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Communication for the staff and faculty of
The University of Texas at Dallas |
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Wednesday, November 18, 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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Quarter Century Club
In addition to the official categories of service awards, 12 employees will join the Quarter Century Club in recognition of their 25 years of service to the University.
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Attend HR Forum on Dec. 2; Join Campus Connection for HR Info
The Office of Human Resources will host its next HR Forum from 10-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 2, as a Microsoft Teams live event. Please install Microsoft Teams prior to joining. If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk.
Each participant will have the option to turn on closed captioning. Participation will be through a moderated Q-and-A forum. Email your forum questions in advance to [email protected].
Please refer to the agenda:
- Standing items
- You Asked, We Answered
- Updates: Return to campus; Living Our Values Task Force
- Guest presentations
- ISSO update: International Center
- Records Management: Legal Affairs
- HR updates
- The Work Number: New employment verification process
- Probationary appraisal forms
- IRS Form 1095-C
- HCM Fluid Transition
- TA, RA, GA hiring for spring 2021
- Comets United Day: Monday, Dec 21
- Closing comments
To stay up-to-date on the latest news and information related to employment, immigration, wellness, benefits, talent development, as well as other Human Resources activities, join the HR Campus Connection in Teams. Use the code 4nstab6 to join.
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Online Consent Due by Jan. 14 To Receive Form 1095-C
In accordance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions, UT Dallas will have the 2020 Form 1095-C available by Jan. 31. The Form 1095-C includes information about the health insurance coverage offered to employees, retirees and their dependents. You will receive the Form 1095-C if you were enrolled in the UT Medical Plan or if you worked an average of 30 or more hours per week or were considered a full-time employee in 2020. Graduate student employees who are covered under the UT Student Health Insurance Plan will receive Form 1095-B directly from Blue Cross Blue Shield.
If you provide consent, you can access your Form 1095-C online through Galaxy. If you provided consent in prior years, you do not have to do so again. The deadline to provide online consent is Jan. 14. If you do not provide the online consent, you will receive the form in the mail on or before the IRS deadline. The forms are expected to be available online by Jan. 31.
If you need to provide online consent, log in to Galaxy with your UT Dallas NetID and password. Then, go to Staff Tools, select ACA Form 1095-C and follow the on-screen instructions. Written instructions and FAQs are posted on the HR website for your reference.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or contact the Office of Human Resources - Employee Benefits Team. If you have additional questions about your Form 1095-C, you may also visit the IRS website and the UT System Office of Employee Benefits website.
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On-Campus Mammograms Available on Dec. 11
The UT Southwestern mobile mammography unit will visit the loading zone north of the Activity Center (AB) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 11. To schedule an appointment for any time that day, call 214-645-2560 or 866-277-0710 with your health insurance information. Most insurance plans are accepted.
CDC safety precautions will be followed. Only one patient will be allowed at a time in the mobile unit, temperatures will be checked, and masks are required.
For more information, contact Taylor Tran.
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Thank You for Supporting the SECC
The University of Texas at Dallas recently wrapped up its annual State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign (SECC). Sixty-nine UT Dallas employees contributed $53,153 to help make a difference for nonprofits across the Dallas-Fort Worth area that have been financially impacted by the global pandemic.
UT Dallas’ very own Academic Bridge Program (ABP) and the Callier Center for Communication Disorders raised more than $17,000 as part of this year’s campaign. Take a moment to watch these two video testimonies of how the ABP and the Callier Center have helped change lives.
If you have any questions, please contact Brennae Wright.
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ISO Request: Connect to UT Dallas VPN Weekly
The Information Security Office (ISO) encourages employees who are working remotely to help safeguard their computers by ensuring they receive updates.
One of the challenges during remote work is updating IT systems with patches for security and updated software for productivity. All employees working remotely are encouraged to connect University-issued computers to the UT Dallas VPN weekly for at least one full workday, or leave their computers on and connected to VPN overnight once a week. For instructions, visit the how to VPN page.
In addition to routine updates, vulnerability reduction software will be distributed to computers this semester. Computers outside the network and not connected to VPN may miss out on such additional protection.
For more information or assistance, contact the UT Dallas Help Desk.
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Delve Into Brain Matters at BrainHealth Lectures
The Center for BrainHealth will close out the year with three lectures.
