News for Employees
-
Find many resources on new IT website
If you visited the IT website recently, you’ll notice it looks a little different. The site, which was created to include all campus IT resources, was updated by DoIT using the new, official UW WordPress theme. This new look, feel and functionality better aligns with the digital style of wisc.edu and follows the UW brand and visual guidelines. You’ll find information on software, printing, free online training, web development, informational articles, guides, Tech Store deals, campus IT events and more.
-
UW-Madison adopts drone use policy
A new UW–Madison policy will help researchers and instructors on campus meet the Federal Aviation Administration rules for flying unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — better known as aerial drones — while also helping to protect privacy. The policy, “University of Wisconsin–Madison Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Policy,” encourages safe and lawful use of drones for research and instruction. The policy provides a drone use approval process and replaces a previous campus policy that prohibited students, staff or outside entities from operating unmanned aircraft/drones on the UW–Madison campus, interiors or exteriors. The new policy allows for some drone use for research and teaching.
-
UW campus vulnerability scan coming soon
Beginning on July 5, participating UW-Madison campus units will undergo an external cybersecurity risk assessment. This vulnerability scan, through Cylance, Inc., is intended to identify signs of malicious activity for the purpose of diagnosing possible compromise and risks to participating units. If compromised machines are discovered during the analysis, Cylance will contact the Office of Cybersecurity for follow up and remediation with system owners. Please refer to the Office of Cybersecurity web page for more details as to how this will be administered, when, and how this might affect each department. Refer to the “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs) that have been prepared to address a number of initial questions.
-
Field for facilities position narrowed to four
A search committee of faculty, staff, students and community members has recommended four finalists for the position of associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and management at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Members of the UW–Madison community and general public will have opportunities later this month to meet and talk with the finalists. Each of the candidates will give a presentation and answer questions in an open forum. To see the candidates and dates, times and locations of the forums, visit here. View the candidates’ resumes here.
-
Proposed federal budget includes student aid, research cuts
President Donald Trump’s first budget request to Congress has understandably caused some concern on our campus and across the higher education landscape, Chancellor Rebecca Blank says in a blog post. The cuts are broad and deep, but a significant chunk of the savings proposed would come out of student aid and research spending. Our federal relations staff has been working to ensure that the importance of these funds to our institution, and to the greater state and national economy, is fully apparent to our congressional delegation. An excellent summary of the complete budget proposal and its potential impact on campus can be found here. You can also receive periodic updates by clicking on the subscribe tab at the bottom of the Federal Relations home page.
-
Quality improvement, administrative process units to merge
The Office of Quality Improvement (OQI) and Administrative Process Redesign (APR) will formally merge in the coming months, joining to provide the UW–Madison campus with a comprehensive suite of organizational development and improvement services for both academic and administrative units. The impending merger follows the announcement that APR director Alice Gustafson will retire later this summer and as the search for a new director of OQI nears conclusion. Longtime OQI director Maury Cotter retired earlier this year. Darin Harris is currently serving as interim director.
-
Some need to use holiday hours by June 30
For many faculty, academic staff and limited term employees, some holiday and vacation hours expire on July 1. If you have any remaining Personal Holiday hours, you need to use them up, or you will lose them, by June 30. If you have more than 8 hours of legal holiday, those hours reflect the two Floating Holiday hours that occurred this fiscal year, that also need to be used by June 30. Finally, if you have any vacation carryover hours, you will need to use those as well, by the end of the fiscal year, or you will lose those hours. However, if you are ALRA eligible you will be able to bank those hours up to your allotment.
-
Required program to combat sexual harassment, violence
Starting in July, employees will be required to complete an online program called “Promoting Equity at UW-Madison by Preventing Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence.” It will cover definitions, prevention strategies, where to get help, and reporting options.
-
Office of Registrar publishes revisions to enrollment-related dates
Due to changes in UW–Madison’s Academic Calendar made by the Faculty Senate, the Office of the Registrar has revised some of its previous published deadlines. The policies that determine how these dates are set haven’t changed; the dates have simply been brought in line with the Faculty Senate’s revised term calendars. Most dates are related to enrollment. The dates also now have new, more detailed titles.
-
UHS hires mental health co-directors
Angela Janis, M.D., and Andrea Lawson, LCSW, were appointed in May as co-directors of Mental Health Services at University Health Services (UHS). Working together and in collaboration with other UHS departments and campus and community partners, Janis and Lawson will lead psychiatry and counseling services at UHS. Their goals include moving towards a more proactive and public health approach, expanding campus-based initiatives and outreach, and integrating online tools and eHealth into UHS’ mental health service model. “We are using student feedback to be really intentional about matching our system to the students’ needs,” says Lawson. “We are here,” says Janis, “and we are listening.”