The Office of Access and Excellence will host Susan Church, JD, Chief Operating Officer for the Office for Refugees and Immigrants for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the upcoming webinar, "Know Your Rights." Susan Church is a former immigration lawyer with 25 years of experience in immigration law and advocating for immigration rights. This webinar will focus on immigration and refugee rights and immigration policies and enforcement at the federal level. In addition, an overview of legal resources for immigrants in the Commonwealth and guidance for interaction with immigration and law enforcement officers. Register for the event.

• Campus Center (Atrium): March 18, 10 a.m.–noon & 1–3 p.m.
• Olin-Sang (Room 207): March 19, 10 a.m.–noon & 1–2 p.m.
• Abelson (Room 333): March 25, 10 a.m.–noon
• Gosman (Nessel Lounge): April 15, 1-3 p.m.

How can I join a session?
Watch for upcoming session dates in the Brandeis Technology Newsletter, on @DeisTechNews social channels, on the ITS News website, and in emails from your department administrators.

Want to schedule a session for your department?
Stay tuned for more information about upcoming Health Checks in future in-briefs. We’re continuing to reach out to groups and identifying locations across campus in the coming weeks. If you'd like to get fast-tracked, contact Christopher Lowre at clowre@brandeis.edu to schedule your department today.

The Department of Facilities Services will perform its annual electrical shutdown the weekend after Memorial Day; Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, 1 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

This work allows the Department of Facilities to exercise and test equipment vital to the electrical infrastructure supporting Brandeis University.

Only the following buildings will be affected:

• Sat, May 30: Farber Library, Pearlman, Cable Hall, Gordon, Kutz, and Slosberg
• Sun, May 31: Rosenthal North/South/East, Usen, Renfield, Deroy, Chapels and Ziv 127/128/129/130

Please contact Facilities Services at 781-736-8500 for more information.

A Fireside Chat with University Professor Anita Hill and Judge Mark L. Wolf (Ret.).

Judge Mark Wolf (Ret.), appointed to the federal bench in 1985 by President Reagan, resigned in November 2025 compelled by the urge to speak out against current assaults on the rule of law. Join University Prof. Anita Hill for a conversation with Judge Wolf about his decision and his view on how individuals and their communities must defend our democracy.

Register to join in person or via Zoom. Light refreshments to follow in Schwartz Hall first floor.

Get ready to make a splash and support a powerful cause. On Saturday, March 28 friends, students, staff, and community members are invited to join us for the 2026 LETR Brandeis University Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics Massachusetts, held in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Boston Police Department.

This spirited fundraiser gives participants the chance to raise money, build awareness, and dive into a cold-water plunge at Carson Beach in Boston, Massachusetts, as part of the larger UMass Boston Polar Plunge event. By partnering with UMass Boston this year, the Brandeis community will join fellow law enforcement agencies, universities, and supporters from across the region to champion inclusion and support Special Olympics athletes throughout the Commonwealth.

Participants who raise $100 or more will receive the official Polar Plunge shirt and help support more than 20,000 Special Olympics athletes across Massachusetts. Funds raised support year-round sports training, competition opportunities, leadership programs, and initiatives that promote confidence, inclusion, and community for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The Polar Plunge is part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics Massachusetts, where law enforcement agencies and community partners across the state unite to support athletes and build a more inclusive Commonwealth.

Ready to take the plunge? Register or donate today. Join the Brandeis team and help us make a splash for inclusion.

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.

Participating graduates will be invited to register starting March 11 with a deadline of April 17. Eligible graduates will be sent a unique link to register, provide guidance on name pronunciation, and activate electronic tickets to send to their guests.

On May 17 Brandeis will recognize and celebrate the achievements of graduates at the 75th Commencement Exercises. Staff not already scheduled to work Commencement should respond on this form by March 25 and indicate your availability for either or both the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony in the morning and the Graduate Commencement ceremony in the afternoon. Non-exempt staff will be paid for their assignments and exempt staff who volunteer will be eligible for one day off per ceremony worked, up to two, to be coordinated with their manager and used by the end of the calendar year. An opportunity for students to serve as paid Commencement Ushers will be posted in Workday in April.

Faculty members are encouraged to participate in Commencement and requested to register their attendance here. Academic regalia is required for participation and will be provided for faculty members who do not own their own regalia. Orders are due by March 31. PhD candidates will identify a faculty member whom they wish to join them on stage for their hooding during the afternoon ceremony. University Events will contact faculty members directly for those arrangements.

