Spirit of Ethan Allen Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise – Thursday, July 18, 2013

It’s time to put your sleuthing skills to the test for an entertaining evening filled with food, fun, and murder on beautiful Lake Champlain! The Staff Council Social Committee has arranged a special discount for UVM staff, faculty, retirees, UVM Foundation employees, and their family or friends to participate in the Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen III on Thursday, July 18^th. Tickets are available for $40 – UVM Staff/Faculty/Retirees/Foundation employees, $42 for all other guests. That’s over $10 off the regular price! For more information and to find a reservation form visit the Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise webpage or contact the Staff Council Office at Staff.Council@uvm.edu or 656-4493. The deadline for reservations is Wednesday, July 11^th.

UVM Night at Vermont Lake Monsters Baseball Game & Barbecue – Friday, June 21, 2013

Take me out to the Ball Game . . . Why sure! That’s exactly what Staff Council had in mind. The Staff Council Social Committee has organized a UVM Night with pre-game Barbecue to watch the Vermont Lake Monsters take on the Connecticut Tigers on Friday, June 21st at historic Centennial Field. The park has been updgraded and renovated in the off-season - check out the new seats in general admission! For just $13 for adults, $8 for children, and $10 for retirees and seniors, you receive a ticket for general admission in the UVM Night section as well as a barbecue picnic meal that includes a Cheeseburger, Hot Dog, Chips, Cookie, and Soft-drink at The Cage (opposite First Base). This event is open to UVM staff, faculty, retirees, UVM Foundation employees, and their family or friends. For more information and to find a reservation form visit the UVM Night at Vermont Lake Monster Baseball Game & Barbecue webpage or contact the Staff Council Office at Staff.Council@uvm.edu or 656-4493. The deadline for reservations is Wednesday, June 7^th. 

9^th Annual Golf Outing at the Links at Lang Farm – Friday, August 16, 2013

There’s nothing like a round of golf! Come join in the fun for the 9^th Annual Staff Council Golf Outing at the Links at Lang Farm on Friday, August 16^th. This event is sponsored by the Staff Council Social Committee and will include 18 holes, hors d’oeuvres, range balls, and prizes. Back by popular demand, you may purchase Mulligan’s for one dollar with all proceeds benefiting the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. This event is open to UVM staff, faculty, retirees, UVM Foundation employees, and their family or friends. Register individually or as a two or four person team. Registration information coming soon! For more information about the 9^th Annual Staff Council Golf Outing contact the Staff Council Office at Staff.Council@uvm.edu or 656-4493. The deadline for reservations is Friday, August 9^th.

3^rd Annual UVM Staff Art Exhibit

             A Call for Staff Artists

The deadline to reserve a space to show your artistic talents in the Second Annual UVM Staff Art Exhibit is Friday, June 14^th. The Exhibit will be held in the Livak Fireplace Lounge at the Davis Center during the month of September with a Reception planned for Tuesday, September 24^th Noon-1pm.  The exhibit is open to all UVM regular full and part time staff members. For more information visit the Staff Art Exhibit website or contact the Staff Council Office at Staff.Council@uvm.edu  or 656-4493.

            A Call for Staff Musicians

We're looking for UVM staff musicians to enrich the ambiance of the Third Annual Staff Art Exhibit. Each musician(s) will play a 10-15 minute acoustic set (no microphones or amps) as folks stroll through the Livak Fireplace Lounge at the Davis Center for the Exhibit Reception to be held on Tuesday, September 24^th from 12 noon – 1pm during Staff Appreciation Week celebrations. We ask that musical groups contain no more than 1-2 musicians, as the intention is to provide background music and not overwhelm the small space. For more information and to sign-up please contact the Staff Council Office at Staff.Council@uvm.edu or 656-4493 by August 16^th. Only a few musicians will be selected to perform at the event.

The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom Discounts

This summer take advantage of the excitement at The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, a Six Flags Theme Park. The Staff Council Social Committee is selling discounted tickets to UVM staff, faculty, retirees, and UVM Foundation employees for only $35 for adults and children. That is an $18 discount from prices at the gate! Children age two and under are free. Parking fees of $20 are not included. The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom is open now through Labor Day, Monday September 2^nd. For more information and to learn how you can buy these discounted tickets visit The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom Discount webpage or contact the Staff Council Office at Staff.Council@uvm.edu or 656-4493. Tickets are available for purchase at the Staff Council Office, 313 Waterman M-TH 8am – 3:30pm and F 9am – 1pm. Note: Due to the multiple responsibilities or our two person office, it is necessary for us to close the office from time to time during our regular hours of operation for meetings and other business. Please call the Staff Council Office before making a special trip to our office to ensure we will be here to assist you.

