The next meeting of the President’s Council on Sustainability (PCS) will be on Friday November 18, from 1 to 2 p.m. The guest speaker for this meeting will be Sarah Stalcup-Jones, Research and Heavy Duty Vehicle Programs Manager for Virginia Clean Cities (VCC). Sarah will be sharing an overview of VCC as well as her work on UMW’s fleet assessment projects and Drive Clean Rural. PCS meetings are held each month of the fall and spring semester and are open to employees, students and the public. Please consider attending and sharing this information with other members of the UMW and Fredericksburg community. To attend on the 18th, go to https://umw-sso.zoom.us/j/81635523370.
REMINDER: Zoom Phone Soft Launch
UMW Faculty and Staff,
This is a reminder the Zoom Phone service is available to you now as a “soft launch“. During the soft launch period, you can make and receive internal phone calls with your colleagues using their 4-digit extension.
However, you will not be able to make or receive calls to external numbers until the full launch on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. No change will be made to your current Cisco phones during the soft launch. They will continue to work as usual.
I encourage you to take some time during the soft launch to practice using Zoom Phone. Investing time now to get familiar and comfortable with the service will ensure a smooth transition to the full launch on November 10th.
The soft launch period provides you with the opportunity to get familiar with the Zoom Phone application and begin to practice placing phone calls, checking voicemail, etc., as well as configuring personal settings, like changing your voicemail greeting and PIN. It also provides the IT Department with time to correct any system configuration problems that may surface during testing.
For instructions on how to use many of the features and functions of Zoom Phone you can reference the guide below:
You can also view a recording of a live training session that was held Wednesday, October 27th using the link below.
https://technology.umw.edu/connecting/zoom-phone/
Zoom Application
When you log into the Zoom application, you will see an additional phone icon at the top of the screen. Click this icon and you’ll be able to make and receive internal calls.
Yealink Phones
Some areas and individuals were issued Zoom Phone-compatible desk phones from Yealink. The Yealink phones can also be used during the soft launch to make and receive internal calls. If you have an open network wall jack in your area, you can plug in your Yealink phone for testing. If you don’t have an open network jack, you can unplug your Cisco phone, plug in and test your Yealink phone, and then swap them back when you are finished testing.
If you have questions or concerns about the soft launch, please contact the Help Desk as 540-654-2255 or helpdesk@umw.edu.
For more information about UMW’s Zoom Phone project, including FAQs and how-to’s, visit https://technology.umw.edu/connecting/zoom–phone/.
Message to the Community
Dear UMW Community Members,
As part of the continuing work of the UMW Police Community Advisory Panel (CAP) process, I am writing to inform you of the formation of the Community Advisory Board (CAB). This is a presidential committee that will strengthen the University’s commitment to community policing, which is a strategy and a philosophy that emphasizes proactive and collaborative partnerships between police and community members. Ideally, this collaboration allows for an exchange of ideas and identification of concerns that encourages our dedication to inclusive excellence, builds trust, and strengthens public safety as a community-wide commitment and responsibility.
Input and recommendations from students, including the UMW NAACP 2020 Campus Police Assessment report, have informed the creation and mission of the Community Advisory Board. The CAB’s charge, purpose, and membership are below.
Sincerely,
Troy D. Paino
President
Charge
The Community Advisory Board (CAB) will be comprised of students, faculty, staff, administration and UMW Police; it will serve as a bridge between the campus community and UMW Police. The Community Advisory Board will recommend reforms to reflect best practices in bias-free, inclusive policing and develop a process to continuously review and assess the effectiveness of campus policing policies and procedures, while also actively working to ensure alignment with accreditation standards.
Purpose
The purpose of the Community Advisory Board is to reinforce the community policing philosophy embraced by the UMW Police. Through its representation from various stakeholders, the CAB will support the UMW Police’s efforts to promote transparency of operations and services in affirmation of their mission to provide a safe and secure environment for the University of Mary Washington. CAB recommendations and input will help the Chief of Police and UMW Police staff improve their operations and make community-informed decisions.
CAB Members
Dr. Juliette Landphair, Vice President for Student Affairs, Interim Chair
Officer Giovanni Baez, UMW Police
Dr. Bridget Brew, Assistant Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
Arin Doerfler, Sr. Accountant-Fixed Assets
JoAnna Raucci, Associate Director, James Farmer Multicultural Center
Dr. Danny Tweedy, Associate Professor, English and Linguistics
Nahjah Wilson, UMW Student
Brian Wolf, UMW Student, Resident Assistant
Ex-Officio Members:
Mike Hall, Assoc. Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police
Dr. Shavonne Shorter, Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
If you see something, say something — ‘TAT’ and ‘VPT’ are here for you
The University of Mary Washington promotes a safe and secure environment in which to learn and work by prohibiting threats and acts of violence by or against members of the University community, and by prohibiting such threats and acts on University property and within University facilities. Members of the Threat Assessment Team (TAT) and Violence Prevention Team (VPT) are here for you. If you see or sense something, say something. Learn how.
