Nominations are now open for the Elizabeth S. Pringle Award, which recognizes UW–Madison employees with office support titles who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the university. Nominations are due by noon on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Any UW-Madison employee may nominate a University Staff member who holds an office support job title. A link to the nomination form, as well as a complete list of eligible job titles, can be found on the University Staff Shared Governance website at ous.wisc.edu. For more information about the award, visit go.wisc.edu/6k9b6i.

The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) has announced that contributions paid by Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) employees will increase slightly for UW–Madison employees effective Jan. 1, 2020. WRS contribution rates are set and adjusted annually. Contribution rates for UW–Madison employees are determined by WRS employment category and expressed as a percentage of salary. For general employees, the contribution rates will increase from 6.55 percent each from employee and employer in 2019 to 6.75 percent from each in 2020.

The Volunteer Tutoring Program at UW–Madison matches employees with tutors who provide one-on-one instruction. Learners define the individual learning goals they would like to work on; examples include practice in conversation, basic English skills for reading and writing, and learning about the culture in the United States. The program offers flexibility, allowing learners and their tutors to agree on times and meeting locations that will work for them. Tutors receive training in the skills they need and may choose to earn an online Tutor Training certificate at no cost. UW-Madison employees, retirees, students, and community members are all welcome to volunteer. To express interest, complete an online application or contact Jzong Thao, Cultural Linguistic Services, at 263-2217 or jzong.thao@wisc.edu.

Well Wisconsin will offer a webinar on “Understanding Diabetes” on Wednesday, Aug. 14 from noon to 12:30 p.m. All UW–Madison employees are welcome to attend. Participants will learn about the warning signs and symptoms of diabetes, simple prevention steps, and what you need to know if you already have diabetes. The webinar will be recorded and made available to Well Wisconsin Program participants on the StayWell portal after the event date. Register in advance to join the live webinar.