Benefits Bulletin September 2025

Welcome to the Benefits Bulletin!

Our goal with this monthly newsletter is to communicate benefit changes and keep you up-to-date and informed on approaching deadlines.

Flexible Spending Account Deadline

If you were enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) during last plan year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025), you have until September 30 to file claims for covered services during that plan year. If there are any remaining funds in your account after September 30, these funds will be lost.

Compensatory Leave Payout Option

Human Resources is pleased to announce an option to receive a payout of compensatory leave biannually (twice per year).

Requests must be received by the Leave Specialist by June 1, with the payout reflected on the July 1 paycheck, or December 1, with the payout reflected on the December 31 paycheck. Payouts are limited to a maximum of 40 hours per request (80 hours per calendar year). The amount of payment for the payout is calculated using the current rate of pay at the time of processing and all applicable taxes are applied. All compensatory leave payout requests, once processed, are irrevocable.

This payout option is limited to compensatory leave in an employee’s leave balances at time of processing. No expired or pending compensatory leave is eligible to be paid out.

To request a payout of compensatory leave, please use the Compensatory Leave Payout form. Forms can be returned to Human Resources at MSC 7009 or by email to neeserw@jmu.edu.

Please contact Reagan Neese, Leave Specialist, if you have any questions regarding this compensatory leave payout option.

September's Featured Benefit

This month's featured benefit is...

Anthem Building Healthy Families Program & Aetna Maternity Program

The Building Healthy Families Program through COVA Care can help your family grow stronger, whether you are trying to conceive, expecting a child, or raising toddlers. This free program provides personalized, digital support through anthem.com or the Sydney Health mobile app. You have unlimited access to:

1. Tools to help you stay organized

• Log newborn feedings, diaper changes, growth, vaccinations, and developmental milestones
• Monitor prenatal health risks, such as blood pressure and weight

2. Health and wellness expertise for you and your family

• Access to a library of thousands of educational materials on everything from family planning to parenting tips
• Connect with a maternity nurse, and access virtual lactation support

3. Personalized pregnancy support

• Chat with a Family Care Coach during pregnancy for help navigating your Building Healthy Families experience
• Receive updates on your pregnancy progress, like development of your baby and body changes

Additionally, COVA Care members can waive their $300 hospital copayment by participating in the program and completing the following items before delivery:

• Register/complete a profile or speak to a program nurse
• Complete Pregnancy Screener
• Complete one of six mini-assessments available in the app

To enroll today:

1. Visit anthem.com or log in to Sydney Health app
2. Find Featured Programs at the bottom of the homepage
3. Select View All then choose the Building Healthy Families tile

If you are enrolled in the Aetna HealthAware health insurance plan, the Aetna Maternity Program provides support to help you have a successful pregnancy. By enrolling in the program within the first 16 weeks of pregnancy and participating based on your pregnancy risk profile, you are eligible to receive a $300 incentive contribution to your HRA around the 28th week of pregnancy. Sign up for Aetna Maternity Program by calling 1-800-272-3531, or log into the Aetna member website at www.aetna.com and look under Stay Healthy.

Virginia Retirement System Member Benefit Profiles (MBPs)

The Virginia Retirement System Member Benefit Profile (MBP) is an annual benefit statement based on information reported to VRS as of June 30. The MBP provides you with account balance information, retirement eligibility, and eligibility for other benefits such as group life insurance and the health insurance credit. To view your Member Benefit Profile, log in or create a secure myVRS account. Under the My History menu item, select Annual Statements.

The MBP can be a useful tool in determining if you are on target for your desired retirement date and income in retirement. Other tools available through VRS include the myVRS Benefit Estimator, which allows you to run different retirement benefit scenarios. In addition, use the myVRS Retirement Planner to set your income-replacement goal and enter expected income sources in retirement, including your VRS pension, Social Security, 403(b) and 457 contributions, and other savings. The planner also helps you project expenses in retirement, such as health care and taxes, and offers calculators and a budgeting worksheet.

Please contact the Benefits Team at benefits@jmu.edu or call 540-568-3593 if you have questions concerning your MBP.

2026 University Holiday and Closing Schedule

Human Resources is pleased to announce the 2026 University Holiday and Closing Schedule is now available for viewing below or at http://www.jmu.edu/humanresources/benefits/closings-holidays/index.shtml.

