The Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts celebrates the abundant creativity of Brandeis students, faculty and staff, joined by distinguished guest artists.

Join us on campus April 6-14 and celebrate Brandeis' 75 anniversary with art and performances that connect with our founding Jewish values, innovation in education, repairing the world, and community. Most events are free and open to the public. Sunday, April 7, is Super Sunday, with special programming for family and community.

We are excited to announce that we are rebranding the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion! We are making this change to clear up the confusion with some of the offices and centers that make up the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI).  There is no structural change or moving of any offices or centers (Gender and Sexuality Center - GSC, Intercultural Center - ICC, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education and Learning, Office of Equal Opportunity - OEO, and University Ombuds) as this is merely a strategic rebranding of our Division.  Feel free to reach out to diversity@brandeis.edu for more information.

ITS will implement TeamDynamix (TDX), a new service management solution, on January 30, 2024. TeamDynamix (TDX) replaces JIRA, the current ticketing system, which has reached end-of-life and can no longer be updated. The TDX Service Management Platform will allow support teams to identify and resolve issues more efficiently with a unified ticketing architecture and new features that better meet our expanding service management needs. 

Once implemented, TDX users can create a ticket using a catalog of services in a newly created Service Portal or submit their issue at help@Brandeis.edu. The Service Portal will prompt users to provide critical information to direct their issue to the right team and shorten the path to resolution. 

To learn more about the TDX Service Management solution, including information for users on getting started with the Service Portal, please visit the ITS website or contact the TDX project team at tdxadmin-group@brandeis.edu.

SFS will be providing a webinar regarding the 2024-2025 financial aid application process for continuing undergraduate students on January 29 at 5:30 PM.  Students who wish to attend should register online to obtain the webinar link; registration can be completed at any time up until the completion of the webinar.  

The webinar will include details about the 2024-2025 financial aid application process, changes to the FAFSA, the appeal process, emergency funding, and other related topics. A recording will be available on the SFS website after the live event. 

The financial aid renewal application deadline for the 2024-2025 academic year will be March 1, 2024.  Students who would like to apply for need-based scholarship funds must submit 2024-2025 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and copies of 2022 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).  

Please note that the 2024-2025 FAFSA has undergone significant changes. Even though the FAFSA application became available as of 12/30/2023, the website is currently experiencing limited windows of availability due to planned and unplanned maintenance. It may be prudent to wait to file the FAFSA until the application is more reliable, hopefully in the coming weeks.  If you are able to successfully complete your FAFSA, schools will not receive FAFSA data until February 2024 at the earliest. Brandeis will not be able to update the status of the FAFSA item on your financial aid document checklist until February 2024 at the earliest. Please visit the SFS website for FAQs and the most up-to-date information regarding the 2024-2025 FAFSA.

An e-mail detailing the renewal process was sent to students and parents in early January.  If you would like to meet with your financial aid counselor to discuss the renewal financial aid process, you may book a 30-minute appointment online.  

W-2 - The Form W-2 includes earned wages & compensation paid through Payroll. Reports federal taxable income and withholding and state taxable income and withholding. This document has been produced and is available electronically in Workday.  To access it, click on the Pay icon and then My Tax Documents.

1042-S - The 1042-S reports federal taxable income and withholding including fellowships, scholarships above the cost of tuition and required fees and/or specifically NOT for tuition and required fees, and compensation for non- resident aliens that is considered under a tax treaty (any amount of compensation outside a tax treaty limit would be included on a W-2). This document is issued by March 15 for the previous tax year and is available on paper only (mailed to the address on the Foreign National Form).

1098-T - The Form 1098T was printed and mailed prior to January 31st 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.

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. Use our online tool to book an appointment today!

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education and Learning Initiatives invites you to this year’s DEIS Impact symposium, “Embracing Difference: Recognizing Jewish Identity at the Margins in the Effort to Address Racism and Antisemitism”, to be held March 25-27 in Hassenfeld Conference Center. Centered around Audre Lorde’s ‘theory of difference’ and intersectionality, the Symposium will bring together local and regional scholars, practitioners, and the Brandeis community to explore the evolving narrative of “who is Jewish?” – and how those within the greater Jewish diaspora, the Black community, and other marginalized sectors can come together to harness collective agency in the struggle for social justice.

