• Wed - Friday Nov. 27-29 - No Shuttle Service
• Sat-Sun Nov. 30-Dec. 1 - Waltham/Campus Combination route (combo) will run shortened hours from 10 a.m. -6 p.m.,
• No Shuttle Service to Boston/Cambridge
• Mon- Dec. 2 Full Shuttle Service resumes

Submit your application to join an online degree or certificate program by December 10. Eligible employees interested in enrolling in a program at Brandeis Online are encouraged to take a course before applying for professional development if they are not 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 Tom Screnci, Associate Director of Admissions & Enrollment.

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.

Students and families received the spring 2025 bill electronically via Nelnet on Wednesday, November 20th. The due date is December 16, 2024. Students should access the Nelnet Student Account Portal, using the link provided in their Student Account worklet in Workday, to view e-bills and account transactions, make payments and manage monthly payment plans.

If students have not already done so, 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.

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!

Brandeis is rich with religious diversity. Holidays celebrated by the Brandeis community during the first half of December include:

Advent (December 1 - December 24) is from the Latin “coming,” and is a season of four weeks of preparation for the coming of Christ, which Christians commemorate on December 25. These four weeks are a time of joyful preparation. The season is often marked by Scripture readings about preparing for the coming of the Messiah. The use of candles on an Advent wreath signifies the themes of Love, Joy, Peace, and Hope.

Bodhi Day (December 8) is primarily a Mahayana Buddhist holiday, which celebrates the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautam (Shakyamuni Buddha) while sitting under the Bodhi tree. His realizations on the root of suffering and how to be free of it formed the basis of modern Buddhism, including the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Bodhi Day is either celebrated on the 8th of December or on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, which falls in January. It is often observed with meditation and study.

Gita Jayanti (December 11) is a Hindu holiday that celebrates when Lord Krishna spoke the illustrious Bhagavad Gita to his friend Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, north of New Delhi. This holiday usually takes place in early December, and is considered the appearance day of the Bhagavad Gita.

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.

We've added more training dates through the end of the semester - if you have not taken the training this past summer or semester, please sign up ASAP! The Fall deadline we've communicated in the past is fast approaching, and it's imperative that everyone is trained. The new dates are as follows, and you can sign up here:

• 12/2 1, 12/3, 12/10, 12/17, 1-2 p.m.

• 12/9, 12/13,12/16, 11 a.m.-noon

As a reminder, this training requirement includes those that manage hiring as well as those who manage the students themselves, as we understand many departments distinguish between those roles. Please note this includes faculty members who may not be as involved in the hiring process – we believe it is important for everyone involved in the student employment world to be on the same page about how these processes work. Topics that will be covered include:

• Student Employment Policies
• Timesheets
• Hiring in Workday
• Onboarding
• Supervisor Roles/Responsibilities

Library Building Hours: The Library will have extended hours during the Finals period. Please check the Library hours for details.Upcoming library workshops

• Intro to Vinyl Cutting & 2D Graphics, 10 - 11 a.m., Monday, December 2
• Intro to Soldering, 2:30 - 4 p.m., Monday, December 2
• Fibre Friday at the MakerLab, 3 - 5 p.m., Friday, December
• Fibre Friday at the MakerLab, 3 - 5 p.m., Friday, December 13

Moodle Workshops for faculty and other members of the teaching community

• Moodle Open Office Hours, 11 - 11:50 a.m., Tuesday, December 3
• Moodle Gradebook Workshop, 2 - 2:50 p.m., Friday, December 6
• Into to Moodle and Brandeis Online, 1 - 1:50 p.m., Wednesday, December 11
• Moodle Gradebook Workshop, 1 - 1:50 p.m., Tuesday, December 17
• Intro to Moodle, 1 - 1:50 p.m., Wednesday, January 8
• Intro to Moodle, 11 - 11:50 a.m., Friday, January 10
• Intro to Moodle, 11 - 11:50 a.m., Monday, January 13

As a way to increase efficiency and reduce costs through the elimination of out of date and/or redundant services, ITS will be making changes to the following three services on 1/14/25.