2026 University Holiday/Closing Schedule

• Employee Personal Day (taken between 1/10/26 and 1/9/27 and must be used in full 8-hour increment)
• January 1 (New Year’s Day Observed)
• January 2**
• January 19 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
• March 20 (Spring Break) **
• May 25 (Memorial Day)
• June 19 (Juneteenth, 4 hours)
• July 3 (Independence Day Observed, 4 hours)
• November 23**
• November 24**
• November 25 (4 hours* and 4 hours**)
• November 26 - 27 (Thanksgiving Holiday)
• December 22 - 23 (Winter Break)
• December 24 (4 hours* and 4 hours**)
• December 25 (Christmas Day)
• December 28 - 31 (Winter Break)

*Additional paid time off granted by the governor.

**Additional paid time off awarded as Recognition Leave granted by the president

Questions? Please contact Reagan Neese, Benefits/Leave Specialist, neeserw@jmu.edu, (540)568-3974.

Need to Talk with an Expert?

• September 26 - Fidelity, Punchai Paul Vutiprichar - online scheduling or punchai.vutiprichar@fmr.com
• October 1 - Aflac, Michael Glover - michael_glover@us.aflac.com or 540-997-3201
• October 6 - Corebridge, Jeffrey Gruse - jeffrey.gruse@corebridgefinancial.com

Webinars

• September 17 - Legal Resources Seminar: Identity Theft Today - Navigating Credit Bureaus register online or view all seminars
• September 24 - Legal Resources Seminar: Conversations for Caregivers - Navigating Conflict in Caregiving register online or view all seminars
• September 25- TIAA Webinar: How to Get the Most from Your Employee Retirement Plan register online or visit tiaa.org/webinars
• October 8 - TIAA Webinar: Quarterly Economic Update register online or visit tiaa.org/webinars
• October 8 - Legal Resources Seminar: When Life Gets Legal - Insurance and Warranty Disputes: Protecting Your Rights as a Consumer register online or view all seminars

Money Matters Financial Seminar and Vendor Fair

Registration is now open!

Find more information and register for workshops HERE!

Find more information HERE!

Find more information HERE!

September's Duke2Duke Nominees

Duke2Duke is our peer recognition program giving faculty and staff members an opportunity to show gratitude towards their peers and acknowledge their positive behaviors and actions.

We would like to recognize all of the outstanding employees/departments who were nominated for a Duke2Duke in September!

• Lina Akopov
• Andrea Arellano
• Dylan Bare
• Meredith Bauer
• Doris Byrd
• Mark Colopy
• Kayla Corey
• Michele Cornaire
• Bryan Costanza
• Kellie Crawford
• Hannah Dow
• Lorna Bell Frizzelle
• Lexi Geil
• Jonathan Gillette
• Nicole Gray
• Jojo Griffith
• Adrienne Harman-Griggs
• Sheila Hopinks
• Elijah Keyes
• MaryBeth Killian
• Gage Kivlen
• Sarah MacDonald
• Katera Massengill
• Katie McAnally
• Kylie Miller
• Kim Moubray
• Shaun O’Kelley
• Lex Park
• Cannon Randle
• Melissa Rebich

Submit a Duke2Duke here!

Upcoming Benefits Training: Retirement Ready 1.0 - Fine-tuning Your Future (HR2288)

FOR VRS PLAN 1 & 2 MEMBERS ONLY

Ready to get serious about retirement? Learn how to boost your retirement savings and knowledge to drive toward a more secure future. You will leave this session equipped to make the most of JMU's retirement plans.

December 2, 2025 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Facilitated by: Amie Loving-Harpine, Benefits Specialist, Human Resources

Register with course number HR2288 in MyMadison

Upcoming Benefits Training: Retirement Ready 2.0 - Fine-tuning Your Future (HR2289)

FOR VRS HYBRID MEMBERS ONLY

Ready to get serious about retirement? Learn how to boost your retirement savings and knowledge to drive toward a more secure future. You will leave this session equipped to make the most of JMU's retirement plans.

December 10, 2025 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Facilitated by: Amie Loving-Harpine, Benefits Specialist, Human Resources

Register with course number HR2289 in MyMadison

Upcoming Benefits Training: Retirement 101: Understanding Your VRS Retirement

Are you contemplating retirement? Have you set a retirement date? What do you do next? What benefits will you receive? What is the timing on paperwork?

Come to Retirement 101 and learn the answers to all these questions and more! Learn about your retirement options through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS), discuss the impact on benefits when you retire, and learn how myVRS and Human Resources can aid in retirement planning.

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Register with course number HR1212 in MyMadison

THANK YOU FOR READING!

This bulletin has been brought to you by the JMU Benefits Team. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to us, please give us a call at 540-568-3593, visit us on the web at www.jmu.edu/humanresources/benefits, or email us at benefits@jmu.edu. Look for the Live Chat on our website and reach one of us instantly!