Category: General

Prevent and Protect Against Seasonal Influenza (the Flu): Stay Home When Sick!

January 31, 2018

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Subject: Prevent and Protect Against Seasonal Influenza (the Flu): Stay Home When Sick!

As we start our spring semester, the UW-Green Bay Counseling and Health Center in collaboration with the Brown County Public Health Department are reminding people that they can take steps now to stop the spread of influenza, and one of the biggest steps they can take is to Stay Home When Sick!

Influenza activity has been increasing. So far, influenza A (H3N2) viruses have been the most common flu viruses circulating this season. H3N2 predominant flu seasons have been associated with more severe illness, especially among children and adults age 65 and older.

Symptoms of influenza are similar to cold symptoms, but come on more swiftly and are more pronounced. Symptoms can include cough, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, chills, feelings of extreme tiredness, and fever. It should be noted that not everyone with the flu will experience fever.

Ways to avoid getting or spreading the flu include:

  • Get a flu shot. It is not too late to get a flu shot this season. Vaccines are available through your local healthcare provider or pharmacy. The Counseling and Health Center also has Quadrivalent Flu vaccine available again for $25 for faculty/staff and $20 for students while supplies last. Simply call (920) 465-2380 to make an appointment.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with your upper sleeve, and try to avoid touching your face with your hand. If you use a tissue, throw it away after one use.
  • Never share drinking cups, straws, or utensils
  • Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, refrigerator handles, phones, and faucets.
  • When possible, avoid being exposed to people who are sick with flu-like symptoms.
  • Eat nutritious meals, get plenty of rest, and do not smoke.

If you are experiencing symptoms of influenza or have been exposed to someone with influenza or influenza symptoms, consult with your health care provider to determine if antiviral drugs may be helpful. Treatment with antiviral medications can sometimes lessen the effects of influenza, if treatment is started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Antibiotics are not effective against influenza.

Students: You can also consult a nurse in our center with questions by phone at 920-465-2380 Mondays through Fridays 7:45am-4:30pm. You are also advised to stay in touch with your faculty by email if you are needing to miss class while you have flu like symptoms. You can also refer to the Dean of Students Office policy on extended absences.

By following these good health habits, you are not only protecting yourself, but you are protecting those around you who may be at risk for more serious complications.

Helpful CDC flu resources can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu

We will update you as information becomes available on any additional changes to our institution’s strategy to prevent the spread of flu on our campus.

Sincerely,                       

Amy Henniges MSN, RN, CCM                                              

Director Counseling and Health Center

(920) 465-2380

Fax:  920-465-2708

hennigea@uwgb.edu

 

Well Wisconsin Webinar: 2018 Program Overview and Portal Demo

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Make this the year you focus on your health and well-being. Join us to learn all about the 2018 Well Wisconsin Program and resources available to assist you, including how to earn your $150 incentive!

Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Time: 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.

Location: Cofrin Library, 7th floor, room 735

No need to RSVP – just mark your calendar to join us, and bring your lunch!

You could also participate in this webinar at your workstation if you prefer – please visit wellwisconsin.staywell.com and go to Wellness Webinars to register.

All webinars are recorded and available to Well Wisconsin Program participants on the StayWell wellness portal after the event date.

To access the StayWell wellness portal, you must be an employee, retiree, or spouse enrolled in the State of Wisconsin or Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Programs.

Employee Spotlight: Rebecca Hovarter

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Name: Rebecca (Becky) Hovarter

Position at UWGB: Nursing and Health Studies Lecturer

Summary of what you do: Assist registered nurses in their journey from being a nurse with an associate degree (skills based) to a nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree

How long have you been employed: I have been in the nursing field for 41 years

Brief history of employment with UWGB: I started at UWGB part time in 2009 and full time in 2013. It is the combination of two of my life long goals: to be a teacher and be a nurse.

Three words that describe you: Sincere, Passion, Dedicated

Personal interests: Flower gardens, grandchildren, reading

Random facts/interests: I earned a college degree every decade since the 1990’s.

 

Describe what you were like at age 10. Tallest kid in my class (!), wore glasses, book worm

If you could be anyone from any time period who would it be and why? Lillian Wald- early 1900’s. Lillian coined the term public health nurse and worked with immigrants, school kids, and all other aspects of community health and was a leader of the profession. I envy what she did.

