NOVEMBER 21, 2013

IN THIS ISSUE

1. On-campus screenings for Health Risk Assessments end Saturday

On-campus Health Risk Assessments are still available to all employees through Saturday. Health plan participants who complete both HRA parts – biometric screening and health questionnaire – receive a 10-percent discount for 2014 health insurance premiums. All information regarding the Health Risk Assessment process is available on the benefits website.

• Employees must complete their biometric screening by Saturday, Nov. 23. Schedule an on-campus appointment online or call (877) 765-3213 and press "1."
  
  
• Employees must complete their online questionnaire by midnight on Monday, Nov. 25. Where it says to enter the employee's Social Security number, employees should enter their nine-digit employee ID number with no extra zeros, numbers, dashes or letters. The group password is MARQUETTE in all caps.
  
  
• Spouses and same-sex domestic partners are eligible to voluntarily participate in the HRA process. Only employees are required to complete this process to receive the discount, and no additional discount is given if a spouse or same-sex domestic partner does choose to participate.

This year an additional 10 days were added to the time given to complete the HRA process. Once the deadlines have passed, employees will have missed their opportunity to save on 2014 health insurance premiums. There will be no exceptions.

Employees should verify their 2014 health insurance premium rate on their January Statement of Earnings.

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2. Apply for benefits for surrender of tenure by Dec. 2

The deadline for tenured faculty to apply for benefits for the surrender of tenure at the end of the 2014-15 academic year is Monday, Dec. 2, at 4:30 p.m. The policy also allows for retirements after the end of the fall 2014 academic term. The deadline for tenured faculty to apply for benefits at the end of the fall 2014 academic term is Feb. 1, 2014.

Questions should be addressed to Sally Doyle, senior director of academic division operations in the Office of the Provost, at 8-5153.

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3. Winter Compendium submission deadline is Dec. 6

Faculty and staff with professional accomplishments such as publications, presentations and awards, should make sure they are documented by Friday, Dec. 6, by submitting them to the Faculty Activities Database (for full-time and clinical faculty members) or online (for part-time, adjunct, participating, emeritus or visiting faculty members, and full-time staff members). Faculty members submitting through the FAD need to check the appropriate box on the "Report Permissions" page in the FAD to submit items to Compendium. Accomplishments that have occurred between June 1, 2013, and Nov. 30, 2013, will be used to compile the winter issue of Compendium, which will be distributed in February 2014.

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4. Column marshals needed for Mid-year Commencement

Faculty, staff and administrators are needed as column marshals for Mid-year Commencement on Sunday, Dec. 15, at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Column marshals will guide the graduates, faculty, staff and stage party into the arena, and escort them out after the ceremony. Marshals need to arrive by 7:45 a.m. Contact University Special Events at 8-7431 for more information.

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5. Steve Forbes to speak on campus next week

The Marquette University College Republicans will host Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes, Inc., Monday, Nov. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the AMU, Monaghan Ballroom. Forbes will present, "The Flat Tax Revolution," which will argue how a flat tax could benefit the United States. In his remarks, he will discuss flat tax benefits through the lens of the current economic landscape and forecast, including its potential impact on the IRS and job creation.

Forbes is the author of several books, a two-time former presidential candidate, and currently serves on the Board of Overseers of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and on the Board of Visitors for the School of Public Policy of Pepperdine University, as well as the boards of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, the Heritage Foundation and The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Forbes, Inc.'s, flagship publication, Forbes, has a circulation of more than 900,000.

For more information, contact Matthew Walker, co-chair of the Marquette University College Republicans.

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6. Writing Center hosting workshop on breaking through writer's block

The Ott Memorial Writing Center is hosting a workshop on strategies for productive writing that help break through writer's block Monday, Nov. 25, from 11 a.m. to noon in Raynor Memorial Libraries' Beaumier Suite A.

Register by emailing the Writing Center or calling 8-5542.

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7. Share ideas about the future of the Menomonee Valley

Members of the Marquette community are invited to share ideas and thoughts about the future of the Menomonee Valley on Tuesday, Nov. 26, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the AMU, 157. Representatives from the Menomonee Valley Partners and the Department of City Development will be on campus to listen to ideas from the community and to share their thoughts about possible future projects.

Marquette University, through the Office of Public Affairs, is one of many community partners supporting the Menomonee Valley 2.0 plan.

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8. Attend international research and forward thinking poster sessions and colloquy

The Office of International Education will host Marquette's International Research Poster Session along with the Forward Thinking Poster Session and Colloquy, hosted by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the Graduate Student Organization and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the AMU, Monaghan Ballroom. A reception will follow the event, which aims to celebrate and encourage faculty research from all disciplines that involves students and international research.

