Annual PERS 3 Transfer Window Opens January 1

If you're a member of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Plan 2 and you were enrolled in the plan prior to March 1, 2002, you have the option to transfer to PERS 3 between January 1 and January 31, 2016. To be eligible for the transfer, you must earn service credit in January 2016. This one-time transfer is irrevocable, meaning you cannot change plans at a later date. See Transferring from PERS2 to PERS3.

Life & LTD Insurance Rates Change Effective January 1

Employees enrolled in PEBB's supplemental life insurance through ReliaStar Life Insurance Company will see lower premiums next year, and those enrolled in PEBB's optional long-term disability (LTD) insurance through Standard Insurance Company will see higher premiums for 2016.

The new premium rates are effective January 1, 2016, with changes first appearing on your paycheck starting January 25.

• View the new LTD insurance rates
• View the new Life and AD&D insurance rates
• Check your current coverage via Employee Self-Service

Remember, you don't have to wait until the next open enrollment period to take action on either of these optional benefits. In fact, you're allowed to make these changes any time:

• Apply to enroll in or increase supplemental life insurance when accompanied by Evidence of Insurability (EOI)
• Reduce your optional life insurance coverage
• Update your life insurance beneficiary
• Apply for optional LTD insurance or reduce your LTD waiting period when accompanied by EOI
• Increase your LTD waiting period

Winter Weather is Here

With winter weather arriving, now is the time to make sure you understand the UW's policies on suspended operations and inclement weather. Learn about telework options, how your pay and/or leave balances could be impacted, and where to look for official UW announcements regarding operational status.

• The Inclement Weather policy addresses employee time off when the University is in operation, but local weather conditions are hazardous or impact transportation.
• The Suspended Operations policy is used when UW officials temporarily suspend non-essential operations, requiring only staff performing essential functions to report to work.

Professional & Organizational Development (POD) courses and events 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.

All things are ready, if our mind be so

(William Shakespeare)
Prepare to improve your on-the-job performance or advance your career by acquiring new knowledge, skills, and strategies. Registration is open for dozens of Winter 2016 classes, including the first offerings of Acing the Marshmallow Test and Introduction to State and Local Taxation. Make plans now so you don't miss out on these classes typically offered just once a year: Customer Service Excellence, Introduction to Research Administration, Master Process Planning, Strategic Planning Tools, and Working Across Generations. View POD's winter classes.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

(Benjamin Franklin)
Don't wait until you're deep into a project to wish your computer skills were equal to the task. Winter webinars offered by POD are designed to build proficiency in Microsoft Office and its various applications, including Access, Excel, Outlook, and Word. The registration cutoff is one week before each webinar's start date, so be sure to register promptly.View webinar schedule.

A goal without a plan is just a wish

(Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
Career counseling can provide direction, focus, and momentum for a career change or occupational adjustment. Evaluate your strengths, assess your career fit, explore your career path, and plan for future success with one-on-one assistance through career counselor Susan Templeton. Sessions are $110 per one-hour session if paid with a UW budget number (with supervisor approval) or $127.16 if paid with cash, check, or credit card (due to a mandatory institutional overhead fee).Explore your career development options.

"Response to Active Shooter" Training and Resources

We are all deeply saddened and alarmed by the recent active shooter incidents in San Bernardino, CA, Colorado Springs, CO, and Roseburg, OR, among many others across the country. While we believe the chances of serious violence at UW can be reduced through use of UW SafeCampus resources, we know that prevention efforts can never be 100% effective and that it is worthwhile to prepare for the unlikely, but dangerous, situation of an active shooter event here. There are a number of resources available to help you prepare, both individually and as a workgroup.

• In-Person Training: Response to Active Shooter Training conducted by UWPD and SafeCampus (general session schedule to be announced in January, 2016)
  • Email SafeCampus to join a list to learn about when active shooter training sessions are occurring or to discuss having a session scheduled for your department.
• Online Training Videos: Three "Shots Fired" streaming videos oriented to the work, academic, and health care environments are available via a UWNetID on the SafeCampus training resources page.
• Workplace Security Plan Consultation and Physical Security Assessment: For an assessment of your workplace environment or security consultation, contact UWPD's Mike Sletten slettm@uw.edu
• Guides: The UWPD's Active Shooter-Campus Emergency Procedures Information and Workplace Security Plan template
• Additional Resources: Department of Homeland Security resources
  • Run, Hide, Fight video
  • Active Shooter pocket card
  • Federal Emergency Management online training IS-907: Active Shooter: What You Can Do

While preparing yourself and your workplace to respond to such a situation can be confidence-building, it's stressful to think about such an event happening to you. UW CareLink, our faculty and staff assistance program, is available to help you manage this and other types of work or personal stress you may be experiencing.

Sunny Self-Talk: Seeing Through the Storm

The holidays for many can be wonderful and stressful all at the same time. How much control do you have over your negative feelings? According to research, a lot more than you might think. In fact, there is always more than one way to view an event, and how you view any situation has a lot to do with how you then feel. This month's Balanced Living article, Sunny Self-Talk: Seeing Through the Storm, provides guidance to positive self-talk.

