Department of Political Science

Political Science
1414 Social Sciences Building
267 19th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Phone: 612-624-4144
Fax: 612-626-7599
E-mail: polisci@umn.edu

Chair: Raymond D. Duvall

Paychecks, Benefits, and Other Important Stuff

A. Paychecks

Everyone is paid on a biweekly basis, regardless of his/her appointment status. If you do not have direct deposit, paychecks are usually available after 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday mornings designated as paydays. To view paystubs, go to https://hrss.umn.edu . All staff have "A"-type (12-month) appointments and receive a paycheck every two weeks. Faculty who elect to have their nine-month salary distributed over twelve months also receive a paycheck every two weeks. New faculty with "B" (9-month) appointments are eligible for "9-over-12" benefits, but they cannot be paid until the beginning of the academic year at which time they will receive a "catch-up" check containing retroactive pay from the beginning of the fiscal year. New faculty and faculty changing their nine-month pay to "9-over-12" must complete a "Memorandum of Agreement" form and turn it in to the accountant

There are 19.5 pay periods for faculty who do not elect the "9-over-12" pay option. All questions relating to wages and appointments should be directed to the accountant. For questions relating to benefits, contact Employee Benefits at 624-9090. For questions relating to payroll deductions, contact Central Payroll at 624-4585.

B. Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals cannot be paid without the proper visa (F-1, J-1 or H-1) and social security number. All new employees who do not possess a social security card, are asked to bring their visa, passport and I94 card to the fifth floor of the West Bank Office Building. You will complete an I-9 form and directed to the nearest Social Security Office to complete a request for a social security number. It is the employee's responsibility to renew his/her visa. If your visa expires, all payments will be suspended until it is renewed.

Foreign nationals are also required to file a tax return at the end of the calendar year. You will receive a W-2 or 1042S statement from central payroll which will include payroll and tax information necessary to complete your return. For more information, contact Central Payroll at 624-4585.

C. Overpayments and Underpayments

If an employee receives a paycheck he/she is not entitled to or is overpaid, notify the accountant immediately. Individuals will be held responsible for repaying the amount overpaid either through reductions in future earnings or with a personal check made payable to the "University of Minnesota." Conversely, if an employee has been underpaid or does not receive a paycheck at all, notify the accountant immediately. If the error is the fault of the accounting office, a contingent check will be issued. If the error is the fault of the employee, back-pay will be included on a subsequent paycheck.

D. Change of Address

Please remember to notify the accounting office and Student Support Services Assistant of changes in your address, phone number, etc. You can make changes online at the University's website, but the department maintains a database containing information which is used to process reimbursements and other documents. If our information is not current, your checks and other information could be lost in the mail.

E. Summer Salary

If you are supposed to be paid summer salary, please notify the Accountant a minimum of one month prior to the end of spring semester. You will need to specify the amount (one-ninth, two-ninths or the amount specified in your grant for those being paid from sponsored accounts) and the account from which the expense is to be paid.

F. Benefits

The University sponsors numerous new employee orientation sessions. Please go to the University's homepage . Click " One-Stop " and then " Employee Self-Service " for information regarding the next scheduled session.

Employees new to the University receive a benefit packet which contains information and application forms relating to various benefit programs available for individuals with appointments which are seventy-five percent (75%) or greater. There is an "Open Enrollment" period every year for employees who want to change their health service provider. It usually takes place in October or November. You will receive information from Employee Benefits relating to how and when you can make changes in your health coverage. Once you select a health plan, you cannot make any changes until the next Open Enrollment period. A limited number of catalogs from various health and dental service providers are located in the cupboards in the area outside the accounting office. Please return them immediately following their use so that they are available to other employees.

Civil service employees must complete an "absence form" whenever they are absent from work. Please ask the accountant for the form.

G. Book Orders

The Principal Secretary, Angeline Fugelso, needs to be notified as soon as possible regarding orders for course-related books. Please do not wait until the "last minute" to place book orders. The bookstore might not have the book in stock and it will have to be ordered from an outside vendor which will cause a significant delay.

H. E-mail

Be sure to contact the Computer Network Supervisor about establishing an email account for you if he/she has not already done so. He can be reached at 4-6322. The University produces several publications which are placed in your mailbox or available at newsstands located throughout the campus. However, most of the information relating to changes in University policies and notices regarding upcoming events are communicated through email.

I. Off-Campus Use of University Equpiment

Any employee removing equipment which was purchased with University or sponsored funds must receive prior approval from the department administrator. If it is for an extended period of time, you must complete an "Off-Campus Property Disposal" form.

There are four (4) bins located on the office door of the accounting office. They contain the various forms which should be used to acquire reimbursement for travel and other expenses relating to your research and/or teaching. The fourth bin contains requisition forms for undergraduate research and teaching assistants. Please read these forms before you complete them to make sure the receipts represent allowable expenses. If you are unsure whether or not something is allowable, please contact the accountant. This will avoid any unpleasant surprises.