All students are invited to join us for a mediation dialogue training on Friday April 17. This session will be facilitated by Iryna Kordunian, Certified Mediator in the Ukraine, MBA Candidate - Brandeis School of Business and Economics, and Don Greenstein, our University Ombuds. Both presenters are skilled in conflict mediation and resolution.

This mediated dialogue training helps students build skills to navigate conversations around identity, values, and lived experiences. Using mediation principle and trauma-informed dialogue practices, participants will gain practical tools for respectful, empathetic, and productive communication across differences. are designed to strengthen the Brandeis community’s ability to engage in difficult conversations – particularly those involving identity, values, and lived experience. The training integrates mediation principles with trauma-informed dialogue practices and is intended to support ongoing university efforts to foster healthy communication. Participants will be guided through structured tools that allow for productive, respectful, and empathetic engagement across differences.

Pre-registration not required.

Save the date for the third annual Brandeis Datathon Competition! The competition challenges students to use their data analytics skills to solve a real world problem. On March 13 students can learn about the dataset and ask questions. First prize wins $1000 and second $500!

All Brandeis students can participate in the competition (teams must be 2-3 students), with final presentations taking place on Friday, March 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Lemburg 180. All members of the Brandeis community are welcome and encouraged to attend.

1098-T – This form provides information about educational expenses that may qualify for education-related tax credits. The Form 1098-T 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 1098-T from Workday within the Student Account application. The Form 1098-T 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 1098-T 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).

The Frances Taylor Eizenstat '65 Israel Travel Grant is offering $2,500 to Brandeis undergraduate and graduate students across all departments. Whether your focus is STEM, the arts, social justice, language study, this grant can help fund your research, internship, volunteering, study abroad. professional training, or senior thesis project.

Deadline to apply: April 4, 2026. Please visit the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies webpage for additional information.

Please note: Grant awards and participation may be subject to change due to the current war.

The Office of Student Financial Services invites students to 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!

We also invite students to sign up for iGrad a free, online financial literacy resource to help manage money and/or student loans. iGrad membership includes money management, simple budgeting tools, student loan and debt management and tracking and building credit scores All students and alumni have free access to these tools, so the account can be used after graduation.

The financial aid renewal application deadline for the 2026-2027 academic year was 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.

The Brandeis Emergency Fund was created to assist currently active, high-need undergraduate and graduate students experiencing some kind of unexpected financial emergency when other resources are not available. The Fund focuses its limited resources on students with high demonstrated financial need (students with an EFC of approximately $20,000 or below, as determined by a financial aid application) who are experiencing unexpected financial emergencies for which no other funds are available. For information about eligibility criteria, examples of what can and cannot be considered, and the process by which to apply for emergency funds, please visit the Brandeis Emergency Fund website.

The Office of Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration will be selling tickets to the 2026 Boston Red Sox home games, available for purchase by faculty, staff and post-docs. For information please visit the visit the Red Sox website.

As you may remember from our first survey in December, a committee of individuals from across campus is working with a professional design firm on creating an updated, modernized Ollie the Owl logo and mascot suit. We have used your feedback from the first survey to narrow down potential Ollie designs. We have put together another quick 3 minute survey for you to offer your feedback on the designs that made it through the first round. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts. Complete the Ollie survey.

Institutional Advancement is pleased to announce the launch of Academic Advancement, a new division created to strengthen alignment between Brandeis’ academic priorities and the university’s $750 million comprehensive campaign. As Brandeis builds momentum toward this historic goal, Academic Advancement will deepen collaboration with deans, faculty, and academic leaders to secure transformative philanthropic investment in teaching, research, scholarship, and student opportunity across the university.

Led by Bill Bennett, Assistant Vice President for Academic Advancement, the division provides strategic leadership and oversight for fundraising across Brandeis’ five schools, the Rose Art Museum, and the Centers and Institutes. The team currently includes Hannah Taytslin Devine ’05, Director of Development for the School of Arts, Humanities and Culture; Marie Longo, Senior Director of Development and External Relations for the Rose Art Museum; Sarah Mabel-Skillen ’03, Assistant Director of Development for Centers and Institutes; Brittany Topper Jarboe, Director of Development for the School of Business and Economics; and Dan Case, Director of Development for the School of Science, Engineering and Technology. The division also works closely with Courtney Lombardo, Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

Academic Advancement is further supported by Hillary Fortin-Prandini and Chrissy Miscioscia, Development Coordinators for Academic Advancement within Institutional Advancement. Together, this team will partner across the academic enterprise to align donor interests with institutional priorities, strengthen philanthropic support for Brandeis’ most important initiatives, and help position the university for continued growth and impact in the years ahead.

