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Communication for the staff and faculty of
The University of Texas at Dallas |
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Wednesday, September 23, 2020 |
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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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Registration Is Required for Free Flu Shot on Oct. 5-6
Flu shot clinics for faculty, staff and retirees will be held Oct. 5-6 on the main campus, at the Center for Vital Longevity, Callier Center Dallas and the Center for BrainHealth. The deadline to register for an appointment is Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Flu shots are free to employees with or without accepted insurance. Vitamin B12 shots will be offered for additional fees (not covered by insurance) and TDaP (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccines will be available at Callier Center Dallas only.
- Registration is required to accommodate cleaning and social distancing requirements.
- Completion of the daily health screen will be required prior to coming to campus.
- Report at your appointment time only.
- No walk-ins will be allowed in order to maintain social distancing.
- Masks are required while on campus and during the flu clinics.
View the flyer and register online to get the necessary consent form. Bring the following items to your preferred location:
- Your filled-out consent form.
- Your Comet Card.
- A photocopy of your driver's license or state-issued ID.
- A photocopy of your insurance card.
Monday, October 5
- 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Office of Human Resources (Suite AD 3.108)
- 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Center for Vital Longevity (Break Room, 801)
- 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Callier Center Dallas (Room B108)
- 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Center for BrainHealth (CBH Reception Hall, 1.104)
Tuesday, October 6
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HR Forum Scheduled for Oct. 7
The Office of Human Resources will host its next HR Forum from 10-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, 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. If you have questions for the HR Forum, send them to [email protected].
Please refer to the agenda:
- Welcome: Colleen Dutton, chief human resources officer
- Standing Items for HR Forum
- You Asked, We Answered
- Updates:
- Return to Campus
- Living Our Values Task Force - Rafael MartÃn, chief of staff
- Guests
- Arthur Gregg, Multicultural Center
- Hillary Campbell, Comet Cupboard
- UT Dallas Police Department, Chief Larry Zacharias
- Deer Oaks Employee Assistance Program Update: Celeste Burnett, human resources group manager
- Talent Development, Fall Update: Jillian McNally, talent development specialist
- Closing Comments
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Learn the Secret to Work-Life Balance in Online Seminar
It can be difficult to meet the demands of work without compromising your personal life. Deer Oaks EAP’s online session will share the secret to securing a healthy work-life balance.
To watch the online seminar, visit the Deer Oaks website and enter utdallas for the username and password.
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Lace Up for Fall Wellness Challenge
Walktober is a fun way to take advantage of fall’s cooler temperatures as you step out and step up to better health.
During October, log your steps or exercise minutes through the mobile app or manually and earn colorful leaves. The goal is to get at least 6,000 steps or 30 minutes of exercise daily and earn at least 20 leaves.
There will be the option of earning an extra point on Thrive Thursdays for those participating on a team. The top three UT Dallas employees will win prizes. The UT System institution that earns the most leaves will win the system-wide Traveling Trophy.
Important dates:
- Registration: Now through Oct. 9.
- Walktober: Oct. 1-31.
- Last day to log steps: Nov. 3.
Register today by logging on at utlivingwell.com and clicking “opt in.”
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Did You Attend the Benefits Fair? Take HR’s Survey
The Office of Human Resources would like to thank everyone who attended the 2020 UT Dallas Virtual Benefits & Wellness Fair. The team invites participants to provide feedback by filling out a short survey. Your input will help HR enhance its service.
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Webinars Offer Support for Mental Health, Handling Stress
Deer Oaks Employee Assistance Program is offering live webinars to help support UT Dallas staff and faculty. Employees can participate anonymously and submit questions during a live Q-and-A session after the presentation. Sessions will be recorded and available to watch afterward.
Click on the links for more information and to register.
Additional dates and topics are being planned. For more information, email [email protected].
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Emergency Paid Sick Leave, Emergency Family Medical Leave Update
The Department of Labor recently provided clarification on how Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and Emergency Family Medical Leave (EFML) are applicable to school closures, openings and/or partial reopenings due to COVID-19. Please refer to the following scenarios below for a brief explanation:
Scenario 1: School operating on alternate days or other hybrid-attendance
The school is effectively “closed” to your child on days that he or she cannot attend in person. You may take paid leave under the FFCRA on each of your child’s remote-learning days.
