Employee Appreciation Week 2023

Each spring, we set aside time in the form of Employee Appreciation Week to intentionally honor, recognize, and show appreciation for all of the wonderful work performed by faculty and staff across the four UW-Green Bay campuses. During this Employee Appreciation Week (May 1 – 5), we celebrate the impactful contributions of our faculty and staff, which make UW-Green Bay a dynamic and engaging place of living, learning, and working for our students. As a measure of thanks, we enthusiastically encourage employees to take part in the below events happening on the campuses and virtually throughout the week.

Be sure to check back for updates and more details as we work to finalize other events/activities!

Sign up is required for several events. Please use the link provided.

All Week May 1-5

I Appreciate U! Praises for employees or departments posted on the HR Facebook page. Send your praises to Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu. 

Fill-In-The-Blank Notes and Pre-Printed versions are available in the HR Office

Heirloom Plant SalThe annual heirloom plant sale is a UW-Green Bay tradition entering its 26th year. Supporters of the sale help contribute to the long-term preservation of heirloom plants, while also funding educational opportunities. Visit the Heirloom Plant Sale website to order your plants.

Fitness Classes To attend in person, please register on the UREC app. To attend virtually, please visit the UREC website for the link.

Preferred Parking Sign up for a chance to be one of three (3) employees who get to park in a 15 minute or visitor parking spot for one day.

Winners: Lynn Rotter, Michelle Wanta, Julie Stanelle, Steve Knudstrup, Elizabeth Bloedow, Chris Cox, Loretta Rafter, Maggie Miller, Lea Truttmann, Becky Haeny, Laura Nolan, Lynn Niemi, Adam Novotny, Cindy Johnson, and Colleen Wilde.

Free Coffee at the Garden Café with UW-Green Bay attire, Sponsored by Chartwells

CRAVE– 50% off your IN PERSON order with Promo code LOVEGBDINING, Sponsored by Chartwells

Monday, May 1

Marinette HR Visit and Treats 8:30 am and 3:00 pm Stop and visit with Megan Noltner and grab a tasty treat, sponsored by the Provost Office.

Goat Flow Sheboygan located on the lawn/field to the west of the gym near the 3 pine trees. Co-Sponsored by the Wellness Committee, Healthy Choices Task Force, and UREC
1:00 pm Flow class
2:00 pm Petting goats (no class)

Zumba 12:15 – 12:45 pm Kress Events Center Aerobics Room

Green Bay Ice Cream Social 2:30 pm Join members of the HR Team on the 2nd Floor of the Library for an Ice Cream Social, sponsored by the Provost Office.

Tuesday, May 2

Sheboygan Campus Employee Massages with Josie Time 8:00 am to 11:00 am, Room 1202 (SIGN UP REQUIRED) Sign Up Link: Sheboygan Chair Massage Sign-up

Sheboygan HR Visit and Treats 8:30 am and 12:00 pm Stop and visit with Megan Noltner in room 2204 and grab a tasty treat, sponsored by the Provost Office.

Green Bay Campus Employee Massages with Lindsay Time 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, Room WH441 (SIGN UP REQUIRED) Sign Up Link: Green Bay Chair Massage Sign-Up

Manitowoc Campus Employee Massages with Gina Time 10:00 am to 1:45 pm, Room F170 (SIGN UP REQUIRED) Sign Up Link: Manitowoc Chair Massage Sign-up

Yoga 12:15 – 12:45 pm Kress Events Center Aerobics Room

Manitowoc HR Visit and Treats 12:45 pm and 3:30 pm Stop and visit with Megan Noltner in the Traveling Office and grab a tasty treat, sponsored by the Provost Office.

