The Brandeis Art Exchange, located outside Usdan across from the library, encourages art making, collaboration and experimentation by the Brandeis community through the exchange of art and craft materials. Please take what inspires you. Donations of art materials and art books are welcome! Put them in the box yourself anytime. Large donations may be sent to Ingrid Schorr at MS 092, or email Ingrid for a pickup. Sponsored by Arts Engagement and the MakerLab.

Reminder your Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) has an annual grace period to spend your funds. The grace period to incur expenses runs through March 15th, 2023 for 2022 expenses. This means you have until March 15th to incur new expenses and use money left in your Healthcare and Dependent Care FSA to spend.

For reimbursements claim all receipts must be submitted by April 30, 2023. Supporting documentation must be submitted with all claim to WageWorks/Health Equity.

Save that Stuff is our new trash/recycling contractor and they will begin on March 1. They will be replacing 47 dumpsters on March 1 around campus in hopes to have as smooth of a transition as possible. Some dumpsters have already been strategically placed on campus in order to help with this transition. Although the transition should be relatively seamless to most of our customers, we ask for your patience during this transition. However, if you have any concerns, please contact our Facilities Grounds Manager at 781-736-8500.

New Directions is the Brandeis University Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP services are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, every day. If you need help with Mental Health Support, Community Resources, Crisis Resources, Suicide Awareness and more, they are here to help.

Please login to the New Directions website and enter the company code ‘brandeis university’ or call them directly at 800-624-5544.

Open to all members of the Brandeis community

• Graduate Write-in Studio, 9 a.m. - noon, Monday, February 27

• Introduction to Arduino Electronics Workshop, 4 - 5:30 p.m., Monday, February 27

Waltham Group Blood Drive holds three drives a year by collaborating with The American Red Cross. They were able to meet the goal of 47 units in the recent Valentine's Blood Drive.

All Brandeis community members 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.

In this program, Dr. Gannit Ankori, Henry and Lois Foster Director and Chief Curator of the Rose Museum at Brandeis University, will detail how the life and work of Frida Kahlo is a potent rejection of ableist discourse and affirm an alternative way of being. Registration is required. For additional information, please visit the Staff-Faculty Accessibility Group webpage or email staff-faculty-disability-group@brandeis.edu.

Co-sponsored by the Brandeis Staff-Faculty Accessibility Group and the Rose Art Museum, with additional support from The Brandeis Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Brandeis University Staff Advisory Committee.

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.

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.

The financial aid renewal application deadline for the 2023-2024 academic year is 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). Students can view the status of their financial aid application online via the “Financial Aid Portal” link in the Student Financial Aid Worklet in Workday.

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.

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 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.