The Brandeis Winter Coat Drive invites all students, staff, and faculty to come together in support of community members in need. As temperatures drop, many of our students and families face the challenge of staying warm. This initiative aims to collect new or gently used winter gear to ensure all students have access to proper cold-weather clothing.

• Donation Items Needed: Winter coats (all sizes, large size highly desired), hats, scarves, and gloves, sweaters and hoodies, warm socks
• Donation Guidelines: Items must be new or in good and clean condition, please ensure all zippers, buttons, and fastenings are functional, avoid donating items with stains, tears, or excessive wear.
• Drop-Off Locations: Graduate Student Center, Gzang Science Library 127, Bernstein-Marcus building entrance, Heller Building Entrance, Dean of Student Office, SCC 224, School of Business and Economic, World Court, Shapiro Campus Center Lobby, Usdan Student Center, Library entrance (collection bin by the main doors)
• Who Benefits: All donations will be sorted and ready for students to pick up from December 1 - December 10 at the Brandeis Food Pantry and the School of Social Management and Social Policy Coat Rack.
• How to Get Involved: Donate winter gear at any of the designated drop-off points, Spread the word across campus and social media using the hashtag #BrandeisWinterCoatDrive, Sign up to volunteer to help sort and organize donations

For questions or to volunteer, contact the Office of Graduate Affairs, Jing Zhang. Together, the Brandeis community can make this winter warmer for everyone.

BUSAC and Faculty Senate are sponsoring a food and toiletries drive for the Brandeis Pantry from November 6 - November 17. The Brandeis Pantry supplies food and basic needs items to students who face food insecurity. The number of students utilizing the Brandeis Pantry have increased dramatically this fall and supplies are running low.

Donation bins will be placed in various places on campus including the Dean of Students Office (SCC), Student Financial Services (Usdan), Heller-Brown, Brandeis Library, Gerstenzang Science Library, Gryzmish Administrative Building and Gosman.

Please, no donations of expired foods, dented cans or fresh food (bread, meat, dairy, vegetables).

Item donations to the Brandeis Pantry may be made through the Brandeis Pantry Amazon wish list and monetary donations through the Brandeis Giving site (type in "Brandeis Food Pantry" in the Designation field).

Planning is underway for a festive winter gathering to express appreciation to all members of the Brandeis faculty and staff and celebrate all of your hard work. Raffle prizes are being assembled and menu selections are being made. Stay tuned for an event invitation in your email inbox in the coming weeks with details and a request for RSVP.

Please join us for the ceremonial groundbreaking for our newest residence hall, which will open in fall 2027. All are welcome to attend as part of the Family Weekend events on Friday, October 31 from 2:45-3:15 pm at the Dimeo Construction trailers in the rear of the Theater Lot. Light refreshments to follow at the Family Weekend tent on the Great Lawn.

Brandeis University has introduced a Voluntary Retirement Program (VRP) for faculty and staff who may be considering retirement. This program is designed to offer a generous benefit to eligible employees who choose to participate, with approval from the university, while supporting our long-term strategic vision and ensuring continued strength and resilience for years to come. Eligibility restrictions apply. Please refer to the VRP plan document on the program website for complete details. We will be hosting an information session on November 3 for anyone who is interested in learning more. Please register for the event.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Workday Student Success Program, a new initiative designed to enhance the student experience and streamline our student success teams' operations by expanding Workday Student capabilities.

This program will achieve two main goals:

• Empower Support Teams: Provide student support teams with robust, data-driven tools to better identify students at risk and deliver proactive guidance.
• Enhance Student Experience: Offer students a unified, mobile-friendly, and highly personalized experience from admission through graduation.

A Program Steering Committee has been formed, co-chaired by Jeffrey Shoulson and Irv Epstein. We look forward to collaborating with the campus community, including welcoming input from faculty and students, as the program unfolds. Stay tuned for more information including resources to be housed on the program's website under development.

