Voice

Announcements and Recognition

The new emergency floor managers had a chance to practice as part of the evacuation drill on July 27. Photo by Monique Musick

New Butrovich Emergency Floor Managers

Emergency Floor Managers are a vital first link in an emergency building evacuation.� If a fire alarm should ring, they are responsible for:

  • Walking down the corridor of their floor assisting evacuation
  • Directing people to the nearest exit and evacuation location unless actual smoke or fire was smelled or located
  • If smoke or fire was smelled or located, direct evacuees from outside the building
  • Pass on information to a fire fighter if it was reported that someone was actually trapped inside the building
  • Assist with the accounting of people by having directors report the status of their personnel

Basement:

  • Amy O' Sullivan
  • Amaya Spencer
  • Ivan Leibbrandt

First Floor

  • Joshua Luther
  • James Milburn

Second Floor

  • Izzy Martinez
  • Jen Mahler
  • Leslie Hernandez

Thank you for volunteering for this important job! And thank you for assisting with the bomb evacuation drill.

Low co-pays through mail-order of maintenance drugs

Users of maintenance drugs, those used to treat ongoing or chronic conditions, are reminded to take advantage of the mail-order prescription service offered through CVS Caremark to continue eligibilty for low copays.

As of July 1, 2011, the mail order option became much more attractive. You can still purchase maintenance prescription drugs at your local pharmacy, but copays will be higher.

While this new policy took effect July 1, 2011, we want to remind you to make the switch. After July 1, you could refill any maintenance medications two more times at a retail location before the higher copays become effective at local pharmacies. We believe mail order is the most convenient way to order medications and that this change will actually save you time long term, because you’ll avoid extra trips to your local pharmacy. The benefits of mail order include having your medications delivered right to your door and getting a 90-day supply at once at a reduced cost to both you and the health plan.

Making the switch is easy! Just choose one of the following options:

  • Internet—Visit www.caremark.com, register and click on “Start a New Prescription”;
  • Phone—Call CVS Caremark at 1-800-875-0867, give your plan ID information and request that a representative call your physician to get your prescription drug information; or
  • Physician—Call your doctor’s office and give them CVS Caremark’s physician-only number, 1-800-378-5697, and ask him/her to call in a 90-day supply on your behalf.

We appreciate your patience as we make this transition. In addition to this communication, you will likely receive a letter from CVS Caremark outlining this change.

As always, if you have any questions about your prescription drug benefit or any other benefits-related inquiries, please contact your statewide human resources office at 907-450-8200.

2011–2012 parking decal renewal forms due August 20

Don't risk a ticket! New decals for 2011–2012 must be displayed in your car window beginning September 1. Parking services has put the renewal forms online, including the option for automatic payroll deductions. Renewal forms are due August 20. For more information or to file online visit: http://www.uaf.edu/fs/services/parking/

Direct link to pdf form =>
http://www.uaf.edu/files/fs/parkingdecalrenewal2011.pdf

Change in wireless service to affect Fairbanks users

On August 9th, OIT will be upgrading the wireless service for UAF main campus to UAlaska and discontinuing UAFnet. UAlaska provides a more secure wireless network while continuing to provide fast, reliable service for UA customers and their guests.

How do you know if this affects you? Are you an employee or student on the Fairbanks main campus, and use a wireless device?� If so, you will be affected.

What is different?
When you attempt to connect to a web page on a wireless device on campus you will be prompted to log in to UAlaska with your UA Username and password.� This is the same as you use to log in to Google Apps @ UA, Blackboard, or your domain login.

I am a UA Statewide customer and do not use UAFnet, am I affected?� UAlaska will be turned on and available as an option for customers located in the Butrovich Building, however, the current wireless service in Butrovich, ButroSW, will be discontinued later on this quarter.

How will it work? Once you enter your UA Username and password and select Full-Access Login you will be connected to UAlaska wireless.� If you have a guest who needs to connect to wireless, they would select Visitor option under Guest Access and will be instantly connected.� One change to be aware of, similar to other secure wireless networks, when you turn your wireless device off or it goes to sleep; it loses its wireless signal.� If this happens, you will be prompted to log in again.� Visit the UAlaska Wireless Service web page for more details.

