Human Resources

• Marlin Absetz – SURC C-Store\C-Trax
• Amy Alexandrou – Student Health Services
• Kodi Allemand – Student Health Services
• Hayley Beckman – CEPS Deans Operating
• Cheyenne Belanger – Student Counseling Services
• Kenneth Collyer – Custodial Services
• Kira Cox – University Advancement
• Jerald Dougherty – Theatre and Film
• Graycen Duffy – Student Health Services
• Michor Gentemann – Aviation
• Jacob Gesell – Aviation
• Evan Guzman – Aviation
• Nichole Hillis – Dining Administration
• Elizabeth Jensen – Custodial Services
• Angela Johnson – Wildcat Shop
• Bradden Koons – Aviation
• Alexandra Kytan – Student Rights and Responsibilities
• Killian McGrath – Aviation
• Ilda Morales Lopez – Custodial Services
• Alexander Moore – Custodial Services
• Nicola Moore – Business & Community Services
• Baylen Nisse – Aviation
• Tommy Ott – Athletics Administration
• Alysia Owlsym – Faculty Senate
• Richard Reed – University Recreation Administration
• Swetlana Schenkel – Aviation
• Karen Schrantz – Business & Community Services
• Curtis Smithgall – Contracts and Procurement
• Carleigh Sundby – Case Management
• Jami-Lynn Tate – Student Health Services
• Ericka Usher – SURC Kitchen
• Parrish Wunderlich – Dining Administration

• Jim Harrison – IE Research and Planning
• Vince Foley – FMD Administrative Services

October 14, 11 AM - 1 PM | Mitchell Hall Lobby

Financial security in retirement doesn’t just happen; it takes planning and commitment. With daily responsibilities and competing priorities, it can be easy to put off – but we’re here to help! Take this opportunity to assess your savings progress. If you’re not where you should be, now is a good time to do something about it. Start taking control of your future by attending a workshop.

TIAA Office Hours to answer questions about the upcoming recordkeeper change*

Presenters include representatives from TIAA, the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS), and the Health Care Authority (HCA).

If you’re nearing the exciting milestone of retirement, visit our Getting Ready for Retirement webpage for helpful information and step-by-step guidance. Whether retirement is a few years away or just around the corner, this resource will support you in making informed decisions for a smooth transition.

Supervisor Basics
10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29 • 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

This 4-part workshop is designed for both new and experienced supervisors who want to build confidence and clarity in their leadership role

Enroll Now

Mental Health First Aid

10/15 and 10/22 • 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
This 2-part workshop teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Enroll Now

Questions? cla@cwu.edu

Open Enrollment for 2026 takes place from October 27 to November 24, 2025. This is your once-a-year opportunity to enroll in or make changes to your health plan elections or enroll in a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) or Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP). Open Enrollment changes are effective January 1. Watch for the Health Care Authority’s For Your Benefit Newsletter which contains information about Open Enrollment and the 2026 medical plan rates.

Happy with your current health plans? Unless signing up for a FSA or DCAP or responding to a direct request from the Health Care Authority to re-attest to a spousal surcharge, you do not need to submit Open Enrollment changes.

If you wish to continue/enroll in a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) or the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) for 2026, you must enroll during Open Enrollment. If you are currently enrolled in a FSA or DCAP, you must re-enroll every year during Open Enrollment in order to continue participating in the following year.

If you’re thinking of changing plans, visit the HCA’s Compare Medical Plans page – their Medical Benefits Comparison Tool can be especially useful.

For Leaders at All Levels: Staff, Faculty, and Students.

How to Enroll: MyCWU >> Learning Tab >> enter “First Friday” in Search for Learning field

More Information: cla@cwu.edu

CWU is transitioning to a new retirement plan experience designed to make it easier, more secure, and more cost-effective for you.

Effective in early 2026, TIAA will become the sole recordkeeper for both the Central Washington University Retirement Plan (CWURP) and the Voluntary Investment Plan (VIP), replacing the current dual-recordkeeper structure (TIAA and Fidelity). This means you’ll access and manage your CWU retirement investments from one place.

Why we’re making this change

• Simplify your experience with only one platform to manage your retirement investments
• Increase cybersecurity and user access controls
• Lower your fees (from as much as $100 to around $27 per person)
• Enhance retirement savings and accessibility, in alignment with the Secure Act 2.0
• Streamline VIP enrollment and contribution rate changes

 What’s changing

• One recordkeeper: TIAA — all CWURP and VIP accounts will be moved to TIAA
• More support and guidance — from in-person sessions to personal consultations

What to do now:  Visit with the TIAA representative during “office hours” in SURC 201, Tuesday, October 14, 1 – 5 PM, or Wednesday, October 15, 9 AM – noon.

Why this all matters: Your CWU retirement plan is important

For many people, it’s easy to just set your retirement and voluntary investment program elections when you first enroll and then forget about them. But your CWU retirement benefit is a powerful part of your total compensation. With generous matching contributions and access to world-class investment tools, your plan is designed to help you build long-term financial security throughout your work journey and into your retirement.

Participate in the SmartHealth Giving Campaign before November 30.

Helping others has been shown to improve our mental health and well-being. It can provide a sense of purpose and promote a happier and healthier lifestyle. When you give back and help others, you can make a difference at home, at work, and in your community.

Earn 200 SmartHealth points by completing the “SmartHealth Giving Campaign” activity before November 30, 2025. Look for it in the Activities and Resources tab under Featured Activities.