Scenario 2: School is providing a choice between in person or remote learning
You are not eligible to take paid leave under the FFCRA because your child’s school is not “closed” due to COVID-19 related reasons; it is open for your child to attend.
Scenario 3: School is starting with remote learning and then migrating to in-person learning
You are eligible to take paid leave under the FFCRA while your child’s school remains closed. If your child's school reopens, the availability of paid leave under the FFCRA will depend on the particulars of the school’s operations. Refer to the answers for the previous two scenarios.
Refer to the COVID-19 website for more details on the above scenarios. For more detailed information on EPSL and EFML, visit the workplace continuity page. Email request forms and questions to [email protected].
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UTDPD To Collect Toys for CASA, Food for Comet Cupboard
The UT Dallas Police Department invites you to support two charities on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
UTDPD, in partnership with UTD Delta Delta Delta and Kappa Alpha Theta, is collecting unwrapped Christmas toys and shelf stable food items at the department’s lobby on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The lobby is always open, so no appointment is needed. The toys will be delivered to CASA of Collin County and food items will go to the Comet Cupboard.
In a non-pandemic year, UTDPD collects these items at its National Night Out cookout. The annual event allows the campus community to get to know and help each other.
For more information, email David Spigelmyer or call 972-883-4322.
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NetIDplus Protection for Galaxy Launches on Sept. 27
Last year, the Information Security Office (ISO) announced the rollout of NetIDplus, powered by Duo, for Box and Office 365 (including OneDrive and Teams). Since then, UT Dallas has secured millions of legitimate authentications into those applications while making it harder for criminals to gain access.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, ISO will expand Duo coverage to include Galaxy (also known as PeopleSoft), to better protect sensitive information. Users will experience a single Duo prompt when they initially log into Galaxy and will have the option to remember their device for 30 days to prevent repeated prompts.
If you haven’t enrolled yet, please do so before Friday, Sept. 25 to ensure you are ready for the increased protection of Galaxy.
For more information, email [email protected].
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Adolescent Reasoning Initiative Named Nonprofit Team of the Year
The Center for BrainHealth’s Adolescent Reasoning Initiative was named Nonprofit Team of the Year at the third annual Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards.
This honor reflects the team’s work in training teachers to guide middle and high school students in improving their executive function skills. For more than a decade, Dr. Jacquelyn Gamino and her team at BrainHealth have trained teachers in cognitive science-based programming that instills reasoning, problem-solving and innovation among students across the entire curriculum.
“We are grateful for this recognition of the work the Adolescent Reasoning Initiative does to ensure that students learn to use executive function that not only improves their academics, but also opens the way to a lifetime of problem-solving, reasoning, and innovating. These skills will enable today’s students to be tomorrow’s movers and shakers, filling the workforce with problem solvers and creators for the future,” Gamino said. Read more about the award
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OUE Offers Tools for Faculty
The Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) provides several resources for faculty members.
The Early Alert function – found in the course roster section of the Faculty Center in Orion – will let faculty refer students who are struggling with progress or behavior issues to multiple campus resources.
One resource is the Graduation Help Desk, a one-stop contact for faculty to refer undergraduates who need assistance with academic and nonacademic issues that could adversely impact their academic performance, belonging, persistence or completion.
In addition, faculty can select the “Conduct - Academic Dishonesty Referral or Student Concerns - BAIT Referral” for important Dean of Students forms.
For more information, visit the Graduation Help Desk site.
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Apply for Staff Council Scholarships by Oct. 1
The deadline to apply for a Fall Staff Council Scholarship is Oct. 1.
All staff members who meet the following criteria may submit an application:
- Attending community colleges, universities or accredited vocational schools.
- Minimum of six months of employment at UT Dallas.
- Benefits eligible (50 percent or more); graduate assistants are not eligible.
- Maintain an overall 2.5 GPA (undergraduate) or 3.0 GPA (graduate).
Scholarships of $300 per awardee, per semester will be granted. For more information, email [email protected].
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Dallas-Fort Worth Labor Market Research Results
In the second part of its research on Dallas-Fort Worth’s evolving labor market, the UT Dallas Economic Development team analyzed nearly three decades of the local labor market to find that employment growth for management, professional and service jobs had doubled during this time. July 2020’s DFW Labor Market Update shows a 7% increase in job postings from June.
