Open Line Faculty-Staff Newsletter for the Week of Oct. 29, 2012

Frankenstorm edition

Campus News  •  Noteworthy

Campus News

Jazz legend Eddie Palmieri and percussionist Jose Madera perform with Puget Sound's Jazz Band, Nov. 1
Nine-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Eddie Palmieri and renowned percussionist Jose Madera will join the Jazz Band for a memorable night of Latin jazz on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m., in Schneebeck Concert Hall. The program will be led by Puget Sound’s new Jazz Band director Tracy Knoop. Tickets are $5 for faculty and staff members, and are available online and at the door.

Buzz Bissinger campus appearance canceled due to Hurricane Sandy
Considered by many to be one of the finest writers on sports of his generation, Buzz Bissinger is the award-winning author of Friday Night Lights, A Prayer for the City, Three Nights in August, Shooting Stars, and Father’s Day. Bissinger's visit to campus on Tuesday, Oct. 30, has been canceled due to poor weather conditions on the East Coast. The event will be rescheduled; watch Open Line for details.

It's open enrollment time for 2013 benefits
Each year faculty and staff members who are eligible for the Flexible Benefits Plan have an opportunity to make changes to their benefit selections for the coming calendar year. In an effort to make enrollment as easy as possible, human resources sent each faculty and staff member's enrollment packet to his/her campus mailbox. These materials will be in a different format than in previous years. It is important that you follow the instructions contained in the delivered packet (instructions and nonpersonalized materials online).
 
Completed enrollment materials are due to human resources by Wednesday, Nov. 21. Deliver materials in person to Howarth 016, send them through campus mail to CMB #1064, or scan and send them via email to hr@pugetsound.edu. Remember to sign each form.

Need help? Attend the Health and Benefits Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 7 a.m. to noon, in Wheelock Student Center. Representatives from human resources and Puget Sound's benefits providers will be on hand to answer questions. Additionally you may contact HR for assistance at x3369 or hr@pugetsound.edu, or visit Howarth 016 during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.).

Optimize Puget Sound: Big changes coming to payroll, timekeeping, ID cards, and more
Significant progress has been made on Optimize Puget Sound in recent months—and more is on the way. Our next major milestone in the project will come in January, with the launch of the human resources module, involving changes to timekeeping, vacation and sick time rollover, and more. Download the Optimize HR One-sheet for an at-a-glance rundown of changes coming with the launch of the HR module. In March we anticipate a third milestone, with the launch of the campus solutions module, affecting in particular, financial aid, registration, academic advising, and other student-focused functions.

There are numerous resources available to assist faculty and staff members in learning the new system. For questions related to PeopleSoft, contact the Technology Service Desk at servicedesk@pugetsound.edu or x8585. Campus community feedback is vital as the Optimize team continues to make improvements in configuring the new system. Please direct questions and comments to optimize@pugetsound.edu.

Get your students thinking about summer now!
Registration for spring semester begins Nov. 4, and students are planning now for next term’s course load. Please remind the students you work with, teach, and advise that summer session classes offer an option to help them lighten their fall or spring schedules, take on a difficult class, or make up gaps in transfer credit. Students should register for spring with summer in mind.

Budget Task Force calls for 2013–14 budget feedback by Nov. 15
Faculty, staff, and students are invited to offer suggestions or comments relating to the development of budget parameters for 2013–14 by writing to the Budget Task Force (BTF) c/o Lori Johnson, CMB 1083 or lljohnson@pugetsound.edu, no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 15. The BTF will submit its budget recommendation to President Thomas before winter break, and members will present their recommendations to the campus community in January. The campus community will be invited to provide feedback on the recommendation before the president presents his recommendations to the board of trustees for approval at its February meeting.

Puget Sound has long embraced a participatory budget process. Chaired by the academic vice president and including students, faculty and staff members, and the chief financial officer, the BTF is charged with recommending to the president a balanced budget for the coming fiscal year that responds to Puget Sound's mission and strategic plan and the economic landscape. This important work is informed by the perspective of the president, presentations from various campus leaders, market and economic conditions, and the analysis of data. The recommended budget will address tuition and financial aid levels, investment and gift support, faculty and staff compensation pools, maintenance of facilities, and program support.

Learn more about the budget process at Puget Sound, or view an overview of the current university budget.

Faculty: Apply by Dec. 1 for UEC funds for faculty research
The University Enrichment Committee would like to remind faculty members that UEC-administered funds are available for supporting faculty research. The fall application deadline for applying for these faculty research awards (of up to $2,000 each) is Dec. 1. More details about the 'Faculty Research' funds are available in the University Resources for Faculty Professional Development (2012–13) document. (Please see page 20.)

Noteworthy

Congratulations to the Otlah chapter of Mortar Board on campus, recognized at the 2012 Mortar Board National Conference with the Silver Torch Award, presented to chapters executing timeliness and dedication while exemplifying the ideals of scholarship, leadership, and service. Chapter president Cameron Ford ’13 accepted the award on behalf of the chapter.

Johnny Devine ’05, M.A.T.'06 and Andy Rex, professor of physics, were awarded a PAIR (Physics and Instructional Research) grant by the American Physical Society. The aim of the PAIR program is to improve STEM (science, techonology, engineering, and math) education by helping teams of high school and college faculty members develop instructional programs for secondary schools that will better prepare students for college-level science and math. Devine plans to teach a new project-based electronics curriculum this spring at Tacoma’s Science and Math Institute (SAMI).

The 11th Annual Art at Work Tacoma Studio Tours will feature several local artists with ties to Puget Sound, including Professor of Art John McCuistion, Community Music Program Assistant Sharon Styer, and Administrative Assistant for Asian Studies Lorraine Toler. For a complete list of artists participating in the studio tours, visit the Tacoma Studio Tour website.