The Resource

Medical/Dental Open Enrollment Starts November 1
As a UW benefits-eligible employee, you're allowed to make changes to your medical and dental plan choices during annual "Open Enrollment" which runs from November 1-30, 2011. All changes made during this period will become effective on January 1, 2012. So if you’re thinking of choosing a different health plan; need to re-enroll, waive, or drop a currently-enrolled dependent; or wish to participate in one or both of the optional pre-tax savings programs described below, now is the time to sit down with your family and review your benefits! Learn more about open enrollment.

Annual Benefits Fair is Coming
The annual UW Benefits Fair is an excellent place to gather information, ask questions, and compare health plans so you'll feel confident knowing that you're taking full advantage of the many UW benefits available to you and your dependents. Attend a fair at Mary Gates Commons on November 1, Harborview Medical Center on November 2, or UW Medical Center/Health Sciences on November 3. See Benefits Fairs details.

Stretch Your Dollars with a Flexible Spending Account
Looking for a great way to save valuable tax dollars on health expenses? Consider a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)—an IRS-approved, tax-free account—that can save you money on eligible medical expenses. All benefits-eligible employees who wish to participate in a 2012 FSA, whether new or returning, must enroll during the month of November for benefits to begin January 1, 2012. Learn more about FSA.

Note: If you plan to enroll in a high-deductible health plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA) in 2012, you and your spouse will not be able to participate in a 2012 flexible spending account. If you already have an FSA for 2011, you will be required to use all funds by the end of this year with no grace period.

Save More With Dependent Care Assistance
If you're currently paying for child or adult care, consider taking advantage of pre-tax savings for these expenses. The Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) allows you to take a deduction from your pay for eligible dependent care expenses before taxes are calculated. You save money in your paycheck now because the deductions are exempt from taxes. Whether you're applying for the first time or renewing for 2012, see how to enroll this November.

You're Invited to Kick Off the UW Combined Fund Drive Today!
The 2011 UW Combined Fund Drive campaign kicks off today, October 12, with an all-campus charity fair in Mary Gates Hall from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Meet more than 60 non-profit organizations representing the arts, education, human services, animal welfare, medical research, the environment, and international relief at this free event. Also featuring a shoe drive to benefit Redeeming Soles, a coin drive benefitting PAWS, and door prizes. For more information, visit the Combined Fund Drive Website.

The ABC's of Working With the XYZ's
Don't miss this free online seminar offered through UW CareLink on October 18.

Today's workforce is comprised of generations with different values and priorities. Learn to identify the characteristics and key motivational factors of each generation to foster successful work groups. Register online, as space is limited. Use UW as the company code.

A UW Tradition: Dawg Dash
UW faculty and staff are invited to bring their friends and family to the 26th Annual Dawg Dash on October 23. Join alumni and students for this 10k and 5k walk/run through campus and the last chance to run on the track at Husky Stadium.

Start Homecoming week and celebrate the UW’s 150th Anniversary at this fun UW Alumni Association event that supports student scholarship programs. The Post-Dash Bash features food, beverages, awards, and the ever-popular Husky Pups Run with Harry the Husky for kids 10 and younger. For more details or to register, visit the 26th Annual Dawg Dash website.

W Day is Coming November 4
On November 4, 2011, Huskies everywhere are encouraged to drape themselves in purple and raise a toast to the UW’s 150th birthday. As part of the day's celebration, select Seattle-area businesses will offer discounts to anyone wearing purple, KJR 950 AM will broadcast live from campus, and free purple T-shirts and cupcakes will be handed out. Huskies living outside the area can post their UW memories and photos of themselves in purple on the UW Facebook page or Twitter (#UW150), host purple parties, and show their Husky pride wherever they are that day. Plan to wear your purple proudly!

Campus Violence Prevention Training
The next Campus Violence Prevention Training is November 9, 2011, at 12:30 p.m. in Health Sciences D Building, room 209. Campus Violence Prevention Training is required for all employees every two years. Register for training at the SafeCampus website.

