ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp 2008

Program Information
The ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp (BHSSC) is a free, academic program of The Harris Foundation, which takes an active role in shaping education in students entering grade 6, 7, or 8 in the fall of 2008. Science, mathematics and engineering are critical to society’s infrastructure for the 21st century and preserving that future requires an investment, such as the BHSSC, in our youth today.

Associated College/Division
College of Technology, H-LSAMP, and TLC2

Grade Range
Students entering 6th - 8th grade for the 2008-2009 school year.

Cost
FREE

Dates
Camp 1: June 15 - 27
Camp 2: July 13 – 25

Location
Students will attend classes and reside on campus.

How to Register
For more information, please visit, www.theharrisfoundation.org. Applications coming soon!
 

We’ve got a lot of great people on campus, and we thought you’d like to get to know more about them. These individuals have been selected by their colleagues as people you should know on campus.

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE NOW!

Thom Guthrie was born and raised in Houston, TX. He entered the professional world of theatre in 1967, after earning his degree in stage design from the Banff School of Fine Arts in Banff, Canada. Since then, Mr. Guthrie has been part of over 1,000 theatre productions while touring over 45 states; and enjoying every minute of it.

Mr. Guthrie can now be found managing the Moores Opera House, “a real treasure for not only the university, but also the city, state and country.” As manager, he is responsible for all programming, scheduling and technical requirements. He is also the resident lighting designer. With this responsibility, he is charged with creating an interesting visual picture so that the entire performance, not just the music, becomes a piece of artwork.

The opera house itself is an acoustically perfect and amazingly technical facility with an intimate setting that makes it one of the finest opera houses in the country. People travel from all over to see the artwork that it displays on stage as well as throughout the building itself. What makes the university’s opera house so unusual is that it is at once a classroom and a performance hall, and Mr. Guthrie has the pleasure of running one of the largest and finest classrooms around.

To find out more about Thom Guthrie (including some of the talent that he has had the privilege of working with) visit http://www.music.uh.edu/people/guthrie.html.

 
 

Date	Course	Course Code	Session Number	Time	Location
March 4	Outstanding Customer Service	HRSC1	0007	1:30-4:00	McElhinney Hall 341
March 11	Time Management, Part 1	HRTIME	0002	1:30-4:00	McElhinney Hall 341
March 12	I-9 Training	PSH008	4	9:00-11:00	McElhinney Hall 341
March 20	Professional Courtesy: Etiquette in the Workplace	HRBUET	0004	9:30 - 12:00 noon	McElhinney Hall 341
March 26	Dealing Effectively With Conflict	HRCC	0006	9:30 - 12:00 noon	McElhinney Hall 341
March 26	Coaching, Discipline & Documentation	HRCDD	1	1:00-4:00	McElhinney Hall 341

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO REGISTER FOR COURSES

CLICK HERE TO LOGON ON TO PASS TO REGISTER

If you have questions please contact:
hrtraining@uh.edu

2008 STAFF AWARDS

Each year, the University of Houston recognizes a select group of its employees with Staff Excellence Awards. This year’s awards will be presented to outstanding staff members at an awards ceremony and appreciation luncheon on May 13, 2008.

Below are some of the most common questions and answers related to annual staff awards.

Who can make nominations?
Any University of Houston employee or student may make nominations for Staff Excellence Awards using the attached form. Click here for the 2008 nomination form.

Who may be nominated for an excellence award?
All benefits-eligible, non-teaching employees with at least three years university service are eligible for nomination, regardless of job classification or level, including those who are paid from the University of Houston System budget.

What are the qualifications for which the awards are based?
The award recognizes meritorious service, dedication, and contribution to the university beyond the requirements or expectations of the job. Employees may be nominated based on their superior job performance, dedication, initiative, reliability or various other positive characteristics.

What is the deadline for submission of nominations?
The deadline for completing and submitting nominations to the Human Resources Department has been extended to 5:00pm on March 21st, 2008. Up to four (4) additional recommendation forms may be submitted with the completed nomination form.

How are candidates selected?
A Selection Committee will evaluate the nomination materials and will select six (6) Staff Excellence Award winners in the categories indicated below. The award recipients will receive a Staff Excellence Award certificate and $1,000.

