Open Enrollment is Here!
Do you want to choose a different medical or dental plan or add previously uncovered dependents to your PEBB health coverage? Are you thinking about enrolling in a 2012 pretax savings program such as a Flexible Spending Account or the Dependent Care Assistance Program? The entire month of November is the Open Enrollment period—your chance to do any of these things! Be sure to act by November 30. Visit the Open Enrollment webpage for more information.

Learn About High-deductible Health Plan Available in 2012
Find out about the new consumer-directed health plan with health savings accounts (CDHP-HSA) available in 2012 from three websites: UW Benefits, PEBB, and Health Equity, the HSA trustee. More commonly known as a "high-deductible health plan," the CDHP-HSA offers low monthly premiums, but, in return, subscribers are charged significantly higher deductibles (the amount you pay before insurance starts to pay) and have a higher annual out-of-pocket maximum. Learn the advantages, disadvantages, and the complexities of this new type of plan offered by all of the current PEBB medical providers.

DCAP—Stretch Your Dollars Further in 2012
Are you looking for a great way to save valuable tax dollars on childcare or eldercare expenses? By enrolling in the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), you're able to take a payroll deduction for eligible dependent care expenses before taxes are calculated. You save money in your paycheck now because the deductions are exempt from taxes. If you wish to participate in DCAP in 2012—whether as a new or returning participant—you must enroll by November 30 for benefits to begin January 2012. Learn more and enroll in a 2012 DCAP account.

Save Even More With a Flexible Spending Account
Another great way to save valuable tax dollars in 2012 is by enrolling in a Flexible Spending Account. The FSA is a tax-free account that saves you money on eligible medical expenses. Whether you will be a new FSA participant or you're restarting your account, you must enroll by November 30 to activate your account by January 1, 2012. Learn more and enroll here.

Important Note: If you plan to enroll in a consumer-driven health plan with a health savings account (CDHP-HSA) in 2012, you and your spouse will not be able to participate in a 2012 FSA because you cannot hold both types of accounts in the same tax year. If you already have an FSA for 2011 and you choose a CDHP-HSA for 2012, you will be required to use all funds by December 31; e.g., there will be no grace period.

What Happens When Christmas and New Years' Fall on a Sunday?
This coming December 25 and January 1 fall on Sundays. Don't worry—we don't lose our paid holidays. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed the following Monday. Make sure your calendar has Monday, December 26, 2011, and Monday, January 2, 2012, marked as paid holidays. You can verify all the 2011 and 2012 holidays online on the UW Human Resources website.

Distinguished Staff Award Nominations Now Open
Nominate an outstanding individual or small team for the UW's highest staff honor today! The Distinguished Staff Award recognizes the significant achievements of UW staff and provides meaningful recognition for those that receive a nomination.

Visit the new Distinguished Staff Awards website for more information, including how to nominate an individual or team. The deadline for nominations is December 16, 2011.

Nominate an Outstanding Leader for the Thorud Leadership Award
Now is your opportunity to nominate a faculty or staff member who demonstrates exemplary leadership, serves the University to the best of their ability, and inspires others to do the same. The David B. Thorud Leadership Award recognizes leaders who have excelled at supporting the work and people of the UW in a challenging climate.

Visit the award website for more information, including how to nominate an individual. Hurry—nominations close on December 2.

Free Savings Seminars at UW Tacoma Today
Free one-hour savings seminars will be held today, November 9, at UW Tacoma, Cherry Parkes Building, Room 206C. Registration is recommended. Seminars include:

Credit Reporting (10:00—11:00 a.m.)
For anyone purchasing a home, car, or new furniture on credit, this seminar will help you understand how credit bureaus measure "credit worthiness" using what's known as a "FICO" score. Learn about FICO scores and why they differ, what affects your credit rating, five easy steps to a better credit score, and how to get a free credit report.

