Human Resources Newsletter: May 2026

Purple and gold confetti and streamers fall from the sky as graduates clap and smile at UAlbany's Commencement.

 

Greetings colleagues!

As we wrap up another academic year, we want to extend our sincere thanks to all of you for your continued dedication and professionalism. 

Thanks to your commitment, we achieved an impressive 95% completion rate for our annual compliance trainings (UAlbany series, Title VI, and Ethics), an outstanding accomplishment that reflects our shared responsibility and care for our community. 

As summer approaches, we encourage you to take time to rest, reflect, and rejuvenate. Thank you for all you do, and we wish you a safe, relaxing and well‑deserved summer ahead.

Warm regards,

Gary Evans.

Gary Evans
Chief Human Resources Officer
 

 

 

 

HR Highlights

  • Join UAlbany’s Team for the CDPHP Workforce Challenge! The registration deadline is May 11. Shuttles will be available to the Empire State Plaza. Email [email protected] for details.
  • Summer Hours: Summer hours begin on Monday, May 18, 2026.
    • The normal workday will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 4 p.m., with a half hour for lunch for all employees except those on a shift schedule. Employees who desire an hour for lunch may request that their supervisor extend this workday by a half hour. 
    • These hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) establish the core times that campus offices are to be fully operational. “Fully operational” means that sufficient employees are available to meet normal office demands.
    • HR recognizes the importance of self-care and encourages scheduling vacation this summer to “unplug” from the demands of work to unwind and rejuvenate. 
  • Search Process: A new step-by-step guide to the search process is available for staff and faculty hires. Please contact [email protected] with any questions if you are looking to hire.
  • Important Dates: The 2026-2027 Pay Schedules and 2026-2027 Orientation Dates are now available!
  • Summer IDEAs: This year’s sessions will be held July 27 to August 6, 2026, and are open to all SUNY employees and our RF partners. Keep an eye out for registration information in your email or visit HR Training & Development for more information.  

 

End of Semester Essentials

  • Time Records: Academic year faculty do not need to submit time records during June, July and August. The 2026-2027 time record will open in September.
  • Direct Deposit: If you are not working for more than three pay periods and later return to work, you will need to submit a Direct Deposit Reactivation Request Form.
  • Administrative Managers: Please ensure that requested materials are attached to HRTS requests to ensure timely processing.
  • Ethics Training: New York State’s Ethics Training is now open for 2026! Don't wait until December 31, 2026 — log into Skillsoft Precipio and see if you owe the Live Ethics training or On Demand training. Questions? Contact the co-ethics officers at [email protected]. 

 

Hiring and Onboarding

Upcoming New Employee Orientation & Start Dates include:

  • May 21, 2026
  • June 4 and 18, 2026
  • July 2, 16 and 30, 2026

Administrative Managers: Did you know that our Payroll Department is available to attend department orientations to gather payroll documents and answer questions for new student employees at the start of the semester? Please contact [email protected] for more information.

 

Other Tips and Resources

  • Tuition Programs: Are you looking at going back to school? There are a wide variety of tuition programs available, including the B-140W Tuition Waiver. The deadline for fall applications is August 7. Other tuition programs may also be available by union affiliation.  
  • Career Development: Employees in CSEA-represented positions can access a variety of career development resources for free! Check out NYS & CSEA Partnership Educational Advisement Services' Career Mobility Resources, review the Civil Service list of examinations open to current state employees for promotions and transitions, and find your next opportunity on UAlbany’s list of classified vacancies.
  • Promotional Opportunities: Professional employees in state-funded UUP positions, don’t miss your chance to apply for promotional opportunities within UAlbany. View UAlbany’s list of promotional opportunities.
  • Looking to retire? Employees who are six months out or less from retirement are encouraged to join us at one of our new monthly Group Retirement Meetings. Contact [email protected] for further information.
  • Holidays: With a few holidays upcoming on May 25, June 19 and July 4, 2026, we encourage employees to review the 2026 Holiday Schedule.

 

Coming Soon

  • New faculty hires, including adjunct instructors, should expect to receive benefits information in early to mid-August.  
  • New hires, especially international students, should look to make an appointment to complete their I-9. Contact Valerie Goris for more information on setting up an appointment.

 

 

Highlights Across Campus

 

Over 100 people pose for a photo in front of a projector screen displaying the message, "Congratulations to all our honorees! Milestones Ceremony."

Our feature for May is our Milestones Honorees for 2026!

We were honored to recognize and celebrate the years of service of over 300 faculty and staff members in March. This ceremony honored employees who had reached significant service anniversaries, starting from 20 years of service to 45 years of service, and acknowledges their contributions to the institution’s success and community. We are so lucky to have these individuals as members of our UAlbany community.

For our next newsletter in August, share a picture of your team exploring our campus and any critters you may find along the way. This can include a walk to Parker Pond to visit the ducks or fish, a lunch on the Podium with a squirrel or two, or any animals you may find wandering around campus.

 

HR Roundabout

From Mid-January to May, we welcomed 70 new employees to campus! We appreciate the continued collaboration from departments across campus as we on-board new staff.

Additionally, we congratulate the 22 retirees we off-boarded this semester and wish them the best.

 

 

Meet HR

 

Disha Patel.

Disha Patel, SHRM-CP, MS in HRM
Human Resources Associate for Workforce Planning

Disha transferred to UAlbany from the University at Buffalo in September 2025 and is part of the Workforce Planning, Professional Services team. She works on the classification and compensation for UUP and M/C requests. You can contact Disha at [email protected] with any questions regarding job descriptions and the classification and compensation process.

 

 

 

Hailey Weston.

Hailey Weston
Human Resources Associate for Workforce Planning

Hailey joined University at Albany from SUNY Oneonta and is part of the Workforce Planning, Professional Services team. She supports recruitment across professional and faculty positions. You can contact Hailey at [email protected] with any questions related to recruitment processes, search support, and workforce planning.