===================================================================
UNI Online
Vol. 2, No. 22
October 26, 2000
===================================================================
------------------
EMPLOYEE RESOURCES
------------------
FICA PRIVATE LETTER RULING REQUESTED: Earlier this year the Regents
universities were advised by their tax consultant, Deloitte and Touche,
that we do not need to collect and remit FICA tax on employees’ mandatory
contributions to the TIAA-CREF retirement program. The universities
agreed that seeking a refund and ceasing to pay the FICA tax in the future
is in the best interest of our employees. The first step in the process is
to secure a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The IRS has been known to take as long as one year to respond to a private
letter ruling request. The FICA taxation of TIAA-CREF contributions will not
change without a positive IRS private letter ruling. University employees will
be kept informed through UNI Online as new information becomes available about
the FICA refund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
PAYROLL DEADLINES FOR CALENDER YEAR 2001: The website below lists
various monthly time period cutoffs for merit and student time sheets
and final dates for any payroll changes.
http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/payroll.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CHEMICAL INVENTORY: The University Safety Office needs help completing
the annual chemical inventory. Any department using/ storing chemicals
(includes products with MSDS) needs to submit an inventory to Baker 164
by Tues., Oct.31. Inventories should include the chemical/product name,
manufacturer name, amount stored, and room number. For more information,
call 3-5855.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
MOTOR POOL CHANGES: UNI Motor Pool is loading the latest update to
the motor pool scheduling module this weekend and Monday, following
the October cut-off. We believe this upgrade will resolve some of
the problems we have been experiencing. This is our busiest time of
the year for daily reservations. We depend on contracts with outside
vendors to meet our peak demands. In the past couple of weeks we have
on 2-3 occasions maxed out the combined resources of the motor pool and
all three of our outside vendors. Please do not assume you have a
reservation until you have received confirmation. Getting reservation
requests in early helps us plan for your trip.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SOFTWARE FOR VISION-IMPAIRED PERSONS: ITS has run across a Windows
freeware program that we've found very interesting and useful for sight
impaired users. Once you launched the program the mouse becomes a
magnifying glass with which you can roam the screen. It also places a
little magnifying glass icon onto the far end of the start menu bar.
When you subsequently click this icon the magnifying glass program is
available for a 2nd, 3rd, etc. use. The freeware software is at:
http://come.to/magnifier
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMER 2000 SCHOLARSHIPS: Any remaining scholarship issues for summer
2000 need to be taken care of this month. Contact Evie Waack,
Scholarship Specialist in the UNI Financial Aid Office, at 3-2799.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
MERIT SYSTEM MEETINGS: The Iowa Department of Personnel will conduct
two information sessions for Merit system employees regarding the
2001 Open Change Period. These sessions will be broadcast over the
Iowa Communications Network (ICN) in Schindler 130C. The first session
is Friday, Oct. 27 from 2-4 p.m. The second session is Monday, Oct. 30
from 2-4 p.m. Representatives from the carriers will present
information on the State of Iowa health insurance plans. Employees will
also have an opportunity to ask questions during these sessions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRST-YEAR PROGRAM EXPLORATION: You are invited to participate in a
day-long exploration of First-Year Programs at UNI on Thursday, Oct. 26
beginning at 8:30 a.m. Dr. John Gardner, will present and facilitate
discussions related to the development of First-Year Opportunities at
UNI. Please visit the website for the schedule.
http://www.uni.edu/maucker
-----------------------------------------------------------------
 
----
NEWS
----
DELL NAMED INTERIM VP FOR A&F: Eunice Dell, assistant vice president
and budget director for administration and finance, has been appointed
interim vice president for administration and finance, pending approval
by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. Dell replaces John E. Conner,
who served as vice president of administration and finance for 17 years.
Conner left UNI to become chief financial officer at the University of
Ill., Springfield. In addition to Dell's move, Doug Jensen, assistant
to the vice president of administration and finance, will serve as
executive assistant to the interim vice president.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
GIFT AND CRAFT VENDERS: Do you know of anyone, spouse or friend, that
would like to sell their crafts or baked goods at Maucker Union's
Holiday Gift and Craft Sale? If so, contact Mike Bobeldyk, Student
Activities Program Coordinator, at 3-5888 or mike.bobeldyk@uni.edu.
The registration fee is $15. All registrations are due Mon., Nov. 13.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
UNI IN THE NEWS: College of Education Dean Tom Switzer was featured in a page-one story
in Friday's Des Moines Register. You can reach the story online at:
http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/12698001.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
HALLOWEEN PARTY: Children and grandchildren 10 and under of faculty,
staff and students can attend a Halloween Party at the President's
House on Sunday, October 29 from 3-4:30 p.m. Children can come
dressed as their favorite Harry Potter character or their favorite
muggle but they must be accompanied by an adult. After the party
there will be a children's play, "Wiley and the Hairy Man," at the
Strayer-Wood Theatre at 5 p.m., free of charge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ATTENTION ALL GHOULS AND GOBLINS!
What: Haunted House
When: Saturday, October 28 from 5-9 p.m.
