Your First Days

Welcome to California State University, Northridge. To make your transition as smooth as possible, this page provides information you will need on your first day.

How can I get ready for my first day?

There are several employment forms that you should fill out in advance and bring with you on your first day. If your position is eligible for benefits, you can read about the benefits plans so that you will be ready to make a choice when you complete the Sign-In Process.

Where should I go on my first day? How do I get there and where can I park?

An appointment is required to gain entrance to the office. Please email hrcustomerservice@csun.edu to schedule an appointment for any new staff, faculty or student assistant. Additionally, attach a copy of the New Employee Sign-In Form to your appointment request email. This form is generally provided to you by the hiring department. You will receive a response from our HR Customer Service Team within 48 hours, Monday-Friday. To help expedite the process and increase social distancing, please ensure that the new employee completes the electronic new hire forms at home. Do not report to your hiring department's office on campus.

If instructed to do so, you should report to your department/office at the start of your first day. All employees must complete the Sign-In Process before any work can be performed. So by 8:15 a.m., please report to Human Resources, Room 165 University Hall to complete and/or turn in your Sign-In Paperwork and complete the Sign-In Process.

Important:
Before Coming to Campus -

As a new hire, before coming to campus, it is important that you complete the Visitor Health Screening Survey. Provided you are cleared to come to campus, you will receive an email that you then should forward to your hiring manager. You must also be prepared to show a copy of the email you receive to Human Resources when you arrive for your Sign-In appointment.

Once you receive access to the myNorthridge portal, you will need to complete the Employee Screening Survey each day before you come to campus

A temporary Daily Parking Permit may be purchased at an Information Booth, or a vending machine located in each parking structure and most surface lots. You can view a campus map here to determine which lot is located most conveniently near your work area.

What will I need to bring on my first day?

You are required to present the following documents on your first day:

• Documents that satisfy the requirement for the INS Form I-9.
• An original, non-laminated Social Security card to satisfy California state payroll requirements.
• Your new employee paperwork that you downloaded and completed in advance.
• If you submitted your forms via fax or mail, please bring your originals and your I-9 paperwork.

Important:
COVID-19 Vaccination Interim Policy –

In accordance with the CSU COVID-19 Vaccination Interim Policy, faculty, staff and student employees working on campus, are expected to provide certification of full vaccination status or request a medical or religious exemption. Please visit the COVID-19 Vaccination Information page for deadlines and instructions to submit documentation and additional information.
Faculty, staff and student employees working on campus, who do not self-certify that they have been fully vaccinated by the fall semester or who have been provided a medical or religious exemption, will be required to participate in free weekly COVID-19 testing.

When will I get an Employee ID Card?

Upon completing the Sign-In Process, Human Resources will issue you a memo that you can present to University Cash Services on the first floor of Bayramian Hall to have your photograph taken to receive your Photo ID Card. This photo ID will serve as your one-card to purchase a parking decal, receive library privileges, and to be eligible for admission to certain events. A valid driver's license, DMV ID or passport will be required to be shown.

When will I get my pay (Pay Warrant)?

Pay dates vary by your type of position. Staff are paid via a pay warrant, once per month and generally on the last day of the monthly pay period, or the first day of the following month. Student and hourly employees are paid on the 15th of the month. If the 15th of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday or University holiday, payday will be the prior business day. For further clarification, refer to Payroll Basics, or ask your supervisor.

All employees not on direct deposit will have their state pay warrant distributed by U.S. Mail.  This distribution method promotes proper social distancing, as well as assists in transitioning workloads to support the academic year. In order to ensure timely receipt of paychecks, please follow the steps below as soon as possible:

Login to the myNorthridge portal and verify that your home address is accurate.  You can do this by navigating to the Staff tab and accessing the Human Resources/Employee pagelet.  In the pagelet select update my personal info.

Exceptions: 

If this process causes a financial burden to employees, they should email and request an exception to come to campus to physically pick up their pay check. This exception should be made no later than two weeks before payday. 

Direct Deposit

In order to avoid unexpected mailing delays, we also highly encourage you to consider enrolling in direct deposit.  New enrollment may take up to two pay periods to process, so please ensure your home address on file is also up to date. The following link provides information on Direct Deposit for CSUN employees: https://www.csun.edu/payroll/direct-deposit.

Cal Employee Connect

Additionally, employees may view their pay warrant (paycheck) details and IRS Form W-2 by registering with Cal Employee Connect (CEC). CEC is a secure site run by the State of California’s State Controller’s Office and allows state employees to view paycheck information for the current tax year and two prior tax years and view Form W-2 for the past three tax years.  Access to CEC is available for current and former state employees.  More information can be found here: https://www.csun.edu/payroll/cec 

Where can I get more information on my benefits, and when am I eligible?

Update - During Fall 2021:
After you’ve completed your employment documentation with HR, your Benefits Officer will reach out to you via email with your benefit options and instructions on how to enroll. Please allow up to five (5) business days to receive an email while your employment record is being established.

When we all return to on-campus operation, if your first day of employment is a Monday, you will be scheduled to participate in a Monday Morning Orientation (from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.) in the Human Resources Office. During this orientation, HR representatives will review benefit eligibility and options and assist you in completing your enrollment paperwork.

If your position is eligible for benefits, the effective date of medical coverage is the first day of the month following appointment once have submitted enrollment forms. For more information on CSU specific benefits information, please visit our Benefits Administration website.

Schedule, Expectations, Logistics

• Clarify your first week’s schedule, and confirm required and recommended training.
• Set up your personal work-space, email, and voicemail.
• Review your job description, outline of duties, and expectations. Ask how your job fits in the department, and how your job and department contribute to the unit/school and the Institute.
• Ask your manager for an overview of the functional area – its purpose, organizational structure, and goals.
• Review hours of work. Ask questions about policies and procedures for overtime, use of vacation and sick time, holidays, as well as any flexible work policies or procedures.
• Ask any other questions on benefits, important deadlines, and signing up for the in-person New Employee Welcome Orientation session.
• Ask your manager about:
• Employee key(s) and building access codes.
• Transportation and parking.
• Department-specific safety and emergency information.
• How to get additional supplies.

Engagement  

• Be prepared to meet coworkers on the first day.
• Introduce yourself to others in the workplace.
• Take a tour of the campus.