Each spring, Brandeis recognizes outstanding faculty members for their work both inside and outside the classroom. These awards provide a unique opportunity to recognize colleagues for their impact on our students' lives through their outstanding teaching and mentoring. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni are invited to submit nominations. Please see the awards website for award and nomination information. The deadline to submit nominations or to self-nominate is March 1, 2026. Recipients will be honored at the April faculty meeting.

The spring semester is upon us and University Records Management (URM) would like to remind the Brandeis Community that proper records management protects the university and enables efficient use of our resources. All employees share a responsibility to practice good records management and to ensure that sensitive, confidential, and PII (Personally Identifiable Information) are handled appropriately. Take some time to think about how you manage your files—both paper and electronic. Visit URM’s website to learn more about our services and your role in supporting the documentation of university history and legal and contractual requirements. Contact URM at records@brandeis.edu with any questions or for more information.

Keeping our community informed during emergencies is a shared responsibility. One of the most important tools we use is the Brandeis Emergency Notification System (BENS), which allows the university to quickly share critical safety information by text, phone, and email.

We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to take a moment each year to review and confirm their contact information in BENS. Accurate phone numbers ensure you receive time-sensitive alerts when they matter most.

As a reminder, Brandeis conducts bi-annual BENS tests to make sure the system is working as intended and that messages reach our community effectively. If you are not receiving these test notifications, it is a strong indication that your information may need to be updated.

Registering for BENS or editing your existing information is quick and easy. Please visit the Emergency Preparedness webpage.

Taking a few minutes now helps ensure you stay informed and prepared, and supports the safety of our entire campus community.

1098-T – This form provides information about educational expenses that may qualify for education-related tax credits. The Form 1098T is created for domestic students, and international students, with a Social Security number on file who also had qualified transactions. Active students with a form can view and print their 1098T from Workday within the Student Account application. The Form 1098T will be printed and mailed prior to January 31 to students with qualifying transactions who opted out of the electronic 1098-T option during onboarding. Students who have a 1098T but have graduated or withdrew and lost Workday access will be mailed a paper copy by January 31. Please note the 1098-T will be issued to international students with a U.S. Social Security number. International students should select the electronic delivery. International students who update their Social Security Number after January 13 should complete a 1098-T request form.

W-2 - The Form W-2 includes earned wages & compensation paid through Payroll. Reports federal taxable income and withholding and state taxable income and withholding. This document has been produced and is available electronically in Workday. To access it, click on the Pay icon and then My Tax Documents.

1042-S - The 1042-S reports federal taxable income and withholding including fellowships, scholarships above the cost of tuition and required fees and/or specifically NOT for tuition and required fees, and compensation for non- resident aliens that is considered under a tax treaty (any amount of compensation outside a tax treaty limit would be included on a W-2). This document is issued by March 15 for the previous tax year and is available on paper only (mailed to the address on the Foreign National Form).

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!

The financial aid renewal application deadline for the 2026-2027 academic year will be March 2, 2026. Students who would like to apply for need-based scholarship funds must submit the 2026-2027 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and copies of 2024 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 are being sent to students and parents this week. 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.

LaTeX

• From Problem Sets to Thesis Defense: Essential LaTeX Skills in Overleaf, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10

Data Services

• GIS Help Drop in Hours, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tuesdays
• Data Wrangling with R, 12:10 - 1:10 p.m., Monday, Feb. 2
• Getting Started with Qualtrics, 1:30 - 2:20 p.m., Monday, Feb. 2
• Bivariate Analysis with Stata, 12:10 - 1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4
• Data Visualization with R, 12:10 - 1:10 p.m., Monday, Feb. 9
• Getting Started with Atlas.ti (Mac Users), 12:10 - 1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11
• Data Analysis with R, 12:10 - 1:10 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23
• Getting Started with Atlas.ti (Windows Users), 12:10 - 1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25
• Text Analysis using R, 12:10 - 1:10 p.m., Monday, March 2
• Getting Started with Qualtrics, 12:10m - 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 4

MakerLab, Digital Scholarship Lab

• Digital Scholarship Lab Training, 10 - 10:20 a.m. and 10:30 - 10:50 a.m., Mondays
• Intro to 3D Printing with Prusa Mini, 12:30 - 2 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays
• Intro to Vinyl Cutting and 2D Graphics, 4 - 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3
• Sewing 102: More Sewing Skills. noon - 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4
• Intro to 3D Scanning with Structured Light Scanners, 10 - 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 5
• Fibre Friday at the MakerLab. 3 - 5 p.m., Fridays
• Intro to Hand Sewing, 11 a.m. - noon, Wednesday, Feb. 11
• Intro to Photogrammetry/3DScanning, 10 - 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 12

