The 2022 Annual Benefits Open Enrollment for faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars began Monday, Nov. 1, and runs through Friday, Nov. 12. This is the once-a-year opportunity for benefits-eligible employees to evaluate their benefits and make any necessary changes. Please visit the Open Enrollment web page for more information about what’s new for 2022, benefit plan details, and the schedule of office hours and vendor presentations. All open enrollment changes will be done in Workday. As a reminder, be sure to submit your 2022 elections by Nov.12 for them to be successfully saved and completed.

Submit your elections for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card! Brandeis will randomly select one employee from the first one hundred completed enrollments in Workday. For questions about benefit plans, contact humanresources@brandeis.edu.

Make a reservation today for a festive meal in the Faculty Club celebrating Thanksgiving a little early! After taking the year off due to COVID, the annual Brandeis tradition is back on November 17 with two seating options, one at 11:30 a.m. and a second at 1:00 p.m. Admission is just $13 per guest for a full traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the fix-ins. Please call the Faculty Club at 781-736-4280 or e-mail FCReservations@brandeis.edu to make a reservation and note the time you would prefer, either 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. This is sure to fill up fast, so do not wait.

ITS and Finance would like to remind the community that all computers and computer hardware that are used for university-related business should only be purchased using the proper Procurement channels. Faculty and staff should refer to the Computer Purchase Policy and the Brandeis University P-Card Policy for established purchasing procedures.

Purchases can be made via Punchout Catalogs through Marketplace+ (contact Procurement Services for access). On the Marketplace+ homepage, select the vendor logo under Additional Stores. Dell items should be purchased via the Dell punchout and Apple products should be purchased through either the SHI punchout or by requesting a customized quote from Apple by working with Information Technology Services (ITS) and Procurement. Computers and computer hardware should not be purchased independently using either the P-Card or personal funds and requesting reimbursement. Computer peripherals such as monitors, keyboards, mice, and headsets can be purchased from Amazon or GovConnection through Marketplace+; they do not need to be exclusively purchased through Dell, Apple, or SHI.

For purchases that may fall outside these policies, community members must work with ITS and Procurement to ensure compliance with the policies noted above. In addition, the use, distribution, and disposal of computer equipment (regardless of age or value) should only be done so with the knowledge of ITS in accordance with the University's Written Information Security Policy. Please contact Procurement Services (procurement@brandeis.edu) or ITS (help@brandeis.edu) for additional information or questions.

Employees are reminded that Vacation Carryover balances must be used by December 31 to avoid losing them.

Employees may view their Vacation Carryover balances in Workday under Absence > View - Absence Balance - use as of date 01/01/2022. This time is also reflected on the payslip accrual summary in Workday.

Vacation carryover is based upon years of service and applies to all employees. The carryover cutoff is Dec. 31. Carryover amounts are prorated for part-time employees. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources.

Veteran’s Day is Thursday, November 11. The University is deeply appreciative of all who have worn the uniforms of the U.S. armed forces and we thank all members of our military, in all branches, past and present, living or deceased, for your service to our country. We encourage all members of our community to take this moment to say thank you to the service members and veterans who are your colleagues, your family, your friends and your neighbors.

The BRAVE Act, signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker in July of 2018, allows Veterans who request, with reasonable notice, to take Veterans Day off using either unpaid time or by using available personal or vacation time.

If you are a Veteran and elect to participate in a Veterans Day activity or take Veterans Day off entirely, please notify your supervisor/manager. We support our Veterans in this endeavor.

The financial aid renewal application deadline for the 2022-2023 academic year will be March 1, 2022. Students receiving need-based scholarship funds must submit the 2022-2023 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and copies of 2020 student and parent Federal Income Tax Returns. Students who wish to apply only for federal sources of financial aid need only complete the FAFSA (taxes will be requested upon receipt of this application only if necessary). An e-mail detailing the renewal process will be sent to students and parents during the intersession.

On October 13, Brandeis staff including the Workday Student project team, key partners from across campus, and representatives from Workday and Huron Consulting Group came together to celebrate the launch of Workday Student. The event was sponsored by the university and project leadership to bring everyone together in person after hundreds of hours spent in virtual meetings and across time zones. On the unseasonably warm and sunny fall day, Jim La Creta, University CIO, shared the executive team’s appreciation for the team’s contribution in bringing a modernized student information system to the campus community. The new system introduced streamlined processes and an improved student experience. Visit the Workday@Brandeis project events webpage to view photos from the go-live celebration. For additional information and resources about Workday Student, please visit the Workday@Brandeis website.

The Office of Human Resources has partnered with Bright Horizons to help you better manage your work, family and personal responsibilities. Bright Horizons continues to offer Brandeis eligible employees, Family Solutions, Additional Family Supports and a Resource Room on the Brandeis Portal.

One of the features available is Back-Up Care, which provides access to back-up care for your children, adult and elder family members during a lapse or breakdown in normal care arrangements, with Center Based care, in-home care or newly added reimbursable care.

For additional information visit the Office of Human Resources Dependent Care Resource and Referral page.

Each year in December, the University celebrates staff for their commitment and achievement of milestone years of service. We are pleased to announce Human Resources will be hosting the 2021 celebration in Spring of 2022 with the anticipation of greater in-person participation. Please note more information on the date and location of this event will follow.

