You know where the bathrooms
are. You know where they keep the pencils. And you
know how much vacation time you get each year. But
what don’t you know that new University of
Iowa employees are learning at staff orientation
these days?
Many long-time UI employees went through orientation
when the world and our University were vastly different
than they are today. And, according to Nikole Mac,
UI Learning and Development education specialist,
many of the resources that are relatively new to
campus are added bonuses for staff and faculty.
“There are so many nontraditional benefits
that make it rewarding to be part of the University
community,” she says.
After attending a recent orientation session, fyi compiled a list of orientation tidbits—some
serious, some fun—current staff would learn
about if they were coming to campus for the first
time.
• All staff and faculty are eligible to participate
in all of Recreation Services’ intramural sports.
While we may need more braces and ibuprofen afterward
than the students do, employees can take to the courts
and fields to live out their athletic fantasies.
• Tennis fans—there wil be new outdoor
courts at the west campus recreation facility, where
construction is due to begin this spring.
• Hancher’s monthly e-mail newsletter
provides subscribers with information about special
events and other news. To join, visit www.hancher.uiowa.edu and click on “Subscribe to the Hancher newsletter.”
• UI Libraries reference librarians are everywhere—live
chat, e-mail, phone (and of course you can still
visit in person at any of the 12 campus libraries).
For online help with life’s and work’s
nagging questions, go to www.lib.uiowa.edu and click
on the “Live Reference” box.
• UI Libraries has subject specialist librarians
to assist staff, faculty, and students with research
projects.
• The Van
Pool program has 63 vans that shuttle
University employees to and from campus each day.
There’s also a program that provides incentives
for employees who share rides to campus.
• Looking for a new cell phone service provider,
for work or personal use? ITS has an online analysis
of all the local service providers at www.its.uiowa.edu/tns/cellular_service.htm.
• The Iowa
House Hotel in the Iowa Memorial
Union has new business suites and extended stay rooms,
along with special rates for those on University-related
business.
• Would a UI class help you serve your unit
more effectively? After one year of employment, staff
and faculty can apply for tuition scholarships that
enable employees to take UI courses free of charge.
Tuiton
Assistance Program.
• The Center for Credit Programs is always
looking for individuals to teach online and Saturday
and Evening courses. Teaching these courses is a
great way to put your expertise to use, even if your “regular” job
isn’t teaching.
• The Division of Sponsored Programs encourages
all UI researchers to put their CVs on the online
Community of Science database to make interdisciplinary
collaboration on campus easier. Visit research.uiowa.edu/dsp to learn more.
• Looking for authorizing signatures on grant
applications? One stop at the Sponsored Programs
office is your best bet—they have authority
to provide required signatures.
• It can be hard to get on some of the most
popular Staff
Council committees, but if at first
you don’t succeed, try again. Candidates who
demonstrate their continued interest in being on
committees have increased chances of eventually being
selected.
• Looking for Old Capitol souvenirs? Look
no further than the gift shop in the Museum of Natural
History, which sells its sister museum’s products
while Old Capitol renovations continue.
• One in five workers has a health condition—and
some of those conditions impact those workers’ jobs.
Faculty and
Staff Disability Services supports individuals
whose health challenges require workplace modifications.
As health care has changed and what used to be fatal
illnesses are becoming chronic conditions, disability
accommodations will continue to be an important part
of our diverse campus community.
• Organizational Effectiveness has certified
career coaches on staff who can work with any UI
employee on career search skills, interviewing techniques,
and other professional development issues.
• Do you have a hobby or skill that other
staff and employees would want to learn about? You
could volunteer to teach a Learning
and Development course about your area of expertise.
• TIAA-CREF is planning to have a permanent
office in Coralville starting in early 2005 to help
UI employees with their financial planning.
by Anne Remington
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