A merit increase pool was approved by the Board of Trustees for eligible staff. During this challenging financial environment, it is important that we acknowledge our most important asset, our people. A reduced increase program balances both considerations. This is not an Across-the Board Increase. It is expected that managers will differentiate increases based on performance. New rates of pay will be reflected in the 7/11 weekly pay and the 7/15 semi-monthly pay.

Eligibility All regular staff (excludes temporary staff, faculty, union staff*) hired on or before January 1 and are actively employed on July 1, 2025. Excludes employees currently on Performance Improvement Plans. Employees whose pay is funded from non-University sources will receive increases as funding permits based on the above guidelines.**

*Union Staff receive increases per the terms of their Collective Bargaining Agreements.

** Employees whose pay is funded 100% by grants and/or gifts who are not in the new Union will have their increases processed after Workday reopens retroactive to July 1, 2025.

Faculty will follow the process outlined by the Deans in their respective Schools. The appropriate contacts are listed below:

• Arts & Sciences: Jeffrey Shoulson, jshoulson@brandeis.edu
• Brandeis International Business School: Katy Graddy, kgraddy@brandeis.edu
• Heller: Maria Madison, mtm@brandeis.edu

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@brandeis.edu.

Please see the President's website for continued updates regarding the ongoing university restructuring efforts and our work to reinvent the liberal arts.

Recently, we posted updates on the volunteer groups, the timeline for selecting new academic leaders, and a preview of what will be happening over the summer and next fall.

Brandeis is committed to maintaining and improving public safety on our campus. As part of that commitment, Public Safety will be introducing a new mobile-based safety app, BrandeisSafe, during the Fall 2025 semester. BrandeisSafe offers a seamless, real-time way to access safety services that align with national best practices in campus safety. The physical “blue light” emergency phones located across campus are being phased out over the summer as part of our upgrade to BrandeisSafe. Members of the Brandeis community remaining on campus for the summer term should continue to contact Public Safety’s emergency line (781-736-3333) or call 911 in the event of an emergency.

Public Safety will provide regular updates on this transition through our weekly in-brief and on our website, where you can learn more about the BrandeisSafe app and other safety initiatives.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Public Safety (non-emergency line 781-736-5000).

As Brandeis University prepares for major infrastructure changes—including the permanent closure of the South Residence (X) Lot in June 2025 and temporary impacts to the Theater (T) Lot—a short-term Parking Advisory Committee has been established to review and recommend updates to campus parking policies.

To ensure these changes reflect the needs of our community, the committee has launched an online survey to gather feedback from faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

The committee’s work focuses on:

• Increasing parking flexibility and access
• Promoting equity and inclusion in space allocation
• Improving accessibility for individuals with mobility needs
• Reassigning underutilized lots for better use

We want to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and help shape the future of parking at Brandeis.

Beginning on or about June 24, construction will begin on the new Residence Hall located on the current South Campus Residential Lot (X Lot). As part of this project, the X Lot will permanently close, and approximately 100 parking spaces in the Theater (T) Lot will also be taken offline.

To accommodate these changes:

• All employees, students, and campus visitors should allow extra time when commuting to campus over the next 24 months, as parking availability will shift and traffic patterns may be affected.
• X Lot permit holders will be reassigned to J Lot, located off Angleside Road near the Charles River Apartments.
• For faculty, staff, and commuters, overflow from the T Lot will be redirected to other existing lots across campus, such as the North & Tower lots, which remain heavily underutilized.
• Admissions parking will remain available exclusively for prospective students and their families and will be strictly enforced.
• To maintain safety and accessibility, unauthorized parking in fire lanes, roadways, or unmarked areas will be actively addressed by Public Safety.

The Housing Phase 1 project team, in coordination with Public Safety, is finalizing additional logistics and will provide updates through InBrief in the coming weeks.

If you have questions regarding these changes, please contact the Brandeis Parking Office at 781-736-4250 or visit the project website.

The last day that graduating student employees are eligible to work is Sunday, 05/18/25. Students who are completing their degree should be sure to submit all hours worked on or before 05/18/25. Access to timesheets will end on the day of graduation.

