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Communication for the staff and faculty of
The University of Texas at Dallas |
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Wednesday, January 13, 2021 |
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COVID-19 Information, Resources
During the disruption of regular services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Communications is maintaining a collection of information and resources for staff, faculty and students. For the latest information, visit the COVID-19 website, which will be updated frequently with FAQs and the latest information.
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University Mourns Loss of Retired Lieutenant MacKenzie
Faculty, staff and students were saddened to learn that former UT Dallas Police Lt. Ken MacKenzie, 66, passed away on Christmas Day surrounded by his family and loved ones. He had retired from the University in August 2019.
MacKenzie, who led the Criminal Investigation Division, joined the UT Dallas Police in 2010 after retiring from the Richardson Police Department as a senior detective with 33 years of police experience.
MacKenzie was instrumental in investigating crimes on campus, including vehicle break-ins and property theft. He also sent email alerts each semester warning the campus about scam artists who target students, faculty and staff with emails that appear to be from a federal agency. An active member of the Behavioral Assessment and Intervention Team, he enjoyed opportunities to present at new employee and freshman orientation sessions.
“No one was more dedicated to his work than Ken. He did everything he could in his investigations to help the victim of the crime. He played Santa Claus at all the police department Christmas parties. Having known and worked with Ken for over 40 years, I’m truly saddened by his death,” said UT Dallas Police Chief Larry Zacharias.
MacKenzie was well-known for his auto theft investigation work around the country. He served as president of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators and had taught auto theft investigations in several countries. While working for Richardson, he was the lead investigator in several high-profile murder cases and was a principal character in several books and movies about his cases.
MacKenzie earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Abilene Christian University. He and his wife, Jennifer, had moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, for their retirement years. A memorial service in Richardson will be held at a later date.
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Register To Attend 2021 BrainHealth Lectures
The Center for BrainHealth is starting the new year with its next virtual Frontiers in BrainHealth talk; a continuation of Sips & Science; and its signature series, The Brain: An Owner’s Guide 2021.
At noon, Friday, Jan. 15, Dr. John F. Cryan will present The Gut Microbiome - A Key Regulator of the Brain Across the Lifespan, part of the free Frontiers of BrainHealth Lunchtime Lectures.
Cryan, a neuropharmacologist and microbiome expert, will share how our thoughts and emotions are connected to our guts. For more information and to register, visit BrainHealth’s Cryan event page.
Sips & Science returns with its first virtual event of 2021. Dr. Kirk Erickson from the University of Pittsburgh will present Walk Like a Greek, Think Like Aristotle, from 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 21.
Erickson, a leading expert on the impact of physical activity on brain health across the lifespan, will share the latest discoveries and science-based guidelines for exercise that can benefit cognitive function.
Learn how simple exercise like walking around your neighborhood can contribute toward brain growth and cognition preservation. Register for Erikson’s free talk.
The Center for BrainHealth’s annual series, The Brain: An Owner’s Guide, will be each Tuesday at 7 p.m. during February. The four-part series includes:
- Hormones' Impact on Cognitive Health & Alzheimer's, Dr. Lisa Mosconi, The Greystone Foundation Lecture, Feb. 2. Watch a preview of Mosconi’s talk.
- Vital Lessons in Weathering Duress, Dr. David Katz, The Corgan Associates Inc. Lecture, Feb. 9. Watch a preview of Katz’s talk.
- A Window into the Architecture of Our Mind, Dr. Nancy Kanwisher, The Caliber Home Loans Lecture, Feb. 16.
- Improve Your Brain Health with Brain Foods, Dr. Drew Ramsey, The Highland Capital Management Lecture, Feb. 23.
The lectures are free to attend. For more information, visit The Brain: An Owner’s Guide website.
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Join Naturally Slim Spring Session by Feb. 8
Face forward into the New Year by focusing on your health and weight loss goals with Naturally Slim (NS). UT Benefits is giving you this opportunity at no cost. No gimmicks. No food you need to buy. Watch weekly NS videos and build healthy habits that can improve your physical and mental health.