Sound and Image Media Studios

• Studio Recording: Creating a Sample Pack in the Flex Studio, 1:30 - 2:45 p.m., Monday, Feb. 2
• Graphics and Type: Combining InDesign and Illustrator to create the perfect poster, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3
• Podcasting: Interviewing Personalities and Editing Audio Profiles. 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4
• Live Looping: Performing with Ableton, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5
• DJing for Beginners. 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6
• Photo Editing and Cataloging in Adobe Lightroom. 2:30 - 3:45 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6
• Intro to Production in Logic Pro, 3 - 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7

Brandeis is rich with religious diversity. Holidays celebrated by the Brandeis community during the month of February include:

• Tu B'Shevat (Evening of Feb 12 - Feb 13) Jewish people celebrate Tu B'Shevat on the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot, which translates to "New Year of the Trees." The day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day and trees are planted to mark the occasion.
• Shiva-ratri (Feb 15) On Shiva-ratri, Hindus honor the deity Lord Shiva. It is believed that Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, prayed, meditated and fasted on this day for his well being. On the day of the festival, devotees of Lord Shiva fast and spend all day and night meditating and chanting and singing his praises.
• Losar (Feb 18 - 20 or longer) Losar is the Tibetan New Year. It is celebrated on the first days of the first lunar month in the Tibetan calendar, and its traditions are unique to Tibet. The first 3 days of Losar are considered very important everywhere; in some places it is celebrated for up to 16 days. Monasteries are visited, with respects paid to the lamas, and time is spent with family. Traditionally, practices include an honoring of sacred natural elements. Often homes are cleaned, incense is burned, home altars are decorated and special food and drink are consumed.
• Ash Wednesday (Feb 18) begins the 40 days of Lent leading up to the Christian celebration of Easter. On Ash Wednesday, many Christians observe the tradition of placing ashes in a cross on the forehead. The ashes serve as a reminder of mortality, and a start to the Lenten season of reflection, turning toward God and letting go of things that are no longer helpful to society or ourselves.
• Ramadan (Estimated Feb 18 - March 19) Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is one of the most sacred times for Muslims. During this month, Muslims observe a strict daily fast from dawn until sunset. They are not allowed to eat or drink (even water) during daylight hours. Fasting is a private act of worship bringing about nearness to God, as well as a form of spiritual discipline and a means to empathize with those less fortunate. The fast is broken at sundown with a meal called iftar, often shared among family and friends. Many will gather after nightfall for special communal prayers called Tarawih.

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.

The Winter 2025/2026 edition of Brandeis Magazine discusses Brandeis’ innovative leadership in the ever-shifting landscape of higher education; takes you behind the scenes at a state-of-the-art light microscopy lab; and shares many other fascinating stories about the university’s alumni, faculty, students and staff.

The Fine & Performing Arts series has been added to the Brandeis Records Retention Schedule. The Records Retention Schedule consists of record categories, how long each category needs to be retained, and the recommended final disposition of the material. The length of retention is based on external laws and regulations, best practices, and legitimate business needs. The purpose of the schedule is to serve as a published policy and a guide for the Brandeis community's consistent record retention and destruction practices. The schedule is a work in progress and will be expanded in the coming months. For more information please contact University Records Management at records@brandeis.edu or 781-736-8759.

Brandeis Online now has microcredentials! Anyone with 10-15 hours and a computer can upskill through Brandeis Online microcredentials.

These abbreviated courses are self-paced skill-specific online credentials that demonstrate expertise in a particular area. They’re perfect for professionals looking to quickly upskill or for those seeking to stay current with the latest industry developments.

Available now:

• AI Fundamentals for STEM Professionals
• Industry Focused Prompt Engineering for ROI Driven Results

More to come! Learn more and start your course.

Did you know that online graduate courses are free for Brandeis employees? Submit your application by February 17 to start classes in March! Or take up to 2 professional development courses before applying to a full master's certificate or degree program.

Classes are fully online, designed for working professionals, and are only 8 weeks long each. The most popular programs of study for employees are Project and Program Management, Digital Marketing and Design, and User-Centered Design.