Starting Out
Protect your money and stretch your dollars! Attend one of these free seminars sponsored by Benefits and presented by our credit union representatives:

Approaching Life's Financial Milestones (Bothell, Tacoma, Harborview)
Credit & Banking for High School Students (Bothell)
Credit Reporting 101 (Bothell, Tacoma, Seattle)
Financial Yoga: Stretching Your Dollars (Harborview, South Lake Union, Seattle)
Identity Theft—When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name (various locations)

Access event information and registration.

For Active Investors: Quarterly Market Update
Are you the type of investor who actively manages several funds within your portfolio? Do you want a deeper view into current economic conditions including what’s driving the financial markets? Attend the Quarterly Market Update on Friday, October 28, at the UW Tower to get Fidelity’s perspective on current market conditions, including domestic and international stock performance, and the bond markets. Register now.

MammoVan is Coming
Women age 40+ know it's not always easy to find time to get a routine mammogram to screen for breast cancer. Thanks to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance's MammoVan, now there's a faster and more convenient way to get it done. The MammoVan mobile mammography service will visit campus locations on November 3 (Tacoma), November 21 (Seattle), and December 20 (Seattle). View details and schedule an appointment.

Hearing Aid Options for Hearing Loss
Are you or someone in your family starting to suffer hearing loss but don’t know much about new hearing aid technology? UW Speech and Hearing Clinic is offering a free, informational seminar about today’s hearing aid options for hearing loss. Call 206-543-5440 or email shclinic@uw.edu to reserve a space in the October 26 seminar. Learn more about this seminar.

Preparing to Retire
Retire with greater confidence by creating a sound retirement strategy. Attend one of these free seminars—all held at Seattle’s UW Tower—according to your personal situation:

Retirement Investing and Savings Strategies
If you’re approaching retirement, you might be asking yourself: how will I make ends meet? Attend the seminar, Retirement Investing and Savings Strategies, on October 20 at the UW Tower to learn what to expect with regards to retirement expenses, withdrawal options, and asset allocation, as well as how to access services and tools to help you make informed decisions. You do not need to be a Vanguard account holder to attend. Access seminar information and registration.

What to Expect from Social Security
Do you know what benefits to expect from Social Security and when they will be available to you and your family members? Gain a better understanding of how the Social Security and Medicare systems work by attend this informative seminar—Social Security: A Foundation for Planning Your Future—on October 27 at the UW Tower. Access seminar information and registration.

Fund Sponsors are Available to Help
If you're concerned about your retirement savings and you haven't reviewed your portfolio in a while, consider scheduling an appointment with a representative from one of our four fund sponsors—either by phone or in-person—to review your asset allocations, savings objectives, and risk tolerance against your current portfolio. Schedule a free phone or in-person appointment with one of our Calvert, Fidelity, TIAA-CREF, or Vanguard representatives. Your spouse or partner is welcome to attend with you. Register now for an appointment.

Professional & Organizational Development (POD) courses are open to all UW employees, subject to supervisor/budgetary approval and UW’s release time policy. Please view our policy page for additional information.

Assessing Your Career Fit
Two assessments completed prior to class lay the foundation for this full-day course. Receive a personalized career report that interprets your Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Strong Interest Inventory results, and then explore occupations and work roles that might be a good fit, as well as ways to identify a good career match and enhance your work/life balance. Access course information and registration.

Enhancing Workplace Creativity
The centuries-old proverb "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" can easily be applied to modern-day work; all the demands piling up on our desks and in our in-boxes can have a numbing effect on our mental capacity, motivation, and overall attitude. In this half-day class, combat the dullness by reigniting your creativity at work—and, in turn, increasing your motivation and productivity. Access course information and registration.

Managing Stress
Can difficult events become less troublesome, and change less uncomfortable, when approached with a new attitude? This class provides a respite from your usual work day as you explore ways to handle upsetting situations, deal with things going wrong, gain perspective, and bolster your ability to enjoy life. Access course information and registration.

