Payroll

Administrative Department

What We Do

We handle payroll setup and processing for all employee types, including Faculty and Professional Administrative positions. Our team manages additional pay requests such as PSA’s, overloads, and stipends, and keeps your tax (W-4) and direct deposit information up to date. We oversee payroll deductions and vendor payments, issue off-cycle checks and annual W-2s, and complete employment verifications. We also support EPAFs, FLAC, and Web Time Entry, and process final pay for terminations and other employment changes.

Email payroll.office@unco.edu
Phone 970-351-2700
Location Carter Hall Room 3002
Fax 970-351-2852
Address Campus Box 5

Payroll Requirements for Students Working on Campus

Students Performing Work on Campus are paid thru Payroll

IRS Treasure Reg 1.117-4, basically states that; income for student services is considered wages for employment tax purposes and are subject to employment tax withholding and reporting requirements. Work/services that are for the betterment of the university or for a grant or for something that the University does, as a business, should be paid thru Payroll.

Exception:
If, they were doing something as a side business that the university could hire them for, then they would be an independent contractor and a 1099 would be more appropriate. This results in the student being liable for the reporting of the taxation for this type of pay.

Student Employee Help

Using your student log in-Log into URSA

You will need to access your Dashboard, the same area you enter your hours into your timesheet.

Student Hourly – click on the Student Tab, then click on the Employee Dashboard link under the Student Employees section.

(1) To see your Paystubs click on “All Paystubs” choose the year and then click on the blue date to open the paystub for detailed information.
(2) To see your Direct Deposit Allocation click on “Direct Deposit Information”.
(3) To see your W2; click on Taxes on the left-hand side-then click on W-2 Wage and Tax Statement. Choose Year and then choose “Printable W-2” at the bottom of the page to print.

NOTE: If you haven’t consented to an electronic form, you will be asked to do that before you can view or print your W2.

Enter Hourly Timesheets Dashboard

Student Employee Retirement Plan (SERP)

SERP & MEDICARE Q&A

Q: What is SERP?

A: The Student Employee Retirement Plan is a Colorado State mandated retirement plan requiring contributions from gross pay by all “eligible” student employees in lieu of traditional Social Security contributions.

Q: What is Medicare?

A: Medicare is a federal government health insurance program that also requires contributions from gross pay that provides health insurance for people:

  • Age 65 or older
  • Under age 65 with certain disabilities

Q: What is Social Security?

A: Social Security is a federally mandated supplemental retirement system in the US.

  • Established in 1939 as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “New Deal”.
  • Intended to counter conditions witnessed during the Great Depression.
  • Ensures that retired/disabled citizens are not left in dire poverty by providing monthly subsistence.
  • Important: If we didn’t have SERP, you would have to pay into Social Security.

Q: How much is deducted from my pay?

A: Total of 8.95% from your gross pay.

  • SERP – 5%
    • A retirement savings account will be established in the student’s name at TIAA/CREF for all SERP contributions.
  • Medicare – 45%
    • Contributions made to Medicare go to support that fund for current recipients of Medicare.

Q: Is participation mandatory?

A: Yes, unless certain conditions are met.

Q: What conditions must I meet to be exempt?

A: Summer Semester:

  • Undergraduate & Graduate Students – officially admitted as a degree- seeking student at UNC and enrolled at least half-time (defined as 3 credits) for a summer term running concurrently with your work schedule.
  1. Fall and Spring Semesters
  • Undergraduate Students – officially admitted as a degree-seeking student and enrolled at least half-time (6 credits).
  • Graduate Students – officially admitted as a degree-seeking student and enrolled at least half-time (5 credits).

Q: How and when is my SERP/Medicare contribution eligibility determined?

A: Enrollment is checked prior to each Semi-Monthly Payroll

  • If not enrolled at least half-time at the time of SERP enrollment check, student is assessed SERP/Medicare.
  • No exceptions.

Q: Do I have access to the money contributed to SERP or Medicare?

A: SERP:

  • Allows for a refund of your contributions and any interest upon termination of employment AND departure from the University as a student.
  • Warning: If you withdraw your funds, those funds will likely be taxed as ordinary income in the year it is withdrawn and may also be subject to an additional 10% early withdrawal penalty.

Note: You cannot withdraw any Social Security contributions.

Medicare:

  • Not allowed to withdraw the contributions made to Medicare.

Other options available when managing my SERP contributions after graduation or leaving the University:

  • Maintain the retirement account with TIAA-CREF.
  • Roll over the account to an IRA with TIAA-CREF or another firm, or another employer sponsored retirement plan.

Retro Hours and Sick Leave Dashboard

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