For more information on how UT Dallas and our local economy affect each other, please contact Rachel Brasier in the Economic Development team.
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UT Dallas To Host Virtual Economic Development Summit
UT Dallas will be inviting regional business, political and economic development leaders to attend its second Economic Development Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
This year’s virtual conference will focus on strategies for how the region can move forward under unprecedented circumstances. Robert Kaplan, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, will be the keynote speaker.
For more information, please contact Jenny Mizutowicz.
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Statement of Support for Employee Resource Groups
The University of Texas at Dallas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. As one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the country, it is our intention to go beyond the requirements of these laws in our efforts to achieve excellence. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) offer an outstanding opportunity to help accomplish this goal by providing support systems within our University to foster awareness, respect, and inclusion. Read President Richard Benson’s letter |
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Notice of Title IX Policy, Resources
The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on sex in accordance with federal and state laws, including Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972.
The University’s Prohibited Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Sexual Misconduct Policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, which includes discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Sexual misconduct is a form of sex discrimination and will not be tolerated. Sexual misconduct includes sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, stalking, sexual exploitation, domestic violence and/or dating violence. The University prohibits retaliation.
To report prohibited conduct, complete the secure online form on the Title IX website, or email [email protected].
Crimes should be reported to the UT Dallas Police Department by calling 972-883-2222 or dial 911 in an emergency.
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Confidential Resources & Support
Pursuant to Texas Education Code, Subchapter E-2, an employee of a postsecondary educational institution who, in the course and scope of employment, witnesses or receives information regarding the occurrence of an incident that the employee reasonably believes constitutes sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking and is alleged to have been committed by or against a person who was a student enrolled at or an employee of the institution at the time of the incident shall promptly report the incident to the institution's Title IX coordinator. Responsible Employee reporting requirements also extend to resident life directors and advisors, and graduate teaching assistants.
Students and employees may share information confidentially with licensed counselors and health care professionals at the Student Counseling Center, Student Health Center and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
The Title IX Resources webpage lists additional resources for counseling, health care, victim advocacy, legal assistance and other victim services.
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Let Your Voice Be Heard on National Coming Out Day
The Galerstein Gender Center (GGC) is virtually celebrating National Coming Out Day on Friday, Oct. 9.
National Coming Out Day is dedicated to raising awareness of civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community. GGC is asking LGBTQ+ faculty and staff to share their coming out stories and/or what National Coming Out Day means to them.
GGC will post the stories on its social media throughout the week of Oct. 5. Posts will have the option to be anonymous.
Fill out this form to share your stories. |
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OIT Presents Tips for Microsoft Teams
The Office of Information Technology is continuing its Teams Tips sessions, offering a variety of sessions to suit your needs. A team of trainers from Microsoft will virtually host live demonstrations. To register, you will need to log in using your NetID and password.
Teams Tips: Microsoft Planner, 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25 – Attendees will discover how to create a new plan, assign tasks, update tasks and project status. The course includes user scenarios such as how to organize workstreams into different views, so everyone knows who is working on what. In addition, we will explore use cases for Microsoft Planner, and using the mobile app to manage tasks on the go.
Teams Tips: Teams Refresher, 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9 – Teams is built for the different ways people work today, fostering a new level of creativity and collaboration. Join OIT and Microsoft trainers for an hour of dialog and questions and answers as they refresh your knowledge of Teams and share new updates.
Teams Tips: Teams Quick Start Guides – If you need a boost in Teams learning, want to review previous content, or get quick guides for help with Teams live, the OIT Training site is a warehouse of information meant to empower and support you. |
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Register for Sips & Science Sessions
Join the Center for BrainHealth for its upcoming Sips & Science sessions this semester:
Each session will start at 7 p.m. and are free to attend.
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Sign Up for Frontiers of BrainHealth Lectures
Learn from the world's leading brain scientists at the Frontiers of BrainHealth Lunchtime Lectures. Registration is free.
The next lectures are:
Advancing Brain Capital as a New Approach to the COVID Economic Challenge, Dr. Harris Eyre, noon, Friday, Sept. 25 — Eyre is cofounder of the PRODEO Institute, which seeks radical advances in brain health, driven by a closer integration of diverse disciplines and sectors. It empowers brain health leaders with the facts, insights and frameworks necessary to make informed and effective management, policy and funding decisions. Register for Eyre’s talk.