Champlain Valley Fair Discount Tickets

One of the best ways to end your summer is to visit the Champlain Valley Fair, August 24-September 2, 2013! The Staff Council Social Committee has organized the sale of discounted fair tickets again this year for UVM staff and UVM Foundation employees. Be sure to print out this discount ticket order form. Don’t miss out on the fun and excitement of this local tradition! For more information about the Champlain Valley Fair Discount Order Form contact the Staff Council Office at Staff.Council@uvm.edu or 656-4493. The deadline to order tickets is Wednesday, July 25^th.

Related Links

Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise: http://www.uvm.edu/~stffcncl/pdf/dis_murdermysterycruise2013.pdf

UVM Night at Vermont Lake Monsters Baseball Game & Barbecue: http://www.uvm.edu/~stffcncl/pdf/dis_lakemonsters2013.pdf

3^rd Annual UVM Staff Art Exhibit: http://www.uvm.edu/~stffcncl/?Page=uvm_staff_art.html

Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom: http://www.uvm.edu/~stffcncl/pdf/GreatEscape2013.pdf

• Workplace Skills
• Supervisory Skills
• Software Skills
• Retirement Planning
• PeopleSoft
• Communication

Among the new classes offered are titles like these:

• Build Strong Working Relationships
• Effective e-Mail Management
• Introduction to Public Speaking
• Pivot Tables
• Advanced Formulas and Functions in Excel
• Beginning Access
• Introduction to Visio
• …and much more!

See the full schedule of classes on the HRS Learning Services website. All Learning Services classes are offered free of charge but registration is required and many classes fill up quickly.

Registration is accomplished through Self Service in PeopleSoft HR. If you need assistance, here are the registration instructions.

Throughout this past academic year, our committee has engaged in a number of discussions with Richard Cate, Vice President for Finance and Administration about the financial issues facing UVM in FY 14 and the coming years. We have greatly appreciated the opportunity to participate in the conversation about the priorities and the challenges before us.

The Budget, Finance, and Investment Committee (BFI) of the Board of Trustees met on Monday April 8, 2013. During the meeting, BFI reviewed the proposed FY 14 budget. Eric Hoefel and Tobey Clark, the two committee representatives appointed by Staff Council, participated in the meeting; Staff Council President Catherine Symans and Staff Council Administrator Jeff Bukowski attended the meeting as observers.

The following is a brief outline about the discussion that took place at that meeting

FY14 Budget Discussion:

• The FY 14 budget has been balanced with the addition of $2 million from reserves and $5 million in expense reductions. Richard Cate noted that the cuts come from:
• • Approximately $1 million cut from deferred maintenance and equipment
  • There could be as many as three filled positions that are eliminated but final decisions are still pending
  • Other than the 10 Custodial Services positions that will not be filled as a part of the reorganization, there are about another five to seven FTE vacant positions that will not be filled. Final decisions are still pending.
  • Half a million dollars in custodial service cuts
  • Less matching funds dollars available for federal grants
  • Operational cuts in academic units
  • Cuts to the operating budgets of Athletics
• The budget includes a 2.9% salary increase for non-represented staff
• • Concerns were voiced regarding the sustainability of the budget going forward
  • The President responded that discussions with Deans have begun around future budgets
  • The Provost stated the importance of increased revenue streams
  • The Committee Chair emphasized the need for flexibility

Debt Policy:

• The Committee discussed the implications of allowing the 6% debt ratio as currently allowed by the University’s debt policy to remain in place rather than reducing it to 5% by 2017 as  previously approved. Keeping the debt ratio at the current 6% level would allow the University to issue additional debt to fund new initiatives.

In addition, more information was presented to business managers at the April Budget Finance and Administration Network (BFAN) meeting:

Planning Parameters:

• State appropriation is forecast to remain at its current level of 40.7 million
• Tuition rates will increase by 2.9% for both In-State and Out-of-State students. This means that tuition and mandatory fees will be $15,718 for Vermont students and $36,646 for Out-of-State students
• Budgeting is based on having an undergraduate enrollment of 9,800 students, of which approximately 3,172 will be from Vermont and 6,628 will be from out-of-state
• Research facilities and administrative cost reimbursement is forecast to see a 20.4% decrease. This is mostly due to sequestration.
• The unrestricted endowment will increase by 5.5%
• The benefit rate will be at 41.8%; 9.6% for temporary employees
• Library acquisitions will realize a 2.1% increase
• Operating and equipment budgets set to receive a 0.0% increase
• Sponsored program incentive fund pool will see a 0.0% increase

Find more information about the FY 14 budget on the UVM Budget Planning website.

Additional information regarding the FY 14 budget is available on the Financial Analysis and Budgeting (FAB) website.

If you have specific concerns or questions about the FY 14 budget that you would like to raise with Staff Council in advance of the May 17-18, 2013 Board of Trustees meeting, please share those via e-mail to Staff.Council@uvm.edu by Tuesday, May 14, 2013. This will enable Staff Council to summarize and incorporate those thoughts in our address to the Board of Trustees scheduled for Friday, May 17, 2013.

