The Finance and Administration leadership team will be hosting its annual town hall on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. in the International Lounge and via Zoom. Open to all staff, faculty and students. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from some of our senior managers on a wide range of topics. 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.

October 11 is Giving DEISday, an annual fundraising event that brings the entire Brandeis community together in support of our students. Special challenges and bonus funds are up for grabs, meaning your gift to Brandeis goes further. When we reach 1,948 donors to Brandeis, it will unlock an additional $100,000 thanks to Dan Kazzaz '74, GSAS MA'74. 

The first 500 faculty, staff, and students to make their gift and bring the receipt to the Shapiro Campus Center atrium will receive an I "heart" DEIS supersoft tee! There's also challenges for some of our schools, clubs and organizations, athletics, and all gifts to the Brandeis Fund will be TRIPLED. Learn more at the Giving DEISday site.

Make sure to catch our live show on Facebook from 2-4 p.m., a celebration of the impact of our community on our students and our alumni, faculty, and staff on the world. Featuring student performances, interviews with coaches and student-athletes, and conversations with Simon Sinek ‘95 and Professor Anita F. Hill. Tune in and get a chance to win a portion of bonus funds for your favorite area of campus!

Did you know that you may be able to use your work-study allotment to engage in non-profit work? Students are especially encouraged to seek off-campus jobs involving community service activities. If you have a non-profit that you’re interested in working with please contact Kristyn Burke in Student Financial Services at kburke@brandeis.edu for more information on how to set up a partnership. Work study can cover 60% of your income for community service employment so the agency is only responsible for 40% of what you earn under your allotment. This provides a cost benefit to the agency while allowing you to gain valuable experience and skills in an area that interests you and supports our community!

Congress has instituted the FAFSA Simplification Act, which involves a major redesign of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. Due to these changes, the FAFSA will not be available on October 1 but rather in late December. 

As these changes are implemented Student Financial Services will work to assist students and their families through this process. For more information about these changes, FAQs, and how you can prepare now, please visit our Changes to FAFSA website. 

Sign up for one of our 30-minute, one-on-one financial literacy sessions! We hope that you will take advantage of this great opportunity to ask questions about budgeting, managing debt, understanding your paycheck, W-2’s etc. 

Have you always wanted to experience a Brandeis classroom? Have you always wondered what the Brandeis student experience is really like?

Here is your chance!  Brandeis will be celebrating its 75th anniversary on campus, October 13-15.  We will have faculty speaking about Brandeis past, present and future; alumni guests such as Guy Raz '96, Michael Sandel '75, and Josh Gondelman '07; a food truck tailgate at the men's and women's soccer games against UAA rival, University of Chicago; a 75th Anniversary Diamond Celebration with awards, food and dancing; a campus memorial service and much, much more!

Faculty and staff can attend events on campus for free!  Check out the schedule and register today.

Celebrate the lives and honor the memories of cherished members of the Brandeis community who are no longer with us. As part of the 75th Anniversary Weekend, the Center for Spiritual Life and Alumni Relations are holding a special memorial service on Sunday, October 15 at 11:30 a.m. in the International Lounge. We will remember students, alumni, staff, faculty, and friends of the university. If you would like a loved one to be remembered at the service and in our commemorative virtual book, please submit their name by Sunday, October 8.

Brandeis is rich with religious diversity.  In October these holidays are celebrated in our community:

• Jews end the celebration of the High Holidays with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, beginning at sunset on October 6 through October 8. Shemini Atzeret, or “The Eighth Day of Assembly,” is the eighth day of Sukkot, and it marks the beginning of Simchat Torah. Simchat Torah, or “Rejoicing with the Torah,” marks the completion of one Torah reading cycle and the beginning of a new one. Brandeis does not hold classes on Shmini Atzeret/ the first day of Simchat Torah.
• The Birth of the Báb and the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh are celebrated by Baha'is on October 15 and 16. Also known as the "Twin Holy Days," these holidays honor the births of two prophets and founders of the Baha’i faith, the Bab and Baha’u’llah. These holidays, when Baha’is gather to pray, read from the Baha’i writings, sing and dance and celebrate, hold enormous joy and meaning for Baha’is all over the world.
• October 15 - 24, Hindus celebrate Navaratri. During these nine nights of festivities, the Mother Goddess is worshiped in Her different forms of Durga, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati. The ninth day is also the day of the Ayudha Puja, when it is traditional to place the instruments of one's livelihood on an altar to the Divine. If one can make a conscious effort to see the Divine in the tools and objects one uses each day, it will help one to see one's work as an offering to God. The tenth day of Navaratri is Dussehra, which commemorates the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The festivities commonly include the ritualistic burning of effigies representing Ravana, reminding people of the need to conquer their internal vices, and embrace virtue and inner transformation in their lives.