Where: UNI Maucker Union
Cost: $3 (All proceeds go to Jamie and Jim's Kids, a non-profit
organization that was created to provide a worry-fee vacation for
chronically and terminally ill children) Sponsored by: UNI Greek
Community and Mix 96.1 FM For more information, please call: 3-2683
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ROTC TRAINING: Last weekend, 18 Cadets from UNI's Army ROTC Panther
Battalion traveled to Camp Ripley, Minnesota to compete in an annual
military skills competition, the Ranger Challenge. UNI competed
against teams from seven Midwest universities. More than 130 cadets
competed in extremely demanding events, which included, 10 Km Ruck run,
Grenade Assault Course, Land Navigation, M-16 Weapons assembly/
disassembly, and the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). Several UNI
Cadets received top honors in the competition. For more information on
Ranger Challenge or Army ROTC contact LTC Mike DePuglio at 3-6220.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
AEOP SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER: The UNI Association for Educational Office
Professionals (AEOP) is currently conducting a fundraiser for
scholarships. Various scented candles are available for
purchase at $6 each. Please contact any of the AEOP members
to place your order or contact Dianna Jones at 3-2179.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
AIRFARE SALE: Northwest Airlines has announced lower airfares
to many domestic destinations. For more information and terms
and conditions on the fares see the website below.
http://www.uni.edu/unionline/public/161.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-------
TRANING
-------
MINORITY STUDENT LEADERSHIP RETREAT: The 2nd Minority Leadership
Retreat, sponsored by The Center for Multicultural Education and
Joint Committee on Diversity Programming, is open to all students
interested in leadership. The Retreat will be held Nov. 3-4 in
the Common's Slife Ballroom. The retreat starts at 4 p.m. on Fri.
There is no cost to attend the retreat, however Oct. 27 is the
registration deadline. The retreat includes facilitators from
various cultural backgrounds and offers a combination of workshops
and speakers, a banquet Friday night and a social on Friday night.
Faculty and staff: make this announcement in your class and offices.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------
EVENTS
------
CANDIDATE FORUM: The AAUW is co-sponsoring a public forum on Thurs.,
Oct. 26 for Black Hawk County Supervisor candidates in Tama Hall at
Hawkeye Community College, 7-9 p.m. The forum will be moderated by
Pat Higby, Cedar Falls AAUW Vice President for Educational Foundation
and UNI adjunct instructor in Physics.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
UNI SOCCER: Due to a schedule change, Panther women's soccer will
host their final game of the season this Friday afternoon versus
Ball State. Match time is 3 p.m. on the West Athletic Field,
adjacent to the UNI-Dome.
http://www.uni.edu/athletic
--------------------------------------------------------------------
UNI JAZZ BAND CONCERT: School of Music Spotlight Series: Fri., Oct. 27
Robert Washut, conductor at GBPAC Great Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are
$6 Public; $5 Senior Citizen; $4 Student or admission with a
current Panther Pass. For tickets call 3-SHOW.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
UNI BASKETBALL: Get your first look at the 2000-01 UNI men's
basketball team this Saturday afternoon at the annual Purple & Gold
game. Tip-off is at 1:30 p.m. in the West Gym. The first 500 fans
receive FREE t-shirts and admission is FREE!
http://www.uni.edu/athletic
--------------------------------------------------------------------
UNI FOOTBALL: The Panthers continue their march to the NCAA playoffs
this Saturday afternoon when they host the SW Missouri State Bears in
the UNI-Dome. Kickoff is at 4:05 p.m. Be part of the Family Fun Zone-
four game tickets, four slices of pizza, four sodas and a tub of
popcorn...only $40!
http://www.uni.edu/athletic
--------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT RECITAL: Sat., Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. Joshua Hearn, organ.
GBPAC Jebe Hall. No admission charge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
MCLEOD USA DAY: The UNI Career Center is pleased to announce
McLeodUSA Incorporated has reserved Tues., Oct. 31 as McLeodUSA Day.
The event will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Maucker Union
Expansion. McLeodUSA employees, recruiters, and Gregg Hammann, GVP of
E-Business will be on hand to answer questions about the company and
the wide range of career pathing opportunities. Areas represented
include accounting/finance, training, marketing, sales, IT, and network
services. All majors are invited to attend. Alumni are also welcomed
as are faculty and staff.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SPEAKER: "Communication and Leadership" will be discussed by DyAnn
Longseth, Vice President for Marketing, John Deere Community Credit
Union, Thurs,, Nov. 2 from 3:45-4:50 p.m. in the SEC 406. Ms. Longseth
has been involved with extensive leadership education and training for
all staff at the credit union. She will discuss common communication
problems in the workplace, their effects on the work environment, and
principles and strategies for effective communication. The presentation
is sponsored by the UNI Leadership Studies Program.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SENIOR RECITAL: Tues., Oct. 31 Robyn Smit, voice. GBPAC Davis Hall
at 6 p.m. No admission charge. For more information see the website.
http://www.uni.edu/unionline/public/162.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUR INVITED TO DELTA UPSILON'S FALL INITIATION: On Sat. Nov. 11, at
2 p.m. in Davis Hall at the GBPAC, Delta Upsilon fraternity will hold
their initiation. Governor Vilsack, brother in DU, has been invited
as a special guest and speaker. A reception will immediately follow.
RSVP by 11/1/00 to Adam Culley (culleya8483@uni.edu) or 277-6275.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Events on the calendar this week at UNI:
http://access.uni.edu/acal/bin/callist.cgi?date=this_week
 
=====================================================================
Find the UNI event you're looking for in the UNI Calendar of Events,
a convenient, searchable database located at
http://access.uni.edu/acal/
=====================================================================
To submit an item to UNI Online:
http://www.uni.edu/unionline/
Can't link to the items listed? Have a question? Visit our FAQ:
http://www.uni.edu/unionline/faq.html
UNI Online Archive
http://www.uni.edu/unionline/archive/
UNI Online Editor:
UNIOnlineEditor@uni.edu