Federal and/or institutional financial aid may be available to undergraduate students attending Summer School. For more information on eligibility and applications requirements, please visit the Summer Session Financial Aid webpage.

The financial aid renewal application deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year was March 1, 2025. Students who would like to apply for need-based scholarship funds must submit the 2025-2026 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and copies of 2023 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).

An e-mail detailing the renewal process was sent to students and parents back in 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.

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!

Information regarding ceremonies, schedules, and answers to frequently asked questions will be continually updated on the Commencement page. University Events is grateful for your support in this enormous celebratory production! Please direct any questions you have to commencement@brandeis.edu. Graduate registration began on March 14 with a deadline of April 23. Graduates were sent a unique link to register, provide guidance on name pronunciation, and receive electronic tickets to send to their guests. Graduates who did not receive their link to register may contact commencement@brandeies.edu to request the link to be re-sent.

As AI and other forces transform the workforce, professional development is more important now than ever. With Brandeis Online's virtual career development seminars, you can stay ahead of industry trends and prepare for the next step in your career. Tune in from anywhere on June 6 to gain valuable perspectives from industry experts, academic researchers and peers across the globe.

• Designing for Impact: Elevating UCD and UX Skills for the Next Career Stage, June 6 | 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.| $250, Enhance your design thinking skills in this full-day seminar exploring the use of AI technologies, career advancement tips, the future of UX and more.
• Smart Science: AI, Machine Learning, and the Future of Bioinformatics, June 6 | noon - 4:45 p.m. | $200, Broaden your expertise and tackle emerging technologies head-on with presentations and hands-on workshops covering the applications of AI and machine learning in bioinformatics.

For more information on speakers and sessions on this exciting day of innovative learning, visit Brandeis online.

Spring semester shuttle service- The Spring Semester shuttle service will end at 6 p.m. on May 13.

Summer School shuttle service- Summer School shuttle service begins June 4 through August 8. The service will run weekdays as a combination of Campus loop and Waltham from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be no shuttle service weekends, holidays during this period. Please see the June schedule available on our website, Brandeis Shuttle Service.

Brandeis students, staff, and faculty are welcome to use the shuttle, but must show a Brandeis ID to board.

Due to a vendor issue, the Shell EV charging stations across campus are temporarily unavailable. We are actively working to rectify the situation and apologize for the inconvenience. There are six working EV charging stations available at the following locations: two in Athletics, two in Theatre Lot, and two in Tower Lot. ChargePoint logos easily identify these operating stations.

Standard office hours are Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Beginning Monday, June 9 through Friday, Aug. 15 - the Campus Card Office will be closed on Friday's but you can schedule an appointment with a staff member if needed by sending an email to campuscard@brandeis.edu.

Meal plans are always available for staff, faculty, and graduate students for food service in the dining halls, Faculty Club, and meal exchange locations throughout the year, including summer and semester breaks.

• Purchase a 30-block Meal Plan: $360 or $12.00/meal + tax (no expiration)

• Purchase a15-block Meal Plan: $215 or $14.33/meal + tax (no expiration)

Catering Contact: Brandeis Hospitality’s catering director recently moved on from Brandeis. For the time being, all catering inquiries should be directed to catering manager Athina Kamaris, 781-736-4331.

Spring Closing Dates for Brandeis Hospitality Campus Venues:

• Faculty Club - April 24
• The Stein - April 27
• Louis’ Deli, Starbucks, The Hive (upper Usdan), Usdan Kitchen (lower Usdan) - May 9
• Dunkin - May 12
• The Hoot - May 15
• Farm Table at Sherman and Kosher Table at Sherman - May 18 thru June 1
• Einstein Bros. Bagels will remain open

Summer Hours of Operation, effective June 2:

• Farm Table at Sherman and Kosher Table at Sherman*:
  • Weekdays: Breakfast 8 – 10 a.m.; Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 2: p.m.; Dinner 5 – 7 p.m.
  • Weekends/Holidays: Brunch 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Dinner 5 – 7 p.m.
  • * Made without gluten options will be available daily at the Allgood Station in the Farm Table at Sherman.
• Einstein Bros. Bagels:
  • Weekdays: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Weekends/Holidays: Closed

For the most up-to-date hours of operation and menus, please visit the Brandeis Hospitality website.