2 awards Non-Exempt – office and clerical
2 awards Non-Exempt – technical, service, craft
2 awards Exempt – administrative and professional

All previous Excellence Award recipients will be eligible for nomination for the C.F. McElhinney Distinguished Service Award, the highest staff award for exemplary contribution to the University. The recipient of this award will receive a Distinguished Service Award plaque and $2,500.

To learn more about the 2008 Staff Awards, please visit UH Human Resources.

There are so many wonderful groups on campus doing good work that are often hidden university treasures. The University Commission on Women is one such organization; an all-volunteer group comprised of men and women meeting since 1999 to address gender issues on campus.

The mission of the University Commission on Women is to: 1) Identify the concerns of women at the university; 2) Promote gender equality throughout all areas of the university community; 3) Recommend to the appropriate administrative offices ways to address the concerns of women at the university; 4) Communicate and collaborate with other committees and organizations to provide support, advocacy, and information regarding women's issues; and 5) Raise awareness regarding behaviors, actions, issues, policies, and procedures that affect the status of women. The council has 28 members representing diverse interests on campus including students, staff, and faculty.

The University Commission on Women reports to the president of the University of Houston and is charged with the responsibility of informing and advising the president and the senior administrative leadership as well as the general university community on issues and concerns that have an impact on women at the University of Houston. After issuing an impressive report on the status of women on campus, available here, the Commission is currently prioritizing the issues raised in the report that they would like to address in the current year. After some helpful facilitated exercises, the group decided on three top priorities: addressing child care, family friendly policies, and recruitment and retention of female faculty on campus.

The Commission has a successful track record of being an active group that gets things done. The Commission was part of an effort that successfully passed a policy that extends the tenure clock by one additional year for male and female faculty members who have or adopt a child. The Commission is also ending up a successful year-long pilot mentoring program that they hope will continue and be administered by the campus administration. The program brought together an initial ten pairs of staff and faculty mentors and protégés who kept in contact throughout the year to further the protégé’s goals while learning new skills, assisting in professional development and advancement in the UH community, and receiving support and guidance.

The current co-chairs of the Commission are staff member Rebecca Szwarc and faculty member Elizabeth Gregory. The Commission meets monthly in the lovely Elizabeth Rockwell Pavilion. Stay tuned as this Commission continues their work to make our campus a more equitable place for all.
 

Important PayFlex Announcement

Effective immediately, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is requiring retail stores to have an inventory information approval system (IIAS) in place for items bought with flexible spending accounts such as TexFlex. You could be affected if you have a PayFlex Debit Card.

In order for you to use your PayFlex Debit Card at a non-health care retailer, such as a grocery store, the store must have an IIAS. If the retail store you use does not have an IIAS in place, you will need to pay for TexFlex-eligible items with something other than your Debit Card, then file a claim for reimbursement.

For example, if you buy aspirin at a store with an IIAS, you will be able to use your PayFlex Debit Card because aspirin is an eligible TexFlex expense.

Many Texas retail stores such as HEB plan to have the IIAS in place by January 1, 2008. For a list of retailers and their expected IIAS implementation dates, and a Q&A about IIAS, click here. For questions about the IIAS change, please contact PayFlex toll-free at (866) 353-9839.

Health Select Webinar

On March 26, 2008 we will be holding our first 2008 Blue Care Connection Webinar at 10:00am.

Participation is simple. Before March 26th, you will receive a formal e-mail invitation that will contain a phone number to call into and an internet site to log on to, should you wish to attend the webinar from your office.

We will be presenting information on our Blue Care Connection Program, emphasizing our Special Beginnings Program. The webinar will also discuss our Disease Management, 24 Hour NurseLine, Personal Health Manger, Blue Points and Wellness Programs.

Please save the date and join in on the Webinar March 26th.

Your Personal Health Manager Has a New Look

All HealthSelect participants, who have registered with BlueCross BlueShield’s Blue Access for Members, have access to the online Personal Health Manager; an interactive website devoted to the health and wellness of you and your family. The website has had a make over and is now easier than ever to navigate and includes the following features:

* Interactive Symptom Checker, prominently displayed on the Personal Health Manager (PHM) home page - you can point and click your way to an initial self-diagnosis;

* Links to new Weight Management and Smoking Cessation online self-management programs - buttons handily located within the For Your Health box;

* My Care Profile (formerly Patient Clinical Summary/My Clinical Summary) - now located on the PHM home page;

* New health encyclopedia, powered by Healthwise Knowledgebase - replaces the ADAM search database;

* Easy to print pages - you can now print through your browser print button.

