The results of the Employee Climate Survey conducted this spring are now available. As President Richard C. Benson stated in his June 16 announcement, the survey is a crucial component in our Strategic Plan initiative to attract and retain the best and brightest employees.

The 1,883 employees (53%) who participated provided more than 7,500 comments on a variety of topics. The overall engagement/employee satisfaction score was 70 out of 100. There are many responses that identified community strengths. Other responses revealed areas where work is needed.

A summary of the survey findings will be presented at the HR Forum on July 6, the Staff Council meeting on July 13 and the Academic Senate meeting on July 20.

Read President Benson’s full announcement.

The Office of Human Resources will host its next HR Forum from 10-11:30 a.m., on Wednesday, July 6, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., as a Microsoft Teams live event. Please install Microsoft Teams prior to joining. If you need assistance, visit the OIT 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.

Please refer to the agenda:

• Welcome
• One UTD
• Guest presentations
• International Center passport services
• UT SHIP: Student Health Insurance
• HR updates
• RA/TA/GA reminders
• Classified temp process
• Benefits and Wellness
• Campus Climate Survey
• Bright Leaders program
• Appraisals reminder
• Q&A and closing comments

You are invited to UT Dallas Day at the Ballpark as the Texas Rangers face the Minnesota Twins at 3:05 p.m., Saturday, July 9, at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Purchase your tickets and get an official UTD/Texas Rangers cobranded hat. Tickets start at only $18. Bring the whole family and celebrate summer the Comet way!

The UT Dallas Annual Benefits Enrollment is July 15-31. Save the date and be sure you have access to the internet and your UT Dallas email so you can participate in the annual benefits enrollment period. During this time period, you can:

• Update your benefits.
• Enroll or re-enroll in UT FLEX (employees only; enrollment does not automatically renew).
• Add or remove dependents from your coverage plan. Please review your dependents.
• You also may add/change your beneficiaries for your life and AD&D coverage. If you currently do not have your beneficiaries listed on My UT Benefits, we recommend you do so.

An email announcing the opening of the Annual Benefits Enrollment will be sent to all benefits-eligible employees on or before July 15. After you receive the email, log into My UT Benefits and follow the on-screen instructions to make your selections or changes. Make sure to print your confirmation statement after you make any changes.

Enrollment must be completed before midnight Central Time on Sunday, July 31.

The UT System Office of Employee Benefits will announce any changes to the FY2022-2023 benefits plans in the A Matter Of Health newsletter prior to the annual enrollment period. Please monitor your University email account for this information and for campus-specific details from UT Dallas.

Benefits-eligible employees may also attend the UT Dallas Virtual Benefits & Wellness Fair on July 18-19. Don't miss out on the educational opportunities and fun activities. Watch your email for more information about this event soon. Download the UT Dallas Benefits Fair App via Google Play and Apple App stores.

For assistance or more information, contact the UT Dallas Office of Human Resources — Benefits Services via email at [email protected] or on Microsoft Teams.

Nominations are now being accepted for open Staff Council positions for the coming year. All nominations must be submitted by June 30. Benefits-eligible staff members who have worked for the University for six consecutive months may be nominated to serve on the council as a representative. Anyone may nominate a candidate, or candidates may self-nominate. Campus districts elect representatives to serve two-year terms. Once elected, representatives:

• Serve on one of four standing committees.
• May be selected to serve on University-wide committees.
• May run for the offices of president or vice president, which are elected annually by the council to serve one-year terms.

Learn more about opportunities to serve in the Staff Council bylaws.

The Passport Services Office wants to help you and your family apply for your passport sooner. There will be three passport fairs from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on July 1, 8 and 22, in SSB 3.600. No appointment is needed, just walk in.

These events are for first-time customers and children applying with the DS-11 form. If you are eligible to renew your passport, you should renew by mail. Review requirements on the Department of State website.

For more information, visit the Passport Services website, email [email protected] or call 972-883-4715.

Nudges, Leniency and Limits: Helping Students Manage Time, Flexibility and Responsibility, 4-5 p.m., Thursday, July 7 — Instructors often try to offer students flexibility for meeting their many academic obligations, but the same flexibility that makes success possible for some is used as a shortcut that compromises their learning by others. As we plan for fall, join CTL's Summer Office Hours for a discussion of strategies for teaching time management, using nudges to prompt student actions and creating flexibility that improves opportunities for genuine learning. Faculty, staff and graduate students are welcome to join the session. Join Nudges, Leniency and Limits on Microsoft Teams.

Follow all of CTL's events on Comet Calendar (click the star icon) and have them emailed to you when they are announced directly to your email box.

Submit Applications for Staff Ideas Competition

The Staff Ideas Competition is designed to engage the thousands of professionals among the outstanding staff in the University's culture of innovation. Staff and clinical faculty may submit their early-stage ideas for a startup or small business to compete for cash awards. The deadline to apply for the competition is Sunday, July 10.

For more information, email Dresden Goldberg.

Raise Funds for Your Group Through Impact UTD

Does your program or group need additional funding? You may be able to raise those funds through Impact UTD, the crowdfunding platform available to the UT Dallas community. Here's what you need to know about Impact UTD:

• It is open to all UT Dallas staff, faculty and students (access to a UT Dallas cost center is required).
• It allows you to raise funds from your professional and personal networks through gifts directly to UT Dallas.
• All gifts are tax-deductible.
• All funds raised go directly to your program.

Email [email protected] to learn more about ways to use Impact UTD crowdfunding.