Space is limited. Apply by Friday, Jan. 22. The program starts on Monday, Feb. 8. Visit naturallyslim.com/livingwell to apply and learn more.
NS is available to all UTSELECT and UT CONNECT medical plan members ages 18 and above, including employees, retirees, spouses, and dependents who have not started a class within in the last 12 months. Contact customer service at [email protected] for more information.
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Participate in ‘Coast to Coast’ Live Healthy Campaign
Welcome 2021 with the trip of a lifetime — From Coast to Coast. Your destination to feeling your best is on the horizon. Don't miss the chance to take a fun-filled, nostalgic road trip to some of America's most popular attractions as you build well-being habits that last long after your shore-to-shore adventure is over.
In this six-week wellness adventure by Living Well, your goal is to earn 150 points (25 points/week) by logging physical activity, plus sleep and abstaining from sugar-sweetened beverages. Earn at least 150 points and receive a “Wellness Recharged” wireless charging pad to keep you moving and to continue the healthy habits year-round.
Some important dates:
- Monday, Jan. 18: First day to log activity. Begin recording health habits and start your shore-to-shore adventure.
- Monday, Jan 25: Registration and team formation deadline. Last day to register and form or join a team of three to five members.
- Sunday, Feb. 28: Program ends. You may backlog until Tuesday, March 2.
Don’t miss out on all the fun of this road trip as you learn and practice energy-boosting, good-mood-inducing habits! Registration opened Monday, Jan. 4. See Living Well for more information.
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Register To Attend Teams Tips Sessions
The Office of Information Technology invites staff and faculty to attend Tackling Teams at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19.
The beginning of a new semester is a perfect time to refresh our memories on the features of Microsoft Teams and catch up on new releases. During this beginner-to-advanced training, attendees will brush up on your knowledge and learn about the newest features that will help boost your productivity.
Register for Tackling Teams using your NetID and password.
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Online Consent Due by Jan. 14 To Receive Form 1095-C
In accordance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions, UT Dallas will have the 2020 Form 1095-C available by Jan. 31. The Form 1095-C includes information about the health insurance coverage offered to employees, retirees and their dependents. You will receive the Form 1095-C if you were enrolled in the UT Medical Plan or if you worked an average of 30 or more hours per week or were considered a full-time employee in 2020. Graduate student employees who are covered under the UT Student Health Insurance Plan will receive Form 1095-B directly from Blue Cross Blue Shield.
If you provide consent, you can access your Form 1095-C online through Galaxy. If you provided consent in prior years, you do not have to do so again. The deadline to provide online consent is Jan. 14. If you do not provide the online consent, you will receive the form in the mail on or before the IRS deadline. The forms are expected to be available online by Jan. 31.
If you need to provide online consent, log in to Galaxy with your UT Dallas NetID and password. Then, go to Staff Tools, select ACA Form 1095-C and follow the on-screen instructions. Written instructions and FAQs are posted on the HR website for your reference.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or contact the Office of Human Resources - Employee Benefits Team. If you have additional questions about your Form 1095-C, you may also visit the IRS website and the UT System Office of Employee Benefits website.
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Deer Oaks EAP Offers Support
Your Employee Assistance Program through Deer Oaks EAP Services is here to support you. Call 888-993-7650, email [email protected] or visit the Deer Oaks website to receive confidential assistance. To access online training, visit the member login page and enter utdallas for the username and password.
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Office of Research Events
Research Breakdown Series: Lifecycle of a Sub-Award, noon-12:45 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15 — Join Foundation Relations and Office of Sponsored Projects for a walk-through of their missions, the similarities, differences and when to approach each. Also, learn about the different philosophies, processes and timeframes regarding foundation versus other external funding. For more information and to register, visit Lifecycle of a Sub-Award. For more information, email Tiffany Willoughby.
