The Division of Diversity, Equity Inclusion and Belonging and the Division of Student Affairs are excited to invite you to a meet and greet networking event for our staff of color. The purpose of the group is to explore possible programming that will be both impactful and rewarding. The invitation is being extended to all staff in order to encourage you to attend and share how you play a role in the recruitment and retention of diverse staff at Brandeis, as well as a way to build community.

• Staff of Color Meet and Greet
• January 23
• 3 - 4:30 p.m.
• Shapiro Campus Center, Multipurpose Room

Light refreshments will be provided.

If you have any questions please contact: Lauren Haynie: lhaynie@brandeis.edu or Peter Rojas: peterrojas@brandeis.edu

The Brandeis Police Department is proud to support the Waltham Police Department and Dedication To Community (D2C) in hosting the "Serving in the 21st Century ~ Taking ACTION" workshops. These sessions aim to build trust, understanding, and stronger relationships between law enforcement and the community.

Workshop Highlights:

• Open to community members (ages 18+)
• Focused on active listening, bridging gaps, and creating solutions for a more unified community
• Held at various locations, including Brandeis University's Gosman Sports and Convocation Center

Dates & Registration:
Workshops will take place between January 29 and February 6 with morning and evening sessions available. To register, visit this link.

Join us in supporting this initiative and fostering a safer, more inclusive community. For more information, contact info@dedicationtocommunity.org.

Ombuds remains aware of various tensions and changes that affect us directly or indirectly. Currently, some of these tensions stem from ongoing campus changes, conflicts in the world as well as the changes in the government in the United States. Accordingly, we would like to offer opportunities for our Brandeisians to reflect on and process their own responses to these events in a safe, respectful environment where feelings and opinions can be shared across cultural, political, religious, ethnic, national, and racial divides.

Drawing on the principles of Talking Circles as practiced in Indigenous communities, we invite all community members—students, faculty, and staff—to join in one of several facilitated open Talking/Listening sessions that we will be hosting in the coming weeks. These efforts are being coordinated through the Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, the Ombuds Office, and campus partners.

These Circles will occur in the Gardner Jackson room on the mezzanine level of the Goldfarb Library on:

• Jan 21, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Jan 23, 3-5 p.m.
• Jan 27, 2-4 p.m.
• Jan 29, 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Please arrive at or before the starting time as we will start on time and do not want people to enter after the circle commences. Please RSVP to DLGreenstein@brandeis.edu if you plan to attend.

Undergraduate students at Brandeis can take up to two Brandeis Online courses in their senior year at no additional cost. Courses are 3 credits, asynchronous, and 100% online. Gain specialized skills while in undergrad or level up your education post-graduation with classes like RBIF 100: Bioinformatics Scripting and Databases with Python, RDMD 110: Search Engine Marketing and Optimization, RPJM 101: Foundations of Project Management, and RSAN 110: Business Intelligence and Strategic IT Leadership.

Explore all your educational opportunities by reaching out to the Brandeis Online Admissions Team at online@brandeis.edu.

With the goals of improving transportation safety measures and optimizing route efficiency across Brandeis University, the university is implementing a change that will remove bus stop Highland Street and South Street, specifically for southbound traffic, from the Waltham and Combo bus routes.

Our close monitoring of this stop reveals safety concerns due to its proximity to a busy intersection and extremely low ridership. Riders can alternatively board the nearby South Street and Bedford Streets, which are easily accessible. For additional information, please visit the shuttle services webpage.

Students and families received the spring 2025 bill electronically via Nelnet on Wednesday, November 20th. The due date was December 16, 2024; a registration hold has been placed on accounts not paid in full by this date and late fees have been applied. Students should access the Nelnet Student Account Portal, using the link provided in their Student Account worklet in Workday, to view e-bills and account transactions, make payments and manage monthly payment plans.

If students have not already done so, please complete the following steps to ensure account access:

1. Set-up Nelnet account - Students should log in to the Nelnet Student Account Portal to set up their student profile. Refer to the Nelnet - Account Access job aid for detailed instructions.
2. Add parent or authorized parties access - Refer to the Nelnet - Add Authorized Payers job aid for detailed instructions. Students should not share their Nelnet log-in credentials with their parents. They must set up parents as Authorized Parties with their own log-in credentials.

The financial aid renewal application deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year will be March 1, 2025. Students who would like to apply for need-based scholarship funds must submit the 2025-2026 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and copies of 2023 student and parent Federal Income Tax Returns. Students who wish to apply only for federal sources of financial aid need only complete the FAFSA (taxes will be requested upon receipt of this application only if necessary).