Don’t miss your opportunity to qualify for the $125 wellness incentive in 2026. Log into SmartHealth to complete your well-being assessment (worth 800 points) and reach a total of 2,000 points by November 30.

Learn more

• Find information about eligibility, the wellness incentive, and more at SmartHealth (PEBB).
• Watch the SmartHealth Overview video.
• Get instructions for logging into SmartHealth at Accessing SmartHealth.

Sometimes saving for retirement can feel like trying to cook a recipe without clear instructions. You feel like the recipe is smudged and you’re not sure about the ingredients. You might be thinking: “Am I saving enough? What’s the right number for me? Should I save with pretax or Roth? Stocks or bonds?” But just like cooking, a little guidance makes the process easier. Having the right “recipe” for retirement can turn that stress into confidence.

Take a moment to think about your retirement dish:

• What kind of lifestyle do you want to enjoy when you retire?
• Do you want to retire early, or do you want to work past age 65?
• Will you flavor your future with Roth, pretax, or a mix of both?

This October, DRS is celebrating National Retirement Security Month and hosting four webinars to help you cook with confidence and achieve your retirement goals. Each session is 30 minutes with a presentation followed by time for your questions. Sign up to get your spot.

Tuesday, Oct. 7 – Get your financial ingredients in order: Just like cooking, retirement success starts with prep. Find out how to secure your online account, set up beneficiaries and discover some ingredients you might be missing.

Tuesday, Oct. 14 – The secret sauce of pensions: Defined benefit pensions in the U.S. are rare to have nowadays. Find out what it means to have a pension and how you can increase it.

Tuesday, Oct. 21 – A well-seasoned retirement: A retirement recipe has lots of ingredients: Social Security, pension, savings, and investments. Explore whether boosting your savings now could help reduce the risk of running out of money later.

Tuesday, Oct. 28 – Turn up the heat on your savings: choosing how to add to your DCP: Just like adding spices to a recipe, small increases to your DCP contributions can have a big impact. Discover options for saving more and explore the difference between pretax and Roth contributions.

Employee Assistance Program: Support When You Need It

Your well-being matters. The First Choice Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers 24/7 access to licensed mental health counselors. Just call 800-777-4114 for immediate support. You can also explore a wide range of confidential resources online, from emotional wellbeing to financial tools, parenting, legal topics, and more. Visit www.FirstChoiceEAP.com and log in with the username CWU to get started. Services are available to all faculty, staff, and their family members.

Behavioral Health Services available through your PEBB medical insurance or call Uniform Medical (UMP) or Kaiser.

Local Helpline | 24/7 | Master's-Level Counselors | 509-925-4168 

National Hotline | 24/7 | Dial 988 or Text 'Home' to 741741

online chat feature: suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Every day, our colleagues go above and beyond to support student success and contribute to a workplace rooted in Engagement, Belonging, Stewardship, and Student Success.

Help us recognize the exceptional work happening across campus by nominating a classified or exempt employee for the Employee of the Month Award. Whether it’s through a standout project, a positive impact on others, or consistently living into CWU’s mission, we want to celebrate those who make a difference. Let’s shine a spotlight on those who make CWU a better place every day.

Who can nominate?       Anyone
Who is eligible?              Classified and Exempt Staff
What’s the reward?        $125 and recognition at a quarterly celebration
Bonus:                               Monthly winners are eligible for Employee of the Year

Employee of the Month Nomination Form

Celebrate a Colleague's Exceptional Efforts by nominating them for the Wildcat Way Spotlight—a heartfelt way to recognize their dedication and share their story with the CWU community. Each nominee receives a personal message of appreciation, and their supervisor is notified as well. It’s a simple, meaningful way to say thank you.

WILDCAT WAY NOMINATION FORM

The U.S. Department of Education can forgive student loan debt after 10 years of making 120 qualifying payments while working for a state agency or a qualifying public sector employer. To qualify, you must have Federal Direct loans. If you have Perkins or FFEL loans, you must consolidate into a Direct Consolidation. If you have Direct Parent PLUS loans, you may also need to consolidate. If you consolidate between now and April 30, 2024, you will not lose PSLF qualifying payment credit due to the IDR Account Adjustment.

Get Started: Use the PSLF Help Tool to complete a PSLF form and submit an employment certification request. Your form will be submitted to the PSLF servicer (MOHELA) for processing, which may take up to 90 business days. Create a MOHELA account to check on qualifying payment count. If MOHELA is not your current servicer, submitting a PSLF form will initiate a loan transfer from your current servicer to MOHELA, which can take an additional 90 business days.

CWU Employer Identification Number (EIN): 91-6000618
CWU contact email: employment.verification@cwu.edu

Submit questions about Public Service Loan Forgiveness on the Washington State Student Loan Advocate’s website.

Ingredients

• 1 and 3/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 and 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
• 1/4 cup orange juice

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease metal 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl: whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl: whisk together eggs, sugar, and brown sugar. Whisk in pumpkin, oil, and orange juice. Pour into dry ingredients and gently mix together. There will be a few lumps but do not over-mix.
4. Pour batter into pan. Bake 60–65 minutes, covering bread loosely with foil halfway through to prevent top from getting too brown. Bread is done when toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with only a few small moist crumbs. Begin checking every 5 minutes around the 55-minute mark.
5. Allow the bread to cool in the pan on a wire rack before removing and slicing.

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

Lucy Maud Montgomery, Ann of Green Gables