News for Employees
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Webinar focuses on the mental and emotional aspects of retirement
LifeMatters and the Employee Assistance Office, in partnership with Madison Benefits Services, are offering a one-hour webinar, Transition to Retirement: Preparing Mentally and Emotionally, on Tuesday, May 26, noon–1 p.m. Participants will learn about the phases of retirement; mental preparation; hazards and opportunities; and reaching a rewarding retirement. The webinar is offered at no cost to all UW–Madison employees. Register online to receive the Zoom link.
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Transportation Services announces parking rate and program updates
Effective Sept. 1, 2026, there will be a 2 percent increase for most parking permits. Eligibility rules for the reduced cost permit program and rates for Flex parking, visitor parking, and Metro Transit employee bus passes will remain the same. Campus electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will be upgraded and require user fees. For more information, visit transportation.wisc.edu.
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UW–Madison finalizes 2025–2027 compensation strategy
UW–Madison leadership has approved investments in employee compensation totaling $27.6 million across fiscal years 2025–2027. These investments will be accompanied by a salary structure update. The current approach is intended to support the university’s total compensation philosophy, which is to be a market-competitive employer that supports UW staff and faculty.
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Career counseling available as an employee benefit
UW‒Madison employees have access to free career counseling. The Employee Career Counseling program gives employees the skills to explore, plan, and manage their careers at UW‒Madison. One-on-one, confidential counseling can help participants develop self-awareness, identify opportunities, set goals, and develop an action plan. Self-service career planning resources are also available online. To set up an appointment with a career counselor, email your request to employeecareercounseling@wisc.edu or call 608-265-2257.
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Edvest 529 College Savings webinars and summer bonus offer
Wisconsin’s Edvest 529 College Savings Program enables participants to save for college costs for a child, grandchild, or loved one. A 529 account is a tax-advantaged, benefits-oriented college savings account that can be used for a variety of qualified higher education expenses.
Upcoming online webinars will provide information on how 529 college savings plans work, the benefits of saving with these accounts, and other resources available to help families plan and pay for college. Webinar attendees will also learn about the opportunity to qualify for a special bonus of $50 when they open a new Edvest account between May 18 and June 8, 2026. Register for a live webinar on Wednesday, May 20, 6–7 p.m. or Wednesday, May 27, 11 a.m.–noon to learn more.
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New and ongoing construction to affect campus travel this summer
Following spring Commencement, several new construction projects will begin across campus, joining those already in progress. These developments will require temporary roadway, sidewalk, and bike lane closures throughout the summer. Plan ahead and learn how these projects may affect your commute at transportation.wisc.edu.
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Operational Excellence Advancement Program invites campus engagement
The Operational Excellence Advancement Program (OEAP) functions like an incubator — accelerating projects to strengthen financial controls, streamline and simplify processes, and enhance administrative services. The OEAP team is looking to further engage employees at topic-specific deep dive sessions focused on individual OEAP work streams, including the HR and finance operating model (May 5), position management (May 18), and travel and expense audit (May 21). The sessions are open to all members of the UW–Madison community and registration is not required. Each virtual session will begin with a brief overview presentation, followed by open discussion and Q&A.
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Chancellor farewell on the Terrace May 14
All members of the campus community are invited to a send-off for Chancellor Mnookin as she heads to New York to become the next president of Columbia University. The farewell will take place on the Memorial Union Terrace on Thursday, May 14, 2–4 p.m., with free ice cream and popcorn, plus a special goodbye from Bucky Badger and the UW Marching Band. In case of inclement weather, the event will move indoors.
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Notification of mandatory training due dates in Workday
Employees will be notified of the dates they must complete any mandatory training courses in Workday. These include required compliance trainings such as Cybersecurity Awareness Training, Prevent Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence at UW–Madison training, and any other trainings that may be assigned on a regular basis. Thirty days ahead of the due date, employees will receive a notification in Workday and via email to complete any required training. Employees should wait until they receive these notifications to complete the training in Workday.
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No-cost retirement resources from UW–Madison and ETF
UW–Madison employees have access to free resources to help them plan for retirement, including informational sessions, financial estimates, and personal consultations from UW–Madison Benefits Services and Wisconsin Employee Trust Funds (ETF). Employees who are preparing for retirement can learn more at hr.wisc.edu/retirement.
These free resources should not be confused with email solicitations employees may receive from lead-generation services conducting marketing for financial consultants. These emails offer free consultations to UW employees, but the senders are selling your contact information. We recommend you ignore these emails and instead use the free resources available to you from UW–Madison and ETF. Please examine any emails you receive carefully to determine whether they are legitimate.