Open Enrollment is May 1 – 24, 2013. This is the time each year to make decisions about your health benefits and flexible spending accounts. You may enroll in a plan, change plans, add 
or remove family members, or waive state health coverage. You must enroll every plan year to have a Flexible Spending Account. Additional information is located at http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/hbenefits/OE2013/OpenEnrollment2013.html
Virginia Public Service Week
Next Week (May 6- May 10) is Virginia Public Service Week! Join in these special events sponsored by the Staff Advisory Council and take time to show appreciation for a colleague through the VPSW apprec
iation blog!
EVENTS SPONSORED BY THE S.A.C. ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE
Monday, May 6
CORN HOLE GAMES: Who is the real UMW Corn hole Champaign?
12:00 noon Ball Circle (Fredericksburg Campus)
12:00 noon Between North and South Buildings (Stafford Campus)
Tuesday, May 7
TOUR OF RANDOLOH/MASON (Fredericksburg Campus): Come see the beautiful renovation of Randolph and Mason Halls. Tour led by Chris Porter.
12:30 p.m. Steps of Randolph, near the Chappell Bell Tower
POT LUCK LUNCHEON (Stafford Campus): Bring your favorite pot luck dish and join in the fun at 12:30 p.m. South Conference Room
Wednesday, May 8
FAVORITE BOARD GAME LUNCH: Bring your lunch and your favorite board game – challenge your co-workers to an hour of fun!
12:00 noon Marye House (Fredericksburg Campus)
12:00 noon North Building University Hall (Stafford Campus)
YOGA: Come revitalize your body, relax your mind, and increase your energy.
12:30 p.m. Great Hall, Room 1 (Fredericksburg Campus)
Thursday, May 9
BELMONT TOUR: What a beautiful time of year to come visit the breathtaking grounds of Gari Melchers Home and Studio!
12:30 p.m. Meet at Chappell Bell Tower (Fredericksburg Campus)
12:30 p.m. Meet in South Lobby (Stafford Campus)
Throughout the Week
Online Appreciation Blog: Back by popular demand…take advantage of the appreciation blog to let your fellow co-workers know how much you appreciate them during VPSW: May 6-10. The blog will go live on the 6th and can be accessed at the following address: http://vpsw.umwblogs.org. You can also drop off your “thank you” at the Fairfax House and a Human Resources staff member will post them.
Daily Prize Drawings: Two lucky employees will be the daily winners of $25 prizes during VPSW. A random drawing will take place and then the two winners will be notified by email.
We appreciate your sharing this announcement and flyer with employees in your department who may not have access to email. If you have any questions or need additional information or assistance in order to attend any of the events above please contact Priscilla Sullivan at 654-1376. For any additional questions or information about the blog and prizes please contact Jennifer Cooper in the Office of Human Resources at 654-1046.
For more information or updates, go to http://adminfinance.umw.edu/hr/employee-relations/worklife/whats-new/
Administrative Professionals Day
Congratulations to our 25 administrative professionals who were able to attend the 11th annual Administrative Professionals’ Seminar with this year’s theme, “Honoring the Office Professionals Who Make Offices Work.” Some of the topics covered were “Professionalism in the Workplace,” “Fierce Leadership for the Administrative Professional,” “What Leaders Do: Being a leader in all Aspects of your life,” and “Social Media Savvy.” We are happy our colleagues were able to take advantage of this great learning opportunity.
– Submitted by the Office of Human Resources
UMW App Entrepreneurs Win Start-up Challenge
from left to right: Patrick Byrne, Christophe Perdu, Benjamin Brown, Anthony Seippel, Andy Leonard and Seamus Hooban
Imagine an app where users could access an interactive map of the University of Mary Washington to determine whether any treadmills are available in the Fitness Center, check the menu at Seacobeck Dining Hall, or find events on campus. This enterprising idea already brewing in the heads of senior Seamus Hooban and recent graduate Andy Leonard may soon become a reality.
In a nod to the popular TV show Shark Tank, UMW students recently pitched their business plans to a panel of judges as part of the Eagle Start-up Challenge. The brainchild of the student-run UMW Entrepreneurs Club, the Center for Economic Development’s EagleWorks, and the Small Business Development Center, the challenge encourages start-up businesses among students.
