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Communication for the staff and faculty of
The University of Texas at Dallas |
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COVID-19 Information, Resources
During the disruption of regular services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Communications is maintaining a collection of information and resources for staff, faculty and students. For the latest information, visit the COVID-19 website, which will be updated frequently with FAQs and the latest information.
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Save the Date: Annual Benefits Enrollment Is July 15-31
The UT Dallas Annual Benefits Enrollment will be July 15-31. During this time period, you can:
- Make changes to your benefits.
- Enroll or re-enroll in UT FLEX (employees only; enrollment does not automatically renew).
- Add or remove dependents from your coverage plan. Please review your dependents.
- You may also add or change your beneficiaries for your life and AD&D coverage. If this year’s annual enrollment is your first time to log in to the new My UT Benefits, please know that beneficiaries posted on the old My UT Benefits are not visible on the new My UT Benefits, but are recorded at Blue Cross Blue Shield (formerly Dearborn National).
An email announcing the opening of Annual Benefits Enrollment will be sent to all benefits-eligible employees by Wednesday, July 15. After you receive the email, log in to My UT Benefits and follow the on-screen instructions to make your selections or changes. Make sure to print your confirmation statement after you make any changes. Enrollment must be completed before midnight Central Time on Friday, July 31.
The UT System Office of Employee Benefits will announce any changes to the FY2020-2021 benefits plans in the “A Matter of Health” newsletter prior to the annual enrollment period. Please monitor your University email account for this information and for campus-specific details from UT Dallas.
Benefits-eligible employees may also attend the UT Dallas Virtual Benefits & Wellness Fair from July 20-31. Don’t miss out on the educational opportunities and fun activities, such as the Magic Parlour, during the kickoff day. Watch your email for more information about this event soon.
For assistance or more information, contact the UT Dallas Office of Human Resources — Benefits Services via email at [email protected] or contact us via Teams.
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Athletics Associate Director Selected for NCAA Pathway Program
Angela Marin, UT Dallas associate director of athletics, is one of 20 senior-level administrators selected to participate in the NCAA Pathway Program in 2020-21.
The goal of the year-long NCAA Pathway Program is to prepare these administrators to attain positions as athletics directors or conference commissioners. Participants engage in a series of experiential learning opportunities focused on advancing them to the top role in an athletics department or conference, while building their skills to thrive in their current duties.
"I am incredibly grateful to the NCAA for this opportunity," Marin said. "I look forward to a year of both personal and professional growth and am honored to walk alongside some of the top administrators in collegiate athletics. I hope to make my Comet family proud." Learn more about the NCAA Pathway Program
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Hear the Latest HR News at the HR Forum Today
The Office of Human Resources will host its HR Forum from 10 to 11:30 a.m., today, as a Microsoft Teams Live Event. Please install Microsoft Teams prior to joining. If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk.
Unlike a traditional Teams meeting, you are not able to “dial in” to a live event. Audio will stream from your computer. Please ensure your speakers are on or use a headset connected to your device. Closed captioning is available, and there will be a moderated Q-and-A forum.
Join the HR Forum and share this link with your colleagues. Please refer to the agenda:
- Welcome, Colleen Dutton, chief human resources officer
- General announcements, You Asked, We Answered; Living Our Values Task Force; COVID 19 and return to campus update; COVID-19 health screening and training program coordinator
- Guest, Larry Zacharias, chief of police: UTD policing philosophy
- Resource guides for employee and managers, Colleen Dutton
- Employment and compensation, Nancy Joseph: Find Out Fridays employment forum
- Benefits and wellness, Taylor Tran: Wellness updates
- Closing comments
For more information, visit the HR Forum page.
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Upgrade Your VPN to Global Protect by July 15
The Office of Information Technology has upgraded the University’s supported Virtual Private Network (VPN) to the Palo Alto Global Protect client. This will replace the Cisco AnyConnect VPN client. If you are still utilizing AnyConnect, please begin using Global Protect as soon as possible. Cisco AnyConnect will stop working at UT Dallas on Wednesday, July 15. Learn more about Global Protect
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University Upgrading Its Wireless Network
The Office of Information Technology has launched a multiyear project of upgrading the University’s wireless network solution from Cisco Systems to Mist by Juniper Networks.
Mist combines artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data science with the latest wireless technologies to deliver a smart, agile and scalable solution that optimizes the wireless experience and brings insight into the network.
Most users should experience improved performance and coverage with the upgrade to Mist. However, some older devices may no longer connect to the new wireless network. With this in mind, OIT is broadcasting a second wireless network, called Cometnet_Legacy. OIT recommends using this network only if your device cannot connect to CometNet as most of the benefits of Mist are not enabled on this network. Learn more about Mist
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Exploring Innovation in the Learning Landscape
Grab your lunch from noon-1 p.m., on Thursday, July 16, and join a virtual meeting, Leadership & Talent Strategies to Drive Innovation, with Laurie Burruss, LinkedIn Learning's education innovation advisor. Register online using Microsoft Forms to receive the link to the Teams Live event.
