As students and instructors get set to return to class, now is a good time for all to take stock of the support and resources available to University of Oregon employees and opportunities to engage in all things uniquely UO.

Editor’s note: This special edition is a collection of new or important news that frames the start of the academic year, links to resources that support your success, employee perks and opportunities to celebrate excellence. It was emailed to UO employees on Thursday, September 19, 2024, with the subject line - Workplace special edition: News and resources for UO employees. You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with the topics. Then, save it to refer back to when a need arises. If you need something and don’t know where to find it, ask a colleague or email workplace@uoregon.edu. There’s most likely a service or resource available to help you.  

Jump to sections:

Workplace is your official weekly source of news and information to support you as a UO employee. The following highlights address key topics as we enter a new academic year.

Big Ten: The UO made its big move to the Big Ten Conference. From competing on the field to collaborating on scholarship, this marks the beginning of an untold number of opportunities for our university, our student-athletes and our academic programs. 

Free speech: Policies and regulations provide the framework for how freedom of expression and free speech are protected and can be exercised on our campuses, in classrooms, public spaces and within workspaces.  

Leadership: Meet executive leaders and learn about the structure and management of the UO on the president and provost websites. The academic year begins with new faces in key positions. Provost Christopher P. Long leads programs, policies and priorities that shape teaching and scholarship. Vice President Angela Chong and Interim Vice President Jim Brooks will take the lead on student life and student services. Kody Kelleher steps into a key governance role with the Board of Trustees as university secretary. 

Reporting requirements: Almost all employees are now required to report disclosures of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, including those made by students, to the Title IX coordinator as soon as possible through the online form. The Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance website provides resources and information about your reporting responsibilities.

Strategic plan: Named “Oregon Rising,” the strategic plan establishes four key goals that include enhancing pathways to timely graduation, being a leader in career preparation, creating a flourishing community and innovation with societal impact. Together, these four goals (and four areas of signature scholarship) create a road map to align efforts and propel the university forward. 

UO Portland will be bustling with activity this academic year as employees and students are all together for the first time on the new campus. Explore the Northeast Campus through the UO Portland website. 

Services and resources are available across the university to support you and your work as a key contributor to UO excellence and the university's mission. 

Taking care of business

Acronyms: UO-speak often involves the use of acronyms. Translate our unique language with the acronyms index. 

Phishing: Protect your account from malicious use. Learn how to identify, report and respond to phishing emails, as well as phishing by text message or phone. Take a 15-minute phishing awareness training.

Policies: Use the Policy Library to find and review UO policies. It also serves as a tool for following the work of the Policy Advisory Council, monitoring policies under development and submitting public comment on policy proposals. 

Printing and mailing: Print Services is your one-stop shop when it comes to all your printing needs. The staff can guide you through the process from start to finish, saving you time and money. Mail Services is your go-to resource for campus mail. 

Records: Learn what records you need to keep, where to keep them, how long to keep them, and what you can and should destroy with the records management website, and remember that your records are considered public. 

Technology: Visit the UO Service Portal to find how-to guides, submit a ticket or look up tech support contact info. Instructors can attend classroom tech trainings. Check the IT Service Status website for notices about tech outages. New faculty and staff can learn more about getting started with tech.  

Travel: Navigate the processes and practices required for UO-related travel with resources and support from the UO Travel Office. 

UO brand: Apply the UO brand when communicating with coworkers and partners. The Oregon Brand Guide empowers you with the knowledge and tools necessary to maintain consistency, uphold policy and build our visual identity across all university communications. 

Taking care of you

Benefits (eligible faculty and staff): Look to the UO Benefits Office for resources and support.

• Your medical plan offers wellness resources beyond health insurance; don’t miss out on annual benefits through dental and vision insurance. Remember to take action during open enrollment, which occurs in October of each year. 
• Get support from Canopy, the university’s employee assistance program provider. You can access a comprehensive suite of resources at no cost in support of a variety of needs from home buying and childcare referrals to personal counseling.
• Use the resources and information available to save and plan for your retirement. 

Health services: You can receive physical therapy and dental care through University Health Services. Get your over-the-counter supplies and your prescriptions filled at the pharmacy. Flu and COVID vaccines are offered when capacity allows, so watch Workplace for announcements. 

Pay: Payroll Services is your point of contact for general tax information, forms and other processes. Contact your unit’s payroll administrator when you need assistance with a question or issues specific to your own pay. 

Professional development: Build your skills or refresh old ones through LinkedIn Learning, Academic Impressions or MyTrack.  

Safety: Keep yourself and your colleagues safe with resources from Safety and Risk Services. View safety sheets about specific hazards, environmental health issues and best practices. The Occupational Health and Safety team is your point of contact when you need to report a workplace injury, want an ergonomic assessment or need assistance with a concern. 

