Attend an upcoming engagement session to see the new Performance Management and Development Program (PMDP) and get your questions answered. These sessions are especially relevant if your area is transitioning to PMDP in August or September. Brownbag sessions are 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 25 at Gordon Dining & Event Center and 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Education Building. Register online or email perf-mgmt@lists.wisc.edu. A webinar will be at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 1. Register online. This session will be recorded and posted on hr.wisc.edu/pmdp following the webinar.
News for Employees
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Sign up for events to learn about new PMDP
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Associate vice chancellor Martha Kerner retires; interim chosen
Associate Vice Chancellor for Business Services Martha Kerner has announced her retirement, effective the end of this month. Dan Langer, who has served as university Controller and Director of Accounting Services since 2012, will serve as interim Associate Vice Chancellor. Kerner joined UW-Madison in 2012 after a distinguished career in Wisconsin state government. Kerner’s accomplishments at the university include overseeing the development of an internal controls framework, progress on a robust approach to e-commerce and strategic purchasing, and improved and streamlined customer service.
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UW conflict-of-interest policy is outlined
UW-Madison university staff employees are not prohibited from accepting outside employment, provided that the outside employment does not interfere with their duties to the university. UW System policy prohibits university staff employees from accepting outside employment that causes a conflict of interest with their university employment. This prohibition includes using or attempting to use university property, or the prestige or influence of their university position, for financial gain or other benefits. Outside activity reporting requirements apply to faculty, academic staff and limited term appointees.
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It’s not too late to register for Lockdown 2017
This one-day Technology and Cybersecurity Conference on July 13 offers a wide range of speakers and topics with two session tracks (Strategic and Technical). The conference, held at Health Sciences Learning Center, will include keynotes and sessions that will inspire you to “think global, secure local.” Breakfast and lunch are included in the registration. Get the details and register.
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Petya ransomware alert: What you need to know
The Office of Cybersecurity has been monitoring an active, new, widespread ransomware attack that’s spread to around 65 countries. The ransomware is a variant of a previously identified malware called “Petya.” There is no evidence that UW–Madison is a specific target. Like all ransomware, this version encrypts files and demands payment in BitCoin to decrypt them. This version of Petya can jump to other computers on a network by exploiting an unpatched Microsoft Windows vulnerability. It’s recommended that you enable automatic updating of Windows and that you install antivirus software and keep it up to date. The Office of Cybersecurity does not recommend paying ransom demands.
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New email list library for employees launched
To improve internal communications on campus, a set of standard email distribution lists is now available to campus leadership in the MyUW portal. These lists are reserved for sending official messages to employee groups, schools and colleges, major units, and campus governance free of charge. Official messages include information that the university is required to deliver to employees or that is essential to work status and performance. Employees may not opt out of receiving official messages. Contact your dean, director or communicator if you have an official message that needs to be sent but do not have direct access to the List Library. Access to KnowledgeBase document is here.
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Baldwin grants awarded to 18 projects
Projects both large and small will help the university contribute knowledge and resources across the state, thanks to grants from the Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment. The competitive grant program is open to UW–Madison faculty, staff and students. Ira Baldwin, a longtime UW teacher, researcher and administrator, served as dean of the Graduate School and the College of Agriculture and as vice president for academic affairs. Ineva Reilly Baldwin taught and served in the university administration as assistant dean of women and associate dean of the College of Letters & Science. This year, eight grants were awarded as well as 10 mini-grants encouraging innovation and experimentation in small-scale projects.
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Forget exercise — just get moving
Talking about the benefits of exercise is really a concept that’s worn out. That’s not something you’d expect to hear from two people whose careers are dedicated to helping individuals improve and maintain their health. But that’s exactly what Jude Sullivan and Dan Wanta – senior exercise physiologists at UW Health’s Sports Medicine Fitness Center – believe. “It’s important to recognize that the word “exercise” (as it refers to voluntary physical exertion) is only a few generations old,” says Wanta. “Before then, most people’s lives were naturally physically active.” Instead of obsessing about exercise, focus on the fundamentals. Simple things like taking the stairs, parking in a space far from the door, walking instead of driving when possible, really add up and help keep us in motion throughout the day.
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Many campus staff will soon be able to track career performance in MyUW
The ability to quickly access one’s performance reviews via MyUW is coming soon for many UW-Madison staff. The improvements will provide employees with an electronic performance review history (beginning with the first performance review conducted within the new system), which can help with their career and development goals.
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New food shed offers free vegetables, produce
The new UW Campus Food Shed offers students and faculty access to free vegetables and produce, stocked by UW agriculture researchers and local farms with excess crops. Many of this excess produce would otherwise be composted or thrown out. The food shed refrigerator is on the third floor of the Student Activities Center, with other locations in Science Hall, the Allen Centennial Garden and the Horticulture Building. It is open Monday through Friday. The refrigerator will be stocked when researchers and students have produce available, most consistently on Fridays.