The Annual Benefits Enrollment period is currently underway and will end at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Employees who need more information in order to make informed decisions about benefits may wish to attend a live, virtual presentation of “Benefits 2024: What You Need to Know” on Thursday, Oct. 12, noon‒1 p.m. via Webex. This one-hour session includes a review of 2024 benefits changes, information on how to enroll, and time for questions and answers. The recorded presentation can be viewed on YouTube. Links to these and other resources can be found at benefits.wisc.edu/2024.

On October 6, 2023, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved a revised timeline for the implementation of Workday — the cloud-based system that will streamline and simplify administrative processes — as part of the Administrative Transformation Program (ATP). The Workday launch date, previously scheduled for July 2024, is now July 2025. ATP is a UW System-wide initiative to standardize and simplify how finance, human resources, and research administration tasks get done across all UW System institutions, allowing staff to refocus valuable time on UW’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. Most UW‒Madison employees will not need to take any action until March 2025, when their Workday training will begin.

Through UW–Madison’s annual workplace giving campaign, Partners in Giving, employees can donate to the local, national, and international charities of their choice, now through May 14, 2024. Gifts of even $1 per pay period add up to make a positive impact in our local community and around the world. Pledges can be made online by payroll deduction or credit card. A paper pledge form is also available to be emailed or mailed, allowing payroll deduction or check. Requests for payroll deduction must be received by December 31, 2023. Learn more at giving.wi.gov.

The UW–Madison Sustainability Symposium will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 1 p.m.‒5:30 p.m., in the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. The Symposium will feature lightning talks, posters, refreshments, and a keynote from Dr. Weslynne Ashton entitled "Crafting a Just, Equitable, and Circular Food System." All students, staff, and faculty are welcome to attend this no-cost event. Registration is open through October 23; registration will also be available at the door on the day of the event.

The Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs would like to remind UW–Madison employees about their responsibilities under the Wisconsin Public Records Law. UW–Madison records are generally considered available to the public, subject to a few important exceptions. A web page on the Office of Compliance website contains helpful information, including an explanation of Wisconsin Public Records, guidelines for employees, and answers to common questions. Language translations of the guidelines will be available soon.