• The annual, administrative reporting requirements and why they are necessary.
• Information and discussion about the certifying signature’s role in the transaction approval process.


• Complete team-building exercises on ethical conduct and fraud in the university environment.

What is the Understanding UH Business seminar and why is it important?
Understanding UH Business is a six-week seminar, which provides explanations to the key business transactions and processes at the university. Have you ever wondered the following when processing a transaction?

• Why can’t I just use any account as long as the voucher gets processed?


• What is budget checking and why do we require it?


• What is a liability? What’s an asset?
• Why is it important to read a balance sheet?
  
• What is the importance of fund codes?
• Who is Accounts Payable and why do they tell me what to do?


• What is Finance’s role and what is my role and how do we work together?


• How do I maximize the use of the university’s financial system?


• Why do we have so many mandatory training classes?


• Why are there so many administrative rules and processes and who makes all of these rules any way?

Who: Betty Wise Department Business Administrator Years of UH Service: 7 Years Department: Industrial Engineering How to Contact Me: bwise@uh.edu or 713-743-4183 Where to Find Me: E206 Engineering Building 2 When to Call Me: Contact me with questions regarding policies and procedures, personnel, or administrative issues. Helpful Hint: Always be positive, and greet change with enthusiasm. What I Like Best About My Job: I enjoy working with my staff: Sharon Hall, Betty Garrett, Erika Gomez and Alison Haines. They are a terrific team! What Betty’s Colleagues Say: Betty Garrett says “Betty has devoted herself to the Department of Industrial Engineering, as a full time employee, full-time student, wife and mother. In her short time of managing the department she has accomplished what many can barely due in their career. She has managed to bring the staff together to have a close and working relationship that not many departments have.”

Who: Barbara M. Murray Department Business Administrator Years of UH Service: 39 Years Department: Computer Science How to Contact Me: 713-743-3374 or murray@uh.edu Where to Find Me: 550 PGH When to Call Me: For administrative/business issues involving the Computer Science Department. Helpful Hint: Keep a positive attitude no matter what comes your way. What I Like Best About My Job: People contact. Over the past 39 years I have had the pleasure to work with a very diverse group of students, faculty and staff. The university has helped me to develop and utilize my people skills. I have made use of these skills not only here at UH but in the community and with many organizations I work with. I am fortunate to have had longevity here at UH. What Barbara’s Colleagues Say: Brenda Steven’s describes Barbara as a “dynamic person. She has lots of energy maintaining the department and still helps her employees with things such as storage clear-out, catering events, clean-up, etc. She is very quick to come to someone’s aid who is distressed. She has a way of calming people down. I for one have to admire her, because it’s not all just about the work.”

Date	Course	Course Code	Session Number	Time	Location
January 4 POSTPONED	Outstanding Customer Service	HRCS1	6	9:30-12:30	McElhinney Hall Rm 341
January 9	I-9 Training	PSH008	3	9:00-11:00	McElhinney Hall Rm 341
January 10	Time Management, Part 1	HRTIME	3	9:30-12:30	McElhinney Hall Rm 341
January 18	Rape, Defense and Aggression (RAD) Training  (12 hours)	HRRAD	1	2:00-5:00	The Police Building
January 25	Rape, Defense and Aggression (RAD) Training  (12 hours)	HRRAD	1	2:00-5:00	The Police Building
January 25	Professional Courtesy: Etiquette in the Workplace	HRBUET	3	9:30-12:30	McElhinney Hall Rm 341
January 31	Dealing Effectively With Conflict	HRCC	5	9:30-12:30	McElhinney Hall Rm 341

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO REGISTER FOR COURSES

CLICK HERE TO LOGON ON TO PASS TO REGISTER

If you have questions please contact:
hrtraining@central.uh.edu

Exit Interview Questionnaire Available Online

The new exit interview questionnaire is now available online. Employees parting from the university are encouraged to visit the “quick links” section of the HR website to complete the Exit Survey and provide candid comments about their experiences at the University. We believe the best way to learn about the various aspects of the university is to request feedback from those who have actually worked here. Data obtained through the exit interview process will be reviewed in an effort to better understand the needs of our employees and identify areas needing improvement. Human Resources is committed to making the University of Houston a satisfying and enjoyable place for our employees to work, and also advance their careers.



