Faculty and staff are invited to join President Levine for a Warm Winter Welcome reception and celebration that will be held on December 12, 1-3 p.m. in Levin Ballroom, Usdan Student Center.

The Payroll Office has issued the annual memo regarding important calendar year-end paycheck and tax information for 2024.

The memo is available on the Payroll website, under Payroll Year-end Memo 2024. If you have any questions, please contact the payroll department.

Time off is an important benefit, and we encourage all staff to use their available time to rest and reenergize. Vacation time is meant to be restorative, is important for our well-being and can help improve productivity and creativity. It also can help reduce stress, help prevent burnout and promote work-life balance.

While the University does provide a service-based vacation carry over policy, there are limits on the number of days that can be carried over from one calendar year to the next. Staff with high vacation balances may lose time, not including carry over amounts, if they do not use their available vacation days before December 31.

As a reminder, managers can review individual employee's time off balances in Workday under ‘Time Off’ and also review an absence calendar under ‘Team Absence’ that shows each employee's planned vacations and other absences (approved and unapproved). View the Benefits Eligible Staff Workday Time Off Categories.

Our November ITS Spotlight is on the CMO Team. Led by Valerie Pirri, the CMO Team develops and executes strategies around communication, training, and campus readiness for technology initiatives. Please visit the CMO Team Staff Spotlight to read more about this accomplished team, what brought them to Brandeis, and how they enjoy spending their time outside the office.

In advance of the spring bill coming in late November, which will be due on December 16, new students should access the Nelnet Student Account Portal to set up an account and add authorized parties. 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 - Refer to the Nelnet - Add Authorized 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 information is ready in Nelnet.

The last day mid-year graduates are eligible to work on campus as student employees is Dec. 20, 2024.

Please make sure all time is entered into Workday on or before that date as time entry will be inaccessible effective 12/21. Eligibility for student employment requires enrollment in a course of study and 12/20/2024 is the program completion date for those who have applied to graduate mid-year.

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. Please click here to book an appointment today!

Upcoming Library Workshops

• Intro to Vinyl Cutting & 2D Graphics, 10 - 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 18
• Intro to Soldering, 2:30 - 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18
• Moodle Open Office Hours, 10 - 10:50 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22
• Intro to Vinyl Cutting & 2D Graphics, 10 - 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 25
• Intro to Soldering, 2:30 - 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25
• Open MakerLab Hours, Mondays 2:30-4:30 p.m., Wednesdays 1-3 p.m., Thursdays 2:30-4:30 p.m.
• CAD Office Hours, 10:30 a.m. - noon, Mondays
• Fibre Fridays, 3 - 5 p.m., Fridays

Moodle Sessions for Members of the Teaching Community

• Moodle Gradebook Workshop, 2 - 2:50 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12
• Moodle Open Office Hours, 1 - 1:50 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13
• Moodle Open Office Hours, 10 - 10:50 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22
• Moodle Open Office Hours, 11 - 11:50 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3
• Moodle Gradebook Workshop, 2 - 2:50 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6

Sprinklers/Irrigation: This month, the sprinkler/irrigation system will be blown out. You may see sprinklers going off at odd times in order to bleed the system for winter. The system will be turned back on in the spring.

Windows: There has been an increase of widows left open in academic buildings overnight. As we enter into the colder months, it is important for everyone to shut their windows, especially at night. This will not only save energy but will prevent our heating system from breaking/leaking or from rain/show getting in during unexpected weather. Please remind your staff to close their windows at night and to only keep their windows open during the heating season to 1-2" in order to protect our building and its systems.

There are exciting opportunities coming up at the Vic ’63 and Bobbi Samuels ’63 Center for Community Partnerships and Civic Transformation (COMPACT):

• In Spring 2025, COMPACT is hosting a Faculty Learning Community on Community Engaged Pedagogy (in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning). Please apply by December 13.
• COMPACT offers grants to support community engaged research and pedagogy; for both opportunities, the next deadline for project grants is December 2 while we are reviewing mini-grant applications on a rolling basis.

Please reach out compact@brandeis.edu with any questions or ideas re: how we might support community engagement in your research and/or teaching.

International Education Week, known as I Am Global Week at Brandeis, is a U.S. Department of Education- and State-sponsored week of celebrating global awareness, cultural exchange, and learning across the United States. I Am Global Week at Brandeis strives to highlight and celebrate global efforts and achievements across campus, promote integration between domestic and international students and scholars, and showcase our global community.

Each year, Brandeis hosts a series of events on campus from student cultural performances, theater of arts productions to academic lectures, movie screenings, trivia nights, and the annual Global Bazaar!

