On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Chancellor Rebecca Blank issued a blog post in which she addressed the number of positive COVID-19 tests on campus. The post explains actions that have been taken to protect the health of the UW–Madison community and planned next steps.

A new web page on Campus Operations provides information on temporary changes to the status of some campus facilities—including dining services, research activities for undergraduate students, and more—during the current shift to remote instruction. The new page is part of the Smart Restart website, which provides updates for student, faculty, staff, and the community on UW–Madison’s response to the ongoing pandemic. Employees are encouraged to monitor the Smart Restart website regularly at smartrestart.wisc.edu.

Due to the pandemic, many UW–Madison employees are now facing additional family care responsibilities, which they must balance with their job responsibilities. These family caregiving needs may include child care, elder care, or care for family members impacted by COVID-19. To assist employees and supervisors who are navigating these challenges, UW–Madison has launched a new Family Caregiving website. The website contains guidance for both employees and supervisors on issues such as workplace flexibilities and leave options. Caregiving resources are also provided. More resources will be added over time. The website can be found at hr.wisc.edu/smart-restart/family-caregiving.

The Office of Strategic Consulting is hosting the Showcase 2020 Virtual Lunch & Learn Series beginning October 1 and running through November 12. Each one-hour session will provide an opportunity to expand one’s professional knowledge and share ideas with UW–Madison colleagues. The series highlights topics that are especially relevant right now, including change management. The Lunch and Learn Series is open to all faculty and staff at no cost. Space is limited in order to facilitate participant interaction. To learn more and to register, visit the Showcase 2020 website.

UW–Madison employees must complete three wellness activities by October 9 in order to earn a $150 incentive through the Well Wisconsin program. This program, administered by StayWell, is open to employees and their spouses who are enrolled in the State Group Health Insurance Program. This year, in response to the pandemic, new ways to meet the requirements have been added. At-home health screening kits are available and must be requested by September 25. Log in or set up an account on the StayWell website at wellwisconsin-staywell.com to get started, or contact StayWell toll-free at 1-800-821-6591.