UW–Madison will have two floating holidays this year: Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31). These are designated as floating holidays because the legal holiday is on a Sunday and the following Monday is also a legal holiday. For University staff, floating holiday time can be used any time during the calendar year it is earned. Please note that both of these floating holidays, including the New Year’s Eve holiday, need to be used before December 31, 2017. For Faculty, Academic Staff, and Limited employees, floating holiday time can be used any time during the fiscal year in which it is earned, but must be used before June 30. If you have questions, please speak with your supervisor or your human resources representative.

The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) is offering a Financial Fitness Program that can assist you in taking control of your financial future. The program is available to all Wisconsin Retirement System members at no cost. To get started, take a confidential online survey that helps you assess your knowledge of personal finance topics. Once you complete the survey, you will have access to free online educational resources for 12 months. You can also take advantage of free counseling time with a financial advisor. To learn more, visit etf.wi.gov/financialfitness.

A Diversity Forum will be held on Monday, Dec. 4, 11:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m. at Gordon Commons, to review and discuss the recently released findings from the campus-wide climate survey. This session is intended for UW–Madison employees who work second and third shifts, although all UW–Madison employees are welcome to attend. Employees can attend without loss of pay and pre-registration is not required. Please notify your supervisor if you plan to attend. Interpretation services will be available for those whose preferred language is Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan, or Chinese. More than 8,000 students participated in the survey. UW–Madison officials will use the findings to make the campus more welcoming to all students.

A panel presentation and discussion on how UW–Madison supports students with mental health concerns will be held on Thursday, Nov. 16 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Marquee Room at Union South. Frequently, faculty are the first to notice when a student is struggling with mental health issues. This event provides an opportunity for faculty to engage with other campus professionals, identify tools to use in supporting students, and ask specific questions. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 15.