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Wednesday, May 31, 2023
News for the staff and faculty of The University of Texas at Dallas
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Information Security Office Helping Protect Computers Across Campus
UT Dallas continues to be targeted by criminals who would harm us to achieve personal gain. Therefore, it is important to reduce vulnerabilities and manage IT systems in a consistent and reasonable manner.
Throughout summer 2023, the Information Security Office (ISO) will deploy field analysts to randomly inspect computers from all schools and departments. This will help determine whether all beneficial settings and resources have been applied to make computers and the overall network safe. If misconfigurations are detected, this information will be used to increase security and further reduce risk across UT Dallas. ISO employees will check only general settings and will not review proprietary or personal information on the computers.
ISO operates by the motto “Education – Partnership – Solutions” and appreciates your help if your computer is selected for inspection. However, you may decline to participate as you determine necessary.
For additional information on this initiative, review the memo from Nate Howe, chief information security officer.
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HR Forum Scheduled for June 7
The Office of Human Resources will host its next HR Forum on Wednesday, June 7, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., as a Microsoft Teams live event. Please install Microsoft Teams prior to joining. If you need assistance, contact the OIT Help Desk. Please refer to the agenda:
- Welcome
- Guest presentations
- Benefits Flash: Progyny Fertility Services
- Sustainability Survey
- Tuition insurance
- HR updates
- Total Rewards Statement
- Data integrity in benefits processing
- FY24 Budget
- Employee Tuition Assistance Plan
- BRIGHT Leaders receives CUPA-HR Award for Innovation
- Bright Leaders Program
- Staffing update
- Forum feedback survey responses
- HR Summer Fun Theme — Furry Family picture slideshow
- Q&A and closing comments
Join the HR Forum and share this link with your colleagues. If you have questions for the HR Forum, send them to hrforum@utdallas.edu.
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CY2022 Performance Appraisals Due May 31
As a friendly reminder, please submit staff performance appraisals using the new Electronic Performance Appraisal (ePerformance) forms. Annual appraisals should be completed for all classified and administrative and professional (A&P) staff employees who worked all of CY2022, or who were hired on or before April 2022. For employees hired after April 2022, probationary appraisal assessing performance in the last quarter of the calendar year (October-December 2022) will meet the requirements for the annual appraisal process. Supervisors do not need to complete both an annual and a probationary appraisal.
Supervisors should complete probationary appraisal forms for employees hired to UT Dallas in 2023, or for UT Dallas employees who have transferred into a new position 30-, 90- and 180-days following the hire or transfer date.
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UTD Wants Your Feedback About Sustainability Efforts
The University Sustainability Committee at UT Dallas invites members of the campus community to fill out a one-minute survey to help gather perceptions of sustainability-related initiatives on campus.
For more information, email Dorothee Honhon, University Sustainability Committee chair.
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Watch Recording of Sustainability in Higher Education Exemplar Panel
Last month, the Office of Research and Innovation and the Office of Sustainability hosted sustainability directors from nationally recognized universities for a panel session on sustainability in higher education.
Dr. Jennifer Holmes, dean of the School of Economics, Political and Policy Sciences, moderated the conversation with panelists Aurora Winslade, sustainability director at Stanford University; Ryan McPherson, chief sustainability officer at the University at Buffalo; Jennifer Andrews, sustainability project director at the University of New Hampshire; and Gary Cocke, sustainability director at UT Dallas.
These sustainability leaders shared how sustainability elevates higher education’s broader mission including curriculum, research, operations, planning, and engagement. Watch the recording on YouTube.
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Annual Benefits Enrollment July 15-31
UT Dallas Annual Benefits Enrollment will be July 15-31. During enrollment, be sure you have access to the internet and your UT Dallas email so you can participate.
During enrollment, you can:
- Make changes to your benefits;
- Enroll or re-enroll in UT FLEX (employees only; enrollment does not automatically renew);
- Add or remove dependents from your coverage plan;
- Add or change beneficiaries for your life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
An email announcing the opening of Annual Benefits Enrollment will be sent to all benefits-eligible employees by July 15. After you receive the email, log in to My UT Benefits and follow the on-screen instructions to make your selections or changes. Make sure to print your confirmation statement afterwards. Enrollment must be completed before midnight on July 31.
The UT System Office of Employee Benefits will announce any changes to the plan year 2023-24 benefits plans prior to enrollment. Monitor your UT Dallas email for this information and campus-specific details.
