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Communication for the staff and faculty of
The University of Texas at Dallas |
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Wednesday, September 8, 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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Staff, Faculty Now Eligible for Vaccine Incentive Program
In his Sept. 3 message, President Richard C. Benson announced that faculty and staff are eligible for the Comet Vaccine Incentive Program.
Participation is simple: Complete the voluntary vaccine reporting form on the Comets United website no later than Sept. 30, 2021, to receive $125 (minus applicable taxes). The payroll office will issue payments in early November. The program is open to all employees, including non-benefits-eligible faculty and staff, who have received at least one vaccine shot by Sept. 30. Those who have already reported their status prior to this announcement will be included in the program.
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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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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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Sign Up for Free Flu Shots
Flu shot clinics for faculty, staff and retirees will be held Oct. 7-8 on the main campus, Center for Vital Longevity, Callier Center Dallas and 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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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 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 between Monday, Sept. 20 and 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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Sign Up for Pretty in Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Race
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.
Dr. Nikki Delk, associate professor in biological sciences and breast and prostate cancer researcher, will make an introductory speech and start the race.
Registrations include a partial gift to fund further cancer research at UT Dallas.
For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
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Donate Blood, Earn a T-Shirt, Coupon for Free Haircut
University Emergency Medical Response at UT Dallas will host a blood drive with the American Red Cross from noon to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 14, in Founders North (FN 2.302).
Register to donate at the UTDEMR blood drive on the Red Cross website. Donors will receive a T-shirt and coupon for a free haircut at Sport Clips while supplies last.
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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.
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Employee Resource Group Signing Day 2021
The Office of Diversity and Community Engagement invites you to attend the Employee Resource Group Signing Day at 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 9, in the Visitor Center and University Bookstore Atrium.
During the annual event, you will be able to learn about and join ERGs at UT Dallas. There also will be refreshments, entertainment, a photo booth and door prizes.
Only registered attendees will be eligible for door prizes. Either print your ticket or save it on your phone so you can be entered to win a prize. Register to attend Signing Day.
The mission of ERGs is to create value by attracting, developing, and retaining faculty and staff from diverse demographic groups while providing educational awareness, professional development, and enrichment to the UT Dallas culture.
To learn more about ERGs, visit the ERGs website.
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Center for Teaching and Learning Event
Back to the Future 2: Grad Student Edition, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 8 — Join the Center for Teaching and Learning for a discussion of how faculty can support new and returning graduate students to promote successful teaching, learning and research for all. Presenters and panelists will be Dean Juan González, Dr. Joe Pancrazio, Dr. Richard Scotch and Dr. Kelli Palmer. RSVP for Back to the Future 2. For more information or special accommodations, please contact [email protected].
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Center for Vital Longevity Event
Science Luncheon Series Kickoff: Understanding and Promoting Social-Cognitive and Affective Aging, noon-1 p.m., Monday, Sept. 13 — The Center for Vital Longevity is kicking off its series with a presentation by Dr. Natalie Ebner, professor of psychology at the University of Florida. The lectures are free, open to faculty, staff and students, and will be offered in person and virtually.
Please RSVP by emailing [email protected] with the dates you plan on attending. Links to the lectures will be sent out via email. See the full schedule.
CVL asks in-person attendees to refrain from eating or drinking during the lectures; boxed lunches will be available at the conclusion of the presentation. For the first several lectures, in-person attendance will be limited. Please RSVP as early as possible to secure your seat.
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Military and Veteran Center Event
Veteran/First Responder-Focused QPR Suicide Prevention, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 9 — This focused QPR Suicide Prevention training will be presented by 1Tribe and UT Dallas’ Military and Veteran Center. 1Tribe is an organization that addresses suicide among military veterans and first responders. This class provides valuable information on community resources and can apply to the community as a whole. The training will be held via Zoom. Register to attend QPR Suicide Prevention.
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LGBTQ+ and Gender Equity Education
Virtual SAFE ZONE Ally Training — Ally Training equips allies and participants to utilize gained knowledge to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for LGBT+ students, staff and faculty at UT Dallas. In order to receive your training certificate and Safe Zone sticker, you must attend all 3 virtual sessions. For more information, email Matthew Johns.
