Get ready for some summer fun! You're invited to a cookout to celebrate all your hard work and enjoy some delicious food and good company.

Registration is not required but helps us with headcount - please RSVP using this link: Summer Cookout Event Registration

Effective September 30, Brandeis will implement new storage limits for individual Google accounts, including Gmail, Drive, and Photos. Please review the policy sent by Carol Fierke and Stew Uretsky. Dedicated Q&A sessions will be held via Zoom starting in July through September. The next available sessions will be:

• Monday, August 4, 1 - 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 6, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

You can learn more about our Cloud Storage solutions on the ITS website.

You are invited to participate in this year's ISSO Friends Program. The ISSO Friends program offers incoming international students the opportunity to pair up and connect with Brandeis continuing students, staff, faculty, alumni, or other Brandeis affiliates to learn more about U.S. culture, the Brandeis community, and the Waltham/Boston area. Please note, ISSO Friends is not a homestay program. Rather, it is an opportunity to gain insight into another culture and to build friendship with people from around the world. If you are interested in joining the program, please see our FAQs page and sign up as soon as possible. We match Friends and new students on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact the ISSO if you have any questions!

The Fall 2025 bill is now available to students and families via the Nelnet Student Account Portal and will be due on August 8, 2025. The link to the e-bill was sent by e-mail to students and their Authorized Parties. The e-mail came from our billing partner, Nelnet, from the email address noreply@campuscommerce.com with subject: BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY BILL AVAILABLE. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam filters.

Students can access their billing details by clicking the Nelnet Student Account Portal link found within the Student Account worklet in Workday. Students who have never accessed the Nelnet Student Account Portal before will need to set up their student profile (refer to the Nelnet - Account Access job aid for detailed instructions) before they can view the bill.

In order for parents, guardians, sponsors, or another party to receive the student's tuition bill, view the student account, and make payments, the student must add them as Authorized Parties in Nelnet. Once they are set up as an Authorized Party, parents/guardians can access Nelnet directly with their own usernames and passwords; they cannot use the student's log-in credentials to access the portal.

Review your e-bill and the Transaction Details in Nelnet. The Fall 2025 e-bill (PDF) is only a snapshot in time; any subsequent charges, financial aid and/or payments will only be reflected in the Transaction Details in Nelnet. If you have questions about the balance, or payment options, contact Brandeis Student Financial Services at sfs@brandeis.edu or 781-736-3700.

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!

Tisha B'Av (Sundown August 2 - 3) Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is a major day of communal mourning and fasting. The mourning is primarily over the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. and 70 C.E., respectively.

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.

Upcoming Moodle Workshops for Members of the Teaching Community

• Moodle Refresher, 11 a.m. - noon, Mon., Aug. 4
• Building a new course from scratch in Moodle, 10 - 11 a.m., Tue., Aug. 5
• Moodle Refresher, noon- 1 p.m., Wed., Aug. 6
• Building a new course from scratch in Moodle, noon- 1 p.m., Thu., Aug. 7
• Getting Started with Moodle: An Introduction, 2 - 2:50 p.m., Fri., Aug. 8

As part of our continued commitment to security and technology support, ITS will begin upgrading university-managed Windows computers to the Windows 11 operating system. This upgrade is necessary as Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 on October 14. Moving to Windows 11 ensures that Brandeis systems continue to receive critical security updates, software support, and performance enhancements. Eligible devices will receive their upgrade outside of peak business hours to minimize disruption and may require your computer to restart. Affected users will receive additional communication closer to their upgrade date. If you have already been issued a computer with Windows 11, you do not need to take any action. Please contact the Technology Help Desk at help@brandeis.edu if you have any questions or concerns regarding the upgrade.

Due to scheduled maintenance on the Brandeis network, there will be a brief ten minute network outage on campus between 10 and 11 p.m. on Monday, August 11. During this ten minute period, internet access will be unavailable for those on campus. Internet access will be restored once maintenance is complete by 11 p.m.

Are you a new or mid-career manager looking to grow and enhance your skills and confidence as a leader? The Brandeis Manager’s Certificate Program is designed to equip managers and leaders of staff with the practical tools needed to succeed.

This four-session virtual series runs from October through December, 2025 with each session lasting about two hours via Zoom. To receive your Certificate of Completion, attendance at all sessions is required. Participants will be celebrated at a closing reception with their managers.

