The spring "Conversation with the President" event will be Monday, April 28th at 2:30 p.m. in the BOR conference room and Bragaw 109. Dana Thomas will be interviewing Gamble and Kate Ripley will be the event moderator. The focus will be on Shaping Alaska's Future and the outcome of the legislative session. Please send any pressing questions you would like included to klripley@alaska.edu.
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2014 marks the 4th year that the University of Alaska system, including all community campuses, has participated in the Pick.Click.Give program, which allows you to donate a portion of your Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). Each year, gifts to UA have increased through the Pick.Click.Give campaign. 2014 also marks the third year in a row that ExxonMobil generously matches donations raised through the program on a 1:1 basis for the three higher education institutions in the state – UA, APU, and Ilisagvik College, up to a total of $100,000. The three colleges have yet to raise a total of $100,000, so the full match has not been fully realized. This is an amazing opportunity, so please consider making your contribution to UA through Pick.Click.Give!� MORE...

By XH'UNEI - LANCE A. TWITCHELL
FOR THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

The development of indigenous studies programs has been the greatest thing to happen to American higher learning institutions in the past 40 years. Many of these programs started in the ‘70s, as other culturally diverse programs blossomed on campuses across the nation. This was not an easy process, nor is it today. Higher learning institutions often consider themselves, consciously or subconsciously, born out of the European consciousness. If we pay attention to the way things are discussed on and off campuses, we see that this notion has been embedded in American consciousness: higher forms of thinking occur in American English in America. MORE....

“One of our top priorities is to protect students and employees personal information”, observed Dr. Ashok Roy, Vice President of Finance & Administration at the University of Alaska System.

The University of Alaska strives to protect students and employees personally identifiable information by implementing information and data security standards in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act Red Flag Regulations.

According to FTC Sentinel Network report, the maximum number of ID theft victims fall in the age group of 20-29. “This is very alarming because that is the age group of students”, said Dr. Russell O’Hare, Chief Records Officer. University of Alaska follows numerous compliance regulations to address the protection of student and employee information.

The University of Alaska strongly enforces the Red Flag Rule that outlines the system wide efforts to identify, respond, mitigate and prevent the fraudulent access to personally identifiable information and covered accounts.

“The Records and Information Management Office strives to provide information security and data safety using state-of-the art technology solutions”, according to Dr. Shiva Hullavarad, ECM System Administrator.

The Records and Information Management Office suggests following 8 steps to minimize identity theft;

1. Protect your social security number. Do not carry your original or a photocopy of social security card.� Refer to, "Your Social Security Number: Controlling the Key to Identity Theft" http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html
2. Be cautious when providing personal information. Scammers pretend to be government agencies, health care providers, and bankers via e-mails, phones and postal mails. Ask questions on who is calling, why information is necessary for the transaction and the call back number.
3. Do not use the same passwords for everything. Do not share passwords with anyone and do not write passwords on your computers. Change your passwords regularly. For password tips see http://www.microsoft.com/business/en-us/resources/technology/security/5-tips-for-top-notch-password-security.aspx?fbid=rycjYxdF03f
4. Shred any documents before throwing out. Bank statements, pre-approved credit card offers are the prime targets.
5. Protect your computer, laptop with the latest firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware and update them regularly.
6. While shopping online use secure sites with ‘https’ and valid security certification.
7. University employees will never call to ask for social security number. Notify such events to campus law enforcement authority.�
8. University will never send emails to respond to email quota upgrade – this is scam. If you get an email like that report it to helpdesk@alaska.edu

The Statewide Office of Human Resources announces the following training & development opportunities for University employees. See http://www.alaska.edu/hrtraining/Calendar/ for the monthly calendar at a glance.

Click HERE for registration links and additional information.

Statewide Training Opportunities

Performance Appraisals at UA - Supervisors
March 27, 2014
8:30 am – 10:00 am Butro 109
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Butro 109

Performance Appraisals at UA – Intro for Employees
March 27, 2014
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Butro 109

Workplace Bullying Awareness
March 27, 2014
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Butro 109

Webinars
Click HERE for additional information.

Becoming a Better Listener - April 2, 2014, Wednesday @ 11:00 am Register for 11-12pm AKST

Effective Communication -� April 17, 2014, Thursday @ 2:00 pm � Register for 2-3pm AKST

UA EMPLOYEE E-LEARNING - SkillSoft Resources available until January 30, 2015.
Click HERE for registration links and additional information.

