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Communication for the staff and faculty of
The University of Texas at Dallas |
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Wednesday, September 22, 2021 |
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COVID-19 Information, Resources
During the disruption of regular services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Communications is maintaining a collection of information and resources for staff, faculty and students. For the latest information, visit the COVID-19 website, which will be updated frequently with FAQs and the latest information.
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HR Forum Scheduled for Oct. 6
The Office of Human Resources will host its next HR Forum from 10-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 6, as a Microsoft Teams live event. Please install Microsoft Teams prior to joining. If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk.
Unlike a traditional Teams meeting, you are not able to “dial in” to a live event. Audio will stream from your computer. Please ensure your speakers are on or use a headset connected to your device. Closed captioning is available, and there will be a moderated Q-and-A forum.
Please refer to the agenda:
- Welcome
- You asked, we answered
- General updates
- Living Our Values Task Force
- Return to campus
- COVID-19 random testing program
- Guests presenters:
- Introduction of new vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion: Dr. Yvette E. Pearson
- Lost and found, Police Department updates: Jessica Granstaff
- HR updates
- Human Resources staffing update: Colleen Dutton
- Wellness updates: Taylor Tran
- Talent Development updates: Jillian McNally
- Closing comments
Join the HR Forum and share this link with your colleagues. If you have questions for the HR Forum, send them to [email protected].
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Review Your Oct. 1 Paycheck Benefit Deductions
Your Oct. 1 paycheck will reflect benefit deductions for the coverage you selected during the plan year 2021-22 annual benefits enrollment. New hires and newly benefits eligible employees’ benefits enrollments or changes made after Monday, Sept. 20 may not be reflected on your October paycheck. As applicable, you will have retroactive contributions on your November paycheck. The Office of Human Resources strongly recommends that you compare your paycheck deductions with the benefits confirmation available to be viewed or printed through My UT Benefits.
You must report any discrepancies to the Office of Human Resources - Employee Benefits Services by Sunday, Oct. 31. Discrepancies due to clerical/administrative error that are reported by this date will be reviewed and may be changed in accordance with the UT System administrative policy and requirements. UT institutions’ benefits offices are not permitted to approve any error reported beyond 31 days. All error correction requests beyond the 31-day period will be forwarded to the UT System Office of Employee Benefits (OEB) with appropriate explanation and documentation from the employee. If approved, OEB will determine the effective date based on the specific circumstances. All OEB decisions are final.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please email [email protected] or contact a Benefits Administrator.
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Sign Up for Free Flu Shots
Flu shot clinics for faculty, staff and retirees will be held Oct. 7-8 on main campus, at the Center for Vital Longevity, Callier Center Dallas and the Center for BrainHealth.
Flu shots are free to employees with or without accepted insurance. Vitamin B12 shots will be offered for additional fees (not covered by insurance) and TDaP (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccines will be available at Callier Center Dallas only.
Registration is required to accommodate cleaning and social distancing requirements. For more details, view the flu shot clinic flyer.
Sign up online to get the necessary consent form, then bring the following items to your preferred location:
- Your filled-out consent form.
- Your Comet Card.
- A photocopy of your driver license or state-issued ID.
- A photocopy of your insurance card.
Thursday, Oct. 7
- 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Administration Building (AD 2.216)
Friday, Oct. 8
- 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Administration Building (AD 2.216)
- 8:30-10 a.m.: Center for Vital Longevity (Break Room, 801)
- 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Callier Center Dallas (Room B108)
- 3-4:30 p.m.: Center for BrainHealth (CBH Reception Hall 1.104)
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Sign Up for Pretty in Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Race & Mobile Mammography
The Office of Research and Innovation, Human Resources, Student Wellness Center and University Recreation invite the UT Dallas community and the public to register for the Pretty in Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Race.
The race is scheduled for 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 2 on campus. Race distances are 1 mile, 5K and 10K. All courses are USATF certified. Registration is $20 for UT Dallas students and $30 for UT Dallas staff, faculty, and the public.
Registrations include a partial gift to fund further cancer research at UT Dallas.
Dr. Nikki Delk, associate professor in biological sciences and breast and prostate cancer researcher, will make an introductory speech and start the race.
For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
The UT Southwestern mobile mammography unit will be on site on race day at the Activity Center Loading Zone North. Call 214-645-2560 or 866-277-0710 with your health insurance information to schedule an appointment from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 3D scans will be available, and most insurance plans will be accepted. CDC safety precautions will be followed, temperature checks will be done, and masks are required.
For more information, download the flyer or email Taylor Tran with any questions or concerns.
