Campus News

Avoid the lines

The mobile Illinois Secretary of State office will be on campus today from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Center East concourse.

Students and employees can renew their driver’s license or state ID, buy vehicle license plate stickers, register to be an organ or tissue donor, and buy specialty UIC license plates to support student scholarships.

 

Pilot funding

Feb. 1 is the deadline for researchers to apply for pilot grant funding from the Center for Clinical and Translational Science.

Pilot grants of up to $30,000 per year for two years will be awarded for new clinical and translational research projects in three categories: health information technology, focused drug discovery and public health/health of the population.

Application materials are available online.

 

Online library resource

UIC Library users now can search 148 academic and research libraries in Illinois with Summon, a one-stop search engine.

With Summon, users can find books, journal articles, archival materials, data and more from the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois, as well as from websites.

Users can access the materials through interlibrary loan. Real-time availability of each item is displayed so users can easily place holds and requests.

“It’s a seamless experience for the users,” said Mary Case, head of the UIC Library. “Direct access to these additional resources significantly increases the value of our collections to our users.”

Click on the “Summon” tab on the UIC Library website to search.

 

Safe Zone training


The Gender and Sexuality Center presents Safe Zone training workshops to heighten awareness of LGBTQ issues.

Programs include information on sexual and gender identity issues, policies that affect LGBTQ individuals and strategies for creating inclusive environments.

For more information, email lthomson@uic.edu or call 312-413-8619. 

 

Go green

Student organizations and individual students have until Feb. 8 to submit preliminary proposals seeking funds for campus projects related to sustainability, energy efficiency and conservation or renewable energy, including composting, landscaping and transportation.

A total of about $100,000 will be awarded by the Green Fee Advisory Board, which includes students, faculty and staff. The funding comes from the UIC Green Fee paid by undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

 

Passwords protected

A new state law prohibits employers from requesting or requiring employees or prospective employees to provide passwords for access to their social networking websites.

Effective Jan. 1, the law does not prohibit access to information that is made publicly available. Examples of social networking covered under the law include Facebook, Google+, MySpace, Twitter and other Internet-based services.

 

Go, snow

During snow and ice storms, Facilities Management crews work around the clock to keep the campus as open and accessible as weather permits.

Priority goes to hospital and ambulatory care areas, disability-access entrances and areas, emergency routes and public walkways.

However, it may take several days to clear the campus of snow and ice.

Report snow- and ice-related problems to the 24-hour snow removal hotline, 312-355-SNOW, including location, time and a phone number or e-mail for follow-up.

 

Price increase for CTA monthly passes

An increase in the cost of CTA passes, effective Jan. 14, means UIC employees who purchase monthly passes through transit benefit deduction will see a change in their biweekly or monthly paychecks.

The monthly fare for the Chicago Card Plus, good for use on CTA buses and trains, increased from $86 to $100.

For employees paid biweekly, the change appeared on their Jan. 2 paycheck. Employees paid monthly will see the change in their Feb. 15 check.

For more information, call 312-413-5800.

 

Take time to give blood


Blood donors must now have an appointment to give blood at campus drives.

Those who want to give blood should email donor coordinator Drew Ross at andross@uic.edu. Walk-ins will only be accepted if there is an open slot.

UIC will host several drives for National Blood Donor Month. Donors receive a hospital/UIC Flames sweatshirt.

• College of Pharmacy Blood Drive, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, B8 Pharmacy

• OCC/Phlebotomy Department Blood Drive, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 29-31, Outpatient Care Clinic lobby

• College of Medicine Blood Drive, 9 a.m-2 p.m. Feb. 7, Thompson Room, Student Center West.

 

Free dental screenings

UIC dental students will give free screenings from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the College of Dentistry as they prepare for their licensing exam.

Patients must be at least 18 years old. No appointment required.

Additional screenings will be held Feb. 9 and 16.

 

Boost soccer skills

The Flames will host the eighth annual UIC Soccer Summer Camp June 10 through July 29.

Soccer head coach Sean Phillips leads the camp, which offers five one-week sessions with three age-specific options.

“We are excited to continue to offer each camper, regardless of age or ability, the opportunity to maximize their potential and passion for the great game of soccer,” Phillips said.

The Little Stars camp is an introductory camp for children ages 4 and 5.

The half-day camp, for children 5 to 14, focuses on fundamental soccer skills and games. The full-day camp includes additional technical and tactical development skills.

The UIC Soccer Elite Training Campus is open to boys ages 12 to 18. Residential and commuter options are available.

 

Get your U-Pass 


Students can pick up their CTA U-Pass through next week in 1790 Student Services Building.

All full-time students are assessed a $109 nonrefundable CTA transportation fee during the fall semester for the pass, which is good for unlimited rides on CTA buses and trains during the academic sessions.

U-Passes can be picked up 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Friday.

For more information, email idcenter@uic.edu

The U-Pass program now includes paratransit services for eligible students.

To be eligible, students must present a certification letter from the RTA to the UIC ID Center. Eligible students will receive PACE ADA One Ride Tickets for paratransit services.

For more information, call the ID Center at 312-413-5940 or the Disability Resource Center at 312-413-2183.

 

Blackboard upgrade

The UIC Blackboard Learn system has been upgraded to a new Blackboard-hosted environment.

The site is up and running and students can now enroll in courses.

Download a beginning-of-the-semester checklist and read information about the new system and its features online.

 

Presenters wanted


Organizers of the annual Women’s Leadership Symposium, planned for June 6, are seeking volunteer presenters for two-hour workshops during the daylong event.

Presentations should take a broad view of leadership development, including career and workplace issues, work/life balance, self exploration and empowerment.

Submit proposals through Feb. 8 at wlrc@uic.edu or by fax at 312-413-8393.

 

Online tax information

Employees can sign up through today to receive their Form W-2 online.

Foreign national employees can now receive 1042-S tax form electronically.

Request an online W-2 or 1042-S form through NESSIE.

The form is available through the “compensation” tab.

The 40,000 employees who received their W-2 electronically last year do not need to sign up again this year.

Employees who do not receive the W-2 electronically will be mailed a copy.

For more information, call 312-996-7200.

 

IT Forum

Information technology professionals can submit a proposal for a presentation and/or poster session for the UIC IT Professionals Forum.

The event, hosted April 3 at the UIC Forum, showcases how information technology at UIC supports the success of the university’s mission.

 

Online employment verification


University employees who need employment verification to apply for a mortgage, rent an apartment or other purposes can use the online Employment Verification System available through NESSIE, the human resources website.

The online system provides immediate access to employment verification information.

Start the process at NESSIE by selecting the “Personal Info” tab, then establishing a “Vendor Access Number.” Provide the VAN number to the external business or vendor to give them access to your employment verification information.