By participating, you will:

• Strengthen your management skills and confidence
• Practice strategies for common workplace challenges
• Connect with fellow managers across campus

Space is limited. Register

Change is a constant in today’s workplace — from shifting priorities and new leadership to technology upgrades and team restructuring. Whether the change is big or small, planned or unexpected, it can stir up stress, uncertainty, or even resistance. But with the right tools, you can move through transitions with resilience and confidence.

Join us for an interactive workshop designed specifically for Brandeis staff at all stages of their careers. You will have the opportunity to reflect on how you respond to change, learn practical strategies for coping, and engage in real-world scenarios with your peers. Leave with tools you can apply immediately to your work life. Register

Back by popular demand we are offering a Fall Book Group, a two-session discussion series focused on one of the most enduring and practical books on navigating change: Managing Transitions by William Bridges. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow managers, share insights, and reflect on how to lead effectively through change at Brandeis. All participants will receive a complimentary copy of Managing Transitions. Space is limited. Register by August 1.

KGA - Brandeis’s Employee Assistance Provider offers online learning opportunities on a variety of topics. The online workshops offered via Zoom and on-demand webinars are free with our membership. This month we are spotlighting an interesting and timely topic delivered via a ‘live’ Zoom workshop.

Successfully Managing Change Webinar September 18 at 1 p.m. Every change, even when expected, requires an adjustment period. This workshop is designed to equip participants with practical strategies and tools to adapt and thrive through periods of change, personally and professionally. Register

Sign up and access LinkedIn Learning for a free e-card using the instructions provided to access LinkedIn Learning (offers over 16,000 online courses) through the Boston Public Library. If you have any questions contact HumanResources@Brandeis.edu. Did you know that you will have access to certificates of completion for your records? We are spotlighting these timely and relevant courses available to faculty and staff.

• Empower Your Productivity with Google Gemini-Productivity with Google Gemini- Artificial intelligence has touched almost every aspect of our day-to-day lives, and perhaps no area as much as how we work.
• Courageous Leadership-The journey to courageous leadership - Leading today requires the courage to take risks, innovate, challenge the status-quo, and create a work culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive.
• Change Management Professional Certificate by LinkedIn Learning - Change management is a crucial skill for leaders in today's fast-paced business environment. This learning path equips you with strategies to plan, communicate, and implement organizational shifts effectively.
• Atlassian Agile Project Management Professional Certificate - Need to skill up in agile project management? These courses teach you everything you need to know about agile practices in Jira Software to help your team be more efficient and effective.

Join us this fall for a series of three engaging, 45-minute workshops designed to support your professional growth and everyday success. Each session includes a short LinkedIn Learning video to watch in advance, giving you tools and insights to explore further during our live workshop discussions. Choose one or attend all three! Register

• Coping with Change – Building Personal Resilience – October 7
• Managing Up – Strengthening Relationships with Supervisors – November 5
• Time Management for the Overcommitted Professional – December 4

On Thursday, July 31, and Friday, August 1, Public Safety will be hosting an Active Threat Integrated Response Training for area first responders, coordinated by the Municipal Police Training Committee and the Department of Fire Services.

During both days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., you will notice an increased presence of police, fire, and EMS personnel, particularly in the areas near Usdan and Kutz Hall. As part of the training, Kutz Hall will be used for scenario-based exercises that will include emergency sirens, yelling, and simulated gunshot sounds.

Signs will be posted in and around the training area to inform anyone who may not have seen this announcement.

Please be assured that these activities are controlled training exercises. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact Public Safety.

The University has updated the Business Expense Policy and created a new Membership Policy, both are in effect as of July 1, 2025. These updates are intended to provide greater clarity regarding expenses, ensure compliance and streamline processes.

Business Expense Policy

Our revised Business Expense Policy aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in expense management. Key updates include:

• Clear guidelines on allowable and non-allowable expenses.
• Enhanced compliance measures to align with financial regulations.

All employees are encouraged to review the full policy to understand the changes and ensure compliance.

Membership Policy

The new Membership Policy outlines the criteria, benefits, and responsibilities associated with professional and organizational memberships. Highlights include:

• Eligibility requirements for company-sponsored memberships.
• Approved organizations and associations for professional development.

These changes reflect our commitment to supporting your professional growth while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

We encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with these policies. Should you have any questions, please reach out to Business and Finance for further clarification.