For more information, contact Erin Folstad, director of project planning and development in ORSP, at 8-3642.

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9. College of Nursing hosting discussion on African-Americans' perceptions of palliative care in Milwaukee

The College of Nursing will host a panel discussion, "Palliative Care in African-American Communities: Focus Group Study," Thursday, Dec. 5, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the AMU, Henke Lounge.

The three principal investigators of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation-funded focus group project – Dr. Margaret Callahan, interim provost and dean of the College of Nursing; Dr. Ronda Hughes, associate professor of nursing; and Dr. Susan Breakwell, clinical associate professor of nursing – will address what was learned from Milwaukee's African-American communities about their wishes regarding palliative and end of life care. The session is designed to spark conversations about new ideas and initiatives for strengthening palliative care access and services for African-Americans in the Milwaukee area.

Register by emailing Andrea Petrie, director of development in the College of Nursing, by Monday, Nov. 25.

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10. Register for training sessions on updated expense and travel reimbursement, credit card policies

The Office of Finance will host training sessions on updates to the university's travel and expense reimbursement and credit card policies. The Office of Finance, with the help of campus stakeholders, has rewritten the Travel Reimbursement Policy (UPP 1-09) and has added a new Expense Reimbursement policy (UPP 3-18) targeting non-travel related expenses. Acceptable university credit card documentation requirements and review of the US Bank management system, Access Online, will also be covered as part of the University Credit Card Program (UPP 3-08). Attendance is required for managers or designees who approve other employees' credit card statements.

Training sessions will take place:

• Monday, Dec. 9, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

All training sessions will be held in Raynor Memorial Libraries' Beaumier Suites B and C. Register by emailing growwithmu@marquette.edu and specifying a session.

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11. Free Christmas ornaments given to first 2,000 fans at women's basketball game vs. Duke on Sunday

Free Marquette Christmas ornaments will be given to the first 2,000 fans at the women's basketball game vs. Duke Sunday, Nov. 24, at 3 p.m. at the Al McGuire Center. Additionally, there will be a "garage sale" in which shirts and promotional items from past years will be priced to sell. To purchase tickets for Sunday's game, visit GoMarquette.

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12. Volunteers needed for campus Thanksgiving dinner

Volunteers are needed to serve Thanksgiving dinner Thursday, Nov. 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for students who cannot go home for the holiday. The dinner will be served in Cobeen Hall and is sponsored by Campus Ministry with the assistance of the Department of Residence Life.

To volunteer, contact Sue Niemi, administrative secretary in Campus Ministry, at 8-3685.

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13. Liturgical Choir to perform autumn concert this weekend

The Liturgical Choir will perform "Come and Go with Me to That Land: An Autumn Festival of Song" on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Gesu. Admission to the concert is free, and doors will open at 7 p.m. The concert will feature a number of American spirituals and gospel songs, including "How Can I Keep From Singing," "Down to the River to Pray" and "My God is a Rock."

For additional information, contact Thomas Koester, assistant director in Campus Ministry and director of the Liturgical Choir, at 8-3695.

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14. Faculty and Staff Chorale to perform annual Christmas concert

The Faculty and Staff Chorale will present its annual Christmas concert Tuesday, Dec. 3, and Thursday, Dec. 5, at 11:30 a.m. in the Varsity Theatre. The free concert is open to the Marquette community and will feature Renaissance, modern and traditional carols.

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15. Pure Dance Marquette fall show is Sunday

Pure Dance Marquette, a lyrical and jazz performance group, will perform its fall showcase Sunday, Nov. 24, at noon and 4:30 p.m. in the Weasler Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public.

For additional information, visit the Pure Dance Marquette Facebook page.

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16. Children needed for physical therapy study

The Department of Physical Therapy is looking for children, ages 12-17, to participate in a research study examining the effects of physical fitness and body composition on pain reports. Participants will take part in three research sessions ranging from 60-90 minutes each, and will be compensated with gift cards.

This study has been approved by Marquette's Institutional Review Board for the protection of human subjects. Parents and legal guardians of children who are interested in participating in the study should contact Dr. Marie Bement, associate professor of physical therapy, at 8-6738, or Stacy Stolzman, physical therapy graduate assistant, at 8-6085. For more information about research participant rights, contact the Office of Research Compliance at 8-7570.

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17. Discounts on computers available to students, faculty and staff

Academic prices for computers from Apple, HP and Lenovo are available to faculty, staff and students. Among the available deals are savings of up to $200 on a new Mac from the Apple Store for Education and $30 off select HP notebook and desktop PCs.

Learn more about the computer discounts online.

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18. News Briefs to only be distributed on Monday next week

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, News Briefs will not be issued Thursday, Nov. 28. News Briefs will resume its regular schedule Monday, Dec. 2.

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