Goat Flow Manitowoc located on the Lakeside Patio Area. Co-Sponsored by the Wellness Committee, Healthy Choices Task Force, and UREC
1:00 pm Flow class
2:00 pm Petting goats (no class)

Green Bay Group Walk 1:00 pm Meet Ethan Harvey at the Shorewood Center

Wednesday, May 3

Faculty and Staff Cookout 11:30 am – 1:15 pm, Program at 12:00 pm streaming via Teams Live *TIME CHANGE*
Green Bay: Kress Events Center, West Gym – Catered by Chartwells
Sheboygan: Room 2114, Phoenix Room – Catered by Ella’s Deli
Manitowoc: Room F170 – Catered by Maretti’s Deli
Marinette: M-117 – Catered by the “Tasty Traveler” food truck

Goat Flow Marinette Schmidtke Terrace (located just outside of the Student Union). Co-Sponsored by the Wellness Committee, Healthy Choices Task Force, and UREC
1:00 pm Flow class
2:00 pm Petting goats (no class)

Zumba 12:15 – 12:45 pm Kress Events Center Aerobics Room

2nd and 3rd Shift Pizza Party 10:00 pm Kress Events Center Special Events Room

Thursday, May 4

Marinette Campus Employee Massages with Jessy Time 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Room M167 – Veterans Lounge (SIGN UP REQUIRED) Sign up Link: Marinette Chair Massage Sign-up

Green Bay Campus Group Bike Ride 11:00 am 15 spots available, please sign up to reserve your bike:  Bike Ride Sign-up

Team Building Activities Green Bay 11:45 am – 1:15 pm Student Services Plaza, Games throughout

Love, Chartwells Green Bay 11:45 am – 1:15 pm (or while supplies last) Seasonal punch, water, and light snacks, Student Services Plaza, Sponsored by Chartwells

Manitowoc Campus Walk 12:00 pm Noon Meet Jared Dalberg at the Library/Main Entrance

Goat Flow Green Bay Phoenix Park. Co-Sponsored by the Wellness Committee, Healthy Choices Task Force, and UREC
1:00 pm and 2:00 pm Wellness break/stretching
3:00 pm Petting goats (no class)

Yoga 12:15 – 12:45 pm Kress Events Center Aerobics Room

Friday, May 5

Lunch with Leadership 12:00 – 12:45 pm Chancellor’s Conference Room, 5 Employees will be selected to have lunch with members of Leadership.

Winners: Maggie Miller, Mark Fischer, Abbey Kleinert, Callyn Diamond, and Laura Nolan.

Goat Flow– Rain Date for Green Bay only

Phoenix Plash Back $5.00 Fridays– $5.00 lunch for staff/ faculty at the Marketplace on Friday. Sponsored by Chartwells

Food Truck Friday Visitor Parking Lot, Gourmet Corn Yucatan Cuisine, Menu includes tostadas, tortes, quesadillas, and gourmet sweet corn

Zumba 12:15 – 12:45 pm Kress Events Center Aerobics Room

End of the Year Celebration Co-Sponsored by the Student Engagement Center and Housing and Residential Education located at the Shorewood Center
4:00 pm – Carnival games, henna, caricaturist, balloon twisters, DJ, Food
5:00 pm – Camo Color Run/Walk (registration required), Caribbean Cruiser Food Truck
7:00 pm – Live Concert from Boy Band Review
9:00 pm – Fireworks *POSTPONED TO SATURDAY DUE TO WEATHER*

Thank you for all you do!

There is no UWGB without U!

UW-Green Bay Employee Appreciation Week is an annual employee recognition event organized by Human Resources. If you have any questions, contact Julie Stanelle at stanellj@uwgb.edu.

Faculty and Staff Cookout

UWGB Faculty and Staff Cookout - RSVP Today!

Mark your calendars and get your RSVP in for the Faculty and Staff Cookout on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Starting at 12:00 p.m., we will have a brief program to recognize employees celebrating years of service milestones, new UW-Green Bay retirees, and faculty and staff emeriti honorees.

Gatherings are being planned for all locations. The program will be live streamed and available to all virtually.

Green Bay: Kress Events Center, West Gym – Catered by Chartwells
Sheboygan: Room 2114, Phoenix Room – Catered by Ella’s Deli
Manitowoc: Room F170 – Catered by Maretti’s Deli
Marinette: M-117 – Catered by the “Tasty Traveler” food truck

UW-Green Bay Campus Cupboard Food Drive: Please consider donating a non-perishable food (no glass please) and personal hygiene items. We will have collection bins at the cookout.

RSVP HERE

2022 Outside Activities Reports (OARs) – Access for online completion begins April 3, 2023

Each year, all faculty, academic staff, and limited appointees with appointments of half-­time or more are responsible for reporting Outside Activities (according to Board of Regent and UW System guidelines, UWS Chapter 8.025, and the Wisconsin Administrative Code).

