New University Policy on Child Abuse Reporting
The University has a new policy related to Washington’s Abuse of Children law (RCW 26.44) that ensures University employees are informed of their obligations to report suspected child abuse. The new policy, Administrative Policy Statement 11.8: Reporting Suspected Child Abuse states that all University employees and volunteers are required to report suspected child abuse directly to law enforcement or the Department of Social and Health Services. For suspected child abuse that occurs in a University program or facility regardless of its location, employees and volunteers must also notify their manager of the suspected abuse immediately after they report it. This policy prohibits retaliation against those who make reports. For more information, see the University’s Safety of Minors site.

New Organ Donor Shared Leave Program
On July 1, the University launched the UW-exclusive Organ Donor Shared Leave Program. The new program comes as a direct response to the efforts of two employees who advocated for the University to support employees who decide to become live organ donors. Their advocacy also helps raise general awareness of the need for transplantable organs.

The UW program is noteworthy because, unlike the regular shared leave program, it permits UW employees who volunteer as live organ donors to receive gifts of leave from other UW employees. These gifts of leave help the volunteering employee cover the medically necessary time off work required by the donation process without having to first use up their own paid leave.

Requirements for participating are similar to those of the regular shared leave program, and you can view complete information about the Organ Donor Shared Leave Program at the HR Manager's shared leave website, and the websites for Contract Classified, Classified Non-Union, Professional Staff, and Librarians. If you have questions or comments about this program, please direct them to uwhr@uw.edu.

Keeping Your Family Fit
Summer vacation provides the perfect opportunity for families to spend quality time together. One way to do that is to devise a plan for staying active with your kids. UW CareLink has some great low-cost ideas on how to get your family moving.

Visit www.apshelplink.com (use “UW” as the company code) for more family fitness resources. Click on the Parenting tab at the top of the page and the “Family Activities and Goals” link under Categories on the right side of the page.

Family Ties
In the 21st century, families come in all shapes and sizes. Explore the diversity of today’s families and what that word means to you. This one-hour webinar will broadcast on July 16 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. You must pre-register at least one hour before the presentation. Log in to www.apshelplink.com (use “UW” as the company code), and visit the Online Seminars section on the lower right. Select “Family Ties” and register for your desired time slot.

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.

Last Chance to Register: Discovering Your Dependable Strengths
Are you ready to explore how your strengths can be adapted to the changing demands of your job and the workforce? The registration deadline for this offering has been extended to Thursday, July 11, so act now for this two-day workshop that uncovers what you do best and new ways to use your unique excellence. Please note that 2-4 hours of pre-class work is required before the first class session on July 16. Register for Discovering Your Dependable Strengths.

Demystifying the Not-So-Simple Sentence
Over two half-day sessions, this interactive class uses the basic structure of sentences as the framework for a practical review of punctuation and grammar basics. Explore the subtle and not-so-subtle ways punctuation can influence the structure, intonation, rhythm, and meaning of a sentence. Review grammatical terms and rules and look at how approaches to grammar have changed. Register for The Not-So-Simple Sentence – Revisiting Punctuation and Grammar.

Find the Key to Unlocking Your Potential
Explore a groundbreaking approach that can help you leave your fears behind and realize your full potential. If you feel stuck in neutral—or even reverse—but are ready to go full throttle, this interactive half-day workshop will take you on a journey of self-discovery to help you unlock your possibility, both personally and professionally. Register for Unlocking Possibility.

Make the Most of Your Time
This live webinar confronts the countless workplace demands that obscure focus and impede productivity. Through three short sessions and an accompanying workbook, learn how to respond—rather than react—to a high-pressure work environment, establish sustainable practices for effectively managing information overload, and better manage your time and priorities. Register for the POD Webinar: Accomplishing More With Less.

Pursue New Career Options This Summer
Although you may not equate summer with job hunting, that’s when hiring at the University tends to heat up in preparation for the upcoming academic year. One-on-one career counseling can help you explore your career options, prepare for a job search, or discover a new career path. Sessions are offered through Training and Organizational Development Consultant Susan Templeton for $95 per one-hour career counseling 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 career counseling.

Seminar Offerings from Credit Unions
Save more and better manage your finances by joining a local credit union like School Employees Credit Union (SECU), Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU), or Harborstone Credit Union (formerly Prevail). As UW partners, all three of these credit unions offer full-service, nonprofit financial products and services at competitive rates, low or no fees, easy access, and a commitment to making your life easier. SECU and WSECU also offer the following complimentary seminars on sound money management practices. Access free event registration and information.