Benefits-eligible employees are invited to attend the UT Dallas Benefits & Wellness Fair on July 17-18. There will be educational opportunities and fun activities. Watch your email for details. For assistance or more information, contact the Employee Benefits Team at benefits@utdallas.edu or on Teams.
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Employee Wellness Events & News
Workplace Stress and June EAP Newsletter
Too much stress, endured for too long, can be draining. It can negatively impact your health, relationships and quality of work. Deer Oaks EAP offers support, tips and help for dealing with unhealthy and unproductive work stress.
The top headlines of June’s EAP Newsletter (pdf) are:
- On-Demand Seminar: Keeping an Open Mind — This session will explore how to keep an open mind about yourself and others and share the benefits of keeping an open mind. Available on-demand starting June 20.
- The Effects of Psychological Stressors in the Workplace
- Overcoming Parental Guilt
- Tips for a Sustainable Lifestyle
Visit Deer Oaks EAP and enter utdallas for the username and password to access the online seminar.
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Wondr Health Summer Session
UT Benefits is offering you access to Wondr, a digital weight-loss program that teaches the science of health and nutrition, so you can enjoy your favorite foods this grill season (and beyond) and still lose weight. No counting calories. No restrictions. No guilt. Space is limited. The application period is June 12 to 25. The program starts July 10.
Wondr is available to all UT SELECT 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, download the Wondr flyer (PDF) or contact Wondr customer service.
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Financial Wellness Webinars
Take action for a more secure future. Reserve your spot for these webinars that are part of your retirement plan benefits.
- Cybersecurity, 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 7 — Help protect you, your family, and your money.
- Inside Money, 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 14 — Managing income and debt.
- At Your Fingertips, 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 21 — Manage your money from wherever you are.
- Midcareer Retirement Check-in, 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 28 — Make the move toward long-term financial security.
For more information, visit the TIAA/UT Retirement site.
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New North Texas Business Operations
The latest issue of The Connection (pdf) is a continuation of the previous issue’s story, focusing on some of the companies that chose North Texas for their new business operations. Many of these projects integrate state-of-the-art technology with a highly skilled regional workforce to create or expand existing customer bases into the region.
For more information on how UT Dallas and our local economy affect each other, please contact the F&ED Economic Development team. You also can subscribe to biweekly updates with the latest analysis and news from the Economic Development team.
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Sign Up for Web Accessibility Webinar on June 5
Web accessibility means making our digital communications available and user-friendly for everyone, including people with disabilities. In partnership with Silktide, University Web Services is hosting a Web Accessibility Intro Webinar that will introduce web accessibility concepts such as why creating accessible web content is important, how users with disabilities may interact with websites and how to create content that follows accessibility best practices. This webinar will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, June 5. It is open to all faculty and staff. Contact Christy Glaze to sign up.
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Center for BrainHealth Event
Staying Sharp: Longer Life with a Stronger Brain, 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 8 — Cognitive decline is not inevitable. Your brain changes as you live and age, and that is a good thing. There are simple things we can do to live and age well. Sarah Lenz Lock, AARP’s senior vice president of policy and brain health, and executive director of its Global Council on Brain Health, will share insights on how to sustain brain-healthy behaviors. The series sponsor is KERA; the event sponsor is Teri and John Shaffer.
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Reminders
Learn To Navigate Your Road to Retirement on June 20
Are you curious about how and when to retire from UT Dallas? Do you want to make sure you are eligible for UT Retiree Insurance? The Office of Human Resources will host a session on retirement programs and planning from 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20. Tina Sharpling, HRIS manager at UT Dallas, will lead the discussion on eligibility and options for retirement. Register for the retirement session.
Summer Book Club To Meet July 20, Aug. 10
Join BRIGHT Leaders for its Summer Book Club discussion of “Radical Candor” by Kim Scott. The book club discussion will take place in two parts, from 2 to 3 p.m., July 20 and Aug. 10.
The discussion will be guided by guest speaker Roberta Kelley Paul, senior university director of employee and labor relations at Georgetown University. She is an HR professional with more than 25 years of experience. Purchase a copy of the book on the book’s website.
For more information about “Radical Candor,” review a one-page guide (pdf). See discussion questions and additional resources (pdf) to help you understand “Radical Candor.”
For more information on training and resources, visit the BRIGHT Leaders website.
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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 valuable information necessary for the workplace, as well as community news that supports the University’s mission. Visit the Intercom website for guidelines about content and submissions.
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