Many of us continue to watch the aftermath of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria with sadness and deep concern. For those who would like to help those suffering, here are some vetted ways to give:

• UNICEF is on the ground in Turkey and Syria helping children and families in the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes.
• The Turkish Red Crescent is accepting donations and providing nutritional services and blood supplies for those affected or wounded by the earthquakes. “We invite our citizens to donate blood,”said Dr. Kerem Kınık, the organization’s president.
• Humanity & Inclusion is working in Turkey and Syria to distribute food and basic household necessities, focusing on seniors and people with disabilities. It is accepting donations here.
• Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) teams are working with health authorities to provide medical aid. To donate, click here.
• The Syrian American Medical Society is providing urgent medical care. Many hospitals in the region were already stretched thin, and others were damaged by the earthquakes. You can donate here or by texting EarthquakeSyria to 71777.
• Social justice organization CARE International is working to assess the most urgent needs in the area. Teams and partners are trying to deliver blankets, food, mattresses, tents and other non-food items to people in need amid harsh weather conditions, according to the organization. Donate here.

Waltham Group Blood Drive holds three drives a year by collaborating with The American Red Cross. For Spring 2023, the drive is Valentine's Day themed. The Brandeis community, from student to faculty to staff, are able to donate. Students are also able to volunteer. The donor will be checked by volunteers, complete short health history, and start the donation process if eligible. Afterward, the donor will rest for 15 minutes in the canteen area, where they can have a snack and ensure they feel okay before leaving. Participating in the blood drive by donating or volunteering is an amazing way for the community to give back. Sign up to donate blood! Donors will be able to receive a $10 Amazon gift card!

This year’s Brandeis University Staff Advisory Committee (BUSAC) nominations and elections are coming up. We will soon send all staff who are eligible to be nominated and vote in elections an email confirming their eligibility and a nomination form. To be eligible for nomination and participate in voting, you must be a benefits-eligible staff member or post-doc, who started before Sept. 8, 2022. If you have not received this email by the end of the day on March 8, 2023 and think that you are eligible, please email BUSAC@brandeis.edu so that we can investigate and include you in the elections process. Nominations of members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

The purpose of the BUSAC committee is to improve the work environment for Brandeis University staff through discussions and actions that influence policy; develop and enrich staff; and promote ongoing, meaningful, and deliberate improvements to the staff experience. All interested staff members are welcome to attend a BUSAC “open house” virtual meeting to learn more about BUSAC and meet the current district representatives.

BUSAC Open House meeting, February 23, 2:15-3 p.m., Zoom meeting link: https://brandeis.zoom.us/j/97769894479

The newly formed Staff-Faculty Disability Group includes staff and faculty who identify as disabled along with peers who support them. Focused on disability-related issues that arise from work and the workplace, the group may help develop resources related to disability-at-work, organize disability-themed events, and engage in other activities as members determine, while also providing support and advocacy where needed.

Join us for our monthly meetings to help plan our upcoming activities, including our events during Disability Inclusion & Equity Month at Brandeis, or connect with us via email. Please contact us at: staff-fac-disability-group@brandeis.edu or ptacek@brandeis.edu.

The Dean of Students Office is seeking nominations from faculty and staff of undergraduate or graduate students who have made outstanding contributions to the Brandeis community, including contributions of leadership, social consciousness and activism, community building, and service. While special attention will be paid to graduating seniors, several prizes will go to students in other class years.

Please complete the nomination form by Monday, February 27.

The selected students will be honored at a ceremony on May 5 and will be listed in the Commencement program. Please direct all questions to the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudentsoffice@brandeis.edu.

Welcome new undergraduate students to campus as a Navigating Health and Safety Instructor! Instructors teach sections of Navigating Health and Safety, a six-week module required for all new/incoming undergraduate students addressing mental health, substance use, sexual health, consent, bystander intervention and campus resources.

This position is designed for current Brandeis employees. It provides the opportunity to connect with new students and have fun doing it! Most instructors will teach in person, although there may be some opportunities to teach remotely.

The 50-minute classes are held once per week, either during business hours or in the evening depending on your availability and your supervisor’s approval. In the classroom, instructors lead discussions and facilitate engaging group activities. There is no lecturing!

The compensation is $960 per semester, or $1,072 per semester for staff who have worked at Brandeis for 6 or more years. Apply on Workday, and direct any questions to hawp@brandeis.edu.

The IT Governance Program includes committees, processes, and communications that engage the Brandeis community. The Program ensures the appropriate Brandeis stakeholders guide IT-related decisions and investments to support institutional objectives and priorities.

The Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC), led by the PMO Manager, Jonathan Estwing, reviews, evaluates and makes approval recommendations regarding IT proposals, priorities, policies, and technology investments in support of University objectives.