• Financial Yoga: Stretching Your Hard-Earned Dollars In today’s tough economic climate, stretching a paycheck is more important than ever. Learn tips that will help you gain control of your finances and reduce financial stress. Offered July 25 at the UW Tower.
• Credit Reporting 101 Worried if your credit is good enough to refinance your home, or get that RV, boat, or new car? Learn how the credit bureaus develop your credit score and come away with valuable tips to help you get the most from your creditworthiness. Get to know what affects your credit, learn why your scores may differ, find out how to get a free report, and learn five easy steps to a better score. Offered July 23 at the UW Tower.
• Social Media and Your Child’s Financial Future Social media can help or hurt your child’s chances of getting into college, landing a job, and gaining financial independence. Focusing on Facebook, you’ll learn effective strategies for your child and the top 10 social media mistakes to avoid. Offered August 13 at Health Sciences.
• Scams, Shams & Identity Theft Identity theft is a continual threat that catches people unaware. This workshop will bring you up-to-date on the latest statistics, explain how identity theft happens, offer ways to prevent having it from happening to you, and educate you on ways to protect yourself from scammers. For those affected by fraud or identity theft, WSECU offers resources to help you make a full recovery and restore your good name. Come to this seminar so you can better protect yourself, your money, and your personal information. Offered August 29 at Harborview Medical Center.

Saving for those Rainy Days
The first step to smart investing is building a portfolio that’s appropriate for your situation. By understanding a few key investment principles, you can get more out of your retirement savings. Fidelity is offering two new complimentary workshops for your benefit:

• Building a Portfolio for Any Weather In this workshop, you will learn how to determine an appropriate investment mix and your investment style. You’ll select options that fit your investment approach and learn how to manage your investment strategy to help meet your long-term goals. Offered August 9 at UW Tower and August 12 at Harborview Medical Center.
• Getting on the Right Path with Your Workplace Savings Plan In this workshop, you will learn how to effectively balance your saving, spending, and debt. You’ll set goals and develop a plan to reach them and you’ll estimate how much to save for retirement and set for your contribution rate. Offered August 8 at South Lake Union and August 21 at Health Sciences.

Access event registration and information.

Social Security: A Foundation for Planning Your Future
A secure, comfortable retirement is everyone's dream. And now, because we're living longer, healthier lives, we expect to spend more time in retirement than our parents and grandparents did. Learn what benefits to expect from Social Security and when benefits will be available to you and your family.

Attend the seminar, "Social Security: A Foundation for Planning Your Future," to gain a better understanding of how it and Medicare works. The next session will be held on Wednesday, July 17 at the UW Tower Auditorium, Room 403. Access seminar information and free registration.

Ready to Retire?
If you’re thinking of retiring within the next 12 months, consider attending a retirement workshop to prepare a sound strategy for yourself. Remember, you must apply for PEBB retiree benefits (or deferral of your insurance) within 60 days after UW-paid or COBRA coverage ends. If you miss that deadline, you’ll have to go back to work to re-qualify for PEBB retiree coverage.

The following workshops are free and based on your current retirement plan and/or eligibility:

• Retiring from UW Retirement Plan (UWRP) offered July 24 and August 14
• Retiring from Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) offered July 25 and August 13

Access workshop information and free registration.

Homeownership Brown Bag Seminars
Our Hometown Home Loan Program offers the following free seminars to UW faculty and staff:

• Home Remodeling and Renovation Thinking of selling your home? Find out what improvements add value to it, how to manage a construction project, and whether to do it yourself or hire out. Offered July 16 at Seattle’s UW Tower.
• Sell Your Home in Today’s Market Once your home is in ship-shape, you’ll want to assemble your sales team and learn pricing strategies as well as determine which fixes to make and what special tricks make great first impressions on potential buyers. Offered July 25 at South Lake Union or August 22 at Bothell.
• Buying a Home Ready to buy a home? Understand a pre-qualification? Learn about mortgage applications, home inspections, and appraisals. Offered August 20 at Seattle’s UW Tower.

Access event information and registration at the HomeStreet site.

Get Your Ducks in Order
Take the first step towards buying your dream home (or nest) by prequalifying. Schedule a free, private, half-hour, one-on-one counseling appointment with a HomeStreet Affinity Loan Officer to discuss your homeownership options. Spouses, partners, and anyone else who might be on the loan are welcome to attend with you. HomeStreet is scheduled to visit various campus locations: Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma, South Lake Union, Harborview, and Health Sciences.

