News for Employees
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ALEX Helps with Benefits Decisions
During Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE), October 2–27, 2017, benefits-eligible UW–Madison employees can enroll in or make changes to select benefits for 2018. This year, a new online tool called ALEX is available to make the process easier. ALEX acts as a personalized benefits counselor, asking a series of questions and suggesting appropriate plans based on the answers. This engaging, interactive tool is completely confidential and can help employees better understand their options before enrolling in benefits. Find ALEX at www.myalex.com/uwsystem/2018#intro.
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Alumni Park Opens Friday
Alumni Park, a new lakefront destination between the Memorial Union and the Red Gym, will open on Friday, Oct. 6. All are invited to grand opening festivities beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Library Mall, with a park opening at 6 p.m. and activities until 9 p.m. On opening day, Langdon Street will be closed between Park Street and Lake Street from noon to 9 p.m. The opening celebration continues Saturday and Sunday with drop-in guided tours and family-friendly art activities. The new destination features outdoor exhibits and art installations, the Goodspeed Family Pier, and One Alumni Place, a new welcome center for alumni and visitors.
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Symposium Explores Seven Dimensions of Wellness
UWell, UW–Madison’s campuswide wellness initiative, in partnership with the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, will host the third annual Wellness Symposium, “Wellness Now: Being Our Best Selves in the Current Moment,” on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at Union South. Experts from across campus will share insights into how to care for oneself in the midst of everyday life as it relates to the seven interconnected dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, community, work/school, financial, and environmental. The event is free to students and costs $20 for UW–Madison faculty and staff.
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Last Chance to Participate in TTC Employee Forums
Employees have two final opportunities to provide feedback on the job family portion of the Title and Total Compensation Study (TTC). Attend the Tuesday, Oct. 10 forum from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Union South Varsity Hall II, or watch the forum online and provide online feedback. UW–Madison is completing a two-year review of current job titles and compensation. The forums are designed to introduce you to the study and gather your input on the job families under development. The deadline for providing job family feedback is Friday, Oct. 13.
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Website Helps with Annual Benefits Enrollment
The University of Wisconsin System has launched a website that will assist UW–Madison employees with the Annual Benefits Enrollment period, October 2–27, 2017. Changes made during the Annual Benefits Enrollment period are effective January 1, 2018. You can begin preparing now by reviewing your current benefits and your benefits options for 2018. All employees will receive an email from “UWSystemHR” with complete instructions just prior to the start of the enrollment period. Beginning October 2, you will be able to choose your 2018 benefits using Self Service (eBenefits) via the MyUW portal.
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State Budget Bill Has Domestic Partnership Impacts
On September 21, 2017, Governor Walker signed the 2017–2018 State Budget Bill. The budget bill contains a provision that eliminates the Chapter 40 domestic partnership program, which will impact employees who are in a domestic partnership. Employees who currently cover a domestic partner/domestic partner’s child(ren) through their benefits programs will receive a direct communication about the impacts and any action they may have to take.
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Professional Grants for Academic Staff
Applications are being accepted for the Fall 2017 Academic Staff Development Grant program, available to academic staff members who meet the eligibility requirements and hold at least a 50 percent appointment. Grants are for activities beginning between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 20. A brown bag lunch that can help applicants prepare their proposals will be held Wednesday, Sept. 27, noon–1 p.m., 1345 Health Sciences Learning Center. Walk-ins are welcome. Helpful information can also be found on the UW–Madison Academic Staff website.
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Six Ways DoIT AT Helps Instructors
The Divison of Information Technology (DoIT) Academic Technology (AT) department at UW–Madison offers support to instructors through a variety of services tailored to help strategize, design, develop, and integrate technologies to improve learning outcomes. DoIT AT can help everyone from an instructor looking to integrate technology into a course to a dean initiating a school-wide curricular transformation. On their website, DoIT AT offers an overview of six key ways they support teaching and learning with technology.
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Get Ready for Annual Benefits Enrollment
The Annual Benefits Enrollment period is October 2–27, 2017. This is the only time you can make changes to certain benefits without having an eligible life event (for example, marriage, birth, or divorce) or qualifying employment change during the year. Learn about your benefits options for 2018 at upcoming seminars for UW–Madison employees, to be held at locations across campus beginning October 4. Some sessions will be offered in Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan, and Chinese. No pre-registration is required. Also, mark your calendar for the Employee Benefits and Resource Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Union South. Watch for details about this event.
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Sept. 30 Deadline for Preventing Sexual Harassment Training
Less than two weeks remain for UW–Madison employees to complete the required online training in Preventing Sexual Violence and Harassment. All UW–Madison employees are required to complete this training by Sept. 30. This training will help all UW–Madison faculty and staff members recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual assault and sexual violence in the workplace. Once enrolled, an employee may take the training in one session or in chunks, stopping and resuming as they choose. Most employees complete the program in about 60 minutes.
In-person training is available to employees who are unable to access the training online or who require training provided in Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan, Nepalese, or Chinese. Employees who are made uncomfortable by the training content can schedule an individual meeting with the Employee Assistance Office (EAO) for an alternative training on a confidential basis.