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.

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.

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.

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.