Workplace Health & Safety

IMPROVING YOUR WORKSPACE ERGONOMICS

Workspace discomfort can lead to aches and pains in your back, neck and muscles and general fatigue that increases your stress.

You can improve your work-space comfort by making these simple changes:

• Adjust your computer. Set the computer so you look slightly downward at the screen. Typing materials should be at eye level.
• Improve lighting. Fine-tune your workspace lighting with a desk lamp that allows you to adjust the light angle.
• Reduce glare. Reposition your computer terminal so it's perpendicular to a window. Use an inexpensive, glare-reducing screen that attaches to the terminal if you can't reposition your computer.
• Add a footrest. Raising your feel and legs makes sitting more comfortable, helps relieve pressure on the back and legs and improves circulation.
• Get oriented. Adjust the chair height so your feel rest flat on the floor. Be sure the front edge of the seat doesn't create excessive pressure behind your knees. Sit in a slightly reclined position and keep the angle between your torso and thighs at 90+ or more.
• Get support. A chair with a seat and back contoured to your body will reduce muscle strain by maintaining the proper S-shaped curve in your spine. It is particularly important to support the spine's lower-lumbar region by adjusting your chair or adding a back support.
• Position your arms. Position the seat, armrest, work surface, keyboard, wrist and/or palm rest so your arms are parallel to the floor and your wrists are straight. Make sure your shoulders and neck are relaxed.
• Place your keyboard directly in front of you so you don't have to twist your body to reach it.
• Keep your mouse within easy reach of the keyboard.
• Position the computer monitor or documents you're typing from directly in front of you and an arm's length away.

Source: Vitality on Demand

Policy Spotlight

The Administrative/Staff Handbook can be found here or on the "V" drive at: V:\PUBLIC\HR\HANDBOOK

TUITION REMISSION FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND FACULTY HIRED AFTER JUNE 1, 1983

Full-time administrators and staff are eligible for 80 percent tuition remission for themselves, spouses and dependents (through age 23) for baccalaureate work (not to exceed 130 semester units) and fifth year credential work (not to exceed 36 semester units). There is no waiting period. The reduction does not apply to fees.

Effective June 1, 2005, full-time employees are eligible for 100% tuition remission for one course per term. Employees who are eligible for tuition remission and who work less than full-time shall benefit proportionately to their hours of employment.

Administrators with half-time annual contracts or greater and staff who work 30 hours per week or more shall benefit proportionately to their hours of employment. Dependents are defined as natural or adopted children whose status qualifies them for exemption for federal income tax purposes. This policy excludes foreign exchange students and foster children.

Tuition remission for eligible spouses and unmarried dependents will be reduced by their scholarships and grants from other sources so that total scholarships and grants will not exceed California Lutheran University's tuition. Employees who are eligible for Cal Grants for their dependents are expected to apply through the Financial Aid Office each year by March 1st for grants awarded the following year. If a Cal grant is awarded to an employee's dependents, the University will continue to grant tuition remission. The combined total award from Cal Grant and CLU's tuition remission program may not exceed 100% of tuition costs.

Prior to registering for a course for which one is entitled to a tuition discount, it is the responsibility of the employee to first secure an application from the Human Resources Office. Only via this manner does the Financial Aid Office know what charges should be applied. This should be done at least two (2) weeks in advance of registration.

Tuition remission for graduate work is available for employees only.

Tuition remission for the Ed.D. program is available to full-time employees on a limited basis beginning with the 2007-08 academic year. In order to be eligible to receive this benefit, employees must meet the enrollment criteria for admission to the program and be recommended by their respective dean or vice president. Tuition remission for this program will be awarded at 50% to no more than 20% of an entering doctoral cohort. (Example: Four CLU employees would be eligible to receive tuition remission in a cohort of 20 students; three employees would be eligible for this benefit in a cohort of 15). The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs must approve all of the tuition remission awards for this program.

Those individuals selected to receive this benefit are expected to remain employed at CLU for at least four years after completion of the Ed.D program. If an employee does not remain at CLU for a full four years, he/she will be expected to repay the value of the tuition remission given on a prorated basis depending upon the actual years of service completed after earning an Ed.D. If the institution elects not to continue employment and initiates a separation, the recipient will not be expected to repay the value of the tuition remission. (Revised July 2007)

If the university terminates the employment of an individual who is enrolled in classes or whose spouse and/or children are enrolled in classes, CLU will continue to grant tuition remission through that current semester.

Should an employee die or become permanently disabled while spouse and/or children are enrolled, California Lutheran University will continue to grant tuition remission through that current year. Future benefits are allowed deceased employee's spouse and children if the employee has been employed for 10 or more years.

Tuition remission forms can be found here.