Enjoy the new look and feel of the Personal Health Manager!

Count down to Benefits Fair 2008!

We are excited to announce the date for this year’s annual Benefits Fair:

Date: July 16, 2008
Time: 9am – 3pm
Location: TBA

After last year’s tremendous success we are looking forward to more vendors, more campus affiliates, more give a ways, and most importantly more faculty and staff. So mark your calendars for another Human Resources Benefits Extravaganza!




Annual IRS Tax Season

It’s that time of year again! As the University community prepares for the coming tax season, please take a moment to review the available information and forms on the Finance website.

Below is a list of contacts and their areas of expertise:

2008 VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assistance) Program

The large, foreign national student community at UH has benefited from VITA’s assistance in preparing their U.S. tax returns (Forms 1040 NR or 1040 NR EZ) in accordance with complex tax laws since 1998. The VITA program is offered by the Houston Chapter of CPAs in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service to assist UH foreign nationals with preparing nonresident alien tax returns.

Location: University Center in the Bayou City Room (# 202) on 2nd floor

Help-dates: March 1, 15, 22; and April 5, 12 (Saturdays only)

Times: 9:30AM to 2PM

(Note – The VITA program has partnered with the Mayor’s Citizens’ Assistance Office, some financial institutions, and a few local businesses to “receive the baton” that was passed from the IRS. The organization has taken on the name, Houston Asset Building Coalition (HABC). This coalition is responsible for all phases of the VITA program.)





W-2 Season

W-2s were mailed by the Payroll Department at the end of January to those employees who decided to receive their W-2 via the US Postal Service. But did you know that this form is also available online?

Click here to learn how to access your personal university information and print your W-2 at your convenience.

FreshWorks Sandwiches

Treat your tastebuds to new FreshWorks Sandwiches featured at Montague's in the Satellite! These sandwiches feature lean proteins including Ham, Portobello Mushrooms and Grilled Chicken served on artisan breads with fresh vegetables and flavored chutneys and are all under 500 calories. FreshWorks sandwiches are big on taste not on calories! Available February 25th - March 14th.

Chili Cook Off
 

Calling all Foodies: Shasta’s Café reopens March 5th

If your idea of lunch is a goat cheese-and-truffle quesadilla with mango salsa and a side of micro-greens, then you’re in luck: Shasta’s Café, a student operated culinary workshop, reopens the first Wednesday in March.

Located in the trendy Cameron building, Shasta’s Culinary Workshop features gourmet meals created from scratch by nutrition students who strive to design healthy and appealing dishes that are as diverse as UH.

Sample theme menus include:
• “Under the Sea:” Salad, seasonal fish filet with roasted peppers or roasted pepper and basil quiche, seasoned broccoli, rice pilaf, and Key Lime pie.
• “Creole Sensations:” Spinach salad, chicken or veggie kabobs with Creole mustard sauce, rice and bread pudding.

Much like the fanciest eateries around town, the hours are limited: Wed and Fri from 11:30am-1pm. Shasta’s regularly sells out, so online orders are accepted until 9.00am the day of the lunch. Check out upcoming menus or make your “rez” online:
http://grants.hhp.coe.uh.edu/shastas/index.htm

Zagat’s here we come!

Spring Egg Hunt

YOU’RE INVITED TO………..

THE UH STAFF COUNCIL
Co-Sponsored by Faculty Senate

18th ANNUAL SPRING EGG HUNT
(Event open to all UH staff/faculty children up to 12 years old)

Date: Sat. March 15, 2008
Place: Lynn Eusan Park
TIME: 10:30 A.M.

In case of inclement weather, participants can call 713-743-6044 (Quadrangle Desk) between 7:30 am and 10:30 am for event verification. If the event is cancelled due to weather it will not be rescheduled this year.

EVENT SCHEDULE

8:30- 10:00 A.M.
Arrival, Sing-A-Long, Balloons
& Face Painting, Crafts (Basket Making
for Hunt), Mr. & Ms. Bunny Time
and Sasha Cougar

10:30 A.M.
Egg Hunt (by ages)

11:00-12: 00 A.M.
Prize Redemption, Goodie Bag Give- away & Refreshments

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: DEE RANDOLPH, STAFF COUNCIL EVENTS CHAIR, PH# 3-9235, E-MAIL: DMKAHLEY@UH.EDU

MARCH CALENDAR