Top 3 life highlights? Being married to David for 42 years, birth of my son, my three grandchildren

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most? When students have an “aha” moment

What book did you read last? I am usually reading/listening to two or three at a time: Janet Evanovich Hard Core Twenty Four, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, and Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: Modern Mexican Art.

What did you want to be when growing up? A teacher and a nurse

What do you like most about your job? Sharing my passion for public health with students

What is the first concert you attended? Chicago in about 1973

What would people never guess you do in your role? Observing students doing dental and vision checks in an outdoor school on the side of a ravine in Mexico; Observing students teach Roma Health Mediators how to make rat traps out of water bottles in Slovakia.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? Fried grasshoppers

Where is your favorite place to eat? Koreana’s

Where is your home town? Glidden and Ashland Wisconsin

Compensation Policy and Proposed Pay Plan Open Forums

The Chancellor’s Cabinet recently approved the Compensation and Pay Plan Policy. This document presents policies for determining starting pay, hourly rate upon movement to a new position or job, promotional pay, and guidelines for setting the rate for temporary and project appointments. This policy also includes guidelines for pay plan, temporary base adjustments, salary adjustments during interim appointments, salary adjustments within a title, overtime, compensatory time, and other pay components specifically created for non-exempt university staff.

Please join us for a series of open forums in which we will outline details of the Compensation and Pay Plan Policy. We will also discuss the proposed 2018-2019 Pay Plan, including timeline and UW-Green Bay pay plan guidelines. As a note, the Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) has not yet met to approve the proposed pay plan. We will cover the same material at each forum.

  • Monday, February 12, 2018
    2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
    Christie Theater
  • Tuesday, February 13, 2018
    10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
    Christie Theater
  • Tuesday, February 13, 2018
    2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
    Phoenix Room A

No need to RSVP, just mark your calendar to attend!  Please contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu or ext. 2930 if you have any questions.

 

Instructions for Viewing Outstanding Required Compliance Training

As communicated in an e-mail dated 1/23/2018 and accompanying blog post, all faculty and staff must complete the following required compliance trainings:

Everfi/LawRoom trainings:

  • Introduced in Winter, 2018:
    • FERPA Basics
    • Touchstone: Tools for an Ethical Workplace
    • Protect Children (EDU-WI)
    • Injury and Illness Prevention (EDU)
  • Introduced in Spring, 2017:
    • Preventing Harassment and Sexual Violence (if you are a supervisor the course will be titled “Supervisor Anti-Harassment and Title IX”)
    • Checkpoint: Data Security & Privacy

Other compliance trainings:

In order to see what Everfi/LawRoom trainings are outstanding:

  • Log into Everfi/LawRoom utilizing the e-mail that was sent to you during the week of January 23rd or by going directly to the website at https://el.lawroom.com/login.asp.
  • Select “My Courses” from the menu on the left side of the page.
  • You will then see any open course assignments (see below for example):

LawRoom

This view will show all outstanding courses and their due dates. If a course does not appear in this list, please check your completed courses, as it is likely the course has already been completed.  Faculty and staff must complete all required compliance trainings by Friday, June 15, 2018 in order to be eligible for a proposed FY 2018-2019 pay plan. Please see the Compensation and Pay Plan Policy for additional eligibility requirements.

Please contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390 with any questions and/or to request a reasonable accommodation.

 

Recently Approved New and Revised UW-Green Bay Policies

The Chancellor’s Cabinet has recently approved the following new and revised policies.  All of these have been published on the University Policy Website:

New Policies:

Alcohol and Controlled Substance Policy: The responsible and respectful use of alcohol and legal drugs is at the heart of the University’s efforts to educate and inform our campus community about alcohol and drugs.  The university works to minimize the disruptive influence of alcohol and drugs. This policy applies to all on campus activities or events, as well as university sponsored events, on or off campus, and includes both students and employees.

Compensation and Pay Plan Policy: This document presents policies for determining starting pay, hourly rate upon movement to a new position or job, promotional pay, and guidelines for setting the rate for temporary and project appointments. This policy also includes guidelines for pay plan, temporary base adjustments, salary adjustments during interim appointments, salary adjustments within a title, overtime, compensatory time, and other pay components specifically created for non-exempt university staff.

Responsible Service Policy (Alcohol): Alcohol service and consumption may occur in a number of settings at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. Differentiation has been made between private and public service of alcoholic beverages. Private service includes use at a private party, reception, or other event by which the individuals in attendance is limited. Public service includes serving alcohol at an event open to all members of the campus.  Whenever alcohol is sold or served at a private or public event on campus, it shall be done applying the restrictions set forth in this policy.

