Dec. 21, 2021 With appreciation As another very challenging year draws to a close, I would like to express my gratitude to each of you for everything you do to make UD a great place to work. Your dedication, collaboration and perseverance enabled us to overcome incredible challenges and provide our students with a safe return to campus. The Blue Hen pride and spirit can be seen every day in everything you do. While there is difficulty, uncertainty and frustration in times like these, there is also deep learning, greater understanding and hope. I wish you a safe and joyous holiday season with family and friends and a very happy 2022! Melissa Bard News you need Holiday schedule The University’s holiday break begins for most faculty and staff on Friday, Dec. 24. Offices will reopen on Monday, Jan. 3, when Winter Session begins. Learn more about adjusted hours for campus operations. Vaccinations, boosters and more The Executive Order from the federal government requiring COVID-19 vaccine for all UD employees has halted as decisions play out in the federal court. All coronavirus health and safety protocols, including weekly testing for those who are not vaccinated, remain in place. The University still strongly encourages all faculty and staff to get the COVID-19 vaccination, as well as the booster. With the emergency of the new Omicron variant and the continuing spread of the Delta variant, it is critical that everyone take steps to ensure not only their own health but also the health and safety of the greater community. If you have not yet been vaccinated, there are many opportunities throughout the state. If you have been vaccinated but have not submitted your documentation yet, you must upload your immunization record to the UD Health Portal. If you have gotten your booster, that information also should be updated in the portal. More information is available at the Working at UD site. UD is requiring all eligible students without an existing COVID-19 vaccine exemption to be vaccinated with a booster shot by Jan. 24, 2022, to be fully protected before the start of the spring semester. Details of this requirement are posted online. Check out LinkedIn Learning You now have unlimited, free access to the rich resources of LinkedIn Learning, an online library featuring scores of instructional videos on a wide range of topics, all designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For example, if end-of-year activities and holiday planning have you stressed out, there are a variety of courses designed to help you cope, such as “Mindful Stress Management,” “Recharge Your Energy for Peak Performance,” “Breathing Exercise to Calm the Agitated Mind,” “Building Resilience” and more. This learning resource complements the offerings of ConnectingU. Learn more about what’s available and register. Electronic W-2 forms Employees may elect to receive their 2021 W-2 forms electronically. Employers must comply with specific IRS regulations to use electronic W-2's, and employees must provide their consent to receive an electronic W-2 instead of a paper copy. If you have already submitted your consent for Tax Year 2020, you do not need to take further action. Learn more or review your W-2 Electronic Consent Form. Student Loan Forgiveness Program (through TIAA and SAVI) The path to reducing your monthly student loan payment and working toward loan forgiveness could be getting much easier. Access this robust solution that will help you find the best federal repayment and forgiveness programs for your financial situation. Brought to you through TIAA and Savi, this tool not only helps strengthen your financial footing in the short term, it also positions you for student loan forgiveness. Visit the Voluntary Benefits webpage to sign up for webinars and find out more about the TIAA and SAVI program. CVS Caremark Prescription Plan CVS Caremark Prescription Plan is in effect as of July 1, 2021 (for active and pre-Medicare retirees). As a reminder, please use your new prescription card when you visit the pharmacy so that your prescription benefits are updated. Learn more. FYI Featured Jobs The University is seeking applicants for the following positions. Please share these position descriptions to help spread the word. TIAA virtual counseling sessions Access virtual TIAA counseling by phone or on any device and learn about your retirement savings, managing debt and your investment strategy. Meetings are highly secure and private. Schedule a virtual counseling session. Learn more and register. Save the Date — Professional development virtual info sessions Jan. 18-20 A variety of educational opportunities is available to UD employees through UD’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS), including many for which UD fee waivers or employee discounts are applicable. Learn more about spring professional development programs at the Jan. 18-20 free virtual info sessions or by viewing the new UD PCS spring 2022 program guide, or take advantage of free academic advisement and career counseling by emailing access-advise@udel.edu. Your year-end support for UD UD is thankful for you and the impact you make for Blue Hen students and the campus community throughout the year as an employee! As we wrap up the calendar year, you can give the gift of opportunity and support the campus programs you care about most by making a one-time gift or setting up a recurring gift through employee payroll deduction. If you currently give through payroll deduction, your gift automatically renews annually on the date your initial gift went into effect. If you need to make adjustments or if you have questions, please email the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at gift-updates@udel.edu. Your giving throughout the year benefits Delaware First: The Campaign for the University of Delaware, which fuels innovation, growth and discovery at UD. Work-Life Go Hens! Delaware Football welcomed home new head football coach and alum Ryan Carty earlier this month. Click here to view his introductory press conference. Season tickets for the fall 2022 football season are on sale now, and UD faculty and staff get discounts on select seats. Click here to secure your seats today. Delaware Basketball is back in action in The Bob. Join us for our Women’s Basketball UD Faculty and Staff Appreciation game at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 31. Click here for discounted tickets for you and your family and friends. View the full season promotional schedule to see everything that’s happening this basketball season. Employee Assistance Program Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is now being provided through ComPsych® GuidanceResources®. This is a free program available exclusively for State of Delaware Group Health Plan non-Medicare members and their dependents. Those not eligible to enroll in the Group Health Plan will have access until the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. EAP can help with a wide variety of work and life issues. Undeniably Well Podcast The Undeniably Well Podcast from Employee Health and Wellbeing features conversations with UD experts designed to spark curiosity and explore community connections through topics of wellbeing at your convenience. This special three-part mini-series centers around campus Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and begins with a powerful conversation about the impact a return to in-person work has had on the emotional wellbeing of employees of color. Listen to the podcast here. The Employee Fitness Center is open The two-story Employee Fitness Center, located within the Carpenter Sports Building, is open for all faculty, staff, and retirees to utilize during Winter Session, starting Jan. 3, 2021. For a fitness center tour or exercise equipment demo, please complete the appointment request form or visit Employee Health & Wellbeing’s Website for more information. In-person, virtual and on-demand fitness classes Stay well and warm this Winter Session by moving your body! Whether you are working on campus or remotely, Employee Health and Wellbeing has a variety of group exercise offerings to assist you in reaching your health and fitness goals while also boosting your creativity, energy, and productivity throughout the day. An All-Access Membership is required in order to participate in in-person and virtual fitness classes. On-Demand recordings are free to all. For more information regarding the schedule, fitness class registration, or All-Access Membership renewal, please visit Employee Health and Wellbeing’s website. Personal training openings available Ready to incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine but unsure where to begin? Complete the Employee Health & Wellbeing Personal Training Interest Form for a free consultation to meet one-on-one with one of the department’s nationally certified personal trainers to help you reach your fitness goals. After completing the form, please wait two to three business days for further instructions. Please visit Employee Health and Wellbeing’s website for more information.
This email is approved by Melissa L. Bard, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer |
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