Tuesday, Oct 2, 2012

Categories: ANNOUNCEMENTS OPPORTUNITIES	UNI Online is a compilation of notices to be distributed to faculty and staff. The deadline for submission is noon, the day before publication. UNI Online is distributed on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Submitted items must be sponsored by a UNI department, program or organization. No commercial or personal announcements are allowed. Announcements must have news, not opinion content. News items may be submitted via the UNI Online Submission Form. = New items.

UNI Online is a compilation of notices to be distributed to faculty and staff. The deadline for submission is noon, the day before publication. UNI Online is distributed on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Submitted items must be sponsored by a UNI department, program or organization. No commercial or personal announcements are allowed. Announcements must have news, not opinion content. News items may be submitted via the UNI Online Submission Form.

= New items.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

2013 ENROLLMENT AND CHANGE PERIOD: OCT. 1 - NOV. 16

Merit employees can enroll and/or make changes to their health insurance coverage, now through Nov. 16. Please review the reduced premiums for the 2013 plan year. All eligible employees can enroll in the Flexible Spending Account for the 2013 plan year. Elections don't carry over from year to year. You must re-enroll each year. All eligible employees can enroll in or drop vision insurance coverage for the 2013 plan year. Please review the enrollment information on the benefits website. http://www.vpaf.uni.edu/hrs/benefits/open_enrollment_OCT.shtml

COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENTS AND PROVOSTS TO VISIT UNI

Fifteen Iowa community college presidents and provosts will be on campus Wednesday, Oct. 3 and Thursday, Oct. 4. UNI administrators will meet with these leaders to discuss building and strengthening more relationships with Iowa community colleges, and learn how the community college students are succeeding at UNI.

UNI ALERT UPDATE

The first campus-wide test of the UNI Alert system for this school year is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 3. Please check your emergency notification contact data and make sure it is up to date. Log in to MyUNIverse > Update Personal Information > UNI Alert.

FACULTY AND STAFF WITH LOBBYING CONTACTS

Lobbying activity from June 1 to Sept. 30, 2012 must be reported by Oct. 5. In compliance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 and the Honest and Open Government Act of 2007, UNI files quarterly reports on specific lobbying issues and the expenses incurred in lobbying. The university's policy on Federal and State Lobbying and Political Activity can be found in the Policies and Procedures Manual at 10.09. Reports must be filed each quarter. If there is nothing to report for a particular quarter, note that in the "comments" section. Contact Pat Geadelmann in the Office of the President with questions.

EMPLOYEE WELLNESS INTEREST SURVEY

The Employee Wellness program is conducting a confidential employee interest survey and your input is needed. Please take five minutes to complete the survey, starting today through Oct. 22. Respondents who reply by Oct. 9 will receive a UNI Camelbak water bottle (quantities are limited). Contact Bobbi Vandegrift in HRS with questions.

ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR HIGH FIVE AWARD

The division of Administration and Financial Services (A&FS) is now accepting nominations for its 2012 High Five Award. This award honors A&FS employees who have exemplary service in one or more of the areas of service excellence, teamwork and/or initiative. Electronic nomination forms and information about the award and eligibility are available on the A&FS website.

OPPORTUNITIES

'WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS' BOOK DISCUSSION

The CME has started community book discussions with the Cornerstone text "The Warmth of Other Suns." Join UNI staff and faculty, as well as Cedar Valley community members, for the book discussion from noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 3, in the Elm Room, MAU. Bring a lunch and share your thoughts on the Great Migration. Other book discussion dates are: Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and 28 and Jan. 16.

HELPING STUDENTS BECOME BETTER WRITERS

A faculty development session led by Karen Tracey, languages and literatures will be held from noon to 1 p.m., Monday, Oct. 8, 13 CBB. This session provides tips for teaching writing without endless grading. Sponsored by the executive vice president and provost. Contact Susan Hill for more information.

BEST PRACTICES - MEDIA 101: WORKING WITH REPORTERS

University Relations will offer another best practices session for faculty and staff. The session "Media 101: Working with reporters," will be held at 3 p.m., Monday, Oct. 29, in the University Room, MAU. Faculty, staff and administrators who attended the session in September don't need to attend. Faculty are highly encouraged to attend this interactive session. Topics include: 1) successful interview tips; 2) working with the media; 3) pitching your story; 4) print and electronic media tips; and more. RSVPs needed; email Stacey Christensen.

GLOBAL TRADE ISSUES CONFERENCE OCT. 24

Registration is open for the Global Trade Issues Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 24 in the UNI Commons. Conference speakers, including the Hong Kong commissioner for economic and trade affairs in the U.S., will address issues of concern in the current global trade environment. More information and a link to registration is on the UNIBusiness website.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

For upcoming lectures, conferences, performing arts or athletic events, please visit the UNI Calendar of Events.

EMPLOYMENT

The latest faculty, staff and student job openings at UNI can be found on the UNI Employment website. Referrals are encouraged.

WELLNESS & RECREATION

Fitness classes, intramural sports, outdoor recreation opportunities.