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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Office of Research and Innovation Events
NSF CAREER Spotlight Series: Dr. Anthony Cummings, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 8 — Dr. Anthony Cummings, associate professor of geospatial information sciences and NSF CAREER awardee, will kick off the NSF Spotlight Series by sharing applicable proposal development and submission wisdom. For more information, visit the Spotlight Series listing or email Tiffany Willoughby.
Lab to Launch Series: Winning UTD's 2020 Big Idea Competition - Research Commercialization Track, noon-1 p.m., Monday, Sept. 13 — Dr. Robert L. Rennaker II, medical founding director of the Texas Biomedical Device Center and Texas Instruments Distinguished Chair in Bioengineering, will share how he prepared for, and ultimately won, the 2020 Big Idea Competition - Research Commercialization Track, for his startup company XNerve. For more information, visit the Lab to Launch listing or email Anricka Ziller.
Making Lemonade Out of Lemons: Insights and Tips for Your Proposal Resubmissions, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 15 — Hanover Grants consultant Melissa Cornish will discuss the best approach to proposal resubmission and share key strategies for success. For more information, visit the Making Lemonade Out of Lemons listing or email Tiffany Willoughby.
The Art of Finding Funding Series: NEA Know-How, noon-1 p.m., Friday, Sept. 17 — Dr. Melissa Menzer, senior program analyst in research and analysis for the National Endowment for the Arts, will lead a general workshop that explores all of the NEA granting programs, including research. For more information, visit the NEA Know-How listing or email Anricka Ziller.
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.
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. For more information, visit the Big Idea Competition site or email Dresden Goldberg.
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Office of Information Technology Events
Breakout Rooms and Polling in Teams, 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 14 — This 30-minute session will offer techniques and strategies for making meetings and classes in Microsoft Teams more engaging and effective. Learn how to create and manage breakout rooms, develop polls and quizzes, and set meeting options. Register for the webinar.
Teams Orientation, 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 16 and 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26 — This orientation will walk you through setting up your profile and notifications. Learn about Activity, Chat, Teams, Calling, Calendar, and Files in this introduction to the key components of collaboration. Register for the Sept. 16 session or register for the Oct. 26 session.
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Reminders
Submit Feedback Through Virtual Benefits Fair Survey
Human Resources appreciates everyone who attended the 2021 UT Dallas Virtual Benefits & Wellness Fair. Please take a moment to complete a short survey. Your feedback is very important in HR enhancing its service, understanding what it does well and what it can do better.
Sign Up for Gender Center’s Book Club
The Galerstein Gender Center (GGC) invites you to register for its monthly book club meetings this semester. Participants will read and discuss Mikki Kendall's “Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot.”
The book club will have two sections; the staff/faculty section will meet at noon, and the student section will meet at 2 p.m. on three Wednesdays — Sept. 29, Oct. 27 and Nov. 17. The GGC will provide free books to the first 15 book club registrants. All participants will receive a bonus book.
The GGC Book Club Meet & Greet will be held virtually from noon-1 p.m., on Wednesday, Sept. 8, via Microsoft Teams. Recipients of free books can pick them up at the Gender Center.
If you have any access issues or any questions, please email Jacqueline Prince.
Comet Cents Offers Money-Wise Training for Students
The Comet Cents Money Management Center provides free education to UT Dallas students on personal financial wellness topics such as saving/budgeting, credit management, student loans, identity theft and financial responsibilities after college. A goal of the Comet Cents program is to ensure that each UTD student has been able to attend one of our money management skills workshops prior to graduation to fine tune their financial toolkit. Join us in a workshop or meet with one of our coaches.
Smart About Money (SAM) Certification Series: Comet Cents will have two opportunities for undergraduate students to expand their financial literacy knowledge by completing the series. SAM covers topics like debt, attaining and maintaining
Credit, Loans, and future planning through investments. SAM series graduates receive a certificate upon completion.
Fall 2021 Virtual Workshops: This fall, Comet Cents will continue its traditional drop-in workshops, but in a virtual format. These workshops cover topics like financial goals (budgeting), managing credit, and planning for the future (loans, investments, and everything in between).
Individual Financial Coaching: Students can schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with a trained and certified Comet Cents peer coach for individual financial coaching. This is the perfect opportunity to get firsthand guidance when students notice they are struggling with finances, or they want to grow and deepen their knowledge.
Comet Cents will feature additional Comet Cents opportunities for students on its Instagram, and it will publish new episodes on its Change Matters podcast.
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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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