At 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19, Admiral Patrick Walsh and Chad Hennings will talk about how they used critical reasoning skills, strategic thinking and innovation to prevail during times of crisis while serving in the military. The Sips & Science talk is free to attend.
Dr. Sara Konrath, associate professor of philanthropic studies at Indiana University, will make two presentations next month. On Thursday, Dec. 10, Konrath will discuss The Rise of American Burnout at Sips & Science. The free talk will start at 7 p.m. At noon on Friday, Dec. 11, Konrath, director of the Interdisciplinary Program on Empathy and Altruism Research, will present Empathy and Its Implications in Uncertain Times, part of the free Frontiers of BrainHealth Lunchtime Lectures.
For more information, visit the Center for BrainHealth site.
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Learn Healthy Holiday Tips at Info Session
The UTD Campus Wellness Committee will host Healthy Holiday Tips from 10:30 a.m.-noon, Wednesday, Nov. 18, as a Microsoft Teams live event. Please install Microsoft Teams prior to joining. If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk.
Learn helpful tips about how to stay healthy and safe for the holidays from experts on nutrition, fitness and home safety.
Presenters include:
- Sara Asberry, registered dietitian, Student Wellness Center
- Frankie Branham, fitness coordinator, University Recreation
- David Spigelmyer, senior public safety officer, University Police
All participants will receive a giveaway.
For more information on the UTD Campus Wellness Committee and wellness resources, please visit the Wellness Committee website.
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Economic Development Releases Local Labor Market Update
Job postings in Dallas-Fort Worth fell 13% between August and September of this year, and were 21% below the number of postings for September of last year. Despite this, and despite a slight increase in unemployment from August to September, some local industries increased their employment. Full details are available in the Economic Development team’s Labor Market Update for September 2020.
For more information on how UT Dallas and our local economy affect each other, please contact Rachel Brasier with Economic Development.
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‘Translation Review’ Is Accepting Submissions
The editors of Translation Review invite submissions of:
- Translations of contemporary international writers into English.
- Manuscripts that discuss the process and practical problems of translating, including the reconstruction of the translation process.
- Manuscripts that address the concept of translation in the visual and musical arts.
- Interviews with translators.
Guidelines and submission information can be found on the Translation Review website.
Translation Review is a peer-reviewed journal published three times a year: April, August, and November and submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.
For more information, contact managing editor Shelby Vincent MA'05, PhD'15.
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Professors Launch Translating the World Podcast
Dr. Rainer Schulte, professor of arts and humanities and Katherine R. Cecil Professor in Foreign Languages, has started Translating the World with Rainer Schulte, a new podcast of the Center for Translation Studies at The University of Texas at Dallas. The podcast is produced by Dr. Sarah Valente BA’11 MA’13 PhD’19, visiting assistant professor in the School of Arts and Humanities.
The podcast highlights translators who give presence to foreign writers in English, interviews with writers and their translators, portraits of contemporary international writers, and bilingual readings of poetry. This podcast is for everyone interested in international literature and cultures.
In the first episode, Valente interviewed Schulte to discuss the creation of the American Literary Translators Association, which Schulte co-founded in 1978, how translation studies has evolved in the 21st century, and the fundamental basic question of “What is Translation?”
The podcast is available on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.
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Office of Research Events
IRB Training - Protecting Research Participant Data: Certificate of Confidentiality, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18 — The Office of Research will lead a discussion on the Certificate of Confidentiality (CoC). CoC is an additional resource investigators can use to protect data collected from a research participant against disclosure during any civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceeding at any level. Issued by a number of federal agencies (NIH, NIJ, FDA), this tool is not limited to studies funded by the federal government. Registration for IRB Training is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
UT Dallas Big Idea Competition Finals at the Texas Startups Roadshow, 2-5:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19 — With keynote speaker Mark Cuban and $200,000 in scholarships and cash prizes, the Big Ideal Competition Finals is the marquee event of Capital Factory’s virtual Texas Startup Roadshow. This event recognizes the entrepreneurial progress of UT Dallas students, faculty and alumni, and, for the first time, includes research from the labs of UT Southwestern Medical Center. The finalists will pitch their startups and ideas to a panel of judges. Registration for Big Idea Competition is required. For more information, contact Dresden Goldberg.
IRB Book Study: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, 4-5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19 — 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 36-38: Ethical challenges and considerations moving forward will be covered at today’s session. Registration for IRB Book Study is required. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
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Reminders
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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