This year's Academic Staff Institute (ASI) will be held Wednesday, March 27, 7:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at Union South. ASI is an annual professional development conference for UW–Madison academic staff. The conference includes a keynote speaker and a variety of breakout sessions on topics including benefits, campus safety, inclusivity, career management, and the Title and Total Compensation Project. The registration fee of $18 includes breakfast and lunch. Registration is open through March 15 at go.wisc.edu/kuwfdf.

A free, half-day workshop on Emotional Intelligence @ Work will be offered to UW–Madison employees in the months of June through October. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how they can increase their capacity for emotional intelligence (EQ) in their professional and personal lives. Emotional intelligence can help improve and enhance relationships, foster inclusive communication and decision making, and maximize emotionally intelligent strategies. The workshops are part of the new Building Inclusion @ UW series offered by Learning and Talent Development. These sessions fill up quickly, so early registration is encouraged. To register, visit go.wisc.edu/u8q677.

Retirement specialists from the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) are offering free in-person sessions and live webinars about preparing for retirement. The presentations are designed for employees who are members of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), especially those who are within five years of retirement. Both the in-person sessions and the live, interactive webinars will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. In-person presentations in the Madison area will be held on Wednesday, March 20 at River Bluff Middle School in Stoughton and Monday, March 25 at the Performing Arts Center in Middleton. Registration with an email address is required to attend a live webinar.

All faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to help make UW–Madison a drug-free workplace. You can do this by learning the facts about substance abuse, encouraging others to avoid substance abuse, and knowing where to go for help with a drug or alcohol problem—either for yourself or someone else. Please familiarize yourself with the laws and expectations regarding substance abuse, which apply to all members of the UW–Madison campus community. Complete information can be found at go.wisc.edu/j15c7c.