On Wednesday, April 22, the Center for Spiritual Life will hold our annual Moment of Remembrance at the final Peace Circle of the year. We will remember those who have died in the past year – immediate members of the Brandeis community, as well loved ones of members of our community. Please join us at 12:00 p.m. at the Peace Circle (between Usdan and the library) for a brief, reflective gathering. The rain location will be the Peace Room, Center for Spiritual Life, located within Usdan.

Our hope is that this gathering offers a measure of comfort and consolation to those grieving and strengthens our sense of community and solidarity. If you would like a loved one to be remembered at the service, please submit their name by Wednesday, April 15.

BUSAC is sponsoring a food and toiletries drive for the Brandeis Pantry through April 30. The Brandeis Pantry supplies food and basic needs items to students who face food insecurity and supplies are running low.

Donation bins will be placed in various places on campus including the Heller School, Shapiro Campus Center, Shapiro Science Center, Gosman Athletics Center and the Library. In addition, the Library allows patrons to donate items for the Pantry in place of any fines incurred.

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).

The annual TAP performance review cycle begins on Wednesday, April 1, marking an important opportunity to reflect on accomplishments, set future goals, and support ongoing growth and development. This year’s process applies to staff members hired on or before January 1, 2026, with all reviews to be completed by Friday, May 1.

To support a smooth and effective review process, recorded training and resources are available on the TAP website. These materials are designed to guide both managers and employees in preparing for thoughtful, productive conversations. If you have any questions or need additional support, please contact Human Resources.

Each year a student is selected to perform the National Anthem at the annual Commencement ceremony. This year's commencement ceremonies will take place on May 17. The ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences will take place at 9 a.m. and the ceremony for Graduate Schools will take place at 2:45 p.m.

Auditions for the National Anthem will take place on Friday, March 27 from 9-10:50 a.m. in the Slosberg Music Center.

Auditions are open to any student and will be accompanied. The accompanist will have prepared the National Anthem in various keys. If you have a specific arrangement you would like to sing, please bring a copy of the music.

If you have questions, please contact Prof. Robert Duff at rduff@brandeis.edu. Please sign up for an audition. 

Celebrating graduating students who have been involved with the Gender and Sexuality Center or are interested in the LGBTQIA+ community. All are welcome to participate. Friends and families are also invited! 

Graduating students who wish to be celebrated (participate) in the event must RSVP. Guests and general attendees do not need to RSVP in advance to attend.

Participation in the celebration is open to anyone graduating from Brandeis University in 2026 (including undergraduate & graduate students and December 2026 graduates). Participants will receive a rainbow honor cord (which can be worn at University Commencement), a rainbow tassel, and a certificate of participation from the Gender and Sexuality Center. 

The Office of Student Financial Services is hosting a webinar on April 16 from 3-4 p.m. on student loan repayment and debt management. Pre-registration is required. The webinar will be recorded for future viewing. Please contact Willow Arbor at willowarbor@brandeis.edu with any questions.

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, 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 Department of Facilities Services will perform its annual electrical shutdown on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7. Power will be off from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Please note that the exact restoration time will depend on how quickly the work is completed — in past years, power has been restored as early as 4 p.m.

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, June 6: Administration Building; Gryzmish Center, Irving Presidential Enclave, and Bernstein Marcus, ASAC, Goldfarb Library, Mandel Center, Olin-Sang, Golding Judaica Center, Lown, Shiffman , Rabb, and Heller-Schneider
• Sun, June 7: Faculty Club (including Lodge), Shapiro Residence Hall A/B, Sherman Dining, Hassenfeld Conference Center, Shapiro Campus Center, and Volen Center

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

Sign up for a workshop today.

• Getting started with ArcGIS Online & StoryMaps, 3 - 3:50 p.m., Thursday, March 26
• Wizardry and Magic with StoryMaps, 3 - 3:50 p.m., Tuesday, March 31
• Save your work!, 11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m., Monday, April 13

• Moodle Workshop: Is Your Gradebook Ready for Finals? Various times in April

• Photo Editing and Cataloging in Adobe Lightroom, 2:30 - 3:45 p.m., Friday, March 27
• Intro to Music Theory, 2:30 - 3:45 p.m., Saturday, March 28

• Fibre Friday at the MakerLab, 3 - 5 p.m., Friday, March 27
• Digital Scholarship Lab Training, 10 - 10:20 a.m., Monday, March 30
• Intro to 3D Printing with Prusa Mini, 12:30 - 2 p.m., Monday, March 30
• Intro to Sewing, noon - 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 31
• Digital Scholarship Lab Training, 10 - 10:20 a.m., Wednesday, April 1
• Intro to 3D Printing with Prusa Mini, 12:30 - 2 p.m., Thursday, April 2
• Intro to Vinyl Cutting and 2D Graphics, 4 - 5 p.m., Thursday, April 2
• Intro to Sewing, noon - 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 7
• Intro to 3D Printing with Prusa Mini, 12:30 - 2 p.m., Thursday, April 9
• Intro to Vinyl Cutting and 2D Graphics Workshop, 4 - 5 p.m., Thursday, April 9

• Introduction to Zotero, 2:20 - 3:10 p.m., Friday, March 27

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

• Passover (April 1 - 9) An eight-day celebration, Passover marks the liberation of the children of Israel from bondage and their subsequent exodus from Egypt. A Passover seder - a meal following a specific ritual order retelling the story of the exodus, including prayers, songs, and special food - is one of the most commonly observed Jewish practices. Brandeis does not hold classes during Passover.
• Easter (April 5) Easter Sunday is the greatest feast in the Christian calendar, commemorating the resurrection of Christ, when Jesus rose from the dead. Some Protestant traditions celebrate with a sunrise service, and Catholics with an extensive vigil the night before, recalling the story of God saving humanity throughout history. 