UW CareLink will also broadcast a one-hour webinar "The Power of Positive Self Talk" on December 15 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Negative self-talk can be extremely harmful to your personal relationships, productivity, and performance. Learning to change how we think can make a crucial difference in our happiness. Pre-register at least one hour before the presentation. The webinar will be archived and available for viewing by the beginning of January.

Final Fall Seminar

UW CareLink presents the final session in our Fall 2015 Seminar series! Join us in the HUB 250, and feel free to bring your lunch! This seminar is free for all UW faculty and staff. We ask that you register for the session.

Responding to the Changing Needs of Aging Parents - Wednesday, December 16, noon-1 p.m.
Learn what resources are available while you navigate the complexities of caring for an aging loved one. From assessing health concerns to coordinating care, come figure out what you need and where to find it with UW CareLink's eldercare consultation services.

Dare to Do 2016 New Year's Challenge

Don't just make a resolution this year...make a new you. Each week of the Dare to Do challenge will encourage you to step outside your norm: Dare to Move, Dine, Praise, Pause, Care, Explore, Simplify, and Connect. Weekly articles will provide ideas and resources to make it possible. We are also daring you to choose any or all of these three goals: Steps Taken, Weight loss, and/or Minutes Exercised. We'll make it social with optional workouts with UW coaches, seminars with UW dieticians, and more. Participants who submit their weekly progress will be entered to win prizes from Whole U discount partners, and those who report all six weeks will be entered for the Grand Prize Package. The challenge runs Tuesday, January 19 - Sunday, March 11. The first 1,200 faculty and staff to register will receive a Dare to Do notebook to track their progress. Sign up now!

Whole U at Husky Men's Basketball

Come cheer for the Husky men's basketball team as they take on University of Montana on Saturday, December 12! Sign up to receive $10 admission, which includes one guest. Thanks to UW Athletics for this Whole U appreciation night. Sign up here.

Whole U Meditation Class

Experience guided meditation in celebration of The Whole U Stress Less Holiday Challenge. Whole U discount partner Art of Living will present an overview of what meditation is and how it's done. Then you'll be able to try out those principles through a relaxing meditation practice. Discover your center and calm at this rejuvenating event at the HUB on Tuesday, December 15 at noon. Register here.

Meals in a Jar Recipes

Packing lunch can feel like a lot of work. Why not try Mason jars meals? You'll have fun layering, mixing, and matching different ingredients to create beautiful salads, pastas, and even desserts! Register for a free PDF with recipes.

Train for a 5K, Half Marathon, or Marathon!

Have you always wanted to cross the finish line in victory? Whether you are a walker or a runner, having a plan helps with accountability and motivation. Lauren Updyke, assistant director for The Whole U, designed 12-16 week training plans to guide you to success safely. Lauren has her master's degree in exercise science and is certified in personal training through the American College of Sports Medicine. All fitness levels are welcome, and The Whole U will host in-person clinics for those on a plan! Register for a 5K walking plan, 5K beginner running plan, 5K intermediate running plan, half marathon plan, or full marathon plan.

UWCFD Exceeds Goal for Local Nonprofit

Many thanks go out to all of you who pledged to your favorite nonprofits or UW programs, bid on auction items, supported your department's fundraiser, donated socks, spare change, and food, or climbed stairs with your friends for Facing Homelessness. This year, many UW teams came together to support the UW Combined Fund Drive, and the campaign is on track to exceed last year's $2.2 million total in pledges. Strong team support was evident on November 18, when we exceeded our goal by raising more than $12,000 for the local nonprofit Facing Homelessness. Together, we're helping this group help the lives of so many around us. For more opportunities to get involved, please visit the UWCFD site.

Mammography Screenings for UMP Members*

If you're a woman age 40+ who's enrolled in the Uniform Medical Plan, consider scheduling your next routine mammogram at the MammoVan. The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance MammoVan is a customized, mobile, breast-imaging clinic bringing the latest technology in digital mammograms to you at your workplace. The average appointment time is just 15 minutes!

The MammoVan is scheduled to visit on January 13, 2016, at 11th Avenue and NE 43rd Street, near the UW Tower. Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis between 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Access screening information and schedule an appointment.

*Note: Group Health members are required to receive all mammography services directly from a Group Health Cooperative facility.

Contribution Limits for 2016

Several UW benefits plans are subject to limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Exceeding these limits could result in penalties and fees, so it's important to be aware of them. Click on the links below to view more information about each benefit.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - The minimum annual deduction amount is $240, and the maximum deduction is $2,500.

Health Savings Account (HSA) - For those enrolled in a PEBB high-deductible health plan with an HSA, the combined employer/employee contribution limits will remain the same as 2015, except the family coverage limit will increase by $100 to $6,750 in 2016.

UW Retirement Plan (UWRP) - The maximum combined employee/employer contribution limit allowed under IRC for 403(b) plans such as the UWRP (and the VIP below) is $53,000. Both 2015 and 2016 rates are the same.

Voluntary Investment Plan (VIP) - The maximum combined employee/employer contribution limit allowed under IRC for the VIP is $53,000, signifying no change from 2015. Catch-up contribution limits (for participants age 50 or above) remain unchanged at $6,000.

