News for Employees
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Proposals sought for Information & Technology Leadership Conference
The university is seeking proposals for the 2024 Information & Technology Leadership Conference on Tuesday, Dec. 3, featuring keynote speaker Laura Patterson, former chief information officer of the University of Michigan. Proposals should engage the UW information and technology community in conversations around leadership development, problem-solving, team building or other aspects of leadership. Proposals are due by October 10.
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Save the date for Employee Benefits and Resource Fair
The Employee Benefits and Resource Fair will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Varsity Hall at Union South. Units and services from across campus will provide information about resources available to UW–Madison employees. Employees may also attend free sessions on topics related to financial well-being, retirement, and more.
The event also features resources and presentations that can help with Annual Benefits Enrollment for 2025. The Annual Benefits Enrollment period runs from Sept. 30–Oct. 25, 2024. Representatives from Benefits Services will be on hand to answer questions, and a 60-minute session, Benefits 2025: What You Need to Know, will be presented at 9:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. An Open Benefits Lab will be available for those who have made their 2025 benefits decisions and would like help enrolling using Self Service. For more information about the fair, visit go.wisc.edu/employee-resource-fair.
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New institutional and public position statements policy
Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin last week introduced a new institutional and public position statements policy. The new policy specifies when and by whom public position statements may be issued on behalf of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and its units. The policy can be found at policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-206.
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Copilot meets generative AI needs for campus community
Microsoft Copilot is a powerful and secure generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that is available to all UW–Madison students, faculty, and staff. Copilot offers free access to OpenAI’s GPT-4 and DALL-E 3 models, as well as up-to-date information from the web. Unlike public AI tools, Copilot protects user privacy and university data when users are logged in with their NetID. UW–Madison recommends Copilot as the approved AI chatbot that follows university data protection policies. Faculty and staff who use generative AI are encouraged to use Copilot for university work.
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Faculty of color to be celebrated at annual reception
The 22nd annual Faculty of Color Reception is an opportunity for faculty and academic staff with instructional responsibilities to network with colleagues while welcoming new faculty of color and celebrating associate and full professor promotions. Co-hosted by Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Excellence Dr. LaVar J. Charleston and University Committee Chair Dr. Li Chiao-Ping, the reception will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, from 5–7 p.m. at the DeLuca Forum in the Discovery Building. Register online.
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Registration open for Leadership and Management Development Conference
Registration is open for the annual Leadership and Management Development Conference, scheduled for Tuesday, October 29 at Union South, hosted by Learning and Talent Development. The conference provides a full day of professional development to help emerging and advanced leaders develop the skills to lead and manage more effectively. Participants do not need to be in a position of direct leadership to attend and benefit from the conference. The $135 registration fee for employees of UW–Madison and affiliates includes the keynote, breakout sessions, continental breakfast, and lunch. Register by October 14 to secure your participation at the conference.
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Webinar builds skills in communicating with co-workers
LifeMatters and the Employee Assistance Office are offering a virtual webinar,
Co-Worker Communication, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, noon‒1 p.m. Effective communication is essential to building and maintaining important relationships. Good communication skills are central to handling disagreements and resolving conflicts with co-workers. Participants will learn about conflict and resolution, eliminating defensive behavior, practicing active listening, and using problem-solving skills. Register online to receive the Zoom link. -
UW updates expressive activity policy, expands resources
UW–Madison has consolidated and clarified campus policy to ensure that free expression, a bedrock UW value, remains protected on campus and that safeguards are in place to maintain the university’s vital mission and operations, including the ability of students to access education without disruption. The newly named Expressive Activity Policy and accompanying guide collect into a single set of resources information that had been dispersed across different campus policies and guidance, while also providing renewed clarity. The policy and guide are designed to better help students, employees, and campus visitors understand their rights and responsibilities and the resources available to them.
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Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations available starting next week
This fall, all current UW–Madison students and employees can receive their flu and COVID-19 vaccines at University Health Services (UHS) clinics across campus. There are 17 UHS vaccine clinics throughout the fall semester located in a variety of convenient campus locations. Registration is required. Learn more at uhs.wisc.edu/vaccine.
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AI assistants add new capabilities in virtual meetings
AI meeting assistant tools are now available for all UW–Madison students, faculty, and staff as part of the university’s enterprise Zoom and Webex platforms. These tools enable new features that can make virtual meetings more efficient and productive. Learn more about the capabilities of these AI tools and the university’s guidelines for using them.