The Path to Preventive Genomics, Dr. Robert Green, noon, Friday, Oct. 2 – Green is a physician-scientist and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who directs the Genomes2People Research Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Broad Institute. Green is a leader in conducting research and developing policies to accelerate the implementation of genomic and precision medicine. Register for Green’s talk.
See the full lineup at the Center for BrainHealth site. |
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Office of Research Events
Center Stage Seminar Series, 3- 4 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 23 — Dr. Nils Roemer, interim dean in the School of Arts and Humanities and director of the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies, will showcase research taking place at the center. Registration for Roemer’s talk is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Development Series, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24; Tuesday, Sept. 29; Thursday, Oct. 1; and Tuesday, Oct. 6 — Join Office of Research professional staff and guest speakers as they share valuable information to support your efforts in conducting research in a responsible fashion. Completion of the eight, one-hour sessions, in addition to the online RCR foundations training, is required to satisfy NSF and select NIH grant funding requirements. Registration for RCR is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
Cayuse IRB Training, 2-3 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24 — Cayuse IRB is an online submission portal that will manage IRB protocols from initial submission to closeout. In this training, the IRB Team will guide UT Dallas principal investigators, faculty sponsors, students and study personnel through the Cayuse platform. Registration for Cayuse IRB Training is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
IRB Book Study: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, 4-5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24 — This book study will cover the harm and controversies humans face historically and today in the name of research. Participants will read and discuss The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, and examine racism, vulnerable populations, research ethics, patient rights and more. Chapters five through eight, gender and race equality and ethical considerations will be covered at this session. Registration for the book study is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
Research 101: How to Write Your NIH Progress Report, Friday, Sept. 25, noon-1 p.m. — Take a ride down the Information Highway with subject matter experts to learn about various topics that will help take your research (that Extra Mile) farther, faster! Contract and grant specialists Matthew Kilgore and Simon Butcher will provide valuable information on how to write your NIH Progress Report. Registration for Research 101 is required. For more information, email [email protected].
QPR Training, Friday, Sept. 25, 2-3 p.m. — The Student Wellness Center and the Office of Research invite you to learn how to detect when someone may be considering suicide and acquire the skills to prevent it. Information about resources and suicide among college students will be included. Registration for QPR Training is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
Lab to Launch: CerSci Therapeutics, A Founder's Story with Dr. Ted Price, noon-1 p.m., Monday, Sept. 28 – Join host Bryan Chambers as he sits down with Dr. Ted Price BS’97, co-founder of CerSci Therapeutics, currently in the news for the multimillion dollar acquisition by ACADIA Pharma. Price will discuss how CerSci began with a conversation in the hallway, how they acquired technology that became a key project for them, how they were repeatedly turned down by investors, and much more. "Lab to Launch" is an online series for researchers interested in pursuing entrepreneurship - sponsored by the Office of Research, in partnership with the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars. Registration for Lab to Launch is required. For more information, email [email protected].
How to Read a Budget Overview, 10-11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30, 10-11 a.m. – Learn how to set up the budgets overview and how to interpret what you see. Setting up a budget overview for project funds, budgeting, account codes and drilling down will be covered. Registration for How to Read a Budget Overview is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
Comet Corner Series: Christopher Boone PhD ’13, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30 – Join the Office of Research in partnership with the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences as they welcome UTD alum Christopher Boone PhD’13, vice president of global head of health economics and outcomes research at Abbvie. He will present “Faster, Better, Cheaper: The Changing Role of Real-World Data in Drug Development.” Registration for Boone’s talk is required. For more information, email [email protected].