Course instructors can now email students from their Workday class rosters. Workday has released a new feature on View Class Roster reports that allows instructors and administrators to email students directly. For more information about recent changes to Workday, including emailing students from the class roster, please visit the Workday@Brandeis website or email help@brandeis.edu.

A new Workday@Brandeis website will launch on October 16, 2023. The updated site will be organized by faculty, staff, and student roles to improve navigation and visibility to help guides. Once the site has launched, users may need to update their bookmarks. For more information about Workday, including the updated website, please visit Workday@Brandeis.

Brandeis will replace department Ricoh multifunction printers during October with newer, more efficient machines. All printers will be updated in their current locations and continue to utilize PaperCut. ITS is working with impacted departments to communicate details, minimize downtime, and ensure a smooth transition. If you have any questions regarding the printer replacement, please refer to the ITS website or contact Jonathan Estwing.

Faculty and staff can now use their Brandeis credentials for login — eliminating the need to track a separate password. Faculty and staff should use their Brandeis password to log into Office 365 and other Microsoft services. Students will be eligible to use their Brandeis credentials beginning October 10. 

If you experience any issues logging in, please sign out and then sign back in. If you continue to experience authorization issues or have other questions about accessing Office 365, please contact the Help Desk at help@brandeis.edu. Additional information about Office 365 is also available on the ITS website.

In recognition of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Brandeis Security Team will offer an Email Security Awareness Webinar for faculty and staff on October 20, at 12:30 p.m. Brandeis security experts will provide tips on spotting phishing emails, enhancing security, and protecting personal data. The team will also host an information table in the Shapiro Campus Center on Wednesday, October 18. Please stop by for information about the security program, to “Spot the Phish,” and to meet the team. Additional data privacy resources and security tools can be found in the Information Security section of the ITS website. If you would like to register for the workshop or have any questions or issues with security, please email security@brandeis.com.

The TAP (Talent Advancement Program) mid-year review process for staff will begin in November. More information will be provided but for now, please visit the TAP Website for general information and resources or contact the Office of Human Resources.

Brandeis is expanding our online degree and certificate programs under the new umbrella of Brandeis Online. Brandeis Online will be managed by the Rabb School of Continuing Studies and is a collaborative effort with all of the Academic schools to bring more online learning opportunities to the Brandeis community. To learn more, please visit brandeis.edu/online. Staff and faculty are encouraged to attend the information sessions that will be run by Brandeis Online: 

• Nov. 1 at noon: What is Brandeis Online? RSVP
• Nov. 10 at noon, Brandeis Online: asynchronous learning explained, RSVP
• Nov. 29 at noon: The online student experience at Brandeis Online, RSVP

Brandeis Library offers workshops on citation management, research strategies, data analysis and management, GIS, software for quantitative and qualitative analysis, primary sources, subject-specific resources, media production, 3D printing, soldering and more. View a list of the workshop topics currently offered. Our workshops include in-person sessions and online sessions.

Brandeis University takes pride in the rich hub of knowledge and varied life experiences of our valued staff members. Empowering team members in furthering their education with training and professional development keeps their knowledge base relevant, makes their job experience more rewarding and adds value to the university as a whole. We are proud to provide a variety of certificate programs, trainings and workshops for our employees. Please visit the Human Resources website for details and how to register.

Teaching & Learning Lunch Salon - Friday, Oct. 6, 12:30 - 1:50 p.m., Gardner Jackson Classroom on the top-floor of Goldfarb Library (Mezzanine level) Join colleagues for discussions about learning and teaching. These informal conversations are about issues that interest you – or with which you are wrestling. We’ll follow your lead, but we always have good topics on tap if there’s nothing on your mind at the moment. Bring a friend (or two)! RSVP requested.

Teaching & Learning Lunch Workshop: What are Engaged Pedagogy and Scholarship, and How Do I Get Money to Do This? - Friday, Oct. 20, 12:30 - 1:50 p.m., Gardner Jackson Classroom on the top-floor of Goldfarb Library (Mezzanine level) The Samuels Center for Community Partnerships and Civic Transformation (COMPACT) offers grants to support community engaged research and pedagogy.  In this workshop, we will discuss what community engaged scholarship is, how to begin a community engaged project, and how to get funding to support it. RSVP for lunch or register for a zoom link.