ITAC membership includes representation from University departments and schools. The Committee reports to the IT Governance Program Executive Sponsors, who receive regular updates, validate its direction, resolve escalated issues, and, as needed, provide approval of policy changes and funding requests.

For more information about ITAC, to sign up for IT Governance ITAC communications, or to learn about your committee representatives, please visit our updated IT Governance website.

The Brandeis community is rich with religious diversity. On February 18, Shiva-ratri (Hinduism) is celebrated as the night of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, prayed, meditated and fasted on this day for his well being. On the day of the festival, devotees of Lord Shiva fast and spend the day and all night focused on Lord Shiva, meditating and chanting and singing his praises. On February 22, Ash Wednesday (Christianity) begins the 40 days of Lent for Christians, leading up to the celebration of Easter. On Ash Wednesday many Christians observe the tradition of placing ashes in a cross on the forehead, which may be accompanied by the words “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The ashes serve as a reminder of mortality, and a start to the Lenten season of reflection, turning toward God, and letting go of things that are no longer helpful to society or the individual. For more information on these and other holidays, visit the Center for Spiritual Life's Guide to Religious Observances.

Did you know that the most common cause of faculty/staff injuries on Brandeis Campus are due to slip and falls during icy or wet conditions?! Keep yourself safe with the following suggestions:

• Look out for black ice, and remember that the indoor entrances can also be slick.

• Wear shoes with good traction and try carrying your belongings in a backpack instead of shoulder bags for better balance and hands-free schlepping.

• Take the campus shuttle! Consider using the shuttle to stay warm, dry, and safe if you need to go between buildings around campus.

• Tell someone. If you get injured while at work, we want to know! Please contact Public Safety (6-3333) for immediate assistance, and Occupational Health to discuss next steps in getting care. All accidents and injuries should be reported to your supervisor and documented using this form.

The Form 1098T was printed and mailed prior to January 31 to students with qualifying transactions if they opted out of the electronic 1098-T option during onboarding. The form was created for domestic students, and international students, with a Social Security number on file who also had qualified transactions. Any student with a form can view and print their form in Workday from within the Student Account application.

Open to all members of the Brandeis community

• Excel with Excel: Overview, Tips and Tricks Part II, noon - 1 p.m., Thursday, February 9
• UWS Lens Essay Workshop, 2 - 2:50 p.m., Thursday, February 9
• Graduate Write-in Studio, 9 a.m. - noon, Monday, February 13
• Introduction to Arduino Electronics Workshop, 4 - 5:30 p.m., Monday, February 13
• Qualitative Research Analysis: Intro to Atlas.ti ( Mac users), noon - 1 p.m., Tuesday, February 14
• Data Wrangling with R, 12:10 - 1 p.m., Wednesday, February 15
• LATTE OPEN OFFICE HOURS, 1 - 2 p.m., Wednesday, February 15 and February 22
• How to build and deploy your personal website, 4 - 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 15
• Graduate Write-In-Person Days, 9 a.m. - noon, Thursday, February 16
• Qualitative Research Analysis: Intro to Atlas.ti ( Windows users), noon - 1 p.m., Thursday, February 16,
• Version Control: Intro to Git and GitHub, 1 - 2 p.m., Thursday, February 16
• UWS Lens Essay Workshop, 4 - 4:50 p.m., Thursday, February 16
• Intro to 3D Printing with Flashforge, 10 - 11:30 a.m., Friday, February 17
• Intro to 3D Printing with Flashforge, 10 - 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 22
• LATTE OPEN OFFICE HOURS, 1 - 2 p.m., Wednesday, February 22
• How to build and deploy your personal website, 4 - 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 22

We have some exciting plans underway to help the university community celebrate the 75th anniversary, including the main on-campus celebration October 13-15.

As you develop plans for this important occasion, please keep in mind the four themes: Innovation in Education, Repairing the World, Jewish Values, and This is Our House. In order to make sure all activities (events, panel discussions, etc.) support one or more of the themes, and to help ensure that all our events are scheduled in a coordinated way, only approved activities will be permitted to use the 75th logo and be listed on the 75th events calendar. We think this will help us be more organized and will result in the best experience for members of our community.

Please visit the holding webpage for staff and faculty for more information, including an online form to use for proposing your events. For activities that are intended to take place in the first half of the celebration year (July through December), proposals must be submitted by March 30, 2023.

All workshops will be presented via Zoom.