Identity Theft Seminar (11:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m.)
It's a growing problem that isn't going away. Learn simple, practical tips to substantially reduce the chance of falling prey to identity theft, as well as the steps to take to minimize damage if you are a victim.

Approaching Life's Financial Milestones (1:00—2:00 p.m.)
Regardless of where you are in your life journey, there's planning to be done. This seminar covers the common (and not so common) life milestones, and provides timely advice on how to approach them in a financially sound way.

Free Webinar: High-Impact Parenting
Explore active and energetic parenting and discuss principles of respect, discipline, and communication between adults and children. Register online (enter UW as the company code) for this hour-long seminar presented at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15.

Special Event: Doctors Without Borders
Seattle-area physician, Dr. Terra Bowles, will be on campus Thursday, November 17, to share her experience as a volunteer for Doctors Without Borders. The event will be held in Health Sciences, Turner Auditorium, from noon-1:15 p.m. Please RSVP. Sponsored by the UW Combined Fund Drive.

SafeCampus Training
The next SafeCampus Violence Prevention and Response training will be held Wednesday, November 30, at 11:30 a.m. in the UW Tower Auditorium. Please register for the session.

Free Prequalification Appointments
Get your mortgage questions answered! Free half-hour pre-qualification appointments are available at Tacoma (11/15), Bothell (11/17), UW Tower (11/22), Harborview (11/23), and Health Sciences (12/29). Contact the Affinity Lending Center at 206-628-0207 or access information and register for an appointment.

Homeownership 101 Seminar Series
Whether you plan to buy a home now or in the near future, understanding credit and the home buying process are critical to preparing yourself for a successful real estate transaction. Get valuable information about these topics and more by attending a free seminar offered by our Hometown Home Loan partner, HomeStreet Bank. Check out the winter seminar lineup:

• Understanding Credit (UW Tower)
• Budgeting for a Home (UW Bothell and UW Tower)
• Refinancing & Using Home Equity (South Lake Union)
• Buying a Vacation Home or Rental Property (Harborview)

Access information and register at HomeStreet.

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.

Turning Negative Emotions Into Positive Outcomes
Negativity lowers morale, reduces work productivity, and causes tension that can affect us both at work and at home. This one-day class, facilitated by Clive Shearer, offers ways to spot hidden negative signals, provides help with banishing negative thinking, and reveals how an optimistic outlook can change your life. Access course information and registration.

Hourly Career Counseling
Don't fall back into the same old routine this academic 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.

Join the "Great American Smokeout"
The Great American Smokeout is Thursday, November 17, this year—the date when smokers everywhere are encouraged to make a plan to quit, as an important step towards a healthier life. Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done. To have the best chance of quitting successfully, smokers need to know what they're up against, what their options are, and where to go for help. If you're a smoker or know someone who is, consider enrolling in a free tobacco cessation program! Learn more about the Great American Smokeout.

Easy Rewards
Uniform Medical Plan Members: Earn up to $60 in rewards in just 20 minutes, plus get immediate feedback on your health risks when you complete a confidential, online health risk assessment (HRA) through myregence.com/UMP. All adult enrollees are eligible to participate.

Group Health and Kaiser Permanente members and their adult enrollees are also eligible to participate in an HRA. To get started, visit the Tools for Change website, click on Health Risk Assessment, then select your plan.

Time to Schedule a Mammogram?
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 mobile mammography service or "MammoVan," now there's a faster and more convenient way to get it done. The MammoVan is scheduled to roll into the south parking lot at the UW Tower (12th Avenue NE & NE 43rd Street) on Monday, November 21, and the W-13 parking lot (between University Way NE and Brooklyn Avenue NE) on Tuesday, December 20. Schedule an appointment today!

Retirement Consultations
Whatever your situation, we can help you identify your goals for a secure retirement and make it easier to manage your retirement plan. That's why our fund sponsors visit campus multiple times each quarter offering one-on-one personalized assistance at no additional cost—to help make sure you stay on track to meet your goals.