To learn more, visit brandeis.edu/online or contact our admission team at online@brandeis.edu.

The Vacation Play Days program runs for three days during break. Tuesday, February 17-Thursday, February 19.

• PRICE: 3 day pass is $200.00.
• Single Day Pass is $75.00.
• Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Grade: Boy & Girls K-6

Register for Vacation Play Days.

Your kids will enjoy a full day of sports and games run by our women's basketball players and coaches. Our goal is to provide an enjoyable recreational based learning environment for boys and girls. Games and activities will change on a daily basis. Our focus is to have the kids moving and having fun all day! Our staff includes Brandeis University coaches and our college student-athletes. This program encourages kids to experience new activities, develop friendships and have fun. Come be a part of our vacation play days!

Reminder: Brandeis currently has access to Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot through our existing licensing. These platforms are perfect for everyday generative AI use including research, summarization, personalized learning/tutoring, getting help with writing and language translations, lesson planning, brainstorming, meeting management, drafting communications, data analysis & visualization and much more.

Most Importantly, using the Brandeis versions of these platforms and others such as Zoom AI come with the guarantee that your data is not being shared with 3rd parties, nor is it being used to build upon the models that drive these platforms. Before attempting to purchase or use AI platforms not provided by Brandeis, it is important to understand potential uses and related policies that exist on campus surrounding the use of AI. Please note: if you elect to purchase an individual or office subscription to other AI platforms such as Chat GPT, these charges will need to be approved by ITS or Finance or they will be rejected.

Visit the AI Steering Council website or view important policies directly at the links below:

• AI Acceptable Use Policy
• AI Purchasing Policy
• Additional Policies relating to the use of AI: Data Governance, Teaching & Learning.

ITS needs your input! Help us bring the technology topics most important to you in 2026! In 2025, we launched our new “Tech Talks” program, a Ted Talk style platform, presenting on topics such as “Introductory AI at Brandeis”, a Deeper Dive into Google and Zoom AI Tools, and on Digital Decluttering and Google Storage. Feedback has been great so far and we are excited to continue bringing you the info you want to hear about in the new year. Help us learn more about your goals by filling out our brief, 4-question 2026 Tech Talk Survey.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Brandeis Technology Newsletter and follow @DeisTechNews on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter and LinkedIn to stay up to date with ITS Tech Talks, technology news and helpful tips and tricks to making your use of technology more helpful and productive!

At Brandeis, we are committed to supporting your overall health and well-being. We know that feeling your best—both physically and mentally—is essential to your success and happiness, which is why we are excited to be piloting a one-year subscription to Noom Weight for the first 25 employees who enroll. There are still a few subscriptions available! This program is being offered free (a $220 value) with the request that participants answer 4 brief surveys. To learn more or sign up, please visit this registration form.

Please join Occupational Health Services at the well-being booster event during the academic year. This well-being booster event will be offering:

• On-site vaccinations for all faculty, staff, and their families (ages 4+); register. Walk-ins are welcome. Please be sure to bring your pharmacy card.
• Sign up for a free 15-minute chair massage.

Space is still available and we extended the deadline to join our Spring 2026 Manager’s Book Group, where we will explore Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead and reflect on practical strategies for fostering courage, clarity, and connection in leadership. Please register by this Friday, January 30, books will be provided: REGISTER

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 interesting and timely topics for both the live-Zoom workshops and the on-demand webinars:

60 Minute Facilitator-Led Live Workshops via Zoom:

• Finding Safety in Your Body: Listening to the Body’s Signals March 24, 1 p.m., REGISTER, Participants learn practical ways to support nervous system regulation while honoring the importance of recognizing medical signs and symptoms and seeking appropriate professional care.
• KGA Program Overview for Employees - February 24, noon, REGISTER, Learn all that KGA can do for you. This short session will review the confidential and free services available to you and your household.

• 5 Minutes of Self-Care: A Free Guided Meditation with Eve – YouTube Video/On Demand, In this calming meditation guided by Headspace Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher Eve Prieto, we’ll learn to practice self-compassion and prioritize taking care of ourselves by making time for “me time,” especially for caregivers and people who provide care to others. Library of Meditation Podcasts
• Delivering Constructive Criticism – for Managers and Supervisors, Link to On Demand Trainings, Constructive criticism can be a helpful tool when used with the intent of helping or improving a situation in the workplace. 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.