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Wellness Resources
Wondr Health Fall Session — This online weight loss program teaches participants clinically proven skills through weekly master classes. You’ll learn how to eat your favorite foods and still lose weight, increase your energy and stress less. Wondr is available to all UTSELECT and UT CONNECT medical plan members ages 18 and above, including employees, retirees, spouses and dependents who have not started a class within in the last 12 months. For more information, visit the Wondr support site.
EAP Newsletter & Online Seminar: Switch On To Being More Present — Discover the keys to being more present and spending quality time with those around you by disconnecting digitally. Visit Deer Oaks EAP and enter utdallas for the username and password to access the online seminar. Available on-demand starting Tuesday, Sept. 21.
Headlines from this month’s EAP Newsletter are:
- Resuming School During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Boost Your Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence
- National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month September 2021: Five Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain
- Disaster Financial Assistance
Fall Wellness Challenge: Walktober — Register to participate in Walktober by Friday, Oct. 8. Log your steps or exercise minutes through the mobile app or manually to tour vibrant landscapes and earn colorful leaves. The goal is to get at least 6,000 steps or 30 minutes of exercise daily and earn 20 leaves during the challenge Oct. 4-31. The last day to log exercise is Tuesday, Nov. 2. There will be the option of earning an extra point on Thrive Thursdays for those participating on a team. UTD will compete against other UT System institutions for the Traveling Trophy. UTD’s top three participants will receive prizes.
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Dallas-Fort Worth Labor Market Update, Cost of Living Indicators Report
Dallas-Fort Worth recorded a net gain of 3,300 jobs in July, bringing the region 45,100 jobs short of pre-pandemic levels. From the previous month, employment saw little change and the unemployment rates in DFW and nationwide all decreased to 5.3%, 6.0% and 5.7%, respectively. The top three positions posted were once again software developers, registered nurses and heavy truck drivers — all of which saw an increase in postings from June. See this month’s DFW Labor Market Update for details and look for the August 2021 Update on Oct. 13.
The DFW area continues to be one of the most affordable major metropolitan areas in the United States based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Emsi. See how it ranks compared to other major metropolitan areas in the Cost of Living Indicators Report.
For more information on how UT Dallas and our local economy affect each other, please contact the Economic Development team. You can also subscribe to biweekly updates for the latest analysis and news.
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Center for Teaching and Learning Events
Joy and Curiosity in Learning: Short Lessons from a Bright and Curious Little Dog, noon-1 p.m., Friday, Sept. 24 — Dr. Barbara Shipman, associate professor of mathematics at UT Arlington, will present this webinar in honor of a wise and lively little dachshund, Hansel. Hansel will help us to approach learning with joyful curiosity, a courageous spirit, and eager anticipation, and he will help us to cultivate in ourselves and in our students a bright and perceptive way of looking at things, a delightful savoring of what we are learning, and a peaceful presence for enjoying it fully. RSVP for Joy and Curiosity. For more information or special accommodations, please contact [email protected].
Understanding Implicit Bias in the Classroom: How Implicit Bias Impacts Teaching, Student Learning, and the Sense of Belonging, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30 — Daniel Cordova, assistant director of diversity education will discuss implicit bias and how unconscious actions can impact student learning. The presentation will explore research studies on implicit bias and student performance; provide strategies on managing bias; and what it means to create a sense of belonging in the classroom. RSVP for Implicit Bias. For more information or special accommodations, please contact [email protected].
Graduate Professional Week, Day 2: Updating the Student Learning Toolkit, noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 5 — Dr. Karen Huxtable-Jester, interim director of CTL, will lead an examination of why most students use ineffective learning strategies, what they should do instead and how to get them to do it. Key concepts will include metacognition, mindset, self-regulation and specific strategies for effective learning. RSVP for Student Learning Toolkit. For more information or special accommodations, please contact [email protected].
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LGBTQ+ and Gender Equity Education
Virtual Culture of Equity Training — Culture of Equity is a concept in which spaces are identified and marked with a symbol. By displaying the Culture of Equity logo on a department door, office or desk, champions show that they value a diverse campus community, are willing to foster an equitable place for others, and are committed to offer support, resources and guidance. In order to receive your training certificate and Culture of Equity Teams background, you must attend all three virtual sessions. For more information, email Jacqueline Prince.
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Center for BrainHealth Events
Sips & Science: The Reward-Motivation Loop: What Addiction Teaches Us About the Brain, 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30 — Where is the intersection between science and public health? Dr. Francesca Filbey will discuss the neuroscience of addiction and how we can close the gap between scientific knowledge, public opinion and legislation surrounding the impacts of cannabis on health and behavior.
Frontiers of BrainHealth: Presentation by Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, noon, Friday, Oct. 1— Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, professor of education at the University of Southern California, studies the psychological and neurobiological bases of social emotion, self-awareness and culture and their implications for learning, development and schools.