Please support our department by adding this event to your calendar and avoiding conflicting programming during this week. Additionally, students, faculty, and staff who attend the Symposium are eligible for a certificate of participation. We encourage you to include this unique learning opportunity in your own academic or departmental programming.

Looking to hone some new skills this spring? Check out the Library’s calendar! Upcoming workshops include a 4-part Python workshop series. New this semester: GIS Drop-in hours will be offered Wednesdays, 2-3:30 (unless otherwise noted).

Library Building Hours for Spring 2024

• Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. - 2 a.m.
• Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 2 a.m.
• Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - 2 a.m.
• Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
• Sunday: 7:30 a.m. - 2 a.m.

• View more hours, including exceptions

Brandeis is rich with religious diversity. Holidays celebrated by the Brandeis community during the month of February include: 

• Lunar New Year (February 10)  Buddhists celebrate Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, in many different ways depending on their cultural and regional backgrounds.  The date is associated with renewal and purification. Buddhists may use the Lunar New Year as a time for personal reflection, setting positive intentions for the year ahead. This can involve contemplating the teachings of Buddhism and making commitments to personal growth and spiritual development. It is customary to make offerings at monasteries or other sacred religious sites, and it can be marked as a time for practitioners to engage in acts of generosity, kindness, and compassion.Within Tibetan culture, the New Year, called Losar, is a huge celebration that continues for three days.
• Ash Wednesday (February 14) Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of Lent leading up to the Christian celebration of Easter. On Ash Wednesday, many Christians observe the tradition of placing ashes in a cross on the forehead. 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 ourselves.

For more information on these and other holidays, visit the Center for Spiritual Life's Guide to Religious Observances. Did we miss a spiritual observance that is important to you? Please reach out to slife@brandeis.edu.

After more than thirty years at Brandeis, Beth Bernstein, Executive Director of the Brandeis National Committee, retired at the end of the calendar year. She has left behind a lasting legacy at the university and BNC. Going forward, Dora Ocanto-Gomez will be the point person for financial or volunteer-related matters. BNC general inbox for the BNC website and contract issues. And Nicole Perryman for membership-related matters.

The Awards and Recognition Committee of the Alumni Board of Directors is seeking nominations for the Alumni Achievement Award. President Liebowitz makes the ultimate determination on the award recipients. For the coming year, the awards will be presented at the Alumni Weekend, in the fall of 2024. The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes alumni--both undergraduate and graduate--who have made distinguished contributions to their professions or chosen fields of endeavor. It represents the highest form of university recognition bestowed exclusively on alumni.

Last year the university launched a brand new online giving platform powered by GiveCampus, a partner leading the educational fundraising sector as a top provider of a secure and seamless donation experience. The suite offers giving forms optimized for a mobile giving experience and will also be home to crowdfunding campaigns for causes on campus as well as the annual online fundraiser, Giving DEISday. With this transition, we are no longer accepting gifts from giving forms hosted by our previous vendor, iModules / Anthology and all former forms will be taken offline as of March 30.

A new semester is upon us! University Records Management (URM) would like to remind faculty and staff to take some time to think about managing their files—both paper and electronic. URM’s LibGuide can help you understand your role in supporting the documentation of university history and meet legal and contractual requirements. Think about your records now and learn more about URM services.

IT Governance Community Outreach provides students, faculty, and staff with the knowledge they need to stay informed about IT Governance through communication channels and engagement in governance with various academic, administrative, and operational technology committees. We invite all Brandeis community members to register for the IT Governance General Communications group to receive our regular newsletter summarizing IT governance activities.

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

Data Privacy Week, sponsored by the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA), aims to raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding personal information and fostering a culture of privacy. In a world where data plays a significant role, protecting your privacy is crucial.

1. Be a privacy champion and take control of your data!
2. Review and update privacy settings on your devices and apps.
3. Be cautious about sharing personal information online.
4. Use strong, unique passwords and consider a password manager.
5. Regularly check and adjust app permissions.
6. Stay informed about the privacy policies of your online services.