Future of Work Survey – summary posted to website
Dear Colleagues,
Over the summer, the Future of Work Planning Group asked you to share feedback related to your work experience by responding to the Employee Experience Survey. We appreciate your participation and honest responses! There were over 380 responses which gave the Future of Work Group insight into how the University of Mary Washington responded to the change in work modalities, strengths and weaknesses employees identified in their work environment, and what changes UMW may consider for the future.
You will find a summary of the survey responses and a link to the quantitative data report on the Future of Work webpage here. While responses to the open-ended questions were discussed internally, the group intentionally did not publish those responses in the public report in order to ensure the anonymity of respondents. The summary provided on the website does summarize some of those qualitative data in order to give a full picture of the feedback.
To view the survey report from the website, you may be asked to log in to your Microsoft Office 365 SharePoint account (UMW Net ID + password). For your convenience, we have also attached the Future of Work Employee Experience Survey – Public Results.
If you have any additional thoughts to share about the future of work at UMW, please use the feedback form on the Future of Work webpage.
Sincerely,
The Future of Work Planning Group
New Anti-Malware Software – SentinelOne
UMW Faculty and Staff,
The IT Department is working on a project to migrate all Windows and Mac workstations from the legacy Symantec Endpoint Protection anti-malware software currently in use to next-generation anti-malware software from SentinelOne.
The SentinelOne software client will be automatically pushed to and installed on your computer in the coming weeks. Shortly after that, the old Symantec Endpoint Protection client will be automatically removed. There is nothing you need to do to prepare for these changes, and they will happen in the background and should not interfere with the use of your computer.
After the SentinelOne software client has been installed, you will see the product logo below in the system tray on your computer.
If you have questions or concerns about the SentinalOne anti-malware software, you can contact me directly or the Help Desk at 540-654-2255 or helpdesk@umw.edu.
Thank you,
Mike Townes
Director of Information Technology Security/ISO
University of Mary Washington
(540)-654-2152
mtownes@umw.edu
Zoom Phone Soft Launch
UMW Faculty and Staff,
As you know, UMW is moving to Zoom Phone for telephone services. With Zoom Phone, you can make and receive phone calls and text messages wherever you are running the Zoom application, on any device, using your UMW phone number.
The Zoom Phone service is available to you starting today as a “soft launch”. During the soft launch period, you will be able to make and receive internal phone calls with your colleagues using their 4-digit extension.
However, you will not be able to make or receive calls to external numbers until the full launch on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. No change will be made to your current Cisco phones during the soft launch. They will continue to work as usual.
The soft launch period over the next two weeks provides you with the opportunity to get familiar with the Zoom Phone application and begin to practice placing phone calls, checking voicemail, etc., as well as configuring personal settings, like changing your voicemail greeting and PIN. It also provides the IT Department with time to correct any system configuration problems that may surface during testing.
For instructions on how to use many of the features and functions of Zoom Phone you can reference the guide below:
Yesterday’s live training session was recorded and made available on the IT Zoom Phone website.Zoom Application
When you log into the Zoom application, you will now see an additional phone icon at the top of the screen. Click this icon and you’ll be able to make and receive internal calls.
Yealink Phones
Some areas and individuals were issued Zoom Phone-compatible desk phones from Yealink. The Yealink phones can also be used during the soft launch to make and receive internal calls. If you have an open network wall jack in your area, you can plug in your Yealink phone for testing. If you don’t have an open network jack, you can unplug your Cisco phone, plug in and test your Yealink phone, and then swap them back when you are finished testing. I encourage you to take some time during the soft launch to practice using Zoom Phone. Investing time now to get familiar and comfortable with the service will ensure a smooth transition to the full launch on November 10th.If you have questions or concerns about the soft launch, please contact the Help Desk as 540-654-2255 or helpdesk@umw.edu.
For more information about UMW’s Zoom Phone project, including FAQs and how-to’s, visit https://technology.umw.edu/connecting/zoom-phone/.
Updated testing strategy for Thanksgiving
Dear Eagles,
As we near Thanksgiving break, we wanted to thank you for your commitment to keeping the campus population healthy. Our COVID case numbers have remained low and transmission of the virus within the UMW community has been isolated. We believe that our high vaccination rates coupled with your efforts to comply with the indoor mask mandate and other mitigation strategies has made a true difference in our fight against COVID.
In an effort to continue safeguarding our community, we are adjusting our testing strategy for the week prior to and the week after Thanksgiving. This will include updated testing requirements for all unvaccinated members of the UMW community and will provide additional testing opportunities for those of you who are vaccinated.
Exit Testing (Week of November 15):
- Required weekly testing will take place as scheduled for all unvaccinated UMW community members. Please plan to attend during your regular weekly time. If you need to change your day/time, please email us at COVIDtesting@umw.edu.
- At-will testing will also be available for vaccinated individuals. We expect to be able to accommodate 625 over the course of the week with an average of 156 tests available each day. You may sign up here.
- There is no at-will or surveillance testing available during the week of Thanksgiving. Individuals who are symptomatic can still be seen and tested at the Student Health Center on Monday or Tuesday (11/22-11/23). Please call 540-654-1040 for an appointment.