Revised Policies:

Recruitment and Hiring Policy: The purpose of this policy is to facilitate recruitment and hiring of highly qualified employees in a manner that is fair, efficient, and effective. The intent is to incorporate current best practices and legal requirements, protect the University’s fiscal and personnel resources, and present the University positively to potential and actual applicants.

Workplace Conduct Policy: UW-Green Bay has general expectations for professional conduct by employees, volunteers, and those acting on behalf of the University.  This policy outlines the expectations of proper conduct and behavioral standards and provides general guidelines for disciplinary action related to expectation violations.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Human Resources and Workforce Diversity at hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390 with any questions.

 

Introducing E.D.G.E (Ethnically Diverse Group of Employees)

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are voluntary, employee-initiated social groups of University of Wisconsin– Green Bay faculty and staff that share common interests, issues, backgrounds, characteristics, or pursuits. Currently, UW-Green Bay has three active ERGS. Please review information about active ERGs at UW-Green Bay on the Inclusive Excellence Website.

Please see the information below related to the newest ERG:

EDGE Abstract Contact Information

 

If you are interested in being contacted by the facilitator of an active ERG, please complete the Employee Resource Group Interest Survey or directly contact a facilitator listed on the Inclusive Excellence Website.

 

UW-Green Bay Required Compliance Trainings

In order to fulfill our mission and comply with federal, state, and UW System requirements, all employees are required to complete online compliance and education programs. As communicated by e-mail on 1/23/2018, the following newly introduced compliance trainings must be completed by all faculty and staff:

FERPA Basics: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) has two objectives: 1) Protect the privacy of education records, and 2) Ensure students have a right to review and request amendments to their educational records. FERPA applies to all colleges and universities that receive federal funds, and establishes rules to limit access to students’ personally identifiable information and how it may be used. This course will help you gain a better understanding of the issues to consider when handling or disclosing education records, and the FERPA rules that apply in situations you may face in the course of your work. This training will take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete.

Touchstone: Tools for an Ethical Workplace: As a part of the campus community, you have a stake in maintaining an ethical workplace culture at UW-Green Bay. This course will discuss a basic foundation for ethical action in the modern workplace and give you the tools to act on ethical decisions, even if you are under pressure to do the opposite. This training will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Protect Children (EDU-WI) – Executive Order #54 (relating to the supplemental mandatory reporting requirements of child abuse and neglect) provides that all University of Wisconsin System employees are mandatory reporters and must be able to identify and report suspected child abuse and neglect. Please refer to UW-Green Bay’s Policy on the Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect for more information. This course will assist you in recognizing the signs of abuse and predatory behavior and learn how to report reasonable suspicions in compliance with the executive order. Employees who have already completed this training in Everfi/LawRoom (those newly hired since May 2017) will not be required to complete it again at this time. This training will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Injury and Illness Prevention (EDU) – Everyone has a stake in maintaining a safe workplace.  This course helps colleges and universities promote a safe workplace, prevent injuries and illnesses, and reduce accidents by giving all employees the agency to think and to prepare. This training will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

By Friday, January 26, 2018, employees will receive an e-mail from “University of Wisconsin-Green Bay” with the subject line “UW-Green Bay Required Trainings”. This e-mail will include information necessary to complete the trainings. These trainings are self-paced, allowing you to come and go as you please until course completion. If you have issues accessing or completing the courses, please contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390 for technical support.

As part of the recently published Compensation and Pay Plan Policy, in order to be eligible for the Board of Regent approved pay plan or other pay adjustments, employees must have completed all required campus compliance trainings, including the previously released required campus compliance trainings: “Preventing Harassment and Sexual Violence” (if you are a supervisor the course will be titled “Supervisor Anti-Harassment & Title IX”) and “Checkpoint: Data Security & Privacy”.  In addition, if you are designated as a Campus Security Authority, you must complete the Clery CSA Training on the Office of Public Safety web site. Faculty and staff must complete all required compliance trainings by Friday, June 15, 2018 in order to be eligible for a proposed FY 2018-2019 pay plan. Please see the Compensation and Pay Plan Policy for additional eligibility requirements.

Please contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390 with any questions and/or to request a reasonable accommodation.