New Employee

Arriving to Campus:

A map of the main campus can be found on the campus site map page. Your supervisor will help you obtain a “Faculty/Staff” hangtag for your car. On your first day, you can park in any spot on campus that’s not labeled “Employees Only”. Once you get your hangtag, you’ll be able to park in the “Employees Only” spots as well (which are located in lots F, H, and I). More information about getting to and around campus can be found on the maps and locations page.

Work Schedule:

Your supervisor will discuss your work schedule with you prior to your first day. Depending on your job, you may have a flexible schedule which will allow you to choose your start and end time each day, within limits. College business hours are 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday-Friday

Dress Code:

The college does not have a formal dress code policy. Each division and department set their own expectations for employee dress, and your supervisor will communicate specific expectations to you on your first day. Generally, business casual dress is the norm, and will be perfectly appropriate for your first day.

New Employee Orientation:

Howard Community College’s New Employee Experience, presented by Human Resources, is a bi-monthly, interactive group of training courses and tasks that includes:

• completion of I-9 and/or other required HR employment forms,
• New Employee Orientation (NEO), and
• Benefits Orientation (for all full-time and part-time budgeted employees)

Your manager will contact HR to register you for the NEO session that falls closest to your start date. The NEO is scheduled on the first and third Monday of each month. Upon completion, new employees will be enabled to utilize essential HCC tools to assist with a strong start to their career with HCC.

Online Training:

When you arrive on day one, we want to have everything ready – including your e-mail and network access. HCC will ensure that your network and systems access enables you to complete the four trainings below on your first day. All training is in the college’s professional learning system (PL) and requires registration before you can access training courses.  Visit the New Employee page in the PL to register and complete the training. Remember to complete the required survey to fulfill the requirements.

• Access and Responsibility
• College Vision, Mission, Values/Beliefs, and Strategic Initiatives
• HCC Emergency Operations Plan
• Safety Regulations: General Safety
• Harassment Awareness and Avoidance

Campus Dining:

Most offices have easily accessible refrigerators and microwaves for food storage and re-heating. You may also dine at the Café on the Quad, which includes a full-service Starbucks. Additional information can be found on the dining services page.

Training:

Your supervisor will discuss a training and professional development plan with you. In addition to the required training for new employees, there are several required training modules for all HCC employees annually.

Orientation and On-boarding:

The college’s “The Power of Two” (TPOT) program is designed to help new employees acclimate to the college and their new role. If you are new to the campus, HR will pair you with a TPOT “buddy” who will most likely be someone from outside your immediate department/area. This person will reach out to you to set up a casual meeting to answer questions, show you around, and generally provide advice, insight, and guidance regarding college culture, the campus, people, and places. You should hear from your TPOT buddy within the first few weeks of employment.

Employees new to budgeted employment will also be invited to three New Employee Information Sessions in their first year. These sessions will give you important and interesting information about the college and its history, and will allow you to meet and connect with other new employees in a shared experience.

Benefits and Pay:

You will be scheduled to attend a benefits orientation within your first few weeks of employment. At this time, all HCC benefits, including retirement and insurance will be reviewed in detail. In the meantime, you can view more information on our Employee Benefits Guide.

The college issues pay on the fifteenth day and the last day of each month, meaning that employees paid over 12 months receive 24 pays per year. Ten-month faculty and staff have a choice of being paid over 10 months (20 pays) or 12 months (24 pays). Most employees receive their first pay no later than the second pay date after their start date.

• Employee Benefits Guide (note: the Benefits Guide will be discussed in full at your benefits orientation).
• Campus Organizational Chart
• Full list of HCC employment policies
• Campus Security and Safety
• HCC Quick Facts

Q:        Will I get an ID card?
A:        Yes, your supervisor will help you obtain an ID card on one of your first days of employment.   You’ll be asked to carry this card in a visible location at all times while you’re on duty. The card may also be programmed to allow you access to certain rooms on campus.

Q:        What schedule will I work?
A:        Your supervisor will discuss your work schedule with you prior to your first day. Depending on your job, you may have a flexible schedule which will allow you to choose your start and end time each day, within limits. Procedures Hours of Work/Payment of Wages and Flexible Scheduling cover work schedules and work breaks.

Q:        Is there a campus dress code?
A:        In most cases “business casual” is appropriate, however there is no campus-wide dress code, and individual departments may have their own dress requirements. Please discuss this with your supervisor before your first day.

Q:        How often are employees paid, and when can I expect to receive my first pay?
A:        The college issues pay on the fifteenth day and the last day of each month, meaning that employees paid over 12 months receive 24 pays per year. Ten-month faculty and staff have a choice of being paid over 10 months (20 pays) or 12 months (24 pays). Most employees receive their first pay no later than the second pay date after their start date. Procedure Hours of Work/Payment of Wages covers the pay schedules.

Q:        How will I receive my pay?
A:        HCC requires its employees to receive pay electronically, either through direct deposit to a bank account (preferred), or to a Bank of America CashPay card provided to the employee by the college. You’ll be able to view your pay advice online through HCC’s online confidential data system, HCC Express. Information about accessing HCC Express will be provided to you after you start.

Q:        When will I have my benefits orientation and when do my health benefits begin?
A:        Your benefits orientation session will be scheduled shortly after you begin work. Your health benefits, should you decide to enroll in them, will begin on the first day of the month after your official start date.

Q:        What if it’s snowing or icy on my scheduled first day of employment?!
A:        The decision to close the college or delay its opening is usually made very early in the morning (about 5:30 a.m.). You should check the college’s main web page to see if there’s an announcement about closing or delayed opening. The procedure that covers inclement weather can be found at the Inclement Weather page.