Human Resources
July 17, 2007, Volume 54, No. 1	Print Issue

Upcoming Programs and Benefits: Nutrition, Tuition, and Retirement 

Nutrition Series: A Colorful Diet for a Healthier You

Did you know that adding color to your diet can help keep you healthy?  Including a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet each day can help you maintain a healthy weight, protect against the effects of aging, and reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

To help you learn more, Human Resources is offering a nutrition series on the “Five-a-Day the Color Way” program. Workshops are being held Tuesdays in July. You’ll find out which fruits and vegetables make up the five color groupings: Blue/Purple, Green, White, Yellow/Orange, and Red. You’ll also get menu and food preparation tips to help you easily incorporate what you learn into your daily diet.  There will be a different topic each week, so come to any or all of these sessions!  Then you can take what you’ve learned and use it to take advantage of the delicious, farm-fresh produce that’s available every Wednesday at the Farmer’s Market in University Square (36th and Walnut Streets). Remember: fresh produce offers the best nutrients and taste that you can buy.

Workshops will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on July 17, 24, and 31. To register for these sessions, visit the Human Resources website at www.hr.upenn.edu and click on “Course Catalog” at the top of the page.  You can then select “Health Promotion” under the “Browse by Category” option to sign up for any or all sessions.  If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at (215) 898-5116 or suzsmith@hr.upenn.edu. 

New Nutrition Counseling Benefit for IBC Medical Plans

Taking control of your diet just got easier!  If you’re enrolled in one of Penn’s medical plans administered by Independence Blue Cross (Keystone/AmeriHealth HMO, UPHS POS, or PENNCare/Personal Choice PPO), you and your covered family members now have access to free nutrition counseling. You can schedule up to six visits per calendar year with your physician or a registered dietitian to discuss healthy eating habits at no additional cost to you.* 

Eating better can lead to a healthier lifestyle. Many chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure are associated with weight, and can lead to other health issues. By taking responsibility for your diet, you may reduce your risk for developing other conditions. With the help of your doctor or a registered dietitian, you can assess your diet and set personal goals for better eating habits and weight management.

Call and make your nutrition counseling appointment today.  A list of registered dietitians is available at www.ibx.com when you click on Find a Doctor. Questions? Call the Member Services number on your ID card.

* For plans with out-of-network benefits, deductible and coinsurance amounts may apply if you go to an out-of-network provider.

Eating better is just one way to lead a healthier life. IBC’s Healthy LifestylesSM programs include reimbursements for fitness center fees and approved weight loss programs, and discounts on vitamins and nutritional supplements. Detailed information about IBC’s Healthy Lifestyles programs is available at www.ibxpress.com.

Keep Walking!

Even though the spring pilot session of the Penn Walking Program is now over, that doesn’t mean you should stop walking!  The interest and positive feedback have been so overwhelming that the program has been expanded through the summer and next academic year.  The summer session has already started, but don’t let that stop you from registering–you can start participating in the Walking Program at any time during the year!

The Walking Program will be managed in seasonal segments (see chart below) to give you specific goals and check-in points.

Why should you participate? There are many reasons, the most important of which is a desire to be fit and healthy. The Penn Walking Program will help inspire you to keep going, with weekly motivational e-mails and group walks held every Friday. To help you track your progress, you’ll receive a pedometer and you’ll be able to use the Penn Walking Program tracking website or a hard copy tracking booklet. Join the nearly 1600 faculty and staff members who have already become Penn Walkers.

So sign up now to participate in the Penn Walking Program!  Make walking–or jogging, or running–a part of your everyday routine with this helpful program. For more information, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/quality/wellness/walking.asp. Remember, you can register at any time, even if the start date of the current session has passed. Simply contact Human Resources at (215) 898-5116 or suzsmith@hr.upenn.edu. 

Professional & Personal Development

Take advantage of the many development opportunities provided by Human Resources!  Simply pre-register for programs by visiting the online Course Catalog at www.hr.upenn.edu (click on Course Catalog at the top of the page), or contacting Learning and Education at (215) 898-3400.

Brown Bag Matinee–Whale Done!, July 17; noon to 1 p.m.; free; this program is designed to teach people how to improve their relationships at work in order to become more productive and to achieve better results. Learn how to build trust, accentuate the positive, and redirect your energy for a more productive outcome when a mistake occurs. This clear, easy-to-use approach will help you discover the power of positive relationships and enable you to make more effective choices in your interactions with coworkers.

Professional Development Program –Strategies for Developing Effective Presentations

July 19 and 20; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; $60; do you want to overcome those “presentation anxieties” and become comfortable and relaxed with your own speaking style? Do you want to expertly handle a challenging audience? At this two-day program, you'll learn how to deliver a presentation that's clear, informative, memorable, motivating, and convincing. You’ll make three live presentations and receive ongoing, personalized feedback.

Career Focus Brown Bag–Negotiation Skills: The Sluggers Come Home. July 27; noon to 1 p.m.; free; learn the key principles, strategies and tactics of negotiation–a process which many find challenging. Our video, The Sluggers Come Home, tells the story of negotiations between a baseball club owner and the brothers who own a nearby baseball stadium. How they come to terms illustrates the three major steps in negotiations: preparation, bargaining and settlement.

Career and Life Strategies for Baby Boomers

“Career and Life Strategies for Baby Boomers” includes monthly lunchtime sessions on topics generally relevant to Penn staff within 2-10 years of retirement. All sessions are free; however, registration is required. For more information or to register, visit www.hr.upenn.edu (click on Course Catalog at the top of the page) or call (215) 898-3400.

How Will I Spend My Time?, July 18; noon to 1:30 p.m.; free; this session offers a self-assessment process to help you clarify how you’ll want to spend your time in retirement. Analyzing your current likes/dislikes and favorite activities in your leisure time will help you choose retirement involvements which will be interesting and meaningful to you.

Register: Fall 2007 Tuition Benefits

Tuition benefit registration is now open for the Fall 2007 term. Use our online tuition management system to manage tuition benefits for you and all of your eligible dependents.  You can apply for benefits as well as track the status and view the history of your requests. With this convenient, self-managed system, all you need is your PennKey and password. Simply enter the online application system at www.hr.upenn.edu/tuition and follow the instructions. 

You must go online to apply for the benefit each term, and you have to apply by the specified dates for each term. Application deadlines are listed in the tuition policies on the Human Resources website at www.hr.upenn.edu/benefits/tuition/default.asp. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Tuition Administrator at tuition@hr.upenn.edu or (215) 898-4812.

Get Help Planning for Retirement

It’s easy to get help planning for your future–simply take advantage of free one-on-one counseling sessions with Penn’s retirement vendors.  Experts from both TIAA-CREF and Vanguard are available on campus on a regular basis to help you plan for your retirement.  You can discuss topics such as finding the right investment allocation for you, maximizing your retirement contributions, understanding basic types of investments, learning about retirement income options, and more. 

To set up an appointment with a retirement counselor, see the contact information below. Let careful planning and wise financial decisions open the door to a retirement full of possibilities!