• Tuesday 2/28 – Intro to Hiring and Recruitment Process at Brandeis, register, 10 – 11:30 a.m., 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, including: determining the type of position, developing a job description and posting the job, forming a search committee (if needed), using Workday to track candidate screening, selection, interviews and reference checks, making/accepting the offer, onboarding the new employee

• Wednesday 3/8- Conducting One-On-Ones, register, 1 – 2 p.m., An essential function of being a manager is conducting regular one-on-ones with your direct reports. Discover how to utilize the process to create a motivated and positive work environment, attainable goals, and useful exchanges.

• Thursday 3/23 – Performance Coaching and Counseling, register, 2 – 3 p.m., An essential function of being a manager is providing performance coaching and counseling feedback. Learn about Brandeis’ policies, how to provide effective positive or constructive feedback and when to contact HR to assist with addressing any concerns.

• Monday 4/10 – Legal Considerations of the Supervisor, register, 10 – 11 a.m., It’s crucial as a manager to know the basics of the law in order to avoid common mistakes that can lead to real trouble. This workshop will provide managers with an overview of relevant employment and leave laws and will educate managers on how to recognize red flags and seek assistance from the HR Team.

For more details please visit the HR Training Website or contact us at farquhar@brandeis.edu.

Applications are open until March 7 for eligible employees interested in enrolling in a master’s degree program at Brandeis Graduate Professional Studies (GPS)! You are encouraged to take a course prior to applying for professional development if you aren’t ready to start a degree. Classes are fully online, designed for working professionals, and are 10 weeks long. The most popular programs of study for employees are Project and Program Management, Digital Marketing and Design, and User-Centered Design. To learn more, schedule a time with Christie Barone, Director of Admissions: cbarone@brandeis.edu

The University recently hosted a staff service recognition ceremony to honor employees who have attained 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service in 2021 or 2022. Included in this group were Arthur Wingfield and Corena Baker who achieved 55 and 60 years of services respectively. Our sincere thanks and congratulations to Arthur, Corena and all of our dedicated staff for their service to Brandeis.

In addition, the University announced the 2022 winners of the Ennis and Zirkel Awards. Shannon Kearns, Arts and Sciences, received the Ennis Award and Teresa Pais, Facilities Administration, received the Zirkel award. Congratulations to Shannon and Teresa for their dedication and significant contributions to Brandeis.

The Department of Public Safety is pleased to announce the roll out of an Active Threat/Shooter training online. This will be a self-enrolling, self-paced training available to students, faculty, and staff through Latte. To enroll and begin taking the training you can visit the course page or visit the Public Safety website for more details.

In addition to the online availability of this course, the department is also offering the course in person. To coordinate an in person training please reach out to Public Safety.

Since 2019 Brandeis University has been designated as a HeartSafe Campus through the National Collegiate EMS Foundation. The use of AEDs during a cardiac incident has been shown to help save lives.  Beyond having AEDs in strategic positions throughout campus, all police cruisers are equipped with AEDs, as well as the BEMCo vehicles. Being a small campus, our department's response is generally at or under the 3 minutes that is recommended by the American Heart Association. A critical component of a cardiac arrest response is effective high-quality CPR. The Department of Public Safety regularly hosts CPR/AED training for members of the community. 

The financial aid renewal application deadline for the 2023-2024 academic year will be March 1, 2023. Domestic students receiving need-based scholarship funds must submit the 2023-2024 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and copies of 2021 student and parent Federal Income Tax Returns. International students must submit the 2023-2024 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE and documentation of 2021 student and parent income. 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 was sent to students and parents in early January.

Let your teen experience Brandeis this summer through the Genesis program. Genesis is a 3-week pluralistic, academically-focused Jewish learning, and identity-building summer precollege program for exceptional high school students. Students engage in college-level learning, informal Jewish experiences and joyful Shabbat celebrations while making lifelong friends and living on the Brandeis campus. Scholarships are available. Children of Brandeis employees receive reduced tuition. Contact Laura Hyman for more information: laurahyman@brandeis.edu.

Join us for an introduction to the business of book publishing, from how books are acquired, edited, designed, and produced, to how they are marketed, sold, and distributed. Covering both trade and academic books, Brandeis University Press presents what book publishers do and what potential authors need to know. This seminar will also be of interest to those who want to explore careers in book publishing. Come take advantage of the full program and learn what it takes to make a proposal into a book and what makes a book a success! 

Featured speakers include Sue Ramin (Director, Brandeis University Press), Lucy Cleland (Agent, Kneerim & Williams Literary Agency), Lisa Diercks (Book Designer, Endpaper Studio), Lissa Warren (Publicist, Lissa Warren PR), and Beth Ineson (Executive Director, NEIBA). Sponsored by Brandeis University Press and Brandeis Library, and supported by the Offices of the Dean, and the Provost, this event is free and open to the Brandeis community. Lunch will be provided.

Register here by February 22