The Brandeis Information Security Team provides information and training to the community to help defend against increasingly sophisticated phishing attacks and email scams. We welcome the opportunity to provide training to individual groups or departments. We would happily attend an upcoming department meeting to keep your team current on the latest tips and tricks for staying secure online.

Additional data privacy resources and security tools can be found in the Information Security section of the ITS website. If you have any questions or issues with security or would like to schedule training for your department, please email security@brandeis.edu.

Brandeis will launch a new Moodle learning management system (LMS) for Fall 2024 classes! Brandeis Faculty and Students will be pleased to see a fresh, contemporary interface and intuitive navigation — making it easier for faculty to create and edit courses and for students to locate and prioritize coursework.

The decision to upgrade to a new Moodle 4 LMS was recommended by the Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC) and approved by Executive Sponsors Carol Fierke and Stew Uretsky, as communicated in their July 21, 2023 announcement. Since then, faculty-engaged working groups have evaluated features most requested by the Brandeis community for inclusion in the new design. The Latte system as we know it today will sunset after the Summer 2024 term.

To learn more about the Moodle implementation, including community involvement and governance, please visit our Moodle LMS project website or contact Ian Rifkin or Matthew Sheehy.

The Technology Help Desk is pleased to share Spring 2024 support hours for all technology-related issues. The Help Desk is open for support at the following times:

• Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Saturday - Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m.
  

Please register on the training website for the following workshops (presented virtually):

• Psychology of Spending – Tuesday 2/20, 9 – 10 a.m.
• Buying a Home – Tuesday 3/26,  9 – 10 a.m.
• Identity Theft Solutions – Tuesday 4/23, 9 – 10 a.m.
• The Sandwich Generation – Tuesday 5/28, 9 - 10 a.m.

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

Sign up for an upcoming library workshop!

• Getting Started with Stata, 12:10 - 1 p.m., Mon., Jan. 29
  
• Introduction to Python: Conditionals and Loops (2), 12:30 - 2 p.m., Tue., Jan. 30
  
• Intro to Soldering, 4 - 5:30 p.m., Tue., Jan. 30
  
• Intro to Vinyl Cutting & 2D Graphics, 10 - 11 a.m., We., Jan. 31
  
• Intro to 3D Printing with Prusa Mini, 10 - 11:30 a.m., Thu, Feb. 1
  
• Data Wrangling with R, 12:10 - 1 p.m., Thu, Feb. 1
  
• Data Wrangling with Stata, 12:10 - 1 p.m., Mon., Feb. 5
  
• Introduction to Python: Data Analysis (3), 12:30- 2 p.m., Tue., Feb. 6
  
• Intro to Soldering, 4 - 5:30 p.m., Tue., Feb. 6
  
• Intro to Vinyl Cutting & 2D Graphics, 10 - 11 a.m., Wed., Feb. 7
  
• Intro to Bash for Scientific Computing, 12:30 - 2 p.m., Wed., Feb. 7
  
• Data Visualization with R, 12:10 - 1 p.m., Thu., Feb. 8
  

The Library is also offering new drop-in hours for GIS, CAD, the MakerLab, and Teaching with Archives:

• CAD Office Hours, Mondays, 10:30 a.m. - noon
• Open MakerLab Drop-in hours, Tuesdays, 5 - 7 p.m. & Thursdays, 2 - 4 p.m.
• GIS drop-in hours, Wednesdays 2 - 3:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
• Faculty Drop-in Hours With An Archivist, Fridays, 3 - 4 p.m.

Brandeis' new Employee Assistance Program (EAP), KGA, is offering one free self-help book to every employee and their adult house-hold members. This offer expires on 07/01/24, so be sure to order yours now! Check out the KGA Bookshelf to explore dozens of self-help books chosen by experts on topics such as mindfulness, parenting, elder-care, menopause and more. If this is your first time logging in, be sure to first create a user account using log-in passcode : brandeis.

If you require an accessibility accommodation in the form of an audiobook or e-book, please reach out to info@kgreer.com.

