|
Communication for the staff and faculty of
The University of Texas at Dallas |
|
|
Wednesday, December 16, 2020 |
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Reminder: Winter Break Begins Dec. 21
The winter break will begin with “Comets United Day” on Monday, Dec. 21. This administrative day off is in recognition of the exemplary work the faculty and staff provide to UT Dallas. The last day of winter break is Sunday, Jan. 3.
|
|
|
Register To Attend 2021 BrainHealth Lectures
The Center for BrainHealth will start the new year with its next virtual Frontiers in BrainHealth talk and its signature series, The Brain: An Owner’s Guide 2021.
At noon, Friday, Jan. 15, Dr. John F. Cryan will present Microbial Endocrinology: The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Health and Disease, part of the free Frontiers of BrainHealth Lunchtime Lectures.
Cryan, a neuropharmacologist and microbiome expert, will share how our thoughts and emotions are connected to our guts. For more information and to register, visit BrainHealth’s Cryan event page.
The Center for BrainHealth’s annual series, The Brain: An Owner’s Guide, will be each Tuesday at 7 p.m. during February. The four-part series includes:
- Hormones' Impact on Cognitive Health & Alzheimer's, Dr. Lisa Mosconi, The Greystone Foundation Lecture, Feb. 2.
- Vital Lessons in Weathering Duress, Dr. David Katz, The Corgan Associates Inc. Lecture, Feb. 9.
- A Window into the Architecture of Our Mind, Dr. Nancy Kanwisher, The Caliber Home Loans Lecture, Feb. 16.
- Improve Your Brain Health with Brain Foods, Dr. Drew Ramsey, The Highland Capital Management Lecture, Feb. 23.
The lectures are free to attend. For more information, visit The Brain: An Owner’s Guide website.
|
|
|
|
National Night Out Salutes UTDPD for 9th Year
UT Dallas was one of just two universities recognized by the annual National Night Out Awards in 2020. It is the ninth year in a row the University has received the award.
David Spigelmyer, crime prevention specialist for the UT Dallas Police Department, credited participants’ help with food deliveries and program assistance as major reasons why UT Dallas received the award this year. UT Arlington was also recognized with the award.
The National Night Out block party at UT Dallas on Oct. 6 was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, but participants were able to collect and donate new unwrapped toys for CASA of Collin County, which assists children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, and help distribute food for the Comet Cupboard, which provides nonperishable items to students in need.
“Receiving this award for our University clearly demonstrates the power of all Comets working together not only to assist fellow students but to help children of Collin County who are truly in need of some positive love," Spigelmyer said.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and helps neighbors meet one another, which is the backbone of the Neighborhood Crime Watch program.
|
|
|
Participate in ‘Coast to Coast’ Live Healthy Campaign
Welcome 2021 with the trip of a lifetime — From Coast to Coast. Your destination to feeling your best is on the horizon. Don't miss the chance to take a fun-filled, nostalgic road trip to some of America's most popular attractions as you build well-being habits that last long after your shore-to-shore adventure is over.
In this six-week wellness adventure by Living Well, your goal is to earn 150 points (25 points/week) by logging physical activity, plus sleep and abstaining from sugar-sweetened beverages. Earn at least 150 points and receive a “Wellness Recharged” wireless charging pad to keep you moving and to continue the healthy habits year-round.
Some important dates:
- Monday, Jan. 18: First day to log activity. Begin recording health habits and start your shore-to-shore adventure.
- Monday, Jan 25: Registration and team formation deadline. Last day to register and form or join a team of three to five members.
- Sunday, Feb. 28: Program ends. You may backlog until Tuesday, March 2.
Don’t miss out on all the fun of this road trip as you learn and practice energy-boosting, good-mood-inducing habits! Registration begins Monday, Jan. 4. See Living Well for more information.
|
|
|
|
Website Safely, Securely Verifies Employment, Salary Requests
UT Dallas is now using the Work Number from Equifax for all requests for employment and salary verification.