This year, I Am Global Week will be from November 16 - 23. Find a full list of events on the I Am Global Week website. We hope you will come and join us at any of the events throughout the week to celebrate!!

For more information or questions, contact Adrea Papadopoulos.

Celebrate the holiday season with a concert of selections from Handel’s masterwork "Messiah" performed by members of the University Chorus and Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra (Neal Hampton, conductor). Scores will be provided for those who'd like to sing along, and all are invited to decorate ornaments.

In the spirit of the season, you are invited to bring a donation of new or gently used winter clothing to support homeless and formerly homeless women and transgender/non-binary individuals through On the Rise.

Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Department of Music and the Center for Spiritual Life.

Yahoo, Google, and Apple have recently updated their email policies, which now require extra setup to send emails from a @brandeis address using Mailchimp or Constant Contact. ITS has helped several departments resolve email delivery issues related to these tools. If your department uses Mailchimp or Constant Contact and has experienced delivery issues or error messages, please refer to the guides below:

• Constant Contact Email Setup
• Mailchimp Email Setup

For further assistance, please contact the Brandeis ITS Help Desk at help@brandeis.edu.

Brandeis’s Employee Assistance Provider offers online training on a variety of topics. The online training is free with our membership and a-synchronous so you have the opportunity to do the training over a period of time. This month we are spotlighting three interesting topics:

• Goal Setting-Achieving personal and professional goals requires planning and action. Learning how to manage time and set realistic goals will increase your chance of success in every area of your life.
• Delivering Constructive Criticism for managers-This course helps management learn effective ways to handle and deliver constructive criticism allowing employees to not only learn from their mistakes, but even benefit from them.
• Coaching and Mentoring for managers-This workshop focuses on how to better coach your staff to higher performance An easy-to-understand coaching model taught in this workshop will guide you through the process.

All is Calm, All is Bright-Register

Embrace Joy Amidst the Stress. This month we will discover effective ways to manage the stress of the holidays while maintaining the joy of the season.

Register for one of the Quick Bytes workshops.

• January 14, 10-10:30 a.m.: Applying Your Strengths for Increased Productivity -Join us for an engaging workshop where you will learn practical ways to apply your unique strengths to boost productivity, build your skills, and make meaningful progress on your goals. Discover how focusing on your strengths can enhance well-being, improve relationships, and empower you to manage stress effectively. Pre-work is to take the free online VIA Character Strengths Survey. Embrace your strengths and take your productivity to the next level!

• February 11, 2-2:30 p.m.: Effective Strategies for Dealing with Conflict in the Workplace-Join us to learn practical strategies for dealing with conflict, including communication techniques and conflict resolution skills. Pre-work is a LinkedIn Learning video to understand conflict dynamics and gain insights into handling challenging situations.

• March 13, 11-11:30 a.m.: Managing Stress for Positive Change-Join us to learn and practice three steps for managing stress. We will share how practicing mindfulness and grounding exercises can help you focus on your self-care. Pre-work is a LinkedIn Learning video. Special guest is Suzanne Raj, Occupational Health Manager and Nurse Practitioner.

METRO program will be held from 10-10:50 a.m. via Zoom on the following dates. For more information about the benefits of becoming a member visit METRO Credit Union.

Thursday, December 12: Breezing Through the Holidays-Register-Learn budgeting strategies and tactics to avoid that year-end credit card crunch and sidestep debt traps in the future.

At Brandeis, we bring the vaccinations to you! Come to any of these on-site vaccine clinics and help protect yourself, family, and students in a way that’s fast and convenient. These clinics are open to all faculty, staff, and their families (ages 4+). Pre-registration is required for any family members. Please be sure to bring your pharmacy insurance card to your appointment. Register online (but walk-ins are also welcome!)

• Location: Hassenfeld, Levine Ross 1 & 2
• Times: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Dates: 11/19/24, 12/3/24, 1/24/25

Vaccinations offered: COVID-19,  Flu, Hepatitis A , Hepatitis B, HPV, Meningococcal (A, C, Y, & W135), Meningococcal B, MMR , Pneumococcal, Shingles, Tetanus - Whooping Cough, Varicella

Find out what vaccines are recommended for you.

Accidents happen. If you or a colleague are injured while at work, please take the following steps:

1. Ensure you and those around you are safe. Call Public Safety or 911 if needed.
2. Notify your supervisor.
3. Get checked out. Please contact your primary care provider or be evaluated by a local urgent care or emergency room.
4. Complete the accident/injury report.