2008 VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assistance) Program

The large, foreign national student community at UH (26th in the U.S.) has benefited from VITA’s assistance in preparing their U.S. tax returns (Forms 1040 NR or 1040 NR EZ) in accordance with complex tax laws. The University of Houston was approved as a VITA site in 1998 for UH foreign nationals. The VITA program is offered by the Houston Chapter of CPAs in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service. It consists of volunteers from the Houston Chapter of CPAs and the local community who review and/or prepare tax returns for those individuals who need assistance. Most campus volunteers will be provided by the College of Business. The site manager will train these volunteers in preparing nonresident alien tax returns. International Student Services will provide the publicity for this campus event.

Location: University Center in the Bayou City Room (# 202) on 2nd floor

Help-dates: March 1, 15, 22; and April 5, 12
(Saturdays only)

Times: 9:30AM to 2PM

This program will not only provide an invaluable service to the foreign national community at the University of Houston, but also an enriching and educational experience for those students volunteering to help in preparing tax returns for UH foreign nationals.

(Note – The VITA program has partnered with the Mayor’s Citizens’ Assistance Office, some financial institutions, and a few local businesses to “receive the baton” that was passed from the IRS. The organization has taken on the name, Houston Asset Building Coalition (HABC). This coalition is responsible for all phases of the VITA program.)

Time to update W4’s for 2008

It is a good idea for all employees to review their W4 status at the end of every year to make any adjustments that may be necessary for the upcoming year. Employees that claimed “exempt” last year are required to complete new W4’s to follow IRS guidelines.

Remember that you can review your current W4 status and make changes online through PASS the UHS employee self service application.

If you have any login problems, first click the “Forgot Your Password” link and follow the prompts. A new password will be emailed to you.

If you have any questions, contact the Customer Service Center at 713-743-3988.

Did you claim “exempt from withholding” on your W4 for calendar year 2007?
IRS rules require that you file a new W4 every year if you are a US Citizen claiming exempt status. Instructions to submit a new W4 through PASS, the UHS employee self service application, are located here.

Please complete a new W4 form online by 1/23/2008. To log on to PASS click here.

If you do not file a new W4 by 1/23/2008 your tax status will be automatically changed to Single with 0 exemptions as the IRS requires.

Tax Season-Update your address in PASS

It’s that time of year again…the Payroll department will be mailing W-2’s to all University employees at the mailing address on file by February 1st. Employees should use this opportunity to update their personal information via PASS (People Advantage Self Service).

To log on to PASS open a web browser on your computer and enter http://my.uh.edu/ in the address bar. Your user id is your employee id. (Your employee id can be found on your paycheck stub.) If you do not know your password, you may request a new one using the “Forgot Your Password?” link on the log on screen. Follow the prompts and a new password will be instantly emailed to the email address on file.

To learn how to view and/or update your address in PASS, click here.

Online W-2 processing via the PASS system will be available, and university employees will once again be given the option to decline the snail mail service. Within the coming weeks all faculty and staff will receive an email with further details on requesting the electronic form. Instructions can be found at here; however, the online service will not be available until the notification is distributed.

Questions? Please contact the Customer Service Center at 713.743.3988.



Mandatory Training

Please remember to complete your mandatory training. All training discussed below is available on the UHS Online Professional Development and Training Website which can be accessed by clicking “Log In” here.

The following training must be completed by all university employees (this includes faculty, staff, student workers, and temporary employees paid through the payroll system):

E08001 - Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
H08001 - Secure Our Systems
F08037 - Code of Ethics
F08024 - Fraud Awareness

All full-time faculty, all exempt staff, and non-exempt staff with purchasing responsibilities are required to complete the F07028 – External Consulting & Related Party Disclosure form as well.

Employees may also be enrolled in one or more of the following finance role-based courses depending on their access and/or job duties:

F08015 – Petty Cash & Change Fund Custodians
F08016 – Procurement Card Cardholder
F08017 – Procurement Card Business Office
F08018 – Travel Card Holder
F08019 – Travel Card Business Office
F08033 – Credit Card Processing
F08034 – Credit Card Accounting
F08035 – Credit Card Data Security
F08038 – Cash Security Procedures
F08039 – Cash Deposit & Security Procedures

Refer to the “Required Online Finance Training” link available on the Finance Training website, to determine the appropriate role-based courses for employee enrollment. If it is determined that an employee should be enrolled in one or more of the above courses but is not, they may enroll on the Training webpage here. If a finance role-based course is not completed, the employee may lose privileges or access associated with the associated activities.

Weekly course status reports have been distributed to College/Division Administrators, and a final report will be provided to Division Vice Presidents as well as the Board of Regents.

To learn how to monitor your own course status through PASS where the information is updated nightly click here.

For assistance, please call the Customer Service Center at 713.743.3988.