For more information or any questions, please contact Bill Bennett at williambennett@brandeis.edu.

Next month (April) begins the shoulder months for heating/cooling. This is the time when temperatures range between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooler mornings followed by warmer afternoons make maintaining temperature comfort in our facilities a challenge.

Most of the campus operates on a dual HVAC system. This means our system has to either be in heating mode or cooling mode and it can't not easily change between the two. It takes Facilities Services about 5 weeks to transfer from heating to cooling mode. Currently, we are in “heating” season but we will be switching to cooling mode starting April 1.

During April and the beginning of May, there will be days when your office/room temperature is not as warm, or cool, as you want it to be. We ask that everyone dress in layers to accommodate this. We also suggest using operable windows when the weather outside is more suitable to your liking.

We understand that at times this may be uncomfortable but we ask for your patience during these New England shoulder months and this switch-over. On April 1, facilities will start to switch over to cooling first in the Science Buildings (~3 weeks), then will move to the Residence Halls and Academic Buildings. The complete switchover should be done the first week in May.

Please review the building temperature policy located at on the Campus Planning and Operations Policy Website.

Join the Office of Access and Excellence and the Gender and Sexuality Center to hear from SpeakOUT Boston panelists! Our guest speakers will share their life stories as members of the LGBTQ+ community and invite our campus to "ask us anything." Attendees will gain a richer understanding of LGBTQ+ people and their identities. This event is a part of our ongoing Community Learning Series.

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

• Purim (evening of March 2 - evening of March 3) commemorates the survival of the Jews of Persia in the 5th Century BCE following a plot that would have annihilated the population. Jews celebrate Purim by reading from the Book of Esther, giving tzedakah or charity, exchanging gifts, and attending festive meals.
• Holi (March 4) the Festival of Colors, is a major Hindu festival celebrating the onset of spring, good harvests and the fertility of the land. It is marked on the day after the full moon in March, and is known best for the celebrations involving throwing brightly colored powder and water over each other to celebrate. People often distribute sweets to family and friends, and light bonfires the night before.
• Eid al-Fitr (March 20) is one of two major holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world and commemorates the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It is celebrated by a large community-wide prayer service in the morning followed by meals and conversation with friends and family. Eid al-Fitr is the Arabic name for the holiday, though it goes by many other names in other languages, differing from culture to culture.

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.

Data Services & Software

• Statistics and Data Visualization in Python, 12:10 - 1:10 p.m., Thursday, March 19

GIS

• Getting started with ArcGIS Online & StoryMaps, 3 - 3:50 p.m., Thursday, March 26

Citation Management

• Introduction to Zotero, 11:15 a.m. - 12:05 p.m., Wednesday, March 18
• Introduction to Zotero, 2:20 - 3:10 p.m., Friday, March 20
• Introduction to Zotero, 1:20 - 2:10 p.m., Wednesday, March 25
• Introduction to Zotero, 2:20 - 3:10 p.m., Friday, March 27

Sound and Image Media Studios

• Photo Editing and Cataloging in Adobe Lightroom, 4:30 - 5:45 p.m., Monday, March 16
• Graphics and Type: Combining InDesign and Illustrator to create the perfect poster, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Tuesday, March 17
• Podcasting: Interviewing Personalities and Editing Audio Profiles, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Saturday, March 21
• Graphics and Type: Combining InDesign and Illustrator to create the perfect poster, 6:30 - 7:45 p.m., Monday, March 23
• DJing for Beginners, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m., Thursday, March 26
• Photo Editing and Cataloging in Adobe Lightroom, 2:30 - 3:45 p.m., Friday, March 27

• Digital Scholarship Lab Training, 10 - 10:20 a.m., Monday, March 16
• Intro to 3D Printing with Prusa Mini, 12:30 - 2 p.m., Monday, March 16
• Digital Scholarship Lab Training, 10 - 10:20 a.m., Wednesday, March 18
• Intro to Vinyl Cutting and 2D Graphics Workshop, 1 - 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 18
• Intro to 3D Printing with Prusa Mini, 12:30 - 2 p.m., Thursday, March 19
• Fibre Friday at the MakerLab, 3 - 5 p.m., Friday, March 20
• Digital Scholarship Lab Training, 10 - 10:20 a.m., Monday, March 23
• Intro to 3D Printing with Prusa Mini, 12:30 - 2 p.m., Monday, March 23
• Digital Scholarship Lab Training, 10 - 10:20 a.m., Wednesday, March 25
• Intro to 3D Printing with Prusa Mini, 12:30 - 2 p.m., Thursday, March 26

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. This week aims to transform how neurodiversity is perceived by providing opportunities to recognize the many skills and talents of neurodivergent individuals. Brandeis will be hosting a series of programs and events throughout the week for staff, students, and faculty to celebrate and promote awareness of Neurodiversity in the Brandeis community.

