News on the Go #634, January 22, 2008

News on the Go is a service of the Office of Institutional Advancement, providing timely news and information to faculty, staff, fellows, residents and students on the go. Deadline: 10 a.m. Thursday before Tuesday publication. Submit all events and deadlines to the Web Calendar. Submit other items for consideration using the News on the Go submission form.

Topics at a glance: Leader Update ... Want your refund? ... Wellness Fair ... Commuting update ... Free student workshop ... HOOP Update ... Doctors Orchestra ... WorkLife Tip of the Week ... Surplus Warehouse notice

The Leader Update

Want your refund? Verify your address!

Now's the time to verify the address on your current pay stub. Your W2 form for filing with your Federal Income Tax will be mailed to that address by Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. If your address is incorrect, inform your departmental contact person or e-mail sdr@uth.tmc.edu to avoid a delay in receiving this important payroll tax document.

To Your Health Wellness Fair

The fourth annual UT Wellness Fair takes place, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the IMM Sarofim Research Building. Visit more than 30 health and wellness exhibitors providing a variety of information plus blood pressure, bone density, asthma and vision screenings. This event is open to all health science center students, faculty and staff with UT ID.

  • Special Wellness Fair gifts will be handed out to the first 500 attending.
  • Discount coupons for CBC, CMP and lipid profile, but first 100 claimed for service will be free—compliments of Wellness Fair
  • Free Flu shots to first 50 or more as supplies last from UT Physicians
  • 5-minute chair massage, 30 massages available per hour

Door Prizes:

  • Grand Prize - LASEK Procedure (Surgeon fee) compliments of Robert Cizik Eye Clinic
  • Houston Rockets tickets for 2
  • A New You Makeover
  • One-year membership to UT Recreation Center and several other prizes and gift cards will be drawn at the end of the fair.  Winners need not be present.

For more information about wellness fair activities, visit http://ae.uth.tmc.edu and click on Recreation Center. To volunteer for the wellness fair, contact Pauline.M.Habetz@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-8425.

Commuting to work at HSC?

Full-time UT Health Science Center at Houston employees commuting to work via METRO, Van Pool, or Woodlands Express may be eligible to receive a subsidy of up to $40 through the Mobility Program. Enrollment is limited. Please contact Diane Cupples Collard, Diane.E.Collard@uth.tmc.edu, for program information and availability.

Free student technical writing workshop

The Office of Cultural and Institutional Diversity will offer several a free Technical Writing Workshop focusing on APA Documentation Style & Methodologies, 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6,open to all UT Health Science Center at Houston first-year and second-year students in Spring 2008. R.S.V.P. by Friday, Feb. 1, to MKJohnsonPhD@sbcglobal.net. Limit: 25.

HOOP update

  • The Compensation for Work Required by Emergency or Disaster Policy (No. 2.35, hyperlink http://legal.uth.tmc.edu/HOOP/18/18_02.html) in the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP) has been re-named as the Staffing Emergencies Policy.  Additionally, the policy has been edited for readability. Direct questions regarding the functionality of reporting hours during the emergency period to Dee Warren, director, Payroll, 713-500-3950. Direct other questions regarding this policy to Hina Naik, manager, Compensation, 713-500-3128.
  • The Access to Personnel Records Policy (No. 2.29A, hyperlink http://legal.uth.tmc.edu/hoop/02/2_29A.html) in the HOOP has been revised and information has been added regarding a form employees may complete to keep personal information from disclosure to the public.  Additionally, the options for departmental record retention of a transferring employee’s files have been expanded. Direct questions regarding this policy to Debbie Norris, employee relations advisor, 713-500-3141 or to Sherry Lyons, manager, Records Management Systems & Services, 713-500-3101.  Direct questions regarding the Texas Public Information Act to Devin Longuet, legal officer, 713-500-3268.
  • The Time and Attendance Policy (No. 2.27, hyperlink http://legal.uth.tmc.edu/hoop/02/2_27.html) in the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP), has been edited for readability. Direct questions regarding the functionality of the Time Management System to Dee Warren, director, Payroll, 713-500-3950. Direct questions regarding the university’s leave policies to Debbie Norris, employee relations advisor, 713-500-3141.

Doctors Orchestra concert

The Doctors Orchestra of Houston, Libi Lebel conductor, will give its winter concert, “East Meets West,” 5 p.m., Feb. 10, Wortham Center’s Cullen Hall. The program will include:  Islamey by Balakirev, the world premiere of Manghal Dhwani — based on the Raga Bagaswari and written for full western orchestra with sitar and Indian percussion by Hasu Patel — and Dvorak’s Eighth Symphony. Tickets ($10 and $20) available online at http://www.doctorsorchestrahouston.org.

WorkLife Tip of the Week

For the first time in the U.S., four generations are together in the workplace: The Silents (or War generation), 56 million strong, born 1933-45; the 76 million Boomers, born 1946-64; Gen Xers, 55 million, born 1965-76; and finally, the 77 million Millennial, (Gen Y), born 1977-98. If you have difficulty understanding or relating to this diversity and need some help, please visit http://www.uthouston.edu/worklife/worklife/coaching.html or call 713-500-3327 for assistance.

Surplus Warehouse notice

The Surplus Warehouse will be available only on an “as needed” basis on Mondays and Tuesdays during the weeks of Feb. 4 and 11.  Call 713-500-4701 to arrange to view items in the warehouse during those times. Thank you for your consideration.

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