The Work Number provides employees with a simple, secure and private way to send employment and income information to verifiers (e.g., lending institution, property manager, government agency) 24 hours a day/seven days a week. This means transactions that happen outside of normal business hours and/or weekends that require employment or salary verification can be done immediately.
Faculty, staff, and student employees should direct verifiers to the Work Number website and provide them with the employer code 20838. After providing the appropriate authorizations, credentialed verifiers will be able to verify employment dates and income. Verifications are provided for commercial (e.g., mortgage, auto loans), social services (e.g., eligibility for government sponsored health and welfare programs), and immigration purposes.
In compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, UT Dallas employees can access their own data report, check and dispute incorrect information, and see who has requested their employment information.
Employees or verifiers who require assistance may call 800-367-5690 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. CST (800-424-0253 TTY for hearing impaired) or email [email protected].
More information regarding the Work Number can be found on the Human Resources website.
|
|
|
DFW Labor Market Update
Job postings in Dallas-Fort Worth rose 6% between September and October of this year, and software developers were some of the most in-demand positions. Unemployment rates dropped back to the levels seen in August, staying lower than the national average. Full details are available in the Economic Development team’s Labor Market Update for October 2020.
For more information on how UT Dallas and the local economy affect each other, please contact Rachel Brasier with Facilities and Economic Development. You also can subscribe to biweekly updates with the latest analysis and news from the Economic Development team.
|
|
|
Register To Attend Teams Tips Sessions
The Office of Information Technology invites staff and faculty to attend the upcoming Microsoft Teams meetings:
OneNote to Rule Them All, 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 7 — Tired of losing your notes or taking too much time on planning? Learn about OneNote, a digital notebook that you can divide into sections and pages. OneNote enables you to highlight important information, draw your thoughts using Ink, integrate audio and video, save content with web clipper as well as share them with others. Faculty and staff can use OneNote to organize lesson plans and create a sharable content library that are easily searchable yet secure. Register for OneNote to Rule Them All using your NetID and password.
Tackling Teams, 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19 — The beginning of a new semester is a perfect time to refresh our memories on the features of Teams and catch up on new releases. During this beginner-to-advanced training, attendees will brush up on how to organize live sessions, schedule meetings, use in-house applications and learn about the newest productivity. Register for Tackling Teams using your NetID and password.
|
|
|
Publication Focuses on Korean Literature
The next edition of Translation Review by the Center for Translation Studies is in the final stages of production.
TR 108 is a special issue on Korean literature guest edited by translator Bruce Fulton. This issue opens with an introduction by Fulton and is followed by a roundtable featuring Tony Malone, Philip Gowman, and Colin Marshall and the transcript of a speech given by Jennifer Crewe of Columbia University Press when she was awarded the Literature Translation Institute of Korea Outstanding Service Award in September of 2017 in recognition for “significant contributions [in] promoting Korean literature worldwide.”
In addition, there are a number of articles related to the translation of Korean literature including Ross King’s article on the teaching of Korean-to-English translation; CedarBough Saeji’s essay on Korean literature and pop culture; Sang Bin Lee’s essay in honor of Marshall R. Pihl’s translation work; Wayne de Fremery’s article on media transformation and Korean literary translation; and a list of suggested readings compiled by Bruce Fulton.
The issue closes with reviews of works in translation: Christopher Winks reviews two works by Silvina Ocampo — The Promise, translated by Suzanne Jill Levine and Jessica Powell and Forgotten Journey, translated by Suzanne Jill Levine — and Katie Lateef-Jan and Yingmei Liu reviews The Art of Bible Translation by Robert Alter.
Translation Review is a peer-reviewed journal published three times a year: April, August, and November and submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. The most recent articles are available on the Taylor & Francis website.