An e-mail detailing the renewal process are being sent to students and parents this week. If you would like to meet with your financial aid counselor to discuss the renewal financial aid process, you may book a 30-minute appointment online.

Sign up for one of our 30-minute, one-on-one financial literacy sessions! We hope that you will take advantage of this great opportunity to ask questions about budgeting, managing debt, understanding your paycheck, W-2’s etc. Please click here to book an appointment today!

Over the break, there were multiple department relocations around campus, resulting in part from the University's workspace policy aimed at reactivating office space while reducing operational expenses. Below is a list of who moved where. For questions, please contact Campus Planning and/or the departments.

•  International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) from Kutz Hall to the Upper Gerstenzang Library in the Science Quad
• Office of Study Abroad moved from Usdan to Upper Gerstenzang Library in the Science Quad
• Office of Graduate Affairs moved from Kutz Hall to Upper Gerstenzang Library in the Science Quad
• Academic Fellowships Office moved from Kutz Hall to Usdan floor 2 in the former Study Abroad space
• Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaborations (URCC) moved from Pearlman Hall to Usdan floor 2 in the former Study Abroad space
• The Department of Sociology moved from Pearlman Hall to the Heller-Brown Building
• The Registrar moved from Kutz Hall to the first floor of the Goldfarb Library

Brandeis is rich with religious diversity. Holidays celebrated by the Brandeis community in January include:

Makar Sankranti (January 14) is the only Hindu festival based on the solar calendar instead of the lunar. It celebrates the sun's journey from the Southern to the Northern Hemisphere. It is also a harvest festival thanking Mother Earth as winter begins to recede.

Lunar New Year (January 29) Buddhists celebrate Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, in many different ways depending on their cultural and regional backgrounds. The date is associated with renewal and purification. Buddhists may use the Lunar New Year as a time for personal reflection, setting positive intentions for the year ahead. This can involve contemplating the teachings of Buddhism and making commitments to personal growth and spiritual development. It is customary to make offerings at monasteries or other sacred religious sites, and it can be marked as a time for practitioners to engage in acts of generosity, kindness, and compassion.

For more information on holidays, visit the Center for Spiritual Life's Guide to Religious Observances. Did we miss a spiritual observance that is important to you? Please reach out to slife@brandeis.edu.

University Events is currently accepting reservation requests for the 2025 Commencement Celebratory Receptions. If you plan on hosting a Celebratory Reception for your graduating seniors this May, please complete the Celebratory Reception request/registration form by the priority deadline of Wednesday, January 22.

For further information on the Celebratory Reception offerings please review the 2025 Brandeis Celebratory Reception Planning Guide. University Events will collect and carefully evaluate responses in order to assign each reception to a space on campus that is best suited to host each reception's needs.

We look forward to supporting another year of gatherings and celebration.

The Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is excited to host our annual DEIS Impact March 10 through 12.

As a part of the planning, we invite you to participate as possible presenters during our three-day event. We plan to host several workshops on topics within social justice movements.

Our 2025 theme for DEIS Impact is: "Finding your A". Our aim is to bring our community together to focus on the core values of social justice movements such as allyship, advocacy, and activism, along with other values we deem important such as acknowledgement, action, accomplice, and appreciation to assist in the progress of social justice movements.

We have identified several topics to be considered for DEIS Impact 2025 but you are not limited to these topics which you will view in our call for proposal form.

For this year's DEIS Impact, we are encouraging faculty to co-facilitate with students. Our goal is to provide professional development opportunities for students and a platform for students to share expertise on topics they are passionate about.

Presentations should be no longer than 45 minutes and a modest stipend will be given per person per presentation (max of 3 individuals per presentation).

Proposal Form

The deadline has been extended to January 22. If selected you will be notified shortly after the deadline. If you have any questions please contact DEIS Impact co-chairs: Jamie Wire or Peter Rojas.

Based on a recent usage review, the Brandeis University Information Technology Advisory Committee has approved disabling select Microsoft 365 applications. Note that Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive) will not be affected by these changes. Additional information with a list of affected applications will be available in the next InBrief.

ITS continually works to increase efficiency and reduce costs through various methods, including the elimination of out of date and/or redundant services. As such, we will be making changes to the following services on January 14, 2025:

• The SSH Shell Servers (starfish and limpet) will be retired as they can no longer be used to directly access campus resources. This follows security changes related to remote access that were implemented on 8/1/22 (announced in the 7/16/22 InBrief).
• UNET Home Spaces (Windows/Linux network home directories) will be retired in favor of our supported Cloud Storage options like Google Drive or Box.
• People.brandeis.edu (personal web pages) will continue to be maintained for historical links in published papers, etc. However, users will no longer be able to directly modify content and instead will need to open a ticket with Systems (systems@brandeis.edu). Reminder: new personal web pages should be created with modern tools on highly available infrastructure via Google Sites.