The Brandeis University Police Department is excited to introduce K9 Justice, our first-ever comfort dog. Justice joins Officer David Thompson as part of our commitment to supporting the emotional well-being of the Brandeis community.

Justice is currently completing more than 120 hours of comfort dog training with Boston K9 LLC and will soon earn three levels of AKC certification. When she’s not training, Justice loves meeting students, posing for selfies, and taking walks with Officer Thompson.

You’ll see the pair around campus and at community events, helping to spread smiles, reduce stress, and remind everyone of the importance of self-care.

To request a visit from Justice at your next campus event, please complete the K9 Justice Appearance Request Form.

Follow Justice’s adventures on Instagram: @K9Justice.

If you haven’t already applied to renew your parking permits, please do so to avoid citations. If you have already applied and not picked it up please come by the Parking office with your Brandeis ID. Any questions please reach out to the Parking office at X64250

The overflow parking for J-lot is shown on the map. Please only park in the designated area. Any questions please reach out to the Parking office at X64250

Come celebrate Thanksgiving at the Faculty Club! This year's annual Faculty Club Thanksgiving buffet-style lunch will feature a variety of traditional favorites along with new offerings including house-made mocktails and desserts. Reservations are strongly recommended. Green boxes will be available for take out.

• Wednesday, November 19, 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m.
• Thursday, November 20, 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m.
• Faculty Club Dining Room
• $19 per person
• Reservations are required accepted through November 15: Click here to reserve or call 781-736-4306

Change is 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

The Workplace Investigation Policy outlines the procedures for Human Resources, specifically the Labor and Employee Relations Unit, to conduct workplace investigations into alleged Human Resources policy violations and employee misconduct. Investigations aim to determine what happened, whether a policy was violated, and who is responsible; they are not legal proceedings. The policy applies to issues such as conflicts of interest, workplace conduct, and workplace violence. For additional questions, please contact Liz Tierney, Director of Labor and Employee Relations.

University Events is delighted to announce that we will again coordinate the week of Celebratory Receptions programming for 2026. The week leading up to Commencement is rich with celebration as we collectively work to recognize special achievements and gather together before the next phase in life, career, and the pursuit of passions of our graduating students.

For further information on the Celebratory Reception offerings or to sign up to host your 2026 Celebratory Reception, please review the 2026 Brandeis Celebratory Reception Planning Guide, and complete the Celebratory Reception request/registration form by the priority deadline of December 12, 2025. University Events will collect and carefully evaluate responses in order to assign each reception to a space on campus best suited to host each reception's needs. We look forward to supporting another year of gatherings and celebration.

Sign up for a Library Workshop

• Live Looping: Performing with Ableton, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Monday, Nov. 3
• Graphics and Type: Combining InDesign and Illustrator to create the perfect poster, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5
• Audio Mixing in Logic Pro, 2:30 - 3:45 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5
• Intro to Production in Logic Pro, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6
• Intro to Vinyl Cutting and 2D Graphics, 1 - 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10
• Photo Editing and Cataloging in Adobe Lightroom, 2:30 - 3:45 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7
• Intro to 3D Printing with Prusa Mini, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11
• Digital Scholarship Lab Training and Open Hours, Various times each week
• MakerLab Open Hours, Various each week

• Moodle Gradebook Workshop, 11 - 11:50 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4
• VoiceThread Workshop, 11 a.m. - noon, Friday, Nov. 14
• Moodle Open Office Hours with Instructional Technologists, Various times

All Saints Day and All Souls Day (Nov 1 and 2) Since the early centuries of Christianity, these two days have been observed as days to remember the dead. Eventually November 1 was marked as a day to remember those in the past who have lived holy lives and November 2 became a day more focused on all the deceased, hence called All Souls Day. All Saints Day is a special feast day in the Catholic Church. Both feasts recognize the connection that exists between the living and those who have passed on.

For more information on these and other holidays, visit the Center for Spiritual Life's Guide to Religious Observances.