The University is pleased to announce that we will once again be hosting vaccination clinics this Fall. Faculty, staff, and their adult family members (ages 18 and older) are welcome to meet with licensed pharmacists on campus to receive seasonal, scheduled, and recommended vaccinations. Be sure to review the vaccination information carefully and check your medical insurance plan pharmacy coverage ahead of time. Register today.

When was your last dental exam? The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visiting your dentist for a dental exam and cleaning about every six months. Your oral health is essential to your overall well-being, and can be a“silent alarm” for other medical conditions. Learn more about what your mouth is telling you about your health. Eligible employees, learn more about Delta Dental insurance plans, and be sure to take advantage of Brandeis' Dental Benefits.  

Effective January 1, 2024, Brandeis will be offering a High Deductible Health Plan and Health Saving Account (HDHP/HSA). The HDHP will be offered as a new option in addition to the existing medical plans.

HDHP will also allow you to open a Health Savings Account (HSA), where you contribute pre-tax dollars to offset your out of pocket costs. As an additional benefit, the University will also contribute to the HSAs for employees who enroll in the HDHP.  For more information please visit our Human Resources website under Health Insurance.

Remember to use your FSA by the end of the year 2023. Grace period runs through March 15, 2024. You are allowed to join and/or make changes only during open enrollment or a qualifying event.

• Keep all your receipts
• If you don’t use it you will lose it.

Visit the Human Resources website for more detailed information about Flexible Spending Accounts and/or the FSA Store.

The 2024 benefits Open Enrollment period will take place this year between October 30 and November 10. This is the once-a-year opportunity for benefits-eligible employees to evaluate and make changes to benefits, absent a qualifying event. Changes made during the open enrollment period will take effect January 1, 2024.

Human Resources is also pleased to announce that we will be hosting this year’s annual Benefits Fair in person on November 2. The event will take place in Sherman Hall, in the Hassenfeld Conference Center. The Benefits Fair will include vendors from many of our benefit plans, HR representatives, refreshments and giveaways throughout the day.

As part of our commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within our organization, we kindly request your assistance by reviewing and updating your demographic information in Workday. The affirmative action plan (AAP) is an essential tool that helps us ensure equal employment opportunities for all employees. By providing accurate and up-to-date demographic data, you play a crucial role in helping us maintain compliance with legal requirements and improve our diversity initiatives. 

If you have any questions or encounter any issues, please reach out to our HR team. Thank you for your cooperation and support in this important endeavor.

Each year Brandeis is required to distribute information regarding Brandeis University’s current prescription drug coverage and options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. Visit the Brandeis Medicare Part D and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) webpages to carefully review the notice. If you, your spouse or dependent are eligible for Medicare this information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. As a reminder you should provide a copy of the Notice, electronically or in hard copy, to any of your dependents who are eligible for Medicare.

Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. 

Brandeis University has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered by Tufts Health Plan (via OptumRx) is considered Creditable Coverage. Save and book mark the Medicare Part D and FAQs link for future reference.

Brandeis is excited to announce on November 1 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. the 20/20 Onsite Vision Van to our employees. 20/20 Onsite is the leader in mobile optometry and is coming to Brandeis University to provide comprehensive eye exams to our employees. It just takes 30 minutes to get a full eye exam and shop their collection of over 300 styles of glasses and sunglasses.

The Big Yellow Van will be parked in the Hassenfeld parking lot from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Registration is required. Please visit Human Resources website for more information.

The transition between summer and winter brings a lot of weather patterns and uncertainty to our region. From hurricanes to snow storms, there are lots of weather hazards to potentially prepare for. You can learn more about Fall Weather Preparedness on the National Weather Service Ambassador website.

We have entered into the shoulder months for heating/cooling; the months whose temperatures range between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. During this time of year, it is also expected to experience significant changes in temperature throughout the day. Our campus operates on a dual system, where buildings are either in heating or cooling mode but not both.

Starting on Sept. 26, Facilities will begin the switch over from cooling to heating systems in the Residence Halls & Academic buildings then move to the Science Buildings. We understand that at times this may be uncomfortable but we ask for your patience during these New England shoulder months. If your space becomes too hot at certain points during the day, we recommend opening a window to let in cooler air from outside.

The complete switch-over will likely take a month to fully complete. For building temperature standards or energy conservation policies, please visit the Office of Sustainability webpage.

In accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), each year Brandeis is required to distribute a Summary Annual Report (SAR) for the Brandeis University Group Benefit Plans. The reports summarize the annual financial information noted on the Federal Form 5500 annual returns which has been filed with the IRS. You may access the reports by visiting the Office of Human Resources website.