Security: UOPD offers a number of services and programs to help you feel secure on campuses and safeguard your valuables. You can take self-defense classes, request a safety escort, register devices and get a fingerprint record. 

Time off: Refer to the HR website for information about paid time off, holiday observance and other leaves of absence.     

UO Alerts: Stay informed of immediate issues impacting the health or safety of the campus community by reading UO Alerts. Alerts are emailed to all @uoregon.edu email accounts and posted to the Alerts Page. You must opt-in to receive UO Alerts via text.

 Well-being and family support: Care.com is free and provides access to all types of care providers, monthly talks and presentations, and a discount program. HR connects you with a variety of resources to support your work-life balance. 

Getting around campus

Construction notices: Stay informed of campus closures, shutdowns and detours with notices from Campus Planning and Facilities Management or by checking the UO Campus Map construction impacts. 

Transportation: Get on board with the many ways to get to campus — bus, bike, roll, walk or drive — and make sure to have the correct passes. Transportation Services is your go-to resource for your campus commute. 

UO Maps: Navigate UO campuses easily with the UO Campus Map and the map app. You can pin your favorite and frequented locations or take a self-guided tour of the Eugene campus to see landmarks and learn a bit of history.  

A university is a unique place to work with opportunities and offerings you won’t find in other places. These are the highlights to keep you connected to all things uniquely UO.

Athletics: You can get season ticket discounts to cheer on the Ducks through the Athletics ticket office. Discounts to specific games are often announced during a sports season, such as the current offer for the UO versus Maryland football game on Nov. 9. Sign up your children for the Junior Duck Club and get special perks from The Duck. 

Community engagement: Join a strategies group through the Campus and Community Engagement program to be a part of cross-campus collaborations, to foster understanding and to encourage engagement built on the principles of empowerment and justice. 

Dining: There are so many places to eat on a university campus. Check out new dining options on the Eugene campus along with menu updates to cafés and food courts. The UO Campus Map has a food app layer and has a feature to drop a pin in a location and get a unique URL to send to a coworker to meet for coffee or lunch. Sign up for Ducks Dine On to get discounted meal plans at University Housing dining locations.  

Duck Fridays: FYI Fridays give you the opportunity for Ducks to learn from other Ducks. Sessions offer a variety of topics, last from 30 to 90 minutes and take place on Fridays during the academic year. View the schedule in SharePoint (login required). Every Friday is a Duck Friday. Wear green and yellow weekly and holler 'Go Ducks!'

Events: Keep up to date on happenings around campus by searching the UO Events Calendar and by submitting events for your unit, school or college to share with others. 

Libraries: If you work, teach or learn at UO, you have a librarian. You have full access to UO Libraries to explore books, use newspaper subscriptions, and even rent movies and gaming devices. 

Mentorship: Help build a culture of mentorship through the UO Mentorship Reimagined program.  Museums: Explore history and art exhibits with your free admission to the Museum of Natural and Cultural History and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. 

UO Ticket Office: Purchase concert and event ticket sales for a broad range of venues both on and off campus through the UO Ticket Office. You can also apply for or renew your passport through this office. 

Volunteer: You are invited to help new Ducks move in during Unpack the Quack. Watch Workplace for other volunteer opportunities throughout the year to get involved with programs and events that serve students and their families.

Celebrate colleagues who have received UO-sponsored awards for their excellent work and contribute to recognition programs through the nomination processes.

Recognition programs: Awards recognize the success of faculty and staff who demonstrate excellence through their work. View the UO-sponsored awards listing and make plans to nominate a colleague.

Awards programs are administered by the following offices:

• Office of the Provost – Teaching and scholarship awards
• Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation – Research awards
• University of Oregon Senate – Service awards
• Office of Human Resources – Employee awards

Workplace is your official weekly source of news and information designed specifically for University of Oregon faculty, staff and graduate employees. Workplace has information for and about our own UO community — including our shared goals, announcements, HR information and benefits, stories of success and flourishing. Look for a new edition every Tuesday at 2 p.m.  

OregonNews is a new weekly digital publication focused especially on stories that reflect the accomplishments of our people, the impact of our scholarship and our larger aspirations as a preeminent public research university. OregonNews is sent to a broad set of audiences including alumni, students, parents, civic leaders, faculty, staff and others. Look for weekly issues every Monday afternoon.  

Together, these two sources provide news you can use while celebrating contributions to our collective success. 

Have a story to share or a UO topic you would like to know more about?

Submit your idea or request to the Workplace editor by emailing workplace@uoregon.edu. 

Make it a great year!