UVM staff, faculty & retirees, and UVM Foundation employees may purchase Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom Tickets at the following discounted prices. (Parking is NOT included)

Discounted ticket prices:

Adults & Children: $35.00 ($52.99 + tax at the gate)
Children age two and under are free!
The parking fee per car is $20.00 at the Great Escape Park

Operating dates:

The Great Escape Park and Splashwater Kingdom are open Saturday, May 25th thru Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2013.

Online ticket purchases:

If you are unable to stop by the Staff Council Office to purchase your tickets, you may now purchase tickets online, through our own Six Flags site. These “print and go” one-day tickets are $35.00 + tax. There is also a $6.00 processing fee per online order.

UVM’s Online Order Link for Six Flags: https://shopsixflags.accesso.com/clients/sixflags/affiliate/index.php?m=13575

Username: UVM
Password: SixFlags13

Additional information may be found by visiting www.sixflags.com.

** You may purchase tickets in the Staff Council Office Staff Council Office, 313 Waterman Bldg. M-TH 8am - 3:30pm, F 9am - 1pm.
Call 802-656-4493 before coming to purchase tickets.

Please join us is congratulating our newly elected or re-elected Representatives.

• College of Nursing and Health Sciences – Bethany Wolfe  - (1) three-year term
• Continuing Education – Noel McCann  - (1) three-year term
• DFES/AFS – Johanna Brabham  - (1) three-year term
• Research and Graduate Studies – Anita Lavoie  - (1) two-year term
• Rubenstein School – Isis Erb  - (1) three-year term
• School of Business Administration – Sara Hearne  - (1) three-year term
• University Relations and Campus Life – Kate Ford  - (1) three-year term

There are still a few Representative Openings remaining.

• College of Medicine
• • Adminstrative – (1) two-year term
  • Basic Sciences – (1) two-year term
  • Clinical Sciences – (2) one-year terms

If you wish to run for one of the open Representative positions, please complete the required Self-Nomination Form for your unit/division. You can also find more information on our Representative Election page.

There are several vacancies in Units/Divisions impacted by restructuring planned for July 1, 2013:

• DFES/ETS – (1) three-year term
• President's and Provost's Office - (1) one-year term
• University Relations and Campus Life – (1) three-year terms, (1) two-year term, (1) one-year term

Elections in these areas will be revisited in the new fiscal year so that full representation may be provided to the new units. If you have questions about what this means, please contact the Staff Council Office at Staff.Council@uvm.edu or 656-4493.

• FY2014 Benefits Overview (Open Enrollment Summary, pdf)

• FY2014 Healthcare Costs
• FY2014 Healthcare Benefits Summary (SBC)
• FY2014 Retiree Benefits Brochure (pdf)
• Expanded Autism Coverage
• New Mental Health Care Manager

Important information and reminders:

• Most changes to benefits* can ONLY be made during Open Enrollment, May 1-31, 2013
  
• If you plan to WAIVE medical insurance, you must sign a new waiver each May
• There's a monthly meeting for those not yet participating in a retirement savings account
• It's a good idea to make an annual appointment with your retirement savings account provider

*Participants who experience a qualifying life change event (birth, adoption, marriage, etc.) have a brief 20-day window following the event during which they can notify HRS to make changes to their benefits.

Questions? e-Mail Human Resource Services at HRSinfo@uvm.edu.

The initial SBC has been published for the health plan year beginning July 1, 2013. Subsequently, a new SBC will be published whenever coverage changes, or for each new plan year.

There are currently four distinct Summaries of Benefits and Coverage, depending on your relationship to the University. Read the descriptions below, then check the Group Number on your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont insurance card to be certain you are reviewing the appropriate Summary.

1. Group Number begins with 80894. (SBC for active faculty and staff plus many retirees under age 65)
2. Group Number begins with 80892. (SBC for retirees on the J and J-Carve Out plans)
3. Group Number begins with 80893. (SBC for retirees on MediComp III)
4. Group Number begins with 80895. (SBC for United Academics Part-Time Unit)

We are working with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont to translate the active faculty and staff plan into both Bosnian and Vietnamese language versions. These translations will be posted at www.uvm.edu/hrs/sbc as soon as they are available.

If you have questions about a Summary of Benefits and Coverage or require a printed copy, visit HRS in Waterman 228, e-mail HRSinfo@uvm.edu, or call 802-656-3150.

Depending on the nature of an individual's needs, The Wellness Corporation creates connections with long-term care through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT). When they do, mental health and substance abuse care management transitions to BCBSVT's care management program.

Announcing a New Care Management Program

BCBSVT is changing its Mental Health and Substance Abuse care management program. With the goal of improving service, they have partnered with the Brattleboro Retreat to form Vermont Collaborative Care, the organization that will handle UVM's mental health and substance abuse care management beginning July 1, 2013.

This new program will integrate the management of mental health and substance abuse with the management of other