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. Visit the COVID-19 website, which will be updated frequently with the latest information.

In fiscal year 2023, Texas state agencies and universities will observe 13 national and state holidays. The number of holidays observed can vary from year to year because the state does not grant time off for holidays that fall on weekends. See the University Employee Holiday Schedule on the Office of Human Resources website.

If you have any questions or need additional information about the UT Dallas holiday schedule, please refer to the holiday policy or email [email protected].

The Office of Human Resources will host its next HR Forum from 10-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 4, 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&A forum. If you have questions for the HR Forum, send them to [email protected].

Hinge Health Program Webinar, noon, Monday, April 25 — Conquer back, knee, hip, neck or shoulder pain with digital exercise therapy. The programs are part of the UT SELECT health plan and include convenient exercise therapy, a personal health coach and education. Register to attend the Hinge Health webinar.

VOYA Financial Webinar: Improve Your Income & Tax Strategy Now and Later, 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 27 — Learn the benefits and features of pre-tax and Roth plans. For more information, see the 2022 VOYA-UT Financial Webinars flyer (pdf). Also, visit VOYA's Financial Literacy Knowledge Center and learn skills to help you manage your money for life.

Staff members are invited to sign up as Commencement Ambassadors for the Spring 2022 Commencement Ceremonies. Commencement Ambassadors are volunteers who will assist with guest management and customer service during the ceremonies. The shifts are:

Sunday, May 15
All-University Commencement at the University Roundabout

• 6-8:15 p.m.
• 8-10 p.m.

Monday, May 16
Activity Center (AB)

• 8 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
• noon-4 p.m.
• 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

ATEC Lecture Hall (ATC 1.102)

• 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tuesday, May 17
Activity Center (AB)

• 8 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
• noon-4 p.m.
• 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

ATEC Lecture Hall (ATC 1.102)

• 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Wednesday, May 18
Activity Center (AB)

• 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Serving as a Commencement Ambassador is different from assisting your school with the execution of its ceremony. If your school has requested for staff to help with commencement and you have signed up, please do not sign up for that shift using the Commencement Ambassador form.

Library Tours — Are you new to UT Dallas or just want to see what the McDermott Library offers? Learn about library resources and services, its history, and meet library staff who can assist you. Sign up for a 30- to 40-minute tour led by a librarian.

Comets Endure Time Capsule Submissions, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday, April 22, Margaret McDermott Trellis Plaza — Share your pandemic stories of working from home, attending school or anecdotes about family time at the library's table on Earth Day. Prizes will be awarded. Library staff will digitize your story and add it to the time capsule.

You also can contribute your pandemic memories through the Comets Endure submission form (pdf). Submissions will be accepted through the end of the 2021-22 academic year.

Office of Research and Innovation Events

Responsible Conduct of Research Development Series, noon-1 p.m., April 21, 26, 28 — Do you work on federally funded research? Join the Office of Research and Innovation for its RCR Development Series. For certification, you must attend all required classes in the series and complete the online training modules and assessments. For more information, contact Tiffany Willoughby.

Hanover Research: Supplemental Funding, noon-1 p.m., Friday, April 22 — Interested in writing a supplement project proposal? Sarah Ott, senior grants consultant for Hanover Research, will share how to write a supplement project proposal and how it should complement the parent award. Learn what grants support supplements, how supplements work, supplement requirements and whether supplement awardees can be from another institution at this webinar. For more information, contact Tiffany Willoughby.