Additionally, we ask University Staff to read the Code of Conduct (RPD 20-22) and all employees to read the policy on Employee Relationships with Educational Loan Lenders RPD 13-4.

Similar to past years, requests and notices will come to employees from UW-Shared Services (UWSystemHR@uwss.wisconsin.edu), and eligible employees will submit their OAR form online through their My UW Portal.

On April 3, all employees required to submit an Outside Activity Report (OAR) will received a message from UW System with instructions to complete the OAR. The OAR will need to be completed by the employee and approved by the supervisor. Following the initial notice, employees will receive reminders throughout the month.

Please see below for additional information:

For more information about OARs (including helpful videos), please see the UW System Conflicts of Interest and Outside Activities website.

The Code of Conduct and Employee Relationships with Educational Loan Lenders policies will also be delivered to your mailboxes from uwsytemhr@uwss.wisconsin.edu during the month of April with a reminder to familiarize yourself with these policies.

If you have questions while using the process or need technical support, please contact serviceoperations@uwss.wisconsin.edu.

Resources relevant to this message include:

Updates from the Women’s Network Employee Resource Group (ERG)

The “Women’s Network” ERG is rebranding itself to stay current and best reflect the core interests of its members. The core purpose of the ERG will broaden to networking focus, rather than a leadership focus. This change can easily be made with the recent addition of UWGB’s Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL) which offers leadership resources for women. Exciting ERG updates below:

  • ERG name: The new name is the “Women’s Network” (previously named “Women’s Leadership Network”)
  • Co-chairs: Beginning May 1, Lynn Niemi and Kris Cumbers will serve as co-chairs of the ERG; Sheryl  Van Gruensven and Susan Gallagher-Lepak will continue on the Advisory Committee and as ERG members
  • Women’s Network Advisory Committee:  The newly established committee includes Lynn Niemi, Kris Cumbers, Sheryl Van Gruensven, Susan Gallagher-Lepak, Jena Richter Landers, and Joy Wick. There is one opening for an additional Advisory Committee member – let Lynn Niemi know if you want this spot!

The mission of the Women’s Network is to connect, encourage, mentor, inform and help women navigate work and life balance. The ERG is open to anyone at UW-Green Bay. Values of the ERG include diversity, equity, empowerment and leadership.

As a reminder, select IWL events, such as Caffeinated Conversations and Stories from Experience, are available to Women’s Network ERG members at no cost (use your UWGB email address and code UWGBIWL when registering). Also, UWGB faculty, staff and students can attend for free the upcoming Celebrate 2023 “Phenomenally You” event on April 20, 2023 presented by the IWL. For more info: Celebrate 2023 – Phenomenally You

New Employee Resource Group – Working Caregivers

Join the Working Caregivers employee resource group geared toward connecting caregivers and supporters with resources, community, and support. Working Caregivers seeks membership from all kinds of dependent caregivers (such as biological parents, stepparents, foster parents, adoptive parents, legal guardians, caregivers of the elderly, caregivers of adults who need special care, or others) and supporters. This ERG is open to all UW-Green Bay employees. Contact Cindy Johnson and Kate Farley if you have questions or concerns. Please sign up to request more information by taking this interest survey.

University Staff, Non-Instructional Academic Staff and Limited Employees Performance Evaluations

The start of the new year is just around the corner and with it brings the kickoff to the annual performance evaluation process for University Staff, Non-Instructional Academic Staff and Limited employees. With the approval from Cabinet this past spring, all non-instructional evaluations have shifted to one review period (Calendar Year).

A new performance review form was drafted in an effort to align current form(s) with implemented changes post Title & Total Compensation, ensure adherence to SYS 1254, Performance Management and UW-Green Bay Compensation and Pay Plan Policy and assist in streamlining the business process. Over the last month, the Office of Human Resources and Workforce Diversity circulated the proposed draft of the Performance Review template engaging with Shared Governance and Leadership to gather feedback. The below information outlines the process moving forward with this year’s performance review:

      • All University Staff (Non-Exempt & Exempt) should utilize the new Performance Review Form for the review period of January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022.