Yoga can help improve one’s overall well-being, strength, flexibility, and balance while promoting relaxation and stress relief. Whether it is restorative or challenging, this session can be helpful for all levels of experience, even beginners. Register for KGA's free online class on Thursday January 25 at 12 p.m. 

Got mail? Update your Workday Profile to make sure that you will! Your mailing address is needed to ensure you receive important mailings regarding benefits or your W-2 paperwork. Log into Workday and open the tab "Update Contact Info" to make sure you have the correct address listed. 

More tools and instructions are available on the Workday@Brandeis website.

Brandeis Counseling Center (BCC) will begin offering the QPR Suicide Gatekeeper Training workshop to staff and faculty. The aim of this training is to reduce suicidal behaviors through data-driven, practical strategies. 

Similar to CPR as an emergency medical intervention that can be administered by anyone, a QPR-trained Gatekeeper will learn to recognize the warning signs of suicide, know how to offer hope, know how to get help and save a life.

This workshop will be delivered in an interactive, dynamic format by QPR-trained BCC clinicians, and usually takes about an hour. We ask that participants attend the whole session. For departments interested in additional time to practice case scenarios, we ask that you allot 90 minutes. Workshops are typically offered Mondays 1-3 p.m. and Tuesdays 10 a.m.-noon. We recommend the training be held in person, but can accommodate Zoom or hybrid. 

To request a workshop for your department or if you have questions, please contact the BCC at bcc@brandeis.edu.

Athletics is excited to offer group exercise classes: open to all Faculty and Staff - Weights Wednesdays and Yoga Thursdays. The classes will meet in Skyline Lounge.

Registration is required for all group exercise classes. If you have any questions, please contact Kat Page.

In collaboration with Student Accessibility Support, Facilities Management, Human Resources, and Public Safety, we are happy to announce the addition of newly created Accessible Parking spots on campus.  

These spots were strategically added around campus close to our existing HP spaces to accommodate persons requiring temporary accessible parking without State-issued HP Placards. Faculty/Staff should work with the Human Resources department to obtain an AP pass. Students must go through the Student Accessibility Department for approval, and the Parking office will issue the pass.  

These spaces are identified with ground markings and have the letters “AP” marked in the space in Crimson. These spaces can only be used by community members with approved accommodations. Violators without a permit are subject to ticketing and towing. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us in the parking office.

Brandeis' Facilities Services is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone. Control of keys is integral to this security program.  Therefore to improve our key control program, 3 new key forms have been created; Key Request, Key Return and Key Lost.  These forms can be found on the Facilities Services website.

The major changes include:

1. Updated Key Request Forms - Identifies a single person to a single uniquely identified key which is placed in a new software system. This will allow us to know exactly what keys everyone has and we can identify a key if it is lost. 
2. New Key Returns and Lost Key Forms. All keys must be returned to Facilities Services when someone leaves Brandeis or no longer needs a key. A lost form also is needed.  This allows us to keep our software updated.   
3. Updated Cost. Please review the website for cost.
4. Key Audits.  Facilities Services will audit everyone's keys each year to ensure our key software is correct and users have the physical keys assigned to them. You will be contacted the month your audit is due.
5. Soft Start Immediately - New key forms must be used immediately and audits have begun. Facilities Services will work with each department/group to ensure proper management of keys under unique or department circumstances.  Super User identification will also take place in the next few months.  A full start will begin 1 July 2024.
6. Card Keys/Readers are not affected by this change. Public Safety remains the owner of the key cards. Students still need to go to DCL for resident hall key issues.

If you have any questions, please call Facilities Services at 781-736-8500

Over the past semester, Public Safety has taken a look at the Building Safety Captain Program and reviewed both its original intent and training versus the needs of the campus and those in the program.  Based on feedback and the idea of taking a "Whole Community" approach a new model for this program is being created and will be based on a nationally recognized program with both lecture based and hands-on training which is more flexible and adaptable to our needs.