All staff and faculty are invited to join us for a mediation dialogue training on Friday, March 27. This session will be facilitated by Iryna Kordunian, Certified Mediator in the Ukraine, MBA Candidate - Brandeis School of Business and Economics, and Don Greenstein, our University Ombuds. Both presenters are skilled in conflict mediation and resolution.

This mediated dialogue training helps staff and faculty build skills to navigate conversations around identity, values, and lived experiences. Using mediation principle and trauma-informed dialogue practices, participants will gain practical tools for respectful, empathetic, and productive communication across differences. are designed to strengthen the Brandeis community’s ability to engage in difficult conversations – particularly those involving identity, values, and lived experience. The training integrates mediation principles with trauma-informed dialogue practices and is intended to support ongoing university efforts to foster healthy communication. Participants will be guided through structured tools that allow for productive, respectful, and empathetic engagement across differences.

Pre-registration not required.

Calling all young hoopers. This summer, JP Hoops Camp is the perfect place for kids to learn, play, and have fun on the court. For boys & girls entering 1st–8th grade. Brandeis Employee Special – $50 Off Camp Registration (Type in BRANDEIS in the discount code box). 

Each camper receives:

• A Camp basketball
• A Camp t-shirt
• A daily gluten-free & nut-free snack
• A free swim session *optional

Four days of skill development, games, and summer fun with great coaching and a positive camp environment! To register and additional information please visit the this webpage. Any questions, please email julieprichett@brandeis.edu.

“Please note that while this program uses facilities at Brandeis University, it is not administered by, under the control of, or sponsored by the University.”

Workday will be unavailable for users on March 14 from 2 a.m. EDT to 5 a.m. EDT for the first of their bi-annual releases. Users will see some changes to the Workday homepage with this new release, specifically the Workday search bar moves from the top of the homepage to just below the Brandeis banner (it remains at the top of the page while navigating and using Workday reports and tasks). As part of this release, Workday is also improving some accessibility features, as well as making improvements on specific behind-the-scenes functions related to payroll, HR, finance, and student functionality. If you have any questions about the release or experience issues after March 14, please contact the Help Desk for assistance.

Brandeis is updating our current VPN software to a new vendor, Palo Alto GlobalConnect. Virtual Private Network (VPN) software allows Brandeis community members to securely connect to Brandeis systems and maintain productivity while working off campus. This new software will be enabled on Brandeis managed machines beginning March 17. You can find further instructions on our VPN information page here.

The old VPN software, Ivanti, will remain available until April 15, after which it will no longer work. The ITS Security Office recommends using the new GlobalConnect VPN once it has been enabled on March 17, and discontinuing the use of Ivanti. If you have difficulty accessing or connecting to Brandeis resources using GlobalConnect, please contact the ITS Helpdesk.

An updated HIPPA privacy notice has been posted to the Employee Benefits website. This document informs employees how healthcare providers and health plans use, disclose, and protect their Protected Health Information (PHI). It outlines patient rights, including access, amendments, and restrictions on disclosures.

As a reminder Health Care FSA and the Limited Purpose FSAs use the Carryover Method. This means you did not spend down your annual election 2025 by 12/31/2025 and you had any unclaimed funds after that date up to $660 was carried over to use for 2026 expenses. However, if you have any unclaimed receipts for 2025 funds and haven’t used any services yet in 2026, you still have until 4/30/26 to claim it 2025 funds. Once you submit claims in 2026 they are no longer available for 2025.

The Dependent Care FSA still utilizes the Grace period which runs through March 15, 2026. Meaning a you can use 2026 funds to pay for 2025 services, you have until April 30, 2026 to submit any outstanding claims for services in 2025.

Harvard Pilgrim provides resources to help its members reach their wellness goals with discounts on nutrition, mind and body, fitness, and other services related to good health.

• Living Well Community - Free Online Classes & Resources