• SSH servers will be retired (starfish and limpet). They can no longer be used to directly access campus resources due to security changes related to remote access implemented on 8/1/22 (announced in InBrief 7/16/22).
• UNET home spaces will be retired (Windows/Linux network home directories) Instead, one of our supported Cloud Storage options like Google Drive or BOX will be utilized.
• People will no longer be able to directly modify content through People.brandeis.edu (personal web pages). Instead, a ticket will need to be opened with systems (systems@brandeis.edu).
• People.brandeis.edu (personal web pages) will continue to be maintained for historical links in published papers
• As a reminder, new personal web pages should be created with modern tools on highly available infrastructure via Google sites. For further assistance, please contact the Brandeis ITS Help Desk at help@brandeis.edu.

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.

Brandeis offers learning opportunities for staff managers and leaders, focusing on practical knowledge and skills needed to be effective in this role. Upon completion of the series, you will earn a certificate. The curriculum is targeted at newly appointed, early career through mid-career managers and leaders. You must manage at least one staff member to participate.

Additionally, you must commit to attending all four sessions, which take place January through April. Each session will be held via Zoom. Participants who complete all four sessions will receive a Certificate of Completion and will be honored with a reception with their managers. Register

We recently held two workshops and the Zoom recordings are available on the HR website for your viewing.

Spring 2025 -Save the Dates

We will offer the following Metro workshops this Spring. Register

• January 9 from 10–10:45 a.m. - Ten Steps to Financial Success
• February 12 from noon-12:45 p.m. - Repaying Student Loans
• March 11 from 3-3:45 p.m. - Planning for Money Milestones
• April 11 from 9:15-10 a.m. - Teens and Money
• May 6 from 9:15-10 a.m. - Identity Theft & Fraud

Brandeis’s Employee Assistance Provider offers online training on a variety of topics. The online workshops are free with our membership. This month we are spotlighting two interesting topics:

• An Antidote to Loneliness: Simple Strategies to Foster Meaningful Interactions, January 9, noon-1 p.m., via Zoom Register, In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General announced an epidemic of loneliness and isolation that is affecting our collective wellbeing. This workshop equips participants with practical, accessible tools for fostering genuine connections in everyday life—whether in workplaces, schools, or social settings.
• Unlocking Everyday Fitness, January 21, noon-1 p.m., via Zoom Register, Unlock a fresh perspective on fitness with our transformative workshop. Designed to seamlessly blend into your life, this experience will show you how to make fitness effortless and enjoyable, no matter where you're starting from. Dive into interactive sessions that reveal the hidden benefits of fitness, realistic goal-setting, and discover time-savvy workouts that fit into your day. With hands-on demonstrations and personalized strategies, you will leave not just motivated but equipped with a plan to elevate your well-being and redefine your fitness journey.

KGA offers resources including articles and videos on a variety of topics. This month we are spotlighting two interesting articles:

• Religious Observance in the Workplace
• How Decluttering your Space Could Make You Healthier and Happier

On-site vaccine 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). New Dates have been added!

Dates: 12/3/24, 1/24/25, 2/12/25, 3/13/25, 4/9/25, 5/6/25

Location: Hassenfeld, Levine Ross 1 & 2

Times: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m

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.

When it comes to your health, having the right support at the right time can make a big difference in setting and reaching your goals for improvement. A Wellness Coach can help participants make informed decisions about lifestyle management opportunities and will work with the participant to set realistic goals. Areas of concentration include blood pressure control, weight management, exercise, cholesterol management, nutrition, smoking cessation, stress reduction and life balance. You do NOT need to receive HPHC insurance to receive this service.

Come to the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium on December 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to meet with a Wellness Coach. Email SuzanneRaj@brandeis.edu with questions and sign-up for your 15 minute, one-on-one appointment.

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.

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.

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

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.