Brandeis Hospitality is conducting a quick and confidential survey to better understand your satisfaction. This survey allows us to gain valuable insights and help improve your overall experience. Your feedback also gets us closer to our collective response goal and once the goal is met, we will be making a donation to the Brandeis Food Panty. Begin the survey or look for QR codes throughout campus on signs and digital screens.

We’re excited to announce the launch of The Coupa Contract Module, designed to streamline the way we initiate, review, and manage contracts across the University.

The new process will make contract requests, collaboration, and tracking easier and more efficient for everyone.

What's New?

• Easy to complete Contract Request Form - Submit Contract Review requests easily right in Coupa.
• Improved Status Tracking – Real-time updates on review and approval stages.
• Centralized Repository: Access the status and history of your contract requests in real time.
• Automated Notifications – Stay in the loop with timely reminders and alerts.
• Policy Alignment: Ensures that only authorized individuals sign on behalf of the University and that all contracts follow the appropriate review process.

What’s Next:

Procurement & Business Services will host brief training sessions in November and provide user guides to help departments navigate the new module and understand when and how to use it. The listing of all training opportunities and Users Guides are available on the Home Page of Coupa under the Procurement & Accounts Payable Resources Section. 

We’re excited about this important step forward in modernizing our contract management process and appreciate your partnership as we roll out this new capability.

For questions or assistance, please contact procurement@brandeis.edu.

There is limited selection of Celtics tickets still available. For a complete list of available games and pricing please visit the The Office of the EVP, Finance and Administration website.

International Education Week, known as I Am Global Week at Brandeis will be November 15 - 22. 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. NAFSA: Association of International Educators, The Forum on Education Abroad, and the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) have pledged to uphold the annual tradition of celebrating International Education Week (IEW) in November.

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!

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.

As part of our commitment to upgrading technology and security, Brandeis is introducing tap-access capability to Brandeis ID cards. This is a first step in modernizing our access to buildings on campus. New ID cards will be issued that allow you to both tap OR swipe your ID card at building entrances, providing a smoother and more flexible access experience. With the addition of encrypted smart-chip technology, these cards strengthen campus security. New cards will begin to be distributed in Spring 2026. This cross-departmental project is a collaboration between Public Safety, the Campus Card Office, and ITS, with more information available soon.

ITS is here to help! ITS is hosting virtual and in person help sessions. Drop into a Zoom session to ask all your questions and get some tips and tricks. Or bring your laptop to Feldberg and we can walk you through best practices to reduce your storage and manage your Gmail inbox. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Sign up for the new Brandeis Technology News monthly newsletter and follow @DeisTechNews on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and X/Twitter for the latest in technology news and events happening on campus! Social media is updated daily with news, tips and tricks surrounding technologies we use everyday. The next Brandeis Technology News will go out on November 5th! Review past stories at the ITS News Website.

Introducing the “Phish Alert Button” for Gmail! This new button built into Gmail makes reporting suspected phishing attempts easy for everyone! With a single click, you can forward suspicious emails to our security team, removing it from your inbox and keeping you and our community safe on the internet. Learn more about this new feature at our Phish Alert Button webpage.

ITS is bringing our popular Technology Health Checks program right to you! We’ve been meeting with departments across campus, right where they are, to answer all your technology questions. Our knowledgeable Technology Client Services group has had successful sessions with Institutional Advancement, the School of Business & Economics, and several other academic units, meeting them where they are and giving them the assistance they need. Come with all your technology questions and see how our experts can help you too!

Upcoming Events

• Lemberg Building: Nov 5, 10 a.m. - noon, Crown Center
• Turner Street: Nov. 5, 1 - 3 p.m., Finance, Procurement, Bolli
• Gryzmish: Nov 12, 1 - 3 p.m. and Nov 13, 10 a.m. - noon, Faculty Affairs, Student Affairs, MarComm, EVP’s Office, General Counsel

Members of the ITS Client Technology Services Group will be at additional locations across campus in the coming weeks. Watch for session dates on @DeisTechNews social channels, the ITS News Website, and the new Brandeis Technology Newsletters, and keep an eye out for emails from your department administrators.