If you have responsibility for completing the employer section of the I-9 form on behalf of Brandeis, please join us for a refresher webinar presented by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 11 a.m.- noon, register

Brandeis’s Employee Assistance Provider offers online learning opportunities on a variety of topics. The online workshops are free with our membership. This month we are spotlighting three interesting and timely topics.

• The Role of Psychological Safety in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, February 6, noon, Foster a culture of trust, innovation, and inclusivity. This session is designed to help leaders and team members understand the importance of psychological safety and provide practical strategies for creating a work environment where everyone feels safe to speak up, take risks, and be their authentic selves.
• KGA Employee Overview, February 20, noon, Did you know that you have free access to MindTide, the app to help manage stress and promote calm? Did you know KGA offers up to three free counseling sessions; they can assist you with searching for childcare and with eldercare; help you achieve your fitness goals through practical strategies and they offer much more! Learn all that KGA can do for you. This short session will review the confidential and free services available to you and your household.
• Be Your Own Health Advocate, February 26, 1 p.m., One of the best ways to take control of your health is to advocate for own well-being, but many people do not feel comfortable doing so. This seminar will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions, and take proactive steps towards a healthier, more empowered life.

LinkedIn Learning offers access to over 16,000 videos and courses including audio content on a variety of topics. You can access LinkedIn Learning for free. Sign up for a free e-card using the instructions provided to access LinkedIn Learning through the Boston Public Library. If you have any questions contact HumanResources@Brandeis.edu

Featured Courses:

• Project Manage Your Life: How to use PM Methodologies to Organize Anything, Organize your life with project management, Kerry Hoffman, an expert in operations and project management, demystifies how to apply project management techniques to both professional and personal projects.
• Build Sustainable Wealth and Get Out of Debt, A bird's eye view of getting out of debt, In this course, you can learn time-tested tips and put a clear plan in place to accelerate the process of how to protect what you have, save what you earn, and pay off the bills you owe, using practical techniques, rules, and worksheets.

Join us for any or all of the following Metro workshops this Spring. Register Here

• January 9, 10 – 10:45 a.m. - Ten Steps to Financial Success
• February 12, noon - 12:45 p.m. - Repaying Student Loans
• March 11, 3 - 3:45 p.m. - Planning for Money Milestones
• April 11, 9:15-10 a.m. - Teens and Money
• May 6, 9:15-10 a.m.- Identity Theft & Fraud

We understand that your time is precious, and we want to make it even easier for you to build your professional skills without making a big-time commitment. With Brandeis Quick Bytes, you can enjoy the same great content in a more accessible and convenient format.

Brandeis Quick Bytes continues to offer high-quality learning experiences with a streamlined approach:

• Watch a Short Video: Register to watch a pre-recorded learning video at your convenience.

• Join a 30-Minute Workshop: Attend a virtual workshop to discuss and apply the learning in just 30 minutes.

Spring 2025 Offerings Register Here

January 14, 10-10:30 a.m.: Applying Your Strengths for Increased Productivity, Join us for an engaging workshop where you will learn practical ways to apply your unique strengths to boost productivity, build your skills, and make meaningful progress on your goals. Discover how focusing on your strengths can enhance well-being, improve relationships, and empower you to manage stress effectively. Pre-work is to take the free online VIA Character Strengths Survey. Embrace your strengths and take your productivity to the next level!

On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at approximately 11 a.m., Brandeis Public Safety, in collaboration with Information Technology Services (ITS), will conduct a test of the Brandeis Emergency Notification System (BENS). This test is essential to ensure the effectiveness of our emergency communication systems in the event of a real campus emergency.

During this test, you will experience the following:

• Siren Alerts: Audible sirens will sound across the campus and surrounding areas.
• Text and Voice Messages: Notifications will be sent via text and voice messages to all individuals who have registered their cellular phone numbers with the university, as well as to all campus phones.
• Desktop Alerts: For the first time, we will implement the Alertus Desktop Notification system. With assistance from ITS, we have successfully integrated this system into university-owned computers connected to the network. These alerts will display critical emergency messages as full-screen or partial-screen pop-ups, accompanied by audio alerts to ensure immediate attention.

The integration of the Alertus system, supported by ITS, enhances our ability to disseminate emergency information swiftly and effectively across multiple platforms, ensuring that all members of our community receive timely and clear instructions during emergencies.

Please be aware that this is only a test, and no action is required on your part. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to improve our campus safety protocols.