|
|
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023
News for the staff and faculty of The University of Texas at Dallas
|
|
|
|
|
Attend Virtual Staff Council Meeting on Jan. 11
The next virtual Staff Council general meeting will be from 9-11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 11. General meetings are the second Wednesday of each month and open to staff, faculty and students. For meeting agendas, minutes and more information, visit the Staff Council meetings page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Free Access to Wellness Center; Bike Commuter Shower Program
Beginning Jan. 17, the SPN Wellness Center will be available to all faculty, staff and affiliates at no cost. If you have a current UREC membership and choose to exclusively use the SPN Wellness Center, email UREC@utdallas.edu for information about a refund. Membership will still be required for use of the Activity Center and Rec Center West.
Additionally, staff and faculty who bike to work can sign up for a free Commuter Shower Pass, which gives access to showers at various fitness facilities across campus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wellness News
2023 Live Healthy Campaign: Coming in January
New year, new challenge. It’s Time Texas Community Challenge is a free, eight-week competition that unites Texans across the state to build a healthier Texas.
- Challenge dates: Jan. 9 through March 5
- Participate as an individual and earn points for your community and workplace.
- Select UT Dallas under employer/organization sub-challenge.
- Earn rewards and win prizes for daily healthy habits.
- You can register on the website or via the app (download at Google Play or the App Store) and log healthy habits.
Everyday choices shape our health and our future. The challenge encourages participants to pursue simple, daily healthy habits. Join us to make Texas a healthier place.
For more information, visit the It’s Time Texas website.
|
|
|
|
|
Wondr Health Spring Session
This year, say yes to you. Make a lasting change with Wondr, a 100% digital weight loss program that will teach participants clinically-proven skills through weekly master classes. The deadline to apply is Monday, Jan. 22. The program starts Monday, Feb. 6.
Offered by UT Benefits at no cost to you, Wondr goes beyond diet fads to teach you science-based skills that will help you lose weight and improve your overall health. The program 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. More details regarding restrictions and eligibility are available on wondrhealth.com/livingwell.
|
|
|
|
|
|
January EAP Newsletter
The top headlines for this month’s EAP Newsletter (pdf) are:
- Online Seminar: Self-Care and Nature – Rays of Sunshine. Available on-demand starting Tuesday, Jan. 17.
- The Benefits of Spending Time in Nature
- New Year, New You! Planning a Successful Year with Effective Goal Setting
- How to Be Happy: Tips for Cultivating Contentment
Visit Deer Oaks EAP and enter utdallas for the username and password to access the online seminar.
For more information about UT Dallas Employee Wellness, visit the Employee Wellness website or email employeewellness@utdallas.edu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attend HR Forum on Feb. 1
The Office of Human Resources will host its next HR Forum from 10-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1, as a Microsoft Teams live event. Please install Microsoft Teams prior to joining. If you need assistance, contact 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. If you have questions for the HR Forum, send them to hrforum@utdallas.edu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guidance for TikTok Usage at UT Dallas
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed all Texas state agencies — including The University of Texas at Dallas — to “ban its officers and employees from downloading or using TikTok on any of its government-issued devices. This TikTok ban extends to all state-issued cellphones, laptops, tablets, desktop computers and other devices capable of internet connectivity.”
The governor’s memo to state agency leaders (pdf) indicates that TikTok software poses a threat to our “state’s sensitive information and critical infrastructure” because it “harvests vast amounts of data from its users’ devices.”
To comply with this order, UT Dallas is requiring that TikTok software be deleted from all University-owned computing devices and that these devices should no longer be used to access the TikTok website. TikTok software should not be downloaded to University-owned computing devices in the future.
Additionally, UT Dallas schools and departments should suspend their marketing and communication activities on TikTok and archive existing accounts. University-owned devices only include those that are wholly owned by the University. At this time, no changes are planned that will impact personally owned computing devices.
Further guidance about the governor’s order is expected in early 2023, which may lead to additional changes.
If any employee has questions about this statewide requirement or believes they have a legitimate University purpose for keeping TikTok software installed on University-owned computing devices, please contact the OIT Help Desk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