View schedule and register for an appointment now.

New Weight Watchers Session at UW Tower
Have you considered joining a Weight Watchers meeting but have been waiting for one closer to your workplace? If so, the time is right for you! Come to the UW Tower Weight Watchers information meeting on Wednesday, July 24 to learn what Weight Watchers @ Work has to offer and meet the new team leader, Marjorie McKinney, who also leads the Tuesday Group at Schmitz Hall. If 15 or more employees opt to join, a new Wednesday Group will be formed and begin meeting at the same time and location every Wednesday, except for major holidays.

Weight Watchers Information Meeting
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
UW Tower, O Building, 1st Floor
4333 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle
Benefits Conference Center, Room C-140-E

For more information or to express your interest in joining this group, please contact Marjorie McKinney at marjoriebillings@yahoo.com or benefits@uw.edu.

Five Keys to Losing Weight
You have to believe in yourself to hit your weight-loss goals. Weight Watchers gives you resources designed for human nature by making healthy routines second nature, including five key strategies to help you stay focused while you’re losing weight. These resources include knowing what you want, knowing how to get it, and knowing how to keep yourself motivated along the way. Check out five keys to losing weight.

Weight Watchers meetings are currently held on campus on Tuesdays at Schmitz Hall and Fridays at UW Medical Center. Sign up for a monthly pass to attend unlimited on- or off-campus meetings and enjoy free access to interactive web tools, tips, and recipes that help you stay on track. Or, if meetings aren't your thing, lose weight at your own pace using online tools and apps that go where you go. Learn more about Weight Watchers.

What to Expect at Your Health Care Provider’s Office
Did you know a good experience with your health care provider’s office can lead to better health? The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, our source of employee benefits, is teaming up with the Puget Sound Health Alliance to present Own Your Health: a campaign to help you get the most out of your health care. Here's a tool to assess your experience and help you improve that experience.

Summer—Time to Quit Tobacco
Summer is a great time to get outdoors, be active, and shake up those tobacco habits. By quitting tobacco, you'll have increased lung capacity, heal from injuries more quickly, be better able to enjoy a more active lifestyle, and save money. You can do it! Learn how to quit today.

Summertime Adventures
Need a "mini-vacation" before summer ends? Be sure to check out these Commuter Services Merchant Discounts under the “Travel” category:

• Clipper Vacations offers opportunities to experience picturesque and popular destinations such as cosmopolitan Seattle or Vancouver, quaint Victoria, the peaceful San Juan Islands, the hub of Portland, the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, and Vancouver Island.
• Great Wolf Lodge adventure offers a massive, 84-degree indoor water park with jaw-dropping slides for thrill seekers or zero-depth entry areas for little ones. Outside the water park, battle a dragon, enjoy an ice cream cone, and gather your family in the Grand Lobby for nightly fireside story time.

View more discounts at the UW Discount Program.

HR/Payroll Modernization Makes Significant Progress
HR/Payroll Modernization is a major initiative to replace the University's 30-year-old legacy payroll system with a modern human resources and payroll system. The effort will transform the infrastructure supporting UW's workforce. This includes improvements to processes that impact: payroll for 40,000+ employees, time and leave tracking, benefits and compensation administration, and approval routing and tracking, among others.

Save the date! Join the UW community on September 12 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the HUB Lyceum room to learn about the redesigned HR and payroll processes. The open house will provide information about anticipated benefits, how the process redesign effort will aid in system selection, potential impacts, and next steps.

Learn more about HR/Payroll Modernization.

Take a Break
Don’t miss two fascinating exhibits at the Allen Library. Through the end of July, you can explore the Russian Far East with Photographic Finds in a Time of Transition: Daily life in Nakhodka. Georgy Pakin, staff photographer for the leading daily newspaper of Nakhodka, Russia, documents the Pacific coast port city of 160,000. The exhibit features sixty of Pakin’s photographs from 1978 through his retirement in 2008.

Enter the world of dreams with Dreamlogs: Artists' Books by Genie Shenk in the Allen Library South Basement. Shenk has recorded her nightly dreams in visual form since 1982. This exhibit highlights Shenk's career from circular monoprints to collaged paper to adaptations of illustrations found in antique atlases and dictionaries.

For more information about these exhibits, visit the UW Libraries website.