Upcoming faculty workshops

• Moodle Open Office Hours, 10 - 10:50 a.m., Friday, May 16
• Optimizing Your Moodle Course, 1 - 1:50 p.m., Tuesday, May 20
• Moodle Open Office Hours, 10 - 10:50 a.m., Friday, May 23
• Moodle Open Office Hours, 10 - 10:50 a.m., Friday, May 30
• Moodle Quizzes, 2 - 2:50 p.m., Tuesday, June 3

Summer Hours at the Library: We’re open over the summer–please check the Library website for information about the hours of the building and our various service points.

This summer, ITS will replace Cisco desk phones assigned to Brandeis faculty and staff with Zoom Phone, available through your Zoom Workplace app. An email with full details, including the transition schedule and registration form, was sent to faculty and staff on May 12.

As a reminder, to join the first wave, please submit the registration form by May 16. To be included in the July 9 or July 23 wave, please submit the form by May 30.

For more information—including Zoom Phone features, drop-in session schedules for setup assistance (voicemail, business hours, etc.), and FAQs—visit our Zoom Phone website.

Based on a recent usage review, the Brandeis University Information Technology Advisory Committee has approved disabling select Microsoft 365 applications and changing the permissions of other applications. This will not affect how you use MS applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

On May 20, 2025, Brandeis will change the permissions of Microsoft Teams for all faculty, staff and students. Brandeis community members will continue to be able to access Teams as a guest. If you are invited to a Teams meeting hosted by another entity, you will be able to join. Brandeis community members will not be able to create Teams meetings nor host a Teams meeting from the Brandeis Microsoft 365 platform. As a reminder, Zoom Meeting is our supported teleconferencing platform and you can integrate Zoom Meeting with your Google calendar. For more information about the changes to Teams, please access our project page or email the Technology Help Desk (help@brandeis.edu).

The Technology Help Desk will begin sending out a brief, 3 question survey to users after their tickets have been closed. Completing these surveys is an important part of ensuring continued excellent service to the University. We thank you for taking the time to answer the survey and assisting us in these efforts. If you have any questions, please email help@brandeis.edu.

Get ready to move! edHEALTH, in partnership with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, is launching the 8th Annual Walking Challenge. Monday, June 2 through Saturday, July 5.

To get started download the IncentFit app and visit the Employee Benefits/EdHEALTH website for additional steps and information.

Visit Employee Support and Wellbeing for more information from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care on Wellness Discounts and Perks.

• Healthy You -Living Well Program Flyer (pdf) -Meet goals, get rewards. You do not have to be a member of the HPHC Plan to participate.

• Healthy You-Living Well Program (login req.)

• Living Well Community - Free Online Classes & Resources

Yoga, Strength Training, Mindfulness, Gardening, Recipes, Sustainability and more.

Great articles to read during volatile times. Many employees underestimate healthcare costs for their retirement. Retire with a peace of mind by filling the HSA knowledge gaps.

• 3 Reasons to Stay Invested Now
• 5 Factors Causing Volatility Now
• Learn how to Diversify

Brandeis has partnered with KnovaSolutions offering confidential services to help employees better under and manage their medical care, treatments and medications. The services are provided by a team of healthcare professionals, including a nurse and a pharmacist. They provide education that can enable members to better communicate with their providers - information about the risks and benefits associated with multiple providers, tests, procedures, and medications. These services are intended to enhance, not replace, the patient-doctor relationship.

Please be assured that this service is completely confidential and no personal health data, nor names, will ever be shared with Brandeis. All such data is maintained in accordance with strict HIPAA privacy standards. For more information visit Employee Benefits/Other Health Benefits.

A Member Advocate service team, for a direct connection with Harvard Pilgrim. Available to you and your family members, whether you have questions about benefits, need help finding care or you’re trying to meet your healthy lifestyle goals. You’ll have one-on-one support, so the focus is always on your needs.

Call 866-623-0184

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Join us for Benefits Virtual Office Hours every Monday from 2 to 3 p.m. via Zoom!

Log in at any time during the hour to connect with a member of the Benefits team and ask general questions about your coverage, retirement plans, or other offerings.

Zoom Link

We’re here to help you make the most of your benefits!