Welcome to the University of Miami! This is a great environment for working, learning, and growing. You are joining more than 13,800 full-time faculty and staff dedicated to serving one of the nation's major research universities.

The University of Miami is the second-largest private employer in Miami-Dade County. More than 15,000 students are enrolled in our schools and colleges and attend classes on the Coral Gables, Miller School of Medicine, and Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science campuses.

We have a diverse population of employees, faculty, and students who come from all 50 states in the nation and more than 110 countries around the world. What brings us together is our common goal of academic excellence. This booklet contains important information about your benefits and our employment policies and procedures. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with this material. For more details, go to our Human Resources Web site at www.miami.edu/hr.

I look forward to meeting you on campus. Good luck with your career at the University.

Sincerely,

Donna E. Shalala

This handbook contains useful information concerning working at the University of Miami. This is not a legal document; it is informational and general in nature and is not intended to create an employment contract for any definite term nor alter the traditional at-will employment relationship. The purpose of this handbook is to provide University employees with a readily available source of information and guidance. Because the information contained in the handbook is general in nature, more specific information should be obtained from the University's Policies and Procedures. The policies stated in this handbook are subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of the University. From time to time you may receive updated information concerning changes in the policy. However, the manual is available on the University's website for your reference. Any questions not answered in the manual may be referred to your supervisor or to the appropriate Human Resources/Faculty Affairs office.