To help facilitate these changes, the Office of Human Resources will be offering several trainings both specific to supervisors and employees. At these sessions, we will briefly highlight why changes to the form were necessary, an overview of the new forms (including update to electronic process), and in-depth discussion on filling out the form. These sessions will be held in person, with a Teams option for those that would prefer to attend virtually. Please see below for specific dates and times:

Supervisor Training was held on Wednesday, January 11th and Tuesday, January 17th. A recording of the training along with the presentation can be viewed here.

Employee Training / Open Lab Sessions

No need to RSVP, just mark your calendar to attend utilizing the links above! We will also be recording a session, which will be available on the HR Connect blog.

Inclement Weather Policy Information

With inclement weather in the forecast for later this week, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind the University community about the Inclement Weather / Emergency Conditions Policy. The Chancellor has the authority to cancel classes, close all or part of the institution to the public, or completely close all or part of an institution to the public and employees based on emergency or unsafe conditions caused by weather.

Consistent with SYS 1235: Inclement Weather/Emergency Conditions, when the institution is not closed, employees are expected to report to work unless paid leave or other working arrangement is approved by the employee’s supervisor. Employees are expected to notify their supervisors if they cannot report to work or will report late.

In the event of an institutional closure, most employees will be directed not to work. Employees at work when the institution is closed will be given the option of remaining at work or leaving their worksite, operational needs permitting. This applies to all employees except essential employees whose continued presence is required to maintain critical operations.

Contingent upon approval from their supervisor, employees have three options if they are unable to make it to work due to inclement weather (including during an institutional closure):

    • Utilize available paid leave, including vacation, accrued compensatory time, available holidays, or leave without pay to cover the absence.
    • Make up the missed time by working extra hours on other days within the same week. Supervisors may require the employee to make up lost time during the same workweek of the absence if required for the operation of the work unit.
    • Alternative work arrangements (i.e. remote work, flexible work schedule) may be acceptable based upon the employee’s job functions.

The University policy recognizes that driving conditions can vary across the region, and employees should use their own judgment about whether they can safely travel to campus.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Pay Plan Notifications

Last year, JCOER approved a 2021-2023 pay plan for UW System employees, which provides a base rate increase to all eligible employees of 2% in FY22 and 2% in FY23. During the months of October and November, the Office of Human Resources took measures to prepare for the second 2% pay plan increase for eligible employees, which will be effective on January 1, 2023.

Most FY 2023 pay plan notifications for eligible employees were sent by UW System on the morning of Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Those notices were sent via email from UWSystemHR@uwss.wisconsin.edu. Notices for ineligible employees or employees with unique circumstances (i.e. current temporary base rate adjustment) will be sent by the UW-Green Bay HR Office by the end of the day on Friday, December 16, 2022. Employees with a start date of October 1, 2022 or later are ineligible based upon their start date (pursuant to the UW-Green Bay Compensation and Pay Plan Policy), and will not receive a notice related to pay plan.

If you have any questions related to pay plan or received notices, please contact us at hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390.

Kognito Simulation Training Wellness Challenge Ending Soon

Woman School Psychologist Teacher Talking and Helping Student, Male  Teenager Stock Photo - Image of conversation, people: 227784504

Reminder if you want to be in the Wellness Committee drawing for the Kognito Simulation Training please have your training done by December 31st.

In order to participate in the simulation go to https://uwgb.kognito.com and select “Employee” for the User. This 45-minute training can be completed in multiple sittings as your progress can be saved.

The Wellness Committee will be awarding 20 employees who complete the training by December 31st. The drawing will take place on Thursday, January 12th with winners being contacted via email by Friday, January 13th.

For more details on this Challenge please visit the original job post here.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Henniges or the Wellness Center Counseling Team at 920-465-2380 or wellnesscenter@uwgb.edu.

2023 Faculty & Staff Climate and Engagement Survey

In early 2023, UW-Green Bay will be facilitating a faculty & staff climate and engagement survey.  UW-System coordinated a climate survey for students in 2021, but a concurrent faculty and staff survey was ultimately postponed due to COVID.

We appreciate your participation in taking the upcoming survey and encouraging peers to complete the survey as well. With that in mind, please see below for some frequently asked questions regarding the 2023 Faculty & Staff Climate and Engagement Survey:

Why should I complete the climate and engagement survey?