For more information, email [email protected].
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Office of Research and Innovation Events
Research 411 Talk Show: Scaffolded Training Environment for Physics Programming, 3-4 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22 — Dr. Paul Fishwick, Dr. Rosanna Guadagno, Dr. Michael Kesden, Dr. Midori Kitagawa and Dr. Mary Urquhart will discuss the interactive Scaffolded Training Environment for Physics Programming (STEPP). For more information, visit the Research 411 listing or email Tiffany Willoughby.
Comet Corner Series: An Urgent Call for New Technologies in Geoscience, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 29 — Supplying the energy needs of the world while mitigating the causes and effects of climate change will require a wide swath of new technologies. Join John Thurmond BS '97, PhD '06, Dr. David E. Lumley and Dr. Robert Stern for a discussion on developing, adopting and implementing these new technologies at a faster pace. For more information, visit the Comet Corner listing or email Anricka Ziller.
QPR Training, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 29 — Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training describes behavioral, verbal, and situational indicators of suicidality, explains how to approach someone who may be thinking of suicide, and how to persuade and refer them to helpful resources. Participants will receive an in-depth overview of mental health resources both on and off-campus. For more information, visit the QPR listing or email Dani Lamb.
RCR Development Series, noon-1 p.m., Tuesday and Thursdays, Oct. 5-28 — For Responsible Conduct of Research Development Series certification, you must attend all classes and complete the online training module and assessment. For more information, visit the RCR listing or email Tiffany Willoughby.
2021 Big Idea Competition: Applications Open Now — The 2021 Big Idea Competition applications are open on StartupTree. Student applications close Sunday, Sept. 26. Research commercialization applications and alumni applications close on Sunday, Oct. 3. Apply to pitch your startup idea for cash and scholarship awards. This year’s competition will be Nov. 2-3 and will culminate with an awards ceremony during Global Entrepreneurship Week on Nov. 9 to recognize the entrepreneurial progress of UT Dallas students and alumni and UT Dallas and UT Southwestern faculty. For more information, visit the Big Idea Competition site or email Dresden Goldberg.
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Reminders
Apply for Staff Council Scholarships by Oct. 1
Staff Council sponsors scholarships to support staff members pursuing academic and vocational programs. Each semester, qualified applicants may apply for the following scholarships:
- UTD Staff Council Endowed Scholarship: Established in 2006 by Staff Council fundraising activities and matching funds from UT Dallas.
- Joellyn (Jody) Nelsen Staff Council Endowed Scholarship: Established in 2008 in honor of Jody Nelsen, a founding member of Staff Council who served UT Dallas for 17 years.
- Richard M. Dempsey Staff Endowed Scholarship: Established in 2019 in honor of Rick Dempsey and his 12 years of service in the Office of Facilities Management.
The deadline to apply for the fall scholarships is Oct. 1.
For more information including applicant criteria, visit the Staff Council scholarships page.
Notice of Title IX Policy and Resources
The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on sex in accordance with federal and state laws, including Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. The University's Prohibited Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Sexual Misconduct Policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, which includes discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Sexual misconduct is a form of sex discrimination and will not be tolerated. Sexual misconduct includes sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, stalking, sexual exploitation, domestic violence and/or dating violence. The University prohibits retaliation.
To report prohibited conduct, complete the secure online form on the Title IX website, or contact:
Marco Mendoza
Title IX Coordinator
Institutional Compliance, Equity, and Title IX Initiatives
[email protected]
972-883-5202
SPN 2.720
Crimes should be reported to the UT Dallas Police Department by calling 972-883-2222, or dial 911 in an emergency.
Confidential Resources and Support
Pursuant to Texas Education Code, Subchapter E-2, an employee of a postsecondary educational institution who, in the course and scope of employment, witnesses or receives information regarding the occurrence of an incident that the employee thinks constitutes sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking and is alleged to have been committed by or against a person who was a student enrolled at or an employee of the institution at the time of the incident shall promptly report the incident to the institution's Title IX coordinator. Responsible Employee reporting requirements also extend to resident life directors and advisors, and graduate teaching assistants.
Students and employees may share information confidentially with licensed counselors and health care professionals at the Student Counseling Center, Student Health Center, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
The Title IX Resources webpage lists additional resources for counseling, health care, victim advocacy, legal assistance and other victim services.
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About This Newsletter
InterCom is the official University-wide newsletter for UT Dallas faculty and staff members. This periodic publication is designed to provide University employees with important information necessary for the workplace, as well as community news that supports the University's mission. Guidelines about content and submissions can be found here or contact Robert Tracy at [email protected] or ext. 3521. |
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