Hometown Seminars

HomeStreet offers free one-hour seminars to help you learn about a variety of homeownership issues related to budgeting, buying, remodeling, refinancing, and selling your home.

Access registration and information for the following events:

Buying a Vacation or Rental Property
Are you looking to invest beyond your primary home? Learn:

• How to determine your investment style with respect to investing in real estate
• How to obtain non-owner occupied financing
• Pros and pitfalls of owning multiple properties
• Tips for maintaining primary and secondary residences

Understanding Credit
How does credit reporting really work? Learn:

• Why credit history matters when financing a home or buying big-ticket items
• What's behind your credit report and FICO score
• How to clean up your credit history
• How to fix reporting errors

Individual Prequalification Appointments

Thinking of buying or refinancing a home but not sure how to get started? Schedule a free, personal home ownership counseling session with a HomeStreet Bank representative who can walk you through the home loan process, get you prequalified, or just review your current loan. These 30-minute, one-on-one sessions are both private and informative, and your spouse, partner, or potential co-signer is welcome to attend.

To request an appointment, click on your preferred date at the "Classes & Seminars" calendar tab on the HomeStreet website or call 206-628-0207.

Meet a Retirement Planning and Guidance Consultant

Whether your retirement is years away or just around the corner, you can schedule a free, one-on-one consultation with a Fidelity Workplace Planning and Guidance Consultant or a TIAA-CREF representative in a way that works best for you, by phone, or in person. Take advantage of this opportunity to:

• Ask questions about saving for retirement and other goals
• Evaluate investment choices that meet your needs
• Create an action plan to stay on track for retirement
• Review retirement income options

Get started today!

Credit Union Financial Education Seminars

Save more and better manage your finances with financial education seminars presented by two local nonprofit credit unions, WSECU and Inspirus. These free sessions are held at convenient campus locations during the lunch hour.

Access event information and registration for the following seminars:

Financial Yoga: Stretching Your Hard-Earned Dollars
Learn tips that will help you gain control of your finances and reduce financial stress.

Scams, Shams, and Identity Theft
Learn how to better protect yourself, your money, and your personal information.

Social Media and Your Child's Financial Future
Learn effective strategies for your child and the top 10 social media mistakes to avoid.

Credit Reporting 101
Come away with valuable tips to help you get the most from your creditworthiness.

TurboTax Discount Available

Fidelity has teamed up with TurboTax® to extend their tax preparation software and support at a discounted price to UW faculty and staff including those without an existing Fidelity account.* As a result, you can prepare and file your taxes with confidence and save money too!

This is a limited time offer, so take advantage of discount pricing of up to $20 on TurboTax Federal products. Visit this special Turbo Tax site to get started.

In addition, Fidelity Workplace Planning and Guidance Consultants are available to review the tax benefits of your retirement savings and other savings options. Call 866-811-6042 to schedule an appointment.

*Note, this offer cannot be retroactively applied towards previously purchased TurboTax software.

Long-Term Care Insurance Workshop

The UW Retirement Association will offer Understanding Long-Term Care Insurance, a two-part information session on January 21 and 28. Mary Childers, Consumer Advocacy program manager of the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, leads the first session. She will cover the current state of the LTC industry and what consumers should look for in LTC brokers and policies. Ken Story, LTC broker and educator, leads the second session which examines LTC policy comparisons and who should (and shouldn't!) consider LTC insurance. Both sessions are from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. in Alder Hall auditorium. Neither session will include promotion or sales of policies. Preregistration is required.

Register here, and contact UWRA for details.

Campus Safety at Night

Concerned about walking alone on campus at night? Three services are available to you: Husky NightRide, Husky NightWalk, and UW Medical Center Public Safety Escorts.

• Husky NightRide shuttles operate weekdays during the academic year (excluding University holidays) from 8 p.m. - 1:39 a.m. All shuttles are wheelchair accessible, operate every 20-30 minutes, and are free with a U-PASS. Download the Ride Systems app from the iOS or Google Play stores.
• Husky NightWalk is a walking escort for students, staff, and faculty where a uniformed security guard provides a safety walk to and from campus locations, year-round between 6:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. Hours vary during months of later darkness. Call 206-685-WALK to request an escort.
• UWMC public safety officers will escort UWMC employees from the main entrance on the third floor to nearby parking lots daily from 3:30 p.m. - 6 a.m. From the same third floor location, a free van service is available weekdays from 5 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. Contact the UWMC security officer at 206-598-5555 for more information.

UW Emergency Management's Mitigation Walk-throughs

Have you ever considered how your workspace would fare in an earthquake? Contrary to common assumption, earthquake safety goes far beyond the type of building you could find yourself in when the ground starts shaking. A mitigation walk-through focuses on easy fixes to common workplace hazards based on real-world experiences. Let UW Emergency Management give you location-specific advice to increase earthquake safety in your office! To schedule a walk-through for your department, contact the team at disaster@uw.edu and visit Emergency Management's website to learn about preparedness for earthquakes and other hazards.