News for Employees
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All Employees Required to Complete Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Cybersecurity awareness training is required for all UW–Madison faculty and staff. Employees who do not complete this training will be deemed ineligible for pay adjustments and bonuses determined by their local schools, colleges, or divisions and ineligible for pay plan increases. There are two training options to choose from, including text-based training that is accessible to all users and provided in six languages. In order to be eligible for pay adjustments and bonuses, employees must also have completed sexual harassment prevention training, must have met performance expectations as identified in their last performance evaluation, and supervisors must have completed performance evaluations for the employees they supervise. Links to the Cybersecurity Awareness Training module and other details are available at go.wisc.edu/cybersecurityawareness.
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Partners in Giving Campaign Invites Gifts of All Sizes
Through Partners in Giving, UW–Madison employees can donate to the local, national, and international charities of their choice. In a new video, Jeff Russell and Jeff Novak, co-chairs for the 2021-22 campaign, invite you to learn more and make a difference. Online pledges can be made through payroll deduction or by credit card at giving.wi.gov. Employees can also contribute using a paper pledge form and mail in or email their pledge. More details about ways to obtain a paper pledge form can be found at giving.wi.gov/about-us/options-for-giving. Even small gifts of $1, $5 or $10 per pay period add up to make a positive impact in our community and around the world. The “Making an Impact” campaign runs through November 30, 2021. Contributions will be welcomed through May 2022.
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Employee Assistance Office Adds New Way to Connect
The Employee Assistance Office (EAO) at UW–Madison has added a new service that enables employees to connect with a counselor virtually in their offices at the Lowell Center, 610 Langdon Street. Using a video phone, employees can meet with a counselor in a comfortable and confidential space. The service is ideal for employees who are concerned about confidentiality if they were to meet virtually or by phone in their work space or their home, as well as employees who do not wish to use virtual meeting apps. To schedule an appointment for a confidential session with an EAO counselor, send an email to eao@mailplus.wisc.edu or phone 608-263-2987. For more information about EAO services, visit hr.wisc.edu/employee-assistance-office.
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Chancellor Blank to Become President of Northwestern University
Chancellor Rebecca Blank will leave the University of Wisconsin–Madison at the end of the 2021-22 academic year to become the president of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. During the past eight years at UW–Madison, Blank has focused on enhancing the student experience and educational outcomes, continuing to elevate the university’s world-class faculty, and securing the financial stability of the university. In an email sent to the UW community on Monday, Oct. 11, the chancellor said, “I want to thank the many staff and faculty who have been partners and collaborators in everything we’ve done.”
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Benefits Enrollment Session Available Online
The Annual Benefits Enrollment period is currently underway and will end at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. Employees who need more information in order to make informed decisions about benefits may wish to attend a virtual presentation of “Benefits 2022: What You Need to Know.” This one-hour session includes a review of 2022 benefits changes, information on how to enroll, and time for questions and answers. The last sessions are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. Pre-registration is required. The recorded presentation can be viewed on YouTube. Links to these and other resources can be found at benefits.wisc.edu/2022.
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Employees Can Save for Retirement with UW 403(b) Program
University of Wisconsin System employees are eligible for the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP), formerly the Tax-Sheltered Annuity 403(b) Program, a voluntary supplemental retirement savings plan. Employees can invest a portion of their income for retirement on either a pre-tax basis, an after-tax basis (Roth), or a combination of both. Participation is voluntary, with employees making the entire contribution; there is no employer match. Resources are available on the UW 403(b) SRP web page to help employees learn more and enroll in the program. UW System has recently announced that there will be upcoming enhancements to the UW 403(b) SRP. These changes will be reviewed in future communications, including a virtual Town Hall (see “Educational Resources”) scheduled for October 26, 2 p.m., via WebEx.
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Submit Events for Homecoming Calendar
Wisconsin Homecoming Committee and the Wisconsin Union invite UW‒Madison departments and registered student organizations (RSOs) to submit events for the official Homecoming event calendar. Events must take place between October 24-31, be free and open to the public, and be submitted by October 15.
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Resources Help Employees Enroll in Annual Benefits
The Annual Benefits Enrollment period is currently underway and will end at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. A number of resources for employees are available online at benefits.wisc.edu/2022, including information about the 2022 benefits plans that are available and guidance on how to enroll online via MyUW. The Annual Benefits Enrollment 2022 Summary (PDF) provides an overview of available plans and premiums. Employees can also consult the checklist for step-by-step reminders on how to “prepare, decide, and act” on their annual benefits enrollment. Both the summary and the checklist are available in multiple languages. The calendar of upcoming events includes virtual, one-hour presentations of “Benefits 2022: What You Need to Know” on October 14 and 15. Pre-registration is required for virtual events. A recorded video of the seminar is also available.
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Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring Offers Instructional Support
The new Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring offers a variety of services and resources to support instructors. These include professional development opportunities ranging in focus from participant-driven conversations on equitable teaching and learning, to explorations on course design and delivery, such as TeachOnline@UW, and one-on-one consultations. Offerings range in length and format, and allow instructors to choose how best to meet their needs and connect with the center’s staff.
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Ideas, Best Practices, and Networking for Supervisors
Campus Supervisors Network (CSN) is a Community of Practice that promotes leadership and personnel management at UW–Madison. CSN offers trainings, networking opportunities, online resources, and a weekly email newsletter. All UW supervisors are encouraged to participate. Learn more at campussupervisorsnetwork.wisc.edu.