Hourly Career Counseling
Don't fall back into the same old routine this year! Learn how to make the most of your strengths, prepare for a job search, or explore a new career path through one-on-one career counseling. Sessions are offered through Training and Organization Development Consultant Susan Templeton for $95 per one-hour session if paid with a UW budget number (with supervisor approval) or $109.82 if paid with cash, check, or credit card (due to a mandatory institutional overhead fee). Learn more about this service.

Time to Refinance?
With Federal Reserve rates so low, why not compare your current mortgage rate with today's rates to see if this is a good time to refinance your home and secure what could be the lowest fixed rate in decades? Learn more about Refinancing and Home Equity—register to attend a seminar on October 18 at UW Tacoma, and October 19 at Seattle's UW Tower.

The Hometown Home Loan Program helps educate UW employees about first-time home buying, refinancing an existing home, tapping into home equity, and more. Coming up:

Understanding Credit
Budgeting for a Home
Buying a Vacation Home or Rental Property

Access event information and registration.

Homeownership Counseling
Thinking of buying or refinancing a home? Why not schedule a personal homeownership counseling session with a HomeStreet Affinity Loan Officer who can walk you through the process? These 30-minute, one-on-one sessions are free, private, and informative. Your spouse, partner, or potential co-signer is welcome to attend with you. Access event information and registration.

And They’re Off: Welcome to the Autumn Quarter Time Crunch
Now that fall is in full swing, you may be feeling the pressure of dealing with a new academic year, juggling responsibilities both at work and at home. UW CareLink is here to help! Whether you're feeling burned out and crave more creative outlets in the workplace or you just need some ideas for prioritizing your time, UW CareLink has resources and articles to fit your needs.

Access UW CareLink through the APS HealthCare portal for tips, articles, and self-assessments. (To log in and register, use "UW" as the company code.) In addition, managers can arrange custom, one-hour "Time Management" training sessions free of charge through UW CareLink. If you are interested in setting up a session for your team, email worklife@uw.edu for more information.

October is National Pet Safety/Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month
Did you know that poinsettias, antifreeze, onions, and raisins are potentially deadly for pets? Now is the time to educate yourself about common foods and plants that could pose a danger to your furry friends.

Have you been thinking about adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organization? Be sure you’ve considered the practical and financial implications and decided that a dog is the right pet for you; UW CareLink (use UW as the company code) has a treasure trove of resources to support you through finding and caring for your canine.

Opt In for a New Husky Card!
If you have not yet picked up or received a new Husky Card, this is your chance to get one without the trip across campus. Submit a request from October 12 through October 26 at the Husky Card website, and the Husky Card Account & ID Center will pre-print and mail your new Husky Card to your campus mail box. Cards will only be provided to current faculty and staff on the Seattle campus, UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center, who have a photo on file with the Husky Card ID Center and who have not already received an ORCA-capable Husky Card. Learn more about the Opt In Husky Card program.

Coming Up: UW Health and Safety Committee Elections
Do you or a co‐worker find workplace health and safety issues of special interest? The University of Washington is getting ready to hold elections for its 11 organizational safety committees. Both committees and elections are required by the Department of Labor and Industries. This biennial election process will get underway later this month. All employees—whether faculty, staff, temporary, hourly, or student employees—are encouraged to participate. You can nominate yourself or a willing colleague to serve a two‐year term, which runs January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2013. Watch for more details to arrive in your in‐box and/or see the Environmental Health & Safety website.

Take a Break
Take a walk across Red Square to feed your soul with art at the Henry Art Gallery. Admission to the Henry is free to staff who show their Husky ID cards. This month, multidisciplinary artist Carolee Schneemann’s provocative paintings, drawings, photography, installation work, video projections, and writings are featured in the Henry’s Stroum Gallery. For more information on the exhibition, visit the Henry Art Gallery website.