Hooban, an economics major, and Leonard, an English major, received a cash prize of $350, provided by the Rappahannock Economic Development Corp. They plan to create a mobile app, called Campus Connect, where campus information can be aggregated in one centralized place to maximize students’ time.
The first place winners also earned access to a virtual office through the Small Business Development Center’s latest project EagleWorks, paid admission to a BluePrint business class and free consultations with the Small Business Development Center.
Eventually, Leonard and Hooban hope to expand beyond UMW to other colleges and universities. They believe that this app would save colleges and universities money because it would help them determine how to allocate resources.
The second place prize of $150 went to junior Anthony Seippel for his company Ruiner Wear. An artist, Seippel plans to build an artist brand where he creates commissioned designs and other artwork. He has already sold designs, logos, and T-shirts. Other presentations included a micro-brewing company and a legal services portal.
By Melina Downs
Volunteers Needed for Midnight Breakfast
Eagle Dining will be hosting its traditional free Midnight Breakfast for students on Monday night (April 29th) between 11 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. at Seacobeck Hall. We are in need of additional volunteers to help serve at this fun and very fast paced event! If you would like to volunteer, please contact Rose Benedict at rbenedic@umw.edu by Monday morning.
Computer Science Students Present Research
Six computer science students, with Professor of Computer Science Jennifer Polack, presented their Apple iTouch/iPhone research at the Eighteenth Annual Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Northeastern Conference held April 12 and 13. The student programming team from UMW placed seventh place out of 33 teams at the conference.
Discount for Mother’s Day Brunch at UMW
UMW Catering would like to offer all members of the UMW faculty, staff and administration a 10 percent discount on our upcoming Mother’s Day Brunch. The brunch will be served between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 12 in the Historic Dining Room at Seacobeck. The menu will include roast turkey, mesquite smoked beef brisket, Tuscan cod, made-to-order omelets and eggs, Belgian waffles, a children’s buffet and a host of other fabulous breakfast and lunch items. Plus, every mom gets a rose! To see our complete menu and prices go to www.umwcatering.com. Reservations must be made by Tuesday, April 30 to receive the discount. Call 540-654-1930 to make a reservation.
Alicia Tisdale Named Excellent Eagle Employee
Congratulations to cashier Alicia Tisdale who has been selected as the Excellent Eagle Employee for the month of May. A parking spot of her choosing has been reserved for her through the end of the month.
Here is what one of her co-workers said about her:
“Alicia is on the front line, in a constant spotlight, she is always looking to provide the best and outstanding customer service. She patiently works with all customers (staff, students, parents etc.) in explaining why things are done and how UMW has to abide by regulations etc. She brings forward suggestions for enhancements to our processes. I have received many emails from the campus community and through our Lee Hall Student Services questionnaires that provide feedback to the excellent customer service Alicia provides. When on the front line of an office of two, when the other employee is out for an unexpected long term period, Alicia puts her personal items on hold to ensure UMW operations continue.”
“Alicia consistently goes the extra mile providing EXCELLENT customer service to students, parents, staff, and guests of the University. She is hard working and dedicated to the mission at hand, always wearing a smile and offering words of inspiration and encouragement. ‘Turning obstacles into Opportunities’ is what Alicia does best, representing UMW with pride, and reminding us that ‘It’s a Great Day to be an Eagle!’”
“When I read the EagleEye, I always read about the people that have been selected. Alicia is always very pleasant, has excellent customer service skills, goes above and beyond her job duties and on top of all that she takes pride in her job.”
To nominate someone who you believe is an Excellent Eagle Employee, send an email to Priscilla Sullivan (psulliva@umw.edu) with Excellent Eagle Employee in the subject line. In your email, be sure to list the person’s name, department, work location (with the most convenient parking lot), and of course, the reason why you believe they should be recognized. Please spread the word to other employees about this wonderful opportunity to recognize a co-worker(s).
Meet our New Employees
Please join us in extending a warm UMW welcome to our newest employees:
Joan Appleby joined the Dahlgren Campus as Housekeeping Lead on April 15.
Sally Gaby joined the Office of Students Activities and Engagement as a Program Support Technician on April 15.
Elizabeth Heitsch joined the Library Services in Stafford as a Stafford Reference and Instruction Librarian on April 25.
HR Upcoming Events and Benefits Information
Visit http://adminfinance.umw.edu/hr/employee-relations/worklife/whats-new/ for the upcoming Events and Benefits information.