NEWS AND EVENTS
Upcoming Events and News
Nebraska Lecture featuring Mike Babcock, Aug. 24
The next Nebraska Lecture of the N150 series is at 1 p.m. at the Nebraska State Fair. Mike Babcock will present “History of Football at Nebraska” in the Raising Nebraska Pavilion, 501 E. Fonner Park Road, Suite 100, Grand Island, Nebraska. Babcock, editor of Hail Varsity magazine, is author of a dozen books about Husker athletics. An ice cream social will follow the lecture.
Check out ORED’s onboarding website for new employees
- Welcome to ORED: This section features a welcome video from Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Bob Wilhelm, along with an overview of the ORED mission.
- Getting Started at ORED: On this page, new hires can view an organizational chart, learn some of ORED’s acronyms and terminology, read through a newly created ORED handbook and find the annual pay calendar.
- Where You Can Find Us: This page displays photos of the many locations where ORED staff work.
- Let’s Get You Set Up: This section contains links to apply for an NCard, order business cards, and set up an email signature, voicemail message and desk phone.
- UNL Resources: This page connects the user to the Human Resources page for benefits information, campus maps, employee services and discounts, Firefly, parking information, pay stub information, a calendar for employee orientation and instructions to set up UNL Alert.
Ember Welsch, ORED’s Human Resources representative, will send a link to this page with other new hire paperwork after a signed offer letter is returned. She also will send a link to the Manager’s Onboarding Toolkit to the hiring manager. This document contains a checklist to ensure a new hire’s onboarding experience is positive and consistent.
Contact Laurie Sampson if you have questions or feedback about these new resources. Thanks, Laurie, for helping to improve the experience of new hires in ORED!
Reminder to complete EHS training
The university’s Environmental Health and Safety Office requires two training courses for all employees who get a paycheck at UNL, regardless of the type of employment. Employees need only take each course one time during their employment at UNL. These courses are:
- Core – Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP)
- Core – Emergency Preparedness
For employees who work with any chemicals, there is an additional requirement:
- Chemical Safety
If you are unsure of what training you’ve already completed, please visit the EHS web-based training site. After you log in, click the button under your name called “Training Records” to view your personal training list.
To identify additional training you may need to work safely and in compliance with regulatory requirements, see the Training Needs Assessment for EHS-Related Topics.
For questions, contact EHS by email or at 472-4925.
KUDOS TO OUR COLLEAGUES
Kacey Nelkin Pedersen, Sponsored Programs, recently passed the Certified Research Administrator, or CRA, exam. CRA designation is granted to individuals who demonstrate the knowledge necessary to serve as an administrator of professional and sponsored research programs. Kacey sat for the exam on May 16 and received her test results June 21. Congratulations, Kacey!
WELLNESS WATCH
Many of us are looking for ways to reduce stress in the workplace. One way to do this is to up your friendly quotient at work. These five tips are adapted from an article by Lisa Quest that appeared in Forbes on Jan. 30, 2017. Thanks to Laurie Sampson for submitting this!
- Smile more and acknowledge coworkers when you see them: You’ve probably heard that smiling is contagious. It’s a fun challenge to put this into practice. This isn’t about creating a fake persona of perpetual happiness. It’s about genuinely connecting with people at work in a way that makes them (and you) feel good.
- Take time to get to know your colleagues: We spend more time at work each day than in any other activity (except sleeping), so get to know your coworkers.
- Spend more time asking what others thing: Flip the switch from telling to asking by spending more time gathering feedback.
- Become more helpful around the office: This may mean cleaning dishes in the break room or filling the copier paper trays. Do these with a grateful attitude.
- Give more compliments: Words can have an incredibly profound impact, both positive and negative, on people. Start observing what goes on around you and then each day take the time to recognize the amazing work of one person or let someone know what you appreciate about him or her.
WATER COOLER CHAT
Summer officially concludes on Sept. 23, so there’s still more than a month left of grilling season! Here are some of your ORED colleagues’ favorites:
Tiffani Hix, Research Finance and Information Systems: “Tequila Lime Chicken.”
Rose Robotham, NUTech Ventures: “Asparagus — just olive oil, kosher salt and a hot grill! The flavor is ridiculous.”
Andrea Schreiber, Sponsored Programs: “Flat iron steak, zucchini spears, thick onion slices, fresh pineapple spears (yes, pineapple!).”
Thanks to all who participated in this month’s survey. Stay tuned for the next question in the August edition of OPEN Book.
THE MONTH IN PICTURES
Many of you have probably noticed the construction on Vine Street outside Whittier. New signage identifying the building as the Prem S. Paul Research Center at Whittier School is currently being installed. The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the new name for the building in September 2016 to honor Prem’s legacy at Nebraska. The picture above is a rendering of what the completed project will look like.
Thanks to all who contributed to this month’s OPEN Book. If you have an item you’d like to submit for the next issue, submit it here or send it to Tiffany Lee.
