April HR Newsletter

Retiree Recognition Celebration on May 9!

We are excited to invite the Ithaca College Community to our Employee Retirement Celebration Reception to honor the dedication and commitment of our retirees to Ithaca College!

This year’s event, co-hosted by the Office of Human Resources and the Office of the President, will take place during the final Pop-up Pub of the 2024–2025 academic year:

Friday, May 9, 2025 | 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Dillingham Lobby, Ithaca College Campus

The reception will feature light hors d’oeuvres, cheese and crackers, and a cash bar featuring specialty cocktails, local wine and beer, and non-alcoholic beverages.

To round out the celebration, there will be a brief program to honor and recognize these amazing retirees, beginning at 4:30 p.m.:

• Stewart Auyash (Associate Professor, Health Sciences and Public Health)
• Colleen Barnes (Coordinator, Student Conduct and Community Standards)
• Gary Bartolis (Event Setup Technician, Facilities Setup and Events)
• Susan Bassett (Associate Vice President, Intercollegiate Athletics)
• Donald Beachler (Associate Professor, Politics)
• Warren Calderone (Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations)
• Julie Chambers (Administrative Assistant, Speech Language Pathology and Audiology)
• Cindy Clark (Senior Assistant Registrar, Registrar)
• Ben Crane (Associate Professor, Media Arts, Sciences and Studies)
• Craig Cummings (Professor, Music Theory, History Composition)
• Steven Gordon (Associate Professor, Media Arts, Sciences and Studies)
• Christine Haase (Administrative Assistant, Philosophy and Religion)
• Jon Hilton (Assistant Professor, Media Arts, Sciences and Studies)
• Becky Jordan (Operations Manager, Music)
• Ari Kissiloff (Assistant Professor, Strategic Communications)
• Paula Larsen (Administrative Assistant, Chemistry)
• Jeff Lippitt (Associate Professor, Accounting and Business Law)
• Larry Moore (Senior Cook, Dining Terraces)
• James Nichols (Head Coach, Intercollegiate Athletics)
• Charlie Sherman (Coordinator, Environmental Health and Safety)
• Susan Shutts (Director, Payroll & Student Employment)
• Michelle Stiles (Operations Assistant, Public Safety & Emergency Management)
• Mike Wainwright (Supervisor, Facilities Maintenance Structural)
• Stacia Zabusky (Associate Provost, Provost and Academic Affairs)
   

Please let us know if you plan to attend by filling out the RSVP form here. Your response by Friday, May 5, 2025, is appreciated to help us with event planning.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Laney Sodoma at lsodoma@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-8000. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.


 

Oracle Recruiting Cloud: In-Application Assistance for Creating Requisitions Is Now Here

The Office of Human Resources now offers an in-application tool in the Oracle Recruiting Cloud to help guide you while creating job requisitions. This tool provides step-by-step instructions for each section, whether you're recruiting employees or student employees. To use this tool, select the "Guide Me" button at the top of your page when you are creating your requisition. Further instructions can be found here.

Please note that this feature is optional and does not replace other training materials such as the Team Dynamix articles, which remain available with detailed instructions for each recruiting type.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our team via the HR Help Desk.

 

Complete Your Annual Performance Reviews by May 2!

The Annual Performance Review process—open since early March—is now in its final stretch. All reviews should be completed and one-on-one meetings held by Friday, May 2, 2025.

This is a key opportunity to recognize achievements, provide feedback, and set goals for the year ahead. Timely completion helps ensure consistent, supportive experience for all employees.

Have questions or need support? The Office of Human Resources is here to help.

TIAA Webinars

TIAA webinars offer participants an opportunity to gain additional knowledge and information on the tools available to assist in navigating the retirement landscape. The full year’s schedule of webinars and registration links can be found at www.tiaa.org/webinars2025.

Please see below for May’s webinars and click the link to register:

• May 7, 12:00 – 12:30 pm: How Can I Afford College for My Kids and Grandkids?
• May 15, 3:00 – 4:00 pm: Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Insights from the TIAA Institute

For questions related to the IC 403(b) Retirement Plan, employees can meet one on one or virtually with a representative from TIAA. Stephen Smith, TIAA Financial Consultant, attends the weekly Orientation session for new employees.

Stephen offers in person meetings at the Peggy Ryan Williams Center on most Mondays. To schedule an appointment to meet with Stephen, please contact via email or telephone at: SteSmith@tiaa.org or 607-274-6454. 



Educational Benefits

Dependents receiving tuition remission benefits should complete the student section of the form. The form will then be routed to the student’s parent/legal guardian for completion.  After the student and employee have completed the form, it is then routed to the Office of Human Resources for review.   

As a reminder, applications for dependent and employee tuition remission and/or cash awards for Fall 2025 will begin April 1, 2025. The deadline for tuition remission is July 15, 2025, and for cash awards, August 31, 2025. Please note, an application is required for each semester. Applications can be found at: https://www.ithaca.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits-wellness/family-friendly-wellness-benefits/educational-benefits.



Spuds and Budding Buds

Spring is here and so are the potatoes! Join the Center for Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for delicious baked potatoes, tots, and BBQ bites on May 6 in Emerson Suites. Invite and bring a new employee along to win a prize! Please RSVP using the link here. 


 

Staff Council Corner