Want to Sign Up?

We will be reaching out to all groups and buildings across campus in the coming weeks, however you can get fast-tracked by reaching out to Chris Lowre to schedule your department today!

Please join Occupational Health Services at the well-being booster event on November 6 and 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Levin-Ross Rooms (Hassenfeld Conference Center). This well-being booster event will be offering:

• On-site vaccinations to all faculty, staff, and their families (ages 4+); register. * COVID vaccinations are now available, and walk-ins are welcome. Please be sure to bring your pharmacy card.
• Education and resources about Understanding Blood Sugar and Diabetes
• Chair Massages

The 2026 Benefits Open Enrollment period will take place this year between October 27th and November 7th. This is the once-a-year opportunity for benefits-eligible employees to evaluate and make changes to benefits, absent a qualifying event. Changes made during the open enrollment period will take effect January 1, 2026.

Open Enrollment Sessions – To Learn about your Benefits

● Thursday, October 30, Zoom https://brandeis.zoom.us/j/6694553786, 2 - 3 p.m., Register

● Wednesday, November 5, Zoom https://brandeis.zoom.us/j/6694553786, 10 - 11 a.m., Register

Whether you’re exploring new plan options or looking for a refresher, these sessions will provide valuable insights and guidance. We want to make sure you understand what's offered and pick the best plans and coverage for you and your family. Join us to learn about Brandeis' rich and comprehensive benefits and what's new for 2026.

As you review your options and make your health plan selections for 2026, please remember to use the Job Aid. The Job Aid provides step-by-step guidance on how to compare plans, understand coverage details, and complete your enrollment accurately.

You can access the Job Aid here. Taking a few minutes to review it can help ensure you choose the plan that best fits your needs for the upcoming year.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to benefits@brandeis.edu.

The TAP mid-year review for staff is launching soon for employees hired on or before September 1. The capability to enter mid-year reviews into Workday will launch on Monday, November 10 and all mid-year reviews must be completed on or before Friday, December 12. Training sessions for managers and staff will begin the week of November 10 and resources are posted on the HR TAP website. Contact HR for any questions.

403(b) Retirement Savings Plan

In-Plan Roth Conversion & After-Tax Contributions

• You may convert pre-tax or after-tax balances to Roth within the Brandeis 403(b).
• A new after-tax source is being added, in addition to Pre-Tax and Roth sources.

Secure 2.0 Update Roth Catch-Up Contribution

• Employees age 50 or older may continue to make catch up contributions to the 403(b).
• Under Secure 2.0 Act, these catch-up contributions must be made as Roth (after-tax) if your prior year wages from Brandeis exceed $145,000.

Retirement Saving Support

To help you 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. To schedule your one-on-one confidential consultation, please visit Fidelity's website or call 800-642-7131.

Remember to use your FSA by the end of the year 2025. As a reminder Health Care FSA and the Limited Purpose FSAs use the Carryover Method. This means you must spend down your annual election by 12/31/2025. If you have any unclaimed funds after that date you may only carry over up to $660 to use for 2026 expenses. Funds over $660 are forfeit.

The Dependent Care FSA still utilizes the Grace period which runs through March 15, 2026.

You are allowed to join and/or make changes only during open enrollment or a qualifying event.

• Keep all your receipts
• If you don’t use it you will lose it.

Important: If you are planning to enroll in the High Deductible Health Plan/Health Savings Account for 2026 your total 2025 Health FSA funds must be reimbursed by 12/31/2025. You cannot contribute to the HSA if you or your spouse at their employer have Health Care FSA funds in your accounts on 1/1/2026. Visit the Human Resources website for more detailed information about Flexible Spending Accounts and/or the FSA Store.

To review and update your benefit elections during open enrollment please visit Human Resources Employee Benefits Review Benefits and Update Beneficiary and Dependent Demographics.