For more information, contact managing editor Shelby Vincent MA'05, PhD'15.
|
|
|
|
Order Baked Goods Through UTD Catering
Let UTD Catering take away the stress of baking for the holidays. Faculty and staff can preorder holiday desserts for pickup at American Tap Room at Northside. Dessert options include various pies, cupcakes, cookies and more.
For ordering instructions and more details, visit the order form. Orders will be prepared and ready in 48 hours. Pickup will be 9 a.m.- 7 p.m., Monday-Friday, through Dec. 18.
To make an order over the phone during business hours, please call American Tap Room at 469-801-8224. For additional questions, modifications or more information, call 972-322-5284. If you are unable to reach someone, leave a message and UTD Catering will return your call within 24 business hours.
|
|
|
Development Team Is Accepting Year-End Giving to UT Dallas
The Office of Development and Alumni Relations is still accepting a number of gifts made to the University for 2020 income tax purposes. During the campus closure (Dec. 21-Jan. 1), call the department’s main phone number at 972-883-2295 for information regarding on-call personnel.
Please see the instructions below to learn about proper handling for year-end gifts made by various payment types.
By Check
In order to process contributions made via checks in 2020, the office must be able to provide proof that the gift was postmarked by Dec. 31. For any checks received through the month of January 2021, please make sure that the mailing envelopes are attached to the checks before delivering to the development office. According to IRS rules, the postmark is the deciding factor and must be dated by Dec. 31, regardless of what date is listed on the check.
By Credit Card
Credit card gifts are counted in the tax year charged to the donor account. For gifts via credit card, please direct individuals to give online at utdallas.edu/development/giving. Gifts made online by Dec. 31, will be processed automatically before midnight and thereby count as 2020 gifts.
By Wire Transfer or EFT/ACH
Gifts via wire transfer or EFT/ACH are counted in the tax year they are credited to the UT Dallas account. Contact [email protected] for instructions.
By Stock Transfer
All stock transactions benefiting UT Dallas are handled through the UT System Office of Development and Gift Planning Services. It is best if the donor’s broker/financial consultant speaks directly with one of our UT System contacts:
Please advise any donor wishing to make a stock gift to connect with a UT System representative as soon as possible. Requests made after Dec. 18 may not be processed until after the new year.
IRA Charitable Rollovers/Qualified Charitable Distributions
Donors should check with the plan administrators to determine the necessary time to make a direct distribution to UT Dallas.
Complex Assets (Real Property, Partnership Assets, Etc.)
These types of gifts require due diligence and official acceptance by UT System. Please contact the office as soon as possible to determine if UT Dallas can accept the contribution by year-end. For more information, please contact Leslie Parks at 972-883-4001.
For more information about year-end giving, please call 972-883-3958 or email [email protected].
|
|
|
Sign Up To Receive Your W-2 Electronically
The UTD Payroll office will be issuing W-2s by Jan. 31 to current and former employees who had wages in calendar year 2020. If you would like to receive your W-2 electronically instead of having to wait for it to be printed and mailed, please follow the steps below before Jan. 10. Your election remains in effect for all future calendar years, it does not need to be renewed each year.
- Log in to Galaxy.
- Under “Staff Tools,” click “Payroll and Compensation.”
- Click “W-2/W-2c Consent.”
- Check the box that says “Check here to indicate your consent to receive electronic W-2 and W-2c forms.”
- Click “Submit.”
Benefits of the electronic W-2 include earlier receipt of the form and the ability to access and reprint the form at your convenience. If you will be accessing your W-2 from an off-campus computer, you will be required to sign up for NetID Plus, if you have not already. Former employees can still access Galaxy for up to three years from their last day of work to access paystubs and W-2 forms.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
|
|
|
Online Consent Due by Jan. 14 To Receive Form 1095-C
In accordance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions, UT Dallas will have the 2020 Form 1095-C available on or before Jan. 31. The Form 1095-C includes information about the health insurance coverage offered to employees, retirees and their dependents. You will receive the Form 1095-C if you were enrolled in the UT Medical Plan or if you worked an average of 30 or more hours per week or were considered a full-time employee in 2020. Graduate student employees who are covered under the UT Student Health Insurance Plan will receive Form 1095-B directly from Blue Cross Blue Shield.
