• Benefits Orientation
  
• Safety Orientation
  
• University Orientation

Benefits Orientation
Benefits Orientation is a new employee benefits advisement and enrollment session for benefits eligible faculty and staff. New employees are given information about various health and life insurance plans, leave programs, annuities, retirement, and other benefits and services. Arrangements also are made for employees to obtain parking decals and I.D. cards.

A benefits counselor will contact new members of the permanent faculty and staff to schedule a Benefits Orientation. The Benefits Orientation should be scheduled within seven days of a new faculty or staff member beginning work. Orientation sessions are held in the Professional Development Training Room, first floor of 1600 Hampton Street.

Benefits Orientation normally lasts about three hours. During the session, the benefits counselor will explain in detail all state and university benefits and assist you in completing the necessary enrollment forms.

When you attend the Benefits Orientation, please bring a copy of your social security card, and the names, birth dates and social security numbers of all individuals you plan to cover as dependents for health, dental or dependent life insurance. The same information will be needed for the individual(s) you plan to name as a beneficiary.

If you are hired on the first work day of the month, the insurance plans you enroll in will become effective on the first day of that month. If you are hired after the first work day of the month, your effective date of coverage will be the first day of the following month.

If you have questions or would like to have benefits information sent to you prior to coming to orientation, call 777-6650 or e-mail hrbenefits@gwm.sc.edu.

Safety Orientation
Safety Orientation is designed to introduce new faculty, staff, and student workers to the principles of safety at work. This orientation provides general information about USC's safety program and specific information about safety precautions, along with other significant issues. Participants will receive an Employee Protection Card. During Safety Orientation, employees will receive information about:

• chemical hazards (HazCom standard)
• laboratory safety
• fire safety
• radiation safety
• ergonomics, including proper sitting and lifting techniques.

Safety Orientation is held several times each month for all new employees. Employees will be contacted directly by the Environmental Health and Safety unit to schedule training. For more information, call the Environmental Health and Safety unit at 777-5269.

University Orientation
University Orientation welcomes new employees to the Columbia campus. Offered through the Professional Development Office, it is held once a month. You can register by phone or by e-mail to hrtrain@gwm.sc.edu at 777-6578.

University Orientation helps employees become familiar with the location and function of various campus departments. A slide show and question-and-answer forum are included to inform new employees about the University's Human Resources policies and performance appraisal system.