employee Appreciation Luncheons bring together team members from across the University for an afternoon of celebration and recognition.
Main Campus Luncheon
The main campus luncheon will take place on Wednesday, May 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Dish at McAlister Dining Hall. The Office of Human Resources plans the event with support from Clemson Home.
The event is free to all Clemson employees and features a buffet-style lunch including barbecue, hot dogs, veggie burgers, coleslaw, salads and more!
Employees should bring their CUIDs to enter the dining hall.
Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health will host a luncheon for employees in their office (500 Clemson Road, Columbia) on Wednesday, May 14, at 11:30 a.m.
Charleston Innovation Campus
The Charleston Innovation Campus, consisting of the Zucker Family Graduate Education Center, the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, and the Dominion Energy Innovation Center, will host a luncheon at the Graduate Education Center (1240 Supply Street, North Charleston) on May 7.
To streamline the new hire process and support departments across campus, the Office of Human Resources has transitioned to electronic I-9 forms through PeopleSoft for newly hired faculty, staff and students.
Federal law requires all new hires verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States by completing the I-9 form by their third day of employment. Completing the form electronically maintains the privacy of personal information, enables digital record-keeping, reduces errors and allows for faster processing.
Moving forward, employees should be directed to complete Section 1 of the I-9 form through Employee Self-Service. A Tiger Training module is available to walk employees through the necessary steps. Employees cannot complete the form until their hire is entered in PeopleSoft.
Once submitted, the appropriate Clemson representative who reviewed the employee’s identification documents should review the form and complete Section 2 in PeopleSoft. A Tiger Training module for University representatives is also available for those reviewing the form and the employee’s documentation.
International employees cannot use the electronic I-9 form and must complete a paper form with the International Employment Unit during the hiring approval process. Refer to the International Employee Hiring Instructions for more details.
Are you thinking about retirement but don’t know where to start?
“Navigating Your Retirement” is a hands-on group session designed for faculty and staff who plan to retire within three months to a year. The course covers how to begin the retirement process, an employee’s role and responsibilities, and the required steps to retire from Clemson University.
Sessions are hosted by the Office of Human Resources’ Workforce Benefits and Well-Being Unit, with in-person and online courses available. All sessions are from 3 – 4:30 p.m. Interested participants should register through Tiger Training.
In-Person Sessions
Thursday, March 13
Thursday, April 17
Virtual Sessions
Wednesday, March 19
Thursday, May 22
Summer and Fall session dates and availability will be released at a later date.
Questions?
PEBA offers appointments for one-hour phone consultations and one-hour video consultations. Faculty and staff can schedule an appointment online or learn more on PEBA’s website.
Supervising for Success
The Supervising for Success training series has been paused while OHR trains new instructors and updates training materials. The program is expected to relaunch in the fall of 2025. Tiger Training has updated the training modules’ due date for individuals currently enrolled in the program.
New supervisors are still required to complete the New Supervisor Orientation and Kronos Training courses in Tiger Training within 30 days of their transition to their new role.
New Employee Orientation
New Faculty and Staff Orientation will now be held once per month to reflect the needs of the University community. Sessions will be held every third Tuesday. New employees or supervisors looking to enroll new hires should visit Tiger Training to find a suitable session.
Ready to retire? Human Resources offers in-person “Navigating Your Retirement” course for those approaching retirement
Navigating Your Retirement is a group educational session designed to help employees identify where to begin the retirement process, understand their roles and responsibilities, and maximize the benefits offered by the State of South Carolina. These sessions will be most beneficial to those planning to retire within three months to a year. Sessions will be held monthly in the training room of the Administrative Services Building and registration online via Tiger Training is required.
Heart Health during Heart Month!
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for in the United States – but with the State Health Plan, you can take steps to prioritize heart health! Hello Heart is an easy-to-use program that helps you track, understand and manage your heart health from the privacy of your own phone. The Hello Heart program is offered at no cost to eligible State Health Plan primary members ages 18 and older. Participants will receive a free blood pressure monitor that connects to an app on their smartphone to help monitor and understand their heart health.
W-2s available online; paper forms mailed Jan. 31
Electronic W-2s are now available online for all active Clemson employees. W-2s can be accessed through Employee Self-Service under the Payroll and Compensation tile.
Payroll mailed paper W-2s to employees who did not consent to receive their form electronically on January 31.
Click on the View W-2/W-2c Forms tab on the left-hand side.
Select View Form to generate a secure PDF of your W-2. You may experience a slight delay while your W-2 loads.
If you have trouble accessing your W-2 online, make sure your browser allows pop-ups. For further assistance, contact the CCIT Support Center.
Individuals who separated from Clemson University will no longer have access to the online system. W-2s will be mailed to employees who have separated from the University and those who did not consent to receive their form electronically.
For more information about W-2s, please visit the W-2 Information page on the Payroll website.
1095-C Forms will be prepared and available in Employee Self-Service no later than March 1. Paper copies will be mailed to individuals who did not consent to receive their documents electronically.
As 2024 comes to a close, take advantage of these tips from the Office of Human Resources to make the most of your employee benefits before the year ends.
1. Donate unused annual leave and sick leave
Eligible employees can carry over a maximum of 45 days of annual leave and 180 days of sick leave from one calendar year to the next. If you have annual leave and/or sick leave accruals over these limits that you anticipate will be forfeited, take a minute to donate them to the Leave Transfer Program by December 31. Please keep in mind that annual and sick leave donations cannot exceed half of what you accrue in a year. Donations can be made to the general leave pool or to an individual faculty or staff member currently in an approved leave status such as FMLA or Extended Leave and eligible to participate.
2. Use State Vision Plan allowances
Employees enrolled in the State Vision Plan have access to a $150 annual allowance for glasses frames or a $130 allowance for contact lenses (in lieu of frames) each calendar year. Contact EyeMed (877-735-9314) to learn more or to find an in-network eye doctor. The state vision plan utilizes the “Select” network.
3. Sign up for an electronic W-2 and 1095-C
To make tax preparation easier and avoid the waste and cost of paper documents, active employees can elect to receive their W-2 and 1095-C forms electronically instead of by mail. Sign up or change your preference through Employee Self-Service by selecting “Tax Documents.”
4. Review options for your Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA) funds
If you have remaining funds in your Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA), submit claims for eligible expenses incurred from January 1, 2024, through March 15, 2025. Participating employees will forfeit any funds left in their account after the reimbursement deadline. Claims can be submitted through ASIFlex online or by using a claim form. The deadline to submit reimbursement claims is March 31, 2025.
5. Review options for your Medical Spending Account (MSA) funds
If you have remaining funds in your MSA, you can submit claims for eligible expenses incurred in 2024 through ASIFlex online or by using a claim form. The deadline to submit your claim for your 2024 expenses is March 31, 2025.
You can carry over up to $640 of unused funds from your account into 2025. Any funds left over in your account after the reimbursement deadline will be forfeited.