New Employees

Welcome to Charlotte!

We’re excited to have you join UNC Charlotte and help us fearlessly shape what’s next. Now is one of the most exciting times in our history as we expand in student enrollment, academic programs, research and outreach in the community.

Being an employee is more than a job at Charlotte — it’s becoming a part of Niner Nation, a community of faculty, staff and students growing together.

Before you Start

Before you start work and join us on campus, be sure to complete your new hire paperwork and meet with Human Resources to review your documents. More information can be found on the Before You Start page.

Before You Start
New Faculty Orientation and Onboarding

Orientation for new faculty occurs once a year prior to the start of the academic year. More information and resources can be found on the ADVANCE website.

New Employee Orientation and Onboarding

You’re now a member of Niner Nation! What comes next?

New Employee Orientation (NEO) is a four-hour class for all new staff (EHRA and SHRA) designed to welcome new employees and introduce them to UNC Charlotte. New employees will receive an email one week before their start date with information regarding the time, date and other logistical details of their assigned new orientation session.

New Employee Orientation is held every other Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the location listed on your welcome email from Learning and Organizational Development. The session welcomes new employees and provides a warm introduction on why Charlotte is a great place to live, learn and work.

2025 New Employee Orientation Dates

The New Employee Onboarding Course is available in Learning and Development Portal and expands on three building blocks to prepare you to be a successful member of Niner Nation:

  1. Getting Started & Campus Safety: Getting Started, Employee Perks & Benefits, Campus Safety & Security and Personal Safety & Mutual Respect
  2. Institutional Integrity, Ethics, & Compliance: Institutional Integrity, Ethics, & Compliance, Internal Audit, FERPA and Public Records
  3. Campus Services, Activities & Opportunities: Campus Connection and Engagement, Being a Part of Niner Nation, and Getting Involved in the Campus Community

New employees will be enrolled in the New Employee Onboarding Course in the Learning and Development Portal during their first week of employment.

To ensure you have the information you need when it is most relevant, topics are delivered within specific increments of time:

  • Section 1: Your first 2 weeks (days 1-14) – Getting Started and Employee Benefits
  • Section 2: Your first month (days 15-30) – Safety, Security, and Mutual Respect
  • Section 3: Your second month (days 31-60) – Institutional Integrity, Ethics and Compliance
  • Section 4: Your third month (days 61-90) – Campus Connection and Engagement

Campus Connection Events are one-hour sessions available in the Learning and Development Portal and led by a live host who will guide new employees through each of these campus venues. In-person or virtual tour of the Popp-Martin Student Union In-person or virtual tour of a UNC Charlotte Athletics venue In-person or virtual tour of the Botanical Gardens In-person or virtual tour of UREC.

New Employee Resource Center

The links below are designed to complement the employee onboarding course.

Days 1-30

Days 31-60

Days 61-90

New Employee Benefit Information

Comprehensive Benefits Overview

Reference the directions below to access an online presentation from the UNC System Office.

  • New employees should go to the Learning and Development Portal and use the Search feature to access the Comprehensive UNC Benefits Overview. Employees will need to click on the green Launch box to open the overview and then use the drop-down menu to locate UNC Charlotte in order for the overview to fully launch.
  • Or new employees can also access the overview in their assigned New Employee Onboarding Course located under their transcript in the Learning and Development Portal. Employees will still need to click on the green Launch box to open the overview and then use the drop-down menu to locate UNC Charlotte in order for the overview to fully launch.
  • Please note, due to a recent change from the UNC System, benefits-eligible employees hired on or after Sept. 1, 2023, only have 30 days from their eligibility date to enroll and may only enroll in TIAA if they select the Optional Retirement Plan.
Benefits Orientation

The University is offering in-person orientation sessions, to include benefits resources, process for enrollment, and contacts. If you missed this portion of the orientation, you can review our NEO Employee Benefits video course for a brief overview.

Employees may also schedule a brief follow-up appointment (Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.) with the Benefits Office to drop off forms in person, and/or ask individual questions. Click here to schedule an upcoming appointment.

Benefit Plan Contacts

Review the Benefit Plan Contacts.

New Employee Electronic Benefit Packet

Benefit Overview

Plan Details

New Employee Benefits Enrollment Checklist

State Health Plan and NCFlex Benefits online elections

  • You have 30 days to make your elections
  • Log into eBenefits and UNC System Benefits (Empyrean) platforms using your NinerNET username and password
    • Make your plan elections
    • Upload supporting documentation for eligible dependents being enrolled (reference supporting documentation)
  • Important Notes:
    • Enrollment is not automatic (you must enroll to have coverage)
    • Newly eligible employees are added to the enrollment system within one week after their hire date
    • Elections must be made within 31 days of hire date
    • Coverage and claims may be denied retroactive if the required documentation is not provided to support dependents who are enrolled
    • For assistance with plan detail and/or enrollment, please call (855) 859-0966

UNC System Benefits online elections

  • You have 30 days to make your elections
  • Log into UNC System Benefits using your NinerNET username and password
    • Note: UNC Charlotte data is sent on Mondays and Wednesdays to the UNC Benefits System (Empyrean). New hire records cannot be setup until after an employee’s start date. If new hires receive a single sign-on (SSO) error, it may be a timing issue. Employees are advised to login a few days after their hire date and notify the University of North Carolina Benefits Service Center for Employees at 833-UNC-1490 (833-862-1490) if they have any further login issues.
  • Important Notes:
    • Enrollment is not automatic (you must enroll to have coverage)
    • Newly eligible employees are added to the enrollment system within one week after their hire date
    • Elections must be made within 31 days of hire date
    • Coverage and claims may be denied retroactive if the required documentation is not provided to support dependents who are enrolled
    • For assistance about enrolling online, contact the University of North Carolina Service Center at (833) 862-1490
    • For questions about coverage and plan detail, contact the Benefits Office at Benefits@charlotte.edu (704) 687-8134

Mandatory Retirement Plan Elections

  • Complete your mandatory retirement election online in your UNC Systems Benefits (Empyrean) portal. Once enrolled, your decision is irrevocable.
    • Two Plan Options
      • Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS)
      • Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) with TIAA

Supplemental Retirement Elections (enroll/change/stop anytime)

Disability Plan Elections (enrollments should be made with retirement election to avoid evidence of insurability requirement)

  • Disability short-term and long-term benefits are provided (at no cost) to employees as a part of the mandatory retirement programs (automatic enrollment)
  • Supplemental disability (deadline within 30 days of hire date)

Return all completed forms to the Benefits Office in King Building Room 207.

Resources
Contact Information
  • eBenefits (BenefitFocus) questions/login assistance: Enrollment & Eligibility Support Center at (855) 859-0966
  • UNC System Benefits (Empryean) enrollment system assistance: University of North Carolina Benefits Service Center for Employees at 833-UNC-1490 (833)862-1490
  • Shakalyn (Shay) McLean, Benefits Counselor, smclea16@charlotte.edu, (704)-687-8492
  • Gina Ewart, Benefits Consultant, giewart@charlotte.edu, (704) 687-0647
  • Benefits Office, King Building, Room 207, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223-000, benefits@charlotte.edu, www.hr.charlotte.edu, (704) 687-8134

Questions?

Please contact hrtraining@charlotte.edu