If you provide consent, you can access your Form 1095-C online through Galaxy. If you provided consent in prior years, you do not have to do so again. The deadline to provide online consent is Jan. 14. If you do not provide the online consent, you will receive the form in the mail on or before the IRS deadline. The forms are expected to be available online by Jan. 31.
If you need to provide online consent, log in to Galaxy with your UT Dallas NetID and password. Then, go to Staff Tools, select ACA Form 1095-C and follow the on-screen instructions. Written instructions and FAQs are posted on the HR website for your reference.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or contact the Office of Human Resources - Employee Benefits Team. If you have additional questions about your Form 1095-C, you may also visit the IRS website and the UT System Office of Employee Benefits website.
|
|
|
Deer Oaks EAP Offers Holiday Support
Many people are facing new challenges this holiday season and celebrating looks a little different this year. Your Employee Assistance Program through Deer Oaks EAP Services is here to support you. Call 888-993-7650, email [email protected] or visit the Deer Oaks website to receive confidential assistance. To access online training, visit the member login page and enter utdallas for the username and password.
|
|
|
Intercom Deadlines, Publishing Dates for 2021
This is the final edition of Intercom for 2020. The next edition will be Wednesday, Jan. 13.
The Office of Communications appreciates everyone’s contributions to the newsletter. The deadlines to submit news and publication dates for 2021 are available on the Intercom schedule page.
For more information, visit the Intercom Guidelines page.
|
|
|
Reminders
UTD To Host Virtual Coding Camps on Dec. 28-31
The Department of Computer Science will conduct virtual coding camps for the students in grades three and up during winter break.
Each camp will run two to three hours each day from Dec. 28-31. Cost is $100 per camp. Registration is required.
Join Campus Connection for HR Info
To stay up-to-date on the latest news and information related to employment, immigration, wellness, benefits, talent development, as well as other Human Resources activities, join the HR Campus Connection in Teams. Use the code 4nstab6 to join.
Participate in Thankfulness Survey; Attend Staff Council Meeting
Staff Council invites staff members to participate in its Thankfulness, Gratitude and Wellbeing Initiative by filling out a Qualtrics survey. Your response may be highlighted on the Staff Council website and Facebook page.
Complete survey here. The survey will close Dec 18.
UTSW Is Seeking Participants for COVID-19 Study
University of Texas at Dallas employees are invited to participate in a COVID-19 prevalence study that will help develop ways to reveal how widely COVID-19 has spread and why some communities are harder hit.
The study by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Texas Health recently expanded so that anyone who lives in Dallas or Tarrant counties can participate.
By participating in the study, employees may be able to receive:
- A free COVID-19 nose swab for active infection.
- A free COVID-19 antibody blood test to see if you’ve ever been infected.
- Quick test results and advice on next steps if you have active COVID-19 infection.
The first part of the research study is an online survey. Once individuals complete the survey, eligible people will receive an email or text message with instructions for making a testing appointment. Testing will be available on the UT Dallas campus. If an employee is found to have an active COVID-19 infection, the person — and UT Dallas — will be notified within two days of the test.
To participate, you visit the questionnaire website to read more information and begin the process. Volunteers are needed from all racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Connect with Colleagues at Watercooler Wednesday
It's important to take breaks and stay in touch with colleagues as many staff and faculty work remotely. You are invited to virtually connect with colleagues on Watercooler Wednesday through a Microsoft Teams live event at 10-10:15 a.m. and 3-3:15 p.m. Each session will include a wellness activity. Join early or hang around after and visit with colleagues and meet new folks.
Visit the Campus Wellness Committee site for more information about Watercooler Wednesday and other virtual resources related to wellness.
|
|
|
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. |
|