It is important to make your voice heard so that the institution can better understand the faculty and staff experience. Assessing campus climate and employee engagement is critically important to support strategic planning, faculty & staff recruitment/retention, and professional development activities. By capturing faculty and staff perceptions of diversity and campus climate issues (among other topics), we can better understand employee needs and what we can do to improve the experiences of all employees here at UW-Green Bay.

When will the survey be distributed?

The climate and engagement survey will be distributed starting on January 31, 2023 and collection of survey responses will continue through March 9, 2023.

What survey instrument will be used?

The determination has been made to utilize the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA (or HERI) surveys for faculty and staff. While a couple of other survey options were considered, the HERI survey was chosen because it is so commonly used (allowing us to utilize comparison groups), the questions asked especially in the faculty survey go well-beyond climate (i.e. pedagogical practices, research & service, faculty experience, etc.), and UW-Green Bay has utilized the HERI survey multiple times in the past so we have consistency in historical reporting.

Will all employees be invited to participate?

All active, professional employees at the time of distribution with an appointment of at least one semester will be invited to participate. Student employees and graduate assistants will not be a part of this survey since those populations were invited to participate in the 2021 student climate survey.

Will all employees get the same survey?

There is a separate survey for faculty and for staff. Employee whose responsibilities are primarily instructional (tenured/tenure-track faculty, instructional academic staff in teaching professor titles, and temporary/part-time lecturers) will be invited to complete the faculty survey. Those whose primary responsibilities are non-instructional will be invited to complete the staff survey.

How will I get the link to the survey?

The actual request to participate with the link to the survey and reminders during the collection period will be sent from HERI directly from the following email addresses: 

About a week prior to the January 31st distribution date, all employees will receive a communication from HR which will prepare them for the information they can expect to receive from HERI.

How long will the survey take to complete?

In their administration materials, HERI has communicated that if all questions are answered, the survey will take approximately 25-30 minutes to complete.

Can I complete the survey on paid work time?

Yes, the survey can be taken on work time, and supervisors are encouraged to work with employees to set aside time for survey completion.

Are any of the questions required?

Every question on the survey is optional, so you can refrain from answering anything that may make you feel uncomfortable.

Are my responses confidential?

The HERI survey is confidential. You will not be asked identifying information including name or address. HERI will request your email address for potential follow-up surveys, however if you answer “no” your email address is not retained. Even if answering “yes”, your email address will not be linked to your survey results in any form. In the HERI-provided sharable reports, any item with fewer than five respondents will be suppressed in order to protect confidentiality. For more information about HERI confidentiality, please see https://ucla.box.com/v/FAC-Confidentiality-Privacy

How will response data be handled by UW-Green Bay?

The Senior HR/AA Officer will receive a data file of responses, however the data will not be attached to email addresses and may only be used for statistical analysis and reporting of aggregate information, not for the investigation into specific individuals. Before receiving the data, the Senior HR/AA Officer will certify compliance with HERI’s confidentiality agreement, which states that nobody at the institution will use the data to investigate any individual responses. The Senior HR/AA Officer will generate any requested reports in aggregate so as not to inadvertently disclose the identity of respondents, and data will be stored in the secure, restricted HR drive.

When will the results be published?

We expect that HERI reports will be released in the late summer of 2023. For information about HERI’s data reporting, please see https://ucla.box.com/v/FAC-Data-and-Reporting.

What happens after we get the climate study results?

In order for a climate and engagement survey to be meaningful, there must be recognition of the results and recommendations for action as warranted. Both leadership and the work group are committed to continuing the survey process into the fall to include a period of time in which recommendations for action based upon survey results can be considered.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

You are welcome to contact anyone on the climate and engagement survey work group. Members include:

    • Melissa Nash (HR)
    • Stacie Christian (University Inclusivity & Student Affairs)
    • Courtney Sherman (Academic Affairs)
    • Kristin Bouchard (Marketing & University Communications)
    • Devin Bickner (Resch School of Engineering, UC Chair)
    • Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges (Psychology, Faculty Representative)
    • Kate Farley (Library, Academic Staff Representative)
    • Kim Mezger (Academic Affairs, University Staff Representative)