IRB Book Study: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, 4-5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 1 — This book study will cover the harm and controversies humans face historically and today in the name of research. Participants will read and discuss The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, and examine racism, vulnerable populations, research ethics, patient rights and more. Chapters nine through 12, segregation, benevolent deception, and coercion will be covered at the session. Registration for the book study is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
Research Compass Series: Conflicts of Interest and Export Controls, noon-1 p.m., Monday, Oct. 5 – Meet subject matter experts from the Office of Research as they share tips and tricks to guide you through everything from contracts and grants to commercialization. This event features Conor Wakeman, assistant director, Research Integrity and Outreach. Registration for the Compass Series is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
Research 411 Talk Show: Student Participation in Conflicts of Interest, 11 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6 – Join the Office of Research and Office of Graduate Education for a discussion of how conflict of interest can impact the academic experience of graduate students, and what students can expect if they choose to participate in a conflict of interest situation while studying at UTD. Registration for Research 411 is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
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Reminders
UT FLEX Extended Deadline
The IRS recently released new guidance around COVID-19 (Notice 2020-29) for Section 125 Cafeteria Plans, including the UT Benefits program. In accordance with this guidance, UT FLEX participants will have some additional flexibility with using their UT FLEX Health Care Reimbursement (HCRA) and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts (DCRA).
Extended Deadline to Use 2019-2020 UT FLEX HCRA and DCRA Funds
- Expands the time in which participants may incur new eligible expenses for the 2019-2020 plan year through Dec. 31.
- Previously, the deadline to use DCRA funds was Aug. 31.
- Previously, the deadline to use HCRA funds was Nov. 15.
- Effective December 31, 2020, any unclaimed HCRA or DCRA funds from the 2019-2020 plan year will be forfeited.
- The claims filing deadline for 2019-2020 HCRA and DCRA claims will be Jan. 15.
- Contribution amounts elected for 2020-2021 can be used throughout next plan year, with the regular deadlines for eligible expenses of Aug. 31, 2021 (DCRA) and Nov. 15, 2021 (HCRA).
For more details, please visit the UT System Office of Employee Benefits website.
Register for Training Opportunities
The UT Dallas Human Resources Talent Development team has released its September training schedule. Opportunities include the popular Emotional Intelligence series, the return of Admin-U and new training options like Beat the ‘Tigue.
Talent Development is partnering with various campus departments to offer additional trainings — from Internal Audit, Procurement and more. For more information on course offerings, visit the Talent Development website.
The virtual Admin-U is an eight-class professional development series that provides additional training and support for administrative staff, and includes topics such as UTD organizational structure, business communication, event planning, and much more.
Supervisor approval is required for enrollment in Admin-U. If you are interested in joining Admin-U, ask your supervisor to email [email protected] and provide your name and their approval for the semester-long series. Previous Admin-U cohort members seeking to complete their series are also invited to participate in virtual classes.
Registration for these classes can be found in Galaxy, under LEO (Learning & Education Organizer.) From LEO, click “Find Available Training” and search by department. For Admin-U courses, choose Human Resources as the department. For all other talent development courses, choose Live Online Training. Please register early. Individuals who register the day of the training may not receive notification to join the meeting. More information will be sent via email once registered.
Review Oct. 1 Paycheck for Correct Benefit Selections
Your Oct. 1 paycheck will reflect benefit deductions for the coverage you selected during the 2020-21 annual benefits enrollment. New hires and newly benefits-eligible employees' benefits enrollments or changes made after Monday, Sept. 14 may not be reflected on your October paycheck. As applicable, you will have retroactive contributions on your November paycheck. The Office of Human Resources strongly recommends that you compare your paycheck deductions with the benefits confirmation available to be printed or viewed through My UT Benefits.
You must report any discrepancies to the Office of Human Resources — Employee Benefits Services by Saturday, Oct. 31. Discrepancies due to clerical/administrative errors that are reported by this date will be reviewed and may be changed in accordance with the UT System administrative policy and requirements. The UT institution benefits offices are not permitted to approve any error reported beyond 31 days. All error correction requests beyond the 31-day period will be forwarded to the UT System Office of Employee Benefits (OEB) with appropriate explanation and documentation from the employee. If approved, OEB will determine the effective date based on the specific circumstances. All OEB decisions are final.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please email [email protected] or contact a Benefits Administrator.
Connect with Colleagues at Watercooler Wednesday
It's important to take breaks and stay in touch with colleagues as many staff and faculty work remotely. You are invited to virtually connect with colleagues on Watercooler Wednesday through a Microsoft Teams live event at 10-10:15 a.m. and 3-3:15 p.m. Each session will include a wellness activity. Join early or hang around after and visit with colleagues and meet new folks.
Visit the Campus Wellness Committee site for more information about Watercooler Wednesday and other virtual resources related to wellness.
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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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