As educators, how can we identify and foster the key tenants of innovation? If we focus on producing innovators, not subject matter experts, how might we shift our teaching approach? What lessons can we learn from real world leaders who possess the traits of risk-taking, curiosity, and creativity?
This session will provide practical examples of how to incorporate questioning, experimentation, observation, association, and sharing into our curriculums. Join us as we provide and compare examples.
The session is hosted by the Office of Information Technology, Center for Teaching and Learning, and Eugene McDermott Library.
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Campus to Career: Employment Outcomes for Business Analytics Graduates
Approximately 16% of graduate students at UT Dallas pursue a master of science in business analytics, the largest such program in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Learn what kinds of jobs they're getting and how much they're making after they graduate in the June report from the Economic Development team in the Office of Facilities & Economic Development. Download a PDF of the report or email Rachel Brasier for more information.
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Office of Research Events
Center Stage Seminar Series, 3 p.m., today — The Office of Research will host Dr. Reza Moheimani, James Von Ehr Distinguished Chair in Science and Technology, professor of systems engineering, and founder and director of the Laboratory for Dynamics and Control of Nanosystems and the Center for Atomically Precise Fabrication of Solid-State Quantum Devices. Moheimani will showcase research taking place at the center, including applications of control and estimation in high-precision mechatronic systems, high-speed scanning probe microscopy, and atomically precise manufacturing of solid-state quantum devices. Registration is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
Research 411: Human Subjects and Veterans Talk Show, 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 7 — The Office of Research and the Military and Veteran Center will lead a discussion on special considerations when conducting human subjects research projects that include veterans. Speakers will be Amanda Boone, research director, and Lisa Adams, director of the Military and Veteran Center. Registration is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
Lab to Launch Series: Fundraising, noon, Monday, July 13 — The Office of Research will host Bryan Chambers, director of UT Dallas Seed Fund and vice president of accelerator and investment fund at Capital Factory. Chambers will discuss various fundraising strategies and funding opportunities for transitioning from the lab to a startup. The Lab to Launch online seminar series is sponsored by the Office of Research, in partnership with the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Blackstone LaunchPad. Registration is required. For more information, email Anricka Ziller.
Research 411: The Social Impact of COVID-19 Talk Show, 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 14 — The Office of Research welcomes guest speakers Rafael Martin, UT Dallas vice president and chief of staff, and Dr. Timothy Bray, associate professor of practice of public policy and political economy to this talk show. They will discuss Bray’s research, statistics and information related to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Registration is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
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Reminders
Comets Return to Campus: Workplace Guide
UT Dallas has developed the Comets Return to Campus Workplace Guide. You can also download PDFs in both English and Spanish. In this document, you will find guidelines that address the expectations for employees returning to work on campus and the resources that will be available to them.
The decision on when to return will be made in consultation with public health officials and executive leadership. However, employees asked to return to campus will be given at least one week’s notice.
We understand that many of you may have concerns about health risks associated with returning to campus and/or concerns about caring for dependents whose normal summer activities have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Supervisors will exercise discretion and exhibit flexibility in working with employees to address these concerns.
Online Coding Camp Offers Discount to Children of Faculty, Staff
There is still time to register your children for the online Summer Coding Camps offered by the Department of Computer Science. The weekly online camps continue through Friday, Aug. 7.
The full-day, one-week camp costs $250; the half-day, one-week camp costs $150. All immediate families of UT Dallas faculty, staff and students qualify for a 20% discount.
Visit events.circuitree.com/UTD to register using your UTD email address, select your camp, then email [email protected] to request the discount, and proceed to pay once the discount is applied.
Register for Free Virtual Fitness Classes
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas has partnered with Tivity Health to provide UT System employees with free virtual fitness classes.
Tivity Health, which administers the Well onTarget Fitness program, is introducing Prime Live Virtual Classes, made available through Tivity's Prime Network. Participants can enjoy a variety of live, full-length fitness classes hosted through Zoom from the comfort of home and at no additional cost.
The classes are open to all employees; you don't have to be Well onTarget Fitness program members. Classes include, boot camp, yoga, dance, strength training, cardio-interval workouts and more
To sign up, visit this registration link and provide your name and email address. Once enrolled, you can RSVP for classes and will receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link to access the class shortly after registering.
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About This Newsletter
InterCom is the official University-wide newsletter for UT Dallas faculty and staff members. This periodic publication is designed to provide University employees with important information necessary for the workplace, as well as community news that supports the University's mission. Guidelines about content and submissions can be found here or contact Robert Tracy at [email protected] or ext. 3521. |
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