Return Testing (Week of November 29):
- Anyone with approved medical/religious exemptions and/or who are not fully vaccinated must test twice the week of Nov. 29 with at least 48 hours between their first and second test. The first test should take place before your first in-person class or group activity. The sign up for return testing will be sent next week.
- Fully vaccinated students, staff, and faculty are invited to sign up for at-will testing, based on availability. Due to the congregate nature of our on-campus housing facilities, residential students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of testing. We expect to be able to accommodate 450 for testing over the course of the week with an average of 115 tests available each day. The sign up for at-will return testing will be sent next week.
A Note about CDC Guidance on Travel
It is important for our campus community to be aware that the CDC currently discourages travel for unvaccinated individuals unless absolutely necessary. If travel is unavoidable, the guidance calls for a seven-day quarantine upon return from travel in the case of a negative test and ten days without a negative test. UMW recognizes the challenges of this guidance as it relates to completing coursework and preparations for exams one week later. It is for this reason we have adjusted our testing expectations and will monitor compliance closely. We do ask that if you find yourself in situations that have a high risk for transmission, that you do everything you can to limit your contact with other individuals upon your return to campus. This may include avoiding non-essential gatherings, utilizing the dining to-go options, and practicing social distancing and correct mask use where in-person engagement is unavoidable.
Again, we want to thank you for your partnership in what has been a successful semester so far. This academic year began with an unexpected setback in the pandemic with the emergence of the Delta variant, and your patience, adaptability, and cooperation has been commendable.
We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
Public Health Advisory Working Group
Attention Faculty & AP Faculty – ORPHE Enrollment
October is open enrollment for participants in the Optional Retirement Plan for Higher Education (ORPHE). You have the opportunity to change providers, effective with the first payroll in 2022. Open Enrollment occurs annually from October 1 to October 31. All provider changes must be completed in your myVRS account by October 31, 2021.
Two provider options are available: DCP (record kept by MissionSquare Retirement formerly ICMA-RC) and TIAA. Register for an online open enrollment meeting to learn more about your options during open enrollment.
If you wish to change providers during open enrollment, you can view your options and make a selection in myVRS. Once logged in, the following message will appear on your account home page through October 31, or until you make a provider change:
No action is required if you do not wish to change your provider during the open enrollment period.
Please note that selecting a new provider does not impact your balances. If you wish to transfer balances to your new provider you will need to request a plan-to-plan transfer. For additional information or assistance, please email orphe@varetire.org.
Additional information on the ORPHE plan is located at https://orphe.varetire.org/ and the open enrollment page is located at https://orphe.varetire.org/plan-details/open-enrollment.html and FAQs at https://orphe.varetire.org/plan-details/open-enrollment.html#collapse3
Tuition Reimbursement Program Enrollment
Dear Colleagues:
Open Enrollment for Tuition Reimbursement (courses outside of UMW) for courses starting January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022, has begun and will end on Thursday, October 28, 2021. The complete policy and procedures are posted online but some important and key provisions are listed below. You may contact Denise Frye at dfrye2@umw.edu with any questions.
Program Purpose:
Eligible employees enrolled in a degree seeking program at other accredited institutions of higher education will be provided with tuition reimbursement up to a specified amount for courses after completion of the course and submission of proof of grade.
Eligibility:
This policy applies to classified, wage, administrative professional faculty, and other non-faculty part-time employees. Graduate Assistants who are required to be enrolled in UMW graduate programs are not eligible for this program. Eligible employees must be continuously employed by the University for a minimum of one year prior to their application for reimbursement and job performance must be satisfactory or at the “contributor” level. Tuition up to the approved amount will be reimbursed upon receipt of proof of completion of approved courses. Employees who receive tuition reimbursement must remain employed at the University of Mary Washington during the term of the courses taken and for one year after receipt of tuition reimbursement for those courses(s) or be subject to terms for repayment as described in the written agreement.
Important Information to Know:
- The open enrollment period is for courses taken January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022 (The open enrollment period for courses taken July 1 to December 31 will be in April 1 – April 21)
- The program’s funding will be limited to $50,000 per calendar year; $25,000 will be budgeted for each period January-June and July-December.
- Each eligible employee may receive up to $2,500 in assistance each period. The amount of assistance will vary depending on the number of requests and the available funds for that period e.g. where $25,000.00 is available, 20 requests may each be awarded $1,250.
- A Tuition Reimbursement Request form is required to be submitted to Human Resources during open enrollment for courses starting January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022. (Link to the form is on page 3 of the policy and forms may be scanned to jhudgins@umw.edu or delivered to Human Resources Rm 209)
- The Finance office will notify the employee the Tuition Reimbursement Request Form has been approved within 2 weeks of the open enrollment timeframe closing and request the following:
- a) Proof of enrollment in a degree granting program
- b) Schedule of the institution’s fees
- c) Proof of payment
- The assistance awarded will then be reimbursed to the employee upon submission of evidence of course completion with a minimum grade of “C” or “PASS” if a Pass/Fail course. Submission of grade must be within 30 days of semester end. The employee will receive reimbursement within 10 business days of grade submission to the Finance Office.
Thank you,
Denise M. Frye
Benefits Manager
Office of Human Resources
University of Mary Washington