Lab to Launch Series: Human Machine Interaction, 2-2:45 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25 — The Lab to Launch Series is for researchers interested in pursuing entrepreneurship, and it's returning for a third season. With support from the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund Program and as a MIT spinoff, Pison Technologies is amassing neuromuscular data to build the world's most advanced human machine interface. By capturing and filtering signals sent to the nervous system, Pison's Touchless Control technology allows for the intuitive control of digital devices and interfaces. Hear from Dexter Ang, CEO of Pison, about commercializing technology. For more information and to register, visit Human Machine Interaction. For more information, email Anricka Ziller.
Comet Corner Series: Designing Educational Experiences in Museums with Audience Research, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 27 — Museums are increasingly investing in research that aims to understand the perspectives of audiences in order to better serve them. As a project manager at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Stacey Knepp MA'09 has helped usher in an audience-focused approach to designing educational experiences. She will share how this approach gives the time and space for audiences to teach museums how to plan and design their exhibitions in order to improve visitor experience and educational outcomes. For more information and to register, visit Designing Educational Experiences. For more information, email Anricka Ziller.
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Attend Center for Teaching and Learning Workshops
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is offering the following virtual events:
Interpreting Student Evaluations, noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26 — What do student evaluations of teaching really mean (or not)? How should they be used for assessing teaching performance or for improving instruction? In this workshop, Simon Kane, associate provost, and Dr. Paul F. Diehl, CTL director, will address these concerns and all questions related to student evaluations. RSVP for the Jan. 26 workshop.
Teaching Statements and Teaching Portfolios, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 28 — Are you considering a career as a professor? Dr. Karen Huxtable-Jester, CTL associate director, will lead this workshop that will introduce postdoctoral and graduate teaching assistants to the statement of teaching philosophy and its place in the teaching portfolio. Learn how to convey your instructional goals and strategies and provide a compelling case that shows how you are an effective teacher. RSVP for the Jan. 28 workshop.
For more information or special accommodations, please contact [email protected].
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Reminders
Join Campus Connection for HR Info
To stay up-to-date on the latest news and information related to employment, immigration, wellness, benefits, talent development, as well as other Human Resources activities, join the HR Campus Connection in Teams. Use the code 4nstab6 to join.
UTSW Is Seeking Participants for COVID-19 Study
University of Texas at Dallas employees are invited to participate in a COVID-19 prevalence study that will help develop ways to reveal how widely COVID-19 has spread and why some communities are harder hit.
The study by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Texas Health recently expanded so that anyone who lives in Dallas or Tarrant counties can participate.
By participating in the study, employees may be able to receive:
- A free COVID-19 nose swab for active infection.
- A free COVID-19 antibody blood test to see if you’ve ever been infected.
- Quick test results and advice on next steps if you have active COVID-19 infection.
The first part of the research study is an online survey. Once individuals complete the survey, eligible people will receive an email or text message with instructions for making a testing appointment. Testing will be available on the UT Dallas campus. If an employee is found to have an active COVID-19 infection, the person — and UT Dallas — will be notified within two days of the test.
To participate, you visit the questionnaire website to read more information and begin the process. Volunteers are needed from all racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Connect with Colleagues at Watercooler Wednesday
It's important to take breaks and stay in touch with colleagues as many staff and faculty work remotely. You are invited to virtually connect with colleagues on Watercooler Wednesday through a Microsoft Teams live event at 10-10:15 a.m. and 3-3:15 p.m. Each session will include a wellness activity. Join early or hang around after and visit with colleagues and meet new folks.
Visit the Campus Wellness Committee site for more information about Watercooler Wednesday and other virtual resources related to wellness.
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About This Newsletter
InterCom is the official University-wide newsletter for UT Dallas faculty and staff members. This periodic publication is designed to provide University employees with important information necessary for the workplace, as well as community news that supports the University's mission. Guidelines about content and submissions can be found here or contact Robert Tracy at [email protected] or ext. 3521. |
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