Fund sponsor representatives are available to help you answer key questions like:

• Is my plan for retirement on track?
• How much do I need to save?
• Do I have the right investment mix to help achieve my financial goals?

Schedule an in-person or phone appointment today.

Retiring in 2012?
Whether you're a UW Retirement Plan (UWRP) or Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) plan participant, if you're thinking of retiring next year, you should consider attending a free workshop to learn how to best prepare yourself for the next stage of your journey. Access information and register for a seminar.

The Holidays Are Almost Here!
While the holiday season is supposed to be a time of celebration, many people experience increased stress with the onset of family gatherings and social commitments. UW CareLink is there to help with ideas to ease the tension.

Free, confidential counseling services are also available for benefits-eligible faculty and staff, their household members, and their dependent children through UW CareLink. These services include counseling by telephone for crises and emergencies; telephonic support to arrange for in-person counseling; and in-person counseling with up to five sessions per concern. Phone lines are staffed by master's level counselors, 24/7. Call 1-866-598-3978 for more information.

Parents: Cold Season is Upon Us
With the temperatures dropping, cold symptoms are on the rise. Have you developed a plan for back-up care in case your child gets sick? If your child is mildly ill and between one and 12 years old, the UW offers sick child care through the Tender Loving Care (TLC) program at Virginia Mason Medical Center. The University underwrites the entire daily fee for UW benefits-eligible employees working .50 FTE or more and academic student employees. Families pay only a one-time registration fee of $5 per child. Find out more about this program.

In addition, there are agencies that will send an in-home care provider to help out. UW CareLink has a list of resources available so you can familiarize yourself with your options (enter UW as the company code).

Ride in the Rain!
Join more than 1,000 UW cyclists taking part in the annual "Ride in the Rain" Bicycle Commute Challenge! Register for the challenge and choose whether you want to ride as an individual or as part of a virtual team. Then track the number of weekly one-way bike trips you make between campus and home during the month of November. Those completing at least 20 one-way trips receive an invitation to the "Ride in the Rain" celebration luncheon and become eligible for fabulous prizes! Find out more by visiting the Ride in the Rain website. In addition, here's this year's bike class line-up:

• Ride Like a Dawg—Bike Skills for Everyday Riding (11/14)
• Fix a Flat—Inflation for Huskies (11/21)
• Keep Your Ride Rolling—Basic Bike Maintenance for Dawgs (11/28)

Bike Classes are brought to you by U-PASS and Cascade Bicycle Club. Space is limited so register today!

Take a Break
It's important to take occasional time for yourself during the workday to recalibrate. A walk around campus while the leaves are showing off could be just the trick. Here are some ongoing exhibitions that may be in your area at the University.

Sharing Ideas, Expanding Knowledge: Open Access as a Scholarly Publishing Alternative for the Future
Monday, October 10-Sunday, November 27
Allen Library North Lobby
While the book and journal remain the primary vehicles for communicating published scholarship, how their content is reviewed, packaged, paid for, distributed, discovered, accessed, and preserved has changed over the last few years and continues to change rapidly. Many new options, driven by new technologies and changing economic models, are now available and are becoming increasingly accepted.

Depth of Field: Anthropology through the Lens
Wednesday, September 28-Friday, December 16
Odegaard Undergraduate Library
A display of photographs taken during fieldwork by Department of Anthropology graduate students highlighting vital moments, points of view, and ephemeral quality of ethnographic fieldwork.

Honoring Trees
Friday, October 14-Monday, November 28
Merrill Hall
Featuring Trees in Art artists Jacqui Beck, Donna Leavitt, Cheryl A. Richey, and Elizabeth Reed Smith. These four Northwest artists, who create a range of realistic and abstract renderings of trees in diverse styles and media, share a deep affinity for trees and an interest in exploring and understanding their unifying symbolism.