Staff FAQs

If you don’t see answers to your questions below, please visit the General FAQ page or review this FAQ compiled by Payroll and Accounts Payable. There are also many useful resources on our Working from Home page. If you still can't find the information you're looking for, please email saicinfo@saic.edu. 

This information was last updated on Wednesday, March 31.

With departmental approval, faculty and staff may access campus at any time. Visitors and guests (including family members) are not allowed on campus at this time. Security desks are staffed from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Outside of these hours, we ask that employees get an online overnight pass.

Anyone returning to campus must first take safety training which outlines health, safety, and shared responsibility requirements. The training will highlight the importance of performing daily wellness and temperature checks and the expectations of those coming to campus. A link to take the training was sent to all faculty and staff before the fall term. Please familiarize yourself with Our Shared Responsibilities before your return.

We have created temporary policies to provide guidance on how to manage time away from work in the event that you have been exposed to or have COVID-19 or are otherwise required to self-quarantine. Click here to learn more.

Transportation deductions are taken on the first pay period of each month to be available to use the first of the following month. Transportation deductions can be changed in PeopleSoft Self Service. We have documented the steps you need to take if you would like to stop or change your Ventra deductions. Please follow the steps outlined in this document: Stopping and Restarting Ventra Deductions, and note that Payroll will need time to process your changes.

Additionally, if you are currently signed up for a 30-day Ventra pass, you may wish to convert the April pass (which was funded with March pretax deductions) from a 30-day pass to a funded value pay per use that you can use at a future date. This can be done at ventrachicago.com. Payroll cannot process this change as these funds have already been transferred to Ventra.

If you have any questions, please contact payroll@artic.edu.

Concur is available with an internet connection. VPN is not required. To access Concur, visit concur.artic.edu. You will be directed to the intranet login page; use your intranet (gmail) credentials to log in. Please contact concurap@artic.edu with any issues.

Concur is available with an internet connection. VPN is not required. To access Concur, visit concur.artic.edu. You will be directed to the intranet login page; use your intranet (gmail) credentials to log in. Please contact concurap@artic.edu with any issues. Note that all attachment requirements still apply.

Currently, accounts payable is operating on a normal schedule and has the necessary building access to print checks. Concur Invoice users can access Concur from home. We strongly encourage employees to continue inputting and approving invoices timely so that we can continue operations as normally as possible. 

 If you are not yet a Concur Invoice user, you have two options to pay vendors:

  • If you are an existing Concur user for Pcard or T&E who is familiar with the system, contact concurap@artic.edu to request the addition of the Invoice module to your Concur account. Please indicate the department numbers that you regularly charge so that we can also identify the approvers who will be impacted. A User Guide will be provided to you that provides detailed instructions on how to use Concur Invoice.
  • All others can submit the invoice, Invoice Payment Request form (link) and if necessary, approved contract cover sheet to ap@artic.edu. Accounts payable will enter the invoice in Concur so that appropriate approvals are documented. You do not need to request payment approval signatures on the invoice or IPR; approval to pay by departments will be handled within the Concur approval workflow. 

Staff and faculty with questions about their health are encouraged to reach out to their primary care provider for medical concerns or the employee assistance program for mental health support. Additionally, for questions regarding benefits and coverage, benefits-eligible faculty and staff may contact Blue Cross Blue Shield at 855.418.9393. Benefits-eligible faculty and staff may also reach out to Telehealth at 855.667.9722 or MDLIVE at 888.726.3171 for questions about their health.

Any additional questions about benefits and leave can be sent to benefits@artic.edu.

Please notify Irina Melnik, director of employee benefits, at imelnik@artic.edu or 312.629.3382. In order to protect the employee’s privacy, do not notify any additional staff members. HR will partner with you to manage all required communications to appropriate staff. 

Though individual identities will be protected in accordance with CDPH guidelines and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the CDPH and CDC will announce new cases publicly. We will also share statistical information with the School community on saic.edu/alerts. 

First, collect the student’s contact information and instruct them to self-isolate. You should then contact the dean on call at 312.768.8485, who will reach out to Health Services. Health Services will then connect directly with the student to discuss symptoms and exposure and will contact the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). Health Services will also update the dean on call regarding recommendations for the student, who will then notify the appropriate staff members at the School. 
 
Though individual identities will be protected in accordance with CDPH guidelines and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the CDPH and CDC will announce new cases publicly. We will also share statistical information with the School community on saic.edu/alerts. 

Please notify Irina Melnik, director of employee benefits, at imelnik@artic.edu or 312.629.3382. In order to protect the employee’s privacy, do not notify any additional staff members. HR will partner with you to manage all required communications to appropriate staff. 

Though individual identities will be protected in accordance with CDPH guidelines and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the CDPH and CDC will announce new cases publicly. We will also share statistical information with the School community on saic.edu/alerts.

Inaugurated by Anita Sinha, Chair of the Board of Governors of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and supported by faculty, staff, alums, and friends of SAIC, an emergency relief fund has been established for students. Students may apply to this grant fund to support their emergency needs caused by the COVID-19 health crisis, including living expenses, online learning needs, and food assistance. These awards are not loans; they neither accrue interest or need to be paid back. All monies raised for the Student Emergency Relief Fund will go directly to students.

Students seeking support from either the Student Emergency Relief Fund or the CARES Act should complete this form. Each request will be considered in relation to all requests, with priority consideration given to students of greatest need.

Unfortunately, the School cannot reimburse staff for parking expenses.