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. 

ITS is continuing its highly successful Technology Health Checks, an on-site support program that brings our teams directly to your department—so you don’t have to call, travel, or open a ticket.

Meet with experts from the Technology Client Services group for training, technical support, computer help, answers to your questions, and more.

Members of the ITS Client Technology Services Group (formerly the Help Desk and Media Technology Services) will be visiting several campus locations in the coming weeks:

• Brandeis International Business School(Chancellors Suite): April 1, 10 a.m.-Noon, 1-3 p.m.
• Heller/Brown(TBD): April 8, 10 a.m.-Noon, 1-3 p.m.
• 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.

Phishing emails are actively being sent to Brandeis faculty, staff, and students, some of which look like they are sent from other members of the Brandeis community or other higher education institutions. You may even receive text messages on your personal devices, purporting to be from Brandeis offices and asking you to click a link. As a reminder, Brandeis will never ask for your login credentials. If you receive any communications asking for them, please report these to the ITS Security Office (security@brandeis.edu). Visit our Phishing Protection website for helpful information on how to spot these scams; you can also view examples of real phishing attempts tried here at Brandeis. If you suspect you’ve received a phishing email, click the “hook” button in your Brandeis Gmail account to report it to the Brandeis ITS Security Office immediately.

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.

English is a second language for many of our employees, but language should never be a barrier to finding support, information, or resources. Any Brandeis employee can access interpreter services for business-related matters by following these instructions:

• Call Rapport International: 1-866-895-7403
• Use Customer Code: RI 367149
• Company name: Brandeis Occupational Health Services

Learn more. * ASL interpreters are available via the OnDemand Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) platform through Rapport International.Interpreter Services for Employees.

Accidents happen! If you or a colleague are injured while at work, please take the following steps:

1. Ensure you and those around you are safe. Call Public Safety (781-736-3333) for first aid, help, or if there are other hazards. Call Occupational Health (781-736-8769) with questions or for additional support.
2. Notify your supervisor.
3. Get checked out. Please contact your primary care provider or be evaluated by a local urgent care or emergency room.
4. Complete the accident/injury report.

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 offerings including podcasts, videos, self-directed challenges and much more!

Live Virtual Webinars

• Finding and Following Your Calling Wellness Webinar, April 08, noon, REGISTER, Have you ever noticed that a person who is engaged with their life, fulfilled and supporting others, has a contagious positive energy? Whether at work or in other areas of life, we can all have this. We can all BE this. It all begins with listening.
• Changing the Narrative: Mental Health Awareness, May 05, 11 a.m., REGISTER, Mental health disorders are very common. Similar to physical health issues, mental health disorders can create challenges and problems for both sufferers and caregivers regarding functioning in social, work, or family activities. That said, mental health disorders are treatable and proper treatment can help people to lead fulfilling lives. In this session, we will learn about what the term mental health disorder means, who is at risk, and explore causes of mental health challenges.

Self-directed, on-demand learning programs:

• Conducting Annual Employee Reviews - For Managers, Any effective manager or leader will tell you that employee reviews are a cornerstone for having happy and productive employees. Employees need to know what their strengths and weaknesses are. Once an employee understands their performance, you and the employee can take steps to improve their weaknesses. In this on-demand video you will walk through effective strategies to enhance your approach.
• Support for Your Well-Being—Anytime, Anywhere, Looking for a simple, flexible way to manage stress and strengthen your mental well-being? KGA MindTide is a user-friendly app designed to support you whenever and wherever you need it.  Choose from a variety of guided exercises, short courses, and audio tools—many designed to fit into just five minutes. KGA MindTide is a simple, flexible app that helps you manage stress and strengthen your mental well-being—anytime, anywhere. Take a few minutes for yourself—small steps can make a meaningful difference.

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.

Recommend Courses for This Month:

• Managing Employee Performance Problems – for Managers, The cost of poor employee performance (1 hour and 25 minutes), This course is designed to add knowledge, tactical actions, and communication strategies to your management toolkit, so you can proactively manage employee performance. Leadership coach JoAnn R. Corley explains how to create coaching solutions that work, conduct difficult conversations, make hard decisions, and turn performance management into an ongoing activity in your role as a manager to address and avoid performance problems before they impact your team and the organization. This course includes AI-powered Role Play. Role Play allows you to practice what you’ve learned in interactive simulations of real-world conversations.
• Tips for Leading Yourself, Your instructors will share strategies to embrace change and adapt, ways to manage your capacity as a high performer, and take your next performance review to the next level. Plus, learn how to manage common workplace challenges, like how to respond to a decision you disagree with, working with a micromanager, and communicating with unresponsive colleagues.

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.

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 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.