Brandeis University in partnership with New Directions, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), gives you, our employees and your household members confidential support, resources and information for personal work-life issues.

To learn more these free, confidential services that are available 24/7 visit Human Resources Benefits website.

The free webinar series has been expanded to offer several programs each week, including regular sessions of guided mindfulness, Zumba, yoga and rotating health and wellness topic. For a list of topics and registration information, please visit the Tufts Health Plan Living Well at Home page.

There is still an opportunity to purchase Bruins tickets. There is one pair of tickets for each of the following games:

• Tuesday, Nov. 9 vs. Ottawa
• Sunday, Nov. 21 vs. Calgary
• Tuesday, Nov. 30 vs. Detroit
• Monday, Jan. 24 vs. Anaheim
• Thursday, Mar. 31 vs. New Jersey
• Tuesday, April 12 vs. St Louis
• Thursday, April 14 vs. Ottawa
• Tuesday, April 26 vs. Florida
• Thursday, April 28 vs. Buffalo

Seats are in section LGE4, row 6. The cost of each pair is $254. To purchase tickets please email Gail Jordan (gmcjordan@brandeis.edu). First come, first serve.

The Finance and Administration leadership team will be hosting its annual town hall on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from some of our senior managers and BUSAC on a wide range of topics such as campus sustainability, IT security, and improvements to campus wi-fi, to name a few. Registration is required. Questions may be submitted in advanced or during the town hall. The event will be recorded and posted on the EVP for Finance & Administration website for those who are unable to attend.

All Brandeis makers and artists are invited to sell their handmade goods at the Create@Brandeis Holiday Craft Market on Thursday, December 2. There will be two locations:

• 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in Shapiro Campus Center atrium
• 6-9 p.m. in Chum's

You can sign up for either or both locations. All are welcome and there is no cost to participate. Please submit this registration form by November 21 to secure a table. If you have any questions, email Ingrid Schorr.

As November begins, Christians have just celebrated All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). From the early centuries of Christianity these days have been set aside to remember the dead. All over Europe and South America these two days are celebrated with visits to the cemeteries and special commemorations. All Saints Day is marked by the Catholic Church as a special feast day. Many churches have a "book of remembrance" and prayers for those who have died, especially in the last year.

Today is Diwali, a significant festival in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. Each of these religions celebrate a separate, key figure experiencing a spiritual victory on Diwali. There are therefore differences in the celebrations between religions, and cultures. Yet everywhere, Diwali is celebrated with worship, sharing sweets, fireworks and lights. It marks the New Year, with new calendars and diaries, and a cleaning of homes and offices, letting the light of Diwali enter all the corners of one's life. It is a day of "starting fresh," and learning to rejoice in the underlying reality of things and in our inner light. For much more information about these holidays and others, please see the Center for Spiritual Life's Guide to Religious Observances.

The spring 2022 bill will be delivered electronically to families in mid-November with a due date of December 15, 2021. Students will access the Nelnet Student Account Portal, using the link provided in their Student Account worklet in Workday, to view e-bills and account transactions, make payments and manage monthly payment plans.

If students have not already done so, please complete the following steps to ensure account access:

1. Set-up Nelnet account - Students should log in to the Nelnet Student Account Portal to set up their student profile. Refer to the Nelnet - Account Access job aid for detailed instructions.
2. Add parent or authorized parties access - Students who would like parents, sponsors, or other third parties, to view their student account and make payments will need to set these individuals up as Authorized Parties in Nelnet. Refer to the Nelnet – Manage Payers job aid for detailed instructions. Students should not share their Nelnet log-in credentials with their parents. They must set up parents as Authorized Parties with their own log-in credentials.

We will send a notification to students and authorized parties when the spring bill is ready to be viewed in Nelnet.

The Office of Human Resources is pleased to offer a new training which provides an overview of how the hiring process works at Brandeis. Developed for hiring managers and HR Liaisons, participants will gain an understanding of how the hiring and recruitment process works at Brandeis and what the necessary steps are. Please visit Human Resources website to view more information and registration details.

The Department of Education (ED) has announced major changes to the PSLF program, which provides student loan debt relief to support public service workers, including higher education employees. One major change is that ED is implementing a limited waiver (through October 2022) to count ALL prior payments made by student borrowers towards PSLF for all loans, including Direct Loans, loans consolidated into the DL program and those with other types of federal student loans who submit a consolidation application into the DL program. For more information about this change, and others affecting this program, go to https://freestudentloanadvice.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/tisla-faq-1015-version.pdf.

With the change in season, it’s a good time to conduct a computer health check to ensure your laptop or desktop is up to date with the latest and greatest software updates and security patches. The Technology Help Desk would like to remind everyone to check their machine for updates and recommends starting the updates at the end of the business day to help minimize any downtime. Don’t forget to restart your computer after applying an update - in fact, a weekly restart is a must to keep your machine updated and running smoothly! Visit the ITS website for helpful back-to-school technology reminders. For questions or assistance, contact the Help Desk in person in the Goldfarb Library (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.), submit a ticket (help@brandeis.edu), or call 781-736-4357.

Pell Grant recipients will now qualify for reduced internet from Comcast through the company’s Internet Essentials offering. Students who qualify for a Pell Grant could get internet for as low as $10 a month through the company. In order to apply and prove eligibility, students will need to provide their financial aid award letter showing they have a Pell Grant award. For more information, please visit: https://www.internetessentials.com/apply.