Type two Diabetes is a serious condition, which according to the CDC affects about 37 million Americans, with one in five people not knowing they have it. When not treated, diabetes can cause other serious health issues like heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and vision problems. Learn more about Diabetes, how to understand and manage your blood sugar, and resources. Please be sure to join Occupational Health Services on November 20 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Shapiro Campus Center for raffle prizes, health education, and FREE biometrics screening (Blood sugar, BMI, and Blood Pressure).

Respiratory Illness season typically starts in October and runs until April. At Brandeis University COVID guidance follows the CDC's Respiratory Virus guidelines for common respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV.

• The CDC recommends the following steps you can take to protect yourself and others: Stay up to date with immunizations (come to one of the onsite vaccine clinics), practice good hygiene (practices that improve cleanliness), take steps for cleaner air.
• When you may have a respiratory virus: Use precautions to prevent spread, seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness; treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness.
• Additional prevention strategies you can choose to further protect yourself and others include: Masking, Physical distancing, Testing

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC) offers an array of programs and support for you and family members. Behavioral Health offering a 24/7 Hotline for Support and Mindfulness with weekly guided zoom sessions just to name a few. Visit Harvard Pilgrim Health Care for more programs and support.

Public Safety is rolling out an important update to streamline emergency response on campus. This update will make it easier for you to get the help you need as quickly as possible.

For Campus Phones: All campus phones can connect directly to our campus emergency services by dialing 911, 781-736-3333, or 6-3333. This update means dialing 911 from any campus phone will automatically reach our Public Safety team, ensuring the quickest possible response. We understand that dialing 911 may come most naturally in a stressful moment, so we’ve made it an option on campus phones.

For Cell Phones: If you’re calling from a cell phone, dialing 911 will route your call to the Waltham Police Department via GPS. This could delay our response to your exact location on campus. To get immediate on-campus assistance, please save our emergency number, 781-736-3333, in your cell phone contacts so you can reach us directly in a campus emergency. If you have an iPhone, consider adding our number to your "Favorites" for quick, easy access at the top of your call list.

Remember: In an emergency, keep it simple – use 911 from any campus phone or dial 781-736-3333 from your cell.

The TAP mid-year review process launched on November 11. All reviews must be completed by Friday, December 6. Staff (hired on or before September 1, 2024) and managers can now begin entering mid-year reviews into Workday. To help you prepare, resources including the mid-year review questions, guides and recordings of the manager and staff workshops are also available on the HR TAP website. For questions, please reach out to Human Resources.

The IRS limits your pre-tax total contributions each year. The 2025 limit is $23,500 for employees 49 or younger and $31,000 if you are age 50 or over.

In 2025, you may update your pre-tax deferred contribution elections on NetBenefits or by calling the Retirement Service Center at 800-343-0860. With one-stop convenience, Fidelity Investments supports the enrollment process and provides ongoing service to retirement plan participants.

Retirement Counseling Sessions:

Meet with a Retirement Planner – To help plan for your future, Retirement Planners from Fidelity Investments are on campus regularly to provide one-on-one guidance appointments. Consultations may be conducted in person, virtually or over the phone.

• Manage your retirement savings goals
• Review investment choices
• Build a plan that is easy to put into action

To schedule your confidential consultation please visit Fidelity’s scheduler or call 800.642-7131.

Access your Brandeis Retirement Savings Plan on NetBenefits.

• Spanish Speaking Webinar, Topic: Make the Most of Your Retirement Savings
  • Date: November 15
  • Time: noon – 1 p.m.
  • Location: Shiffman Room 201 in Shiffman Humanities Center behind Rabb Graduate Center
  • Sign Up by your timeclocks
• •In-Person
  • Topic: Understanding Roth Contributions in Your Workplace Savings Plan
  • Date: November 19
  • Time: noon – 1 p.m.
  • Location: Hassenfeld Conference Hall, Luria Room 1
  • Register

Can't make it to an event? Schedule a one-on-one consultation: Let an experienced Fidelity representative help you develop a comprehensive retirement and investment plan that fits your overall financial goals. Call 800-642-7131 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time (excluding most holidays).

Brandeis has partnered with KnovaSolutions, which is a confidential no-cost personal health service designed to assist employees and dependents with serious health conditions who are enrolled in our Harvard Pilgrim Health Care plans.

This is a completely voluntary service and is intended to help individuals to better understand and manage their medical care, treatments, and medications. The services are provided by a team of health care professionals, including a nurse and a pharmacist. For more information please visit Human Resources/Employee Benefit/Other Health Benefits/KnovaSolutions.