Colgate believes in maintaining a healthy work force, both physically and mentally, and recognizes the importance of maintaining and promoting the health and well-being of its employees.
Athletic Facilities
Facility memberships are available through a payment and ID system for Colgate employees and their immediate family. A facility membership card or a Colgate ID is required for the use of the Fitness Center, Lineberry Pool, Huntington Gym Courts, Sanford Field House Tennis Courts, and Sanford Field House Track. Colgate employees can use facilities during open hours by producing their Colgate ID.
CU Well Employee Wellness
Colgate has partnered with Virgin Pulse, an innovative wellness program provider, to help employees lead a healthier lifestyle in a fun and engaging way. Virgin Pulse offers periodic on-site biometric screenings, wellness coaches, and a variety of health tools, nutrition and physical activity trackers, and education resources through their secure website.
The CU Well Focus on Fitness program sponsored by human resources and the Trudy Fitness Center offers wellness classes to our employees and their spouses/partners during the lunch hour and after work. This program is designed to encourage a healthier lifestyle through regular exercise.
Shaw Wellness Institute
The Shaw Wellness Institute encourages the establishment of healthy, purposeful, and balanced lifestyles within the Colgate community. By providing information through interesting and creative means, we help develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that become the foundation for a lifetime of healthy behaviors.
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield
Excellus BlueCross and BlueShield members can access tools to assist them in locating a doctor or hospital, learn how generic prescriptions can save you money, research health topics, compare hospitals, take a health assessment, and more.
Relph Benefit Advisors
Relph Benefit Advisors (RBA) provides a single point of contact for assistance understanding and navigating Colgate University’s medical, prescription, dental and flexible spending plans. RBA services are available for employees, your spouse or domestic partner and your children at no cost. Relph Benefit Advisors will help with locating providers, ordering replacement I.D. cards, estimating out-of-pocket costs and plan coverage, resolving provider billing and insurance claims, facilitating approvals and prior authorizations for services, and providing support for out-of-area services. For assistance email cuservice@relph.net, or call 1-800-836-0026 x7268, Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Chenango Nursery School
Colgate provides scholarships or subsidies to Colgate employees who meet financial criteria, based on total family income, for their children to attend Chenango Nursery School (CNS). The goal of the scholarship fund is to help make CNS affordable for more Colgate employees. There may be other outside sources of funding available to income eligible employees. For more information on CNS or on financial aid, contact Sarah Chesebro at 315-824-1810. All inquiries and applications are completely confidential.
Employee Assistance Programs
BRiDGES (315-697-3947)
BRiDGES EAP is a workplace benefit that provides assessment, referral, and short-term counseling to employees and their immediate family members. All callers will receive up to five free sessions per issue per year with an EAP professional or confidential support.
BRiDGES is available by phone Monday-Friday, from 8am-5pm. In person, virtual and phone sessions are available by appointment.
Should you need assistant after 5pm you can still call BRiDGES at 315-697-3947. You may leave a message and your call will be returned during regular business hours. Evening appointments are available by appointment only.
Sign up to receive BRiDGES general newsletter by visiting their website and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page until you see Newsletter sign-up.
HigherEd EAP (1-800-252-4555)
HigherEd EAP offers a broad array of tools and services to help with problems that might affect your personal or work life. A few examples include: stress, elder care, grief, depression, mental health, and substance abuse issues. HigherEd EAP also provides a comprehensive wellness benefit designed to help your overall health and well-being, such as losing weight, improving nutrition, getting fit, stopping tobacco use, and reducing stress.
This benefit also provides personal and professional development opportunities, from training to one-on-one telephonic coaching in the following areas: balancing life at work and home, effective communication, student debt, yoga and relaxation for beginners, certified financial coaching, and more.
To access the program, simply call the toll-free number 1-800-252-4555 to talk to a counselor who will work with you to develop an action plan to address your needs or to assist in finding a local provider. You can also access online information at HigherEdEAP.com for thousands of problem-solving resources and self-help tools. Click on the Employee & Family Login link at the top of the page to create your account. Or, view a flier that highlights the services and benefits available through the EAP.
Excellus Behavioral Health Telemedicine (1-866-692-5045)
Excellus telemedicine service provides video conference access to psychiatrists or a variety of licensed therapists. The service provides recurring appointments to establish an ongoing relationship with one therapist or referal to a local provider with the Excellus network.
If interested in behavioral health counseling, take one of Excellus' free online assessments at MDLIVE.com/BH-Assessments. Some of the conditions people rely on behavioral health telemedicine are addition, Bipolar Disorders, Depression, Eating Disorders, Grief and Loss, LGBTQ Support, Panic Disorders, Stress, Trauma and PTSD.
Access to telemedicine service can be found at 1-866-692-5045, text Excellus to 635483, download the MDLIVE app, register/log in at ExcellusBCBS.com/Member.
Those enrolled in Colgate's health insurance plan have access to the telemedicine service. There is a no copay cost for this benefit.
Madison County Mental Health Department
The Mental Health Department offers a crisis line 24-hours a day. You can call 315-366-2327 and press 1. During business hours, this line goes to office staff where clients may ask to speak to an available clinician. Individuals are also seen at the office on an emergency walk-in basis.
Madison County Trails
The Partnership for Community Development has created a website that includes a comprehensive map of walking, hiking, and biking trails in southern Madison County, including Colgate's Harry Lang cross country and fitness trails.