Are you curious about different weather terms like "Watches" and "Warnings".  Want to know what hazards may be unique to New England when it comes to weather?  How about things you can do to be better prepared for weather emergencies? Josh Manfredo, Director of Emergency Management will host a "lunch 'n learn" presentation for the community focusing on winter preparedness.  The presentation will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, January 30 at noon.  Mark your calendars and bring your lunch! 

The Department of Public Safety continues to offer Active Threat/Shooter training online.  This is 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 request an in person training please reach out to Public Safety.

Introducing Brandeis Bites – a great way to build your professional skills without making a big time commitment! Simply register to watch a recorded learning video at your convenience as pre-work, then attend a 30-minute workshop to discuss and apply the learning.

Workshops will be held virtually from 11– 11:30 a.m. on the following dates:

• 2/28 – Building Relationships While Working from Home register
• 3/20 – Critical Thinking for Better Judgement and Decision-Making register
• 4/24 – How to Set Goals When Everything Feels Like a Priority register

Workshops will be held virtually from 10:00 – 11:15 a.m. and will include watching a recorded webinar followed by a discussion on the following dates:

• 2/27 – Thriving at Work and Home register
• 3/19 – Finding More Time in Your Day register
• 4/30 – Supporting Colleagues in Distress register

For more information about KGA and the services they provide call 1-800-648-9557 or visit the KGA Website log-in password: brandeis

Please register on the training website for the following workshops (presented virtually):

• Psychology of Spending – Tuesday 2/20,  9 – 10 a.m.
• Buying a Home – Tuesday 3/26, 9 – 10 a.m.
• Identity Theft Solutions – Tuesday 4/23, 9 – 10 a.m.
• The Sandwich Generation – Tuesday 5/28, 9 – 10 a.m.

For more information please visit the HR Training Website or contact us via email.

The Brandeis Pantry, which serves and supports all students, is currently running low on hygienic products. In the spirit of community, help us restock the pantry with their most needed items or a monetary donation. Donate new toiletry items at the drop box locations around campus. Items needed: soap, dental floss, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, menstrual pads, deodorant.

University Events maintains a set of dates held surrounding particularly active large institutional events including Commencement, Orientation, Family Weekend, and Alumni Weekend. These dates are selected to preserve infrastructure for event support on campus from several campus partners and to ensure that adequate resources are available for all scheduled events. Scaled blackout begins May 3, 2024 and all departmental or student events will be reviewed for availability of support before confirmation. Only Commencement related activities (Celebratory Receptions, Student Engagement Events, Shabbat Dinner, and the Commencement Ceremonies) will be permitted between May 8 and May 20. Please contact University Events with any questions.  

The normal services provided by University Events, including scheduling of various university support services (dining, facilities, MTS), rental and delivery of additional furniture or materials may not be available during scaled blackout dates and will be unavailable for full blackout dates between May 8 and May 20, 2024 due to the many production tasks and Celebratory Receptions across campus.

Effective immediately, all travel to Israel requires approval. Please obtain approval prior to requesting travel insurance coverage (see below).

As of January 2, 2024, Brandeis’ Travel Insurance carrier, Zurich, is requiring all travelers to Israel be pre-approved, prior to travel, in order to obtain coverage. For pre-approval, please answer the following questions and forward your answers to Bill Thomas, Risk and Insurance Manager at billthomas@brandeis.edu. Risk Management will forward your answers to Zurich. Once approved, the traveler will be covered under the Zurich Travel policy.

• Where are you planning on going within Israel? Please be as specific as possible and include city and hotel name(s).
• What is the duration of travel? What are your trip dates or estimated trip dates?
• What is the purpose of the travel? Please be as specific as possible.
• What are the safety protocols that are in place for the travel? Please be as detailed as possible.
• How many people will be traveling together at one time?
• What means of transportation within Israel will you use?
• What limitations are in place for travel in terms of areas of travel, modes of travel, etc.
• Please note: Zurich will assess additional insurance premiums for each approved traveler.

Please note: If the traveler is a citizen of Israel, and does not maintain dual citizenship in another country, the Zurich travel insurance program excludes their potential extraction services.

Please provide at least 10 days for the pre-approval process.