If you want to avoid logging in periodically, you can try the wireless service option eduroam.� To read more about eduroam, review here.

Do you need assistance?� If you encounter any problems with this change or have questions, please contact the OIT Support Center for assistance.� 907-450-8300 or helpdesk@alaska.edu.

Longevity and Peer Awards event Aug. 18

Nominations for recognition awards due August 1

The window to submit nominations for outstanding exempt, non-exempt student and department of the year awards has been extended through August 1.

These awards annually recognize employees who consistently contribute to University of Alaska System by carrying out the responsibilities of their jobs in an exceptional manner. Employees may nominate their coworkers for employee and departmental awards by submitting a nomination form. One award each can be awarded to an outstanding department, student, non-exempt and exempt employee.

This year's longevity and peer awards event will be August 18 at 2 p.m. in Butrovich 109, and BOB 205.

Please join SAA at an ice cream social to recognize the hard work and dedication of statewide staff.

For full selection criteria, background information, procedures and eligibility requirements visit http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/awards/2011/information.pdf.

The nomination form is here: http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/awards/2011/FORM.pdf

Submit a completed nomination form to the System Governance office via their ballot box in suite 105 or email to sysaa@alaska.edu. Deadline for submitting nominations is August 1, 2011.

Please visit the SAA awards web site for more information, http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/awards/, or contact Monique Musick with any questions.

Granting Wishes

2011 Staff Giving Campaign August 23–September 20

For 8 years statewide employees have collectively joined together to plant the seeds of promise at the University of Alaska. Your generosity helps to grant the wish of a college education and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many Alaskans. Your gifts and pledges to the Statewide Staff Campaign assist in sowing a brighter future. Please plan to make your gift to the 2011 Statewide Staff Campaign. Every gift to the campaign spreads the “seeds of promise.”

To read further about the UA Foundation, including the impact of staff giving, please review the 2010 Annual Report "Seeds of Promise." Or download a PDF version of the report.

UA System Employee Summer Picnic

Please join President and Mrs. Gamble at an employee summer picnic for all System staff and their immediate family members on Tuesday, August 2, 2011, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Moose Creek Pavilion at Pioneer Park.

There will be food and refreshments; games including volleyball, bocce ball, gunny sack races, balloon stomp; and much more. RSVP to Dianne Taylor at (907) 450‐8014 or dianne.taylor@alaska.edu

An Anchorage holiday event will be held for all UA System employees in November –– stay tuned for details!

VPN service changes

On June 28 OIT began transitioning to a new VPN service called Cisco AnyConnect. This new software takes advantage of the latest technology, making installation much quicker while providing more access options than ever before. On July 28, Cisco AnyConnect will become the official OIT-provided VPN service and the old Cisco VPN service will be discontinued.

What does this transition mean? This means that you will be able to use the old Cisco VPN service during the one-month transition period. This allows you to have time to explore the new service and learn how it functions. Installing the new software will not uninstall the older version.

Why the switch? Cisco AnyConnect brings many new features requested by our customers. The main feature is the new login. Cisco AnyConnect uses your UA username and password for VPN, no longer requiring the specialized “@ua” usernames. You can also access VPN using Cisco AnyConnect from your iOS-based (iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch) mobile device! Download the Cisco AnyConnect App from the App Store to get started. Support for other mobile devices is not yet available.

How do you get started? Full details, including installation and configuration instructions, are available on the AnyConnect Service page on the OIT website.

Do you need assistance? If you encounter any problems with this transition or have any questions email the OIT Support Center or call 450-8300 for assistance.

UA Health Link

Keep up-to-date on current wellness benefits and be inspired by healthy lifestyle tips through the UA Health Link. This online newsletter provides monthly updates on IHP programs, wellness breaks, current incentive programs and more. If you missed this month's issue, read it HERE.

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