SkillSoft Demonstration / Orientation
Go to https://skillsoft.webex.com/skillsoft/j.php?J=276380795&PW=NM2I4N2JkZmZk
Meeting Number: 276 380 795
Meeting Password: welcome
Call-in toll-free number: 1-866-668-0721� (US)
Conference Code: 623 546 8761

May 1, 2014, Thursday at 9:00 am AST
Go to https://skillsoft.webex.com/skillsoft/j.php?J=270078351&PW=NOGYwMjQ1YWNm
Meeting Number: 270 078 351
Meeting Password: welcome
Call-in toll-free number: 1-866-668-0721� (US)
Conference Code: 623 546 8761

Are you interested in preparing for a certification exam?� As a University employee, you have access to SkillSoft courses to prepare for business certification exams. � A few of the certifying organizations and the certifications are listed below: ���

American Society for Quality
Six Sigma - � Black Belt or Green Belt �
CMQ/OE - Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence

Project Management Institute
CAPM - Certified Associate in Project Management
PMP - Project Management Professional�

International Institute of Business Analysis
CBAP – Certified Business Analysis Professional

Human Resource Certification Institute
PHR – Professional in Human Resources
SPHR – Senior Professional in Human Resources

The 2013 Service Award celebration on March 3 was a fun and festive affair. A large crowd gathered in Butrovich 109 and video conferenced with the Bragaw Office Building in Anchorage. Ice cream and toppings, frozen yogurt and coffee service were available for staff. SAA President Dory Straight was emcee for the event, and President Gamble presented staff with longevity and outstanding recognition awards.

Internal Audit coordinated entertainment for this year's event. They provided a slide show of audit-related humor and set up a game of Clue based on a real-life case involving theft at a university. Next year Labor and Employee Relations will be responsible for entertainment.

In addition to 5-year, 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, 25-year, 30-year and 35-year service recognition, Gamble presented two employees and a department with Outstanding Employeee and Department recognition. The peer-nominated awards are the highlight of the service award event. This year's honorees were Samantha Stanbrough, Michelle Rizk and OIT Technical Services. Congratulations to them for their outstanding work.

Please click HERE for a gallery of images from the event.

Open Enrollment is April 15 through May 16. During this time employees may elect to enroll themselves, their spouses and/or dependents into one of three plan options: 750 Plan, HDHP or CDHP. Open enrollment provides the opportunity to consider any plan changes, such as adding or dropping coverage for family members, or electing or increasing supplemental life insurance. It is also an opportunity to decide to participate in a Medical Flexible Spending Account (on the 750 Plan or HDHP) or the Health Savings Account (for CDHP enrollees). The UA Choice Enrollment Guide, found on the benefits Web site, will help you select thehealth plan that best meets your needs and budget.

(Rates, Plan Changes and MORE...)

Dr. Ashok Roy's articles on the subject of territorial claims in the Arctic region caught the attention of a London industry publicatin. Dr. Roy was contacted and interviewed by the Marine Trader of the International Marine Purchasing Association in London (United Kingdom). Click the link below to read the interview.� http://readmt.com/analysis/article/2014/03/05/final-frontier-the-arctic-ocean-up-for-grabs/

Do you desire to know more about what is happening at the university? Want an opportunity to review and comment on policy changes before they happen? Do you enjoy planning events that make statewide a better place to work? Or maybe you feel a need to speak out about conditions affecting statewide staff? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions we need you in the Statewide Administration Assembly.

Now is the time to get involved! Please take a couple minutes to fillout the simple online form at www.alaska.edu/governance/saa/elections/ to nominate yourself or a coworker for the Statewide Administration Assembly.� Any employee whose personnel record resides with the statewide Office of Human Resources is eligible; these include regular and temporary employees, full-time and part-time and all employee classifications, except student employees.

We need to fill five voting seats from Fairbanks and one from Anchorage. These are two-year terms. We also need two alternates to serve one-year terms (any location is fine).

Outgoing SAA members eligible for nomination are Britton Anderson, Heather Arana, Tanya Coty, Linda Hall, Jeff Holloway, Kathleen Miner, Dana Platta, and Debbie Rimer.

Members who still have one year of their term to go, and thus areineligible for nomination this year are Alex Amegashie, Tina Holland, Monique Musick, Dory Straight, and Chrystal Warmoth.

Nominations are scheduled to close Monday, April 14, at 5:00 p.m. Please submit the names of all the Statewide or OIT employees you think would make good representatives for your workplace concerns.

SAA is our staff voice to the UA administration. Active participation is vital. Please consider how your experience can be put to use in the university's governance system.

To see out what a typical meeting looks like, check out the Highlights from last week's meeting:
http://www.alaska.edu/files/governance/SAAHighlights3-2014.pdf

Thank you!

Dory Straight
SAA President

Administrative Professionals Week is April 20 - 26, 2014.

A sincere thank you to administrative professionals for the work you do on behalf of the University of Alaska!�

Administrative Professionals Week is a national event to recognize the contributions of administrative professionals in our workplace and to encourage their professional development.

UA System administrative professionals are encouraged to participate in the following appreciation and development events:

• UAF Staff Appreciation Day – May 14, 2014, Wednesday �
• UAS Staff Development Day – May 14, 2014, Wednesday
• UAA Development Day – May 15, 2014, Thursday �

Committees are hard at work and websites are in the process of being created or updated to identify workshops and registration information. �

UAA: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/developmentday Betty Hernandez anbah4@uaa.alaska.edu

UAF: Ashley Munro akmunro@alaska.edu or Maria Russell mtrussell@alaska.edu

UAS: Dayna Mackey dayna.mackey@uas.alaska.edu

Questions?... or for individuals interested in volunteering to help with any of the events, please contact the respective campuses directly. To ensure proper departmental coverage, please obtain supervisory approval prior to registration and participation if the activity occurs during your work hours. �