The IT Transition planning team continues to conduct background research, hold weekly meetings and consult the directors and managers of all OIT units to prepare recommendations and options for the consideration of new IT leadership as the university prepares for the separation of UAF and SW IT services. Recruitment for the Chief Information Technology Officer for the UA system closed Friday June 22 and the first review of applications has begun. Information on the CIO recruitment will be shared once the position is posted.

Many of the comments and questions received so far by the IT Transition Team relate to specific outcomes and timelines. Defining the scope, timeline and process for the transition will be the responsibility of the new IT leaders once they come on board. While the initial project definition is anticipated this fall, the actual transition will take longer.

Individual feedback, suggestions, questions and concerns are a valuable part of this process. You may contribute your thoughts using this form: FEEDBACK.

Please visit www.alaska.edu/hr/it-transition/ for additional information on the transition and other resources.

When you receive routine preventive care, your UA Choice health plan pays for the services—you don’t!

By getting preventive care, you:

• Help avoid serious health problems—and additional healthcare costs—before they start
• Stay healthy for the people at home and at work who count on you

Preventive services may include screenings, vaccinations, and medications. You can get the full preventive care list and guide to using your benefits at http://www.premera.com/ak/stayhealthy. Call your doctor’s office to find out which preventive care services are right for you.

Which services aren’t considered preventive?

During your visit, your doctor may find a problem that needs more screening or tests to pinpoint the issue. If you manage an ongoing health issue, your doctor may run further tests. Screenings and tests that diagnose or monitor your condition are not preventive services and may require you to pay out-of-pocket costs.

SAA members, both those elected to new terms and those finishing their current term, will meet for their annual orientation and planning retreat Friday, June 29 at the University House. The retreat will run 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The agenda includes governance orientation, discussions with senior university leadership, calendar development and goal setting.

The University of Alaska is discounting tuition for workforce training opportunities offered at all 13 campuses beginning fall 2018. UA will reduce tuition by 25 percent on selected occupational endorsement programs and career and technical education (CTE) courses. The tuition reduction will apply to more than 300 courses in 50 programs at the University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and University of Alaska Southeast. The reduced tuition is part of the university’s plan to meet Alaska’s workforce needs by growing enrollment and increasing degree completion. View the list of eligible courses at: http://www.alaska.edu/starthere/cte/.

Further information on Occupational Endorsement programs at the University of Alaska and this discount opportunity can be viewed HERE.

It is well publicized that today's attackers are ever vigilant in their attempts to uncover weak points in networks, computers, and mobile devices to establish a foothold and leverage vulnerabilities, thus resulting in the compromise of critical assets or personal information. Areas of concern that can lead to a breach include the lack of physical security controls available at remote locations, the use of unsecured networks, and the connection of infected devices to internal networks. The challenge is especially daunting when:

1. Staff, faculty, and students are accustomed to using use free public Wi-Fi hot spots, and some will use them to access institutional e-mails and documents.
2. Some campus employees will e-mail work documents to and from their personal account, despite numerous security problems this creates. �
3. Some campus employees will use free USB charging ports available at airports and other public places. These ports pose the risk of transferring viruses and malware to unsuspecting users.

Planning for Secure Remote Access� MORE....

Review UA IT Policies & Security Standards HERE

FY19 Goes Live!

The FY19 Wellness Program will go live on the Healthyroads website with the start of the fiscal year in July! Starting then, when you log-in to your Healthyroads account you will see the updated program year and any completed items that may have pulled-in already. Same as previous years, the program dates for all activities is 5/1/18—4/30/19. The plan design will remain the same as last year. Last year's, FY18 (5/1/17—4/30/18), biometric results will determine your requirements for this year and you will fall within 1 of 3 scenarios:

1. You completed biometrics during FY18 and meet at least 3/5 of the biometric metrics
   1. Requirements: Complete a Personal Health Assessment (PHA)
2. You completed biometrics during FY18 but did not meet at least 3/5 of the biometric metrics
   1. Requirements: Complete a PHA, Biometric Screening, Earn 5 points
3. You did not complete biometrics during FY18
   1. Requirements: Complete a PHA, Biometric Screening, Earn 5 points

Completing all required items by the program deadline will mean that you will earn next year’s $600 wellness rebate for FY20. Much more communication will come throughout the program year but if you have any questions in the meantime please contact UA’s onsite Healthyroads Wellness Manager, Sara Rodewald at: 907-450-8203 or sararo@ashn.com.

New to the UA Choice Plan?

If you are new to the UA Choice Plan, whether an employee or spouse/FIP, you are eligible to participate in the wellness program and receive the wellness rebate! Eligibility for the program is based on your plan start date (not hire date) and your Healthyroads account will become active once your benefits are. The ‘New Hire’ document will provide all other details to get you started and Sara or your local HR is available for any follow-up questions.

Over 90 Americans die each day as a result of opioid abuse and addiction. About half of these deaths are caused by misuse of opioid prescriptions.

Premera Blue Cross is helping prevent opioid addiction at the time of prescription. You can be sure that if your doctor prescribes opioids to control pain, the prescription you receive minimizes the risk for misuse or addiction.

Premera's opioid prescription policies align with the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and were developed with input from healthcare providers. The policies help reduce the likelihood of addiction at the time of prescription. They also provide treatment options to members with opioid use disorder.

Tip: Have leftover opioids or other prescription medicine? Here’s how to safely dispose of it.

Effective July 2, 2018, OneTouch� is now the exclusive preferred* brand of diabetes testing products for UA Choice health plans, meaning it is covered at the lowest co-pay or coinsurance.

To get a OneTouch�� system at no charge visit www.OneTouch.orderpoints.com and input order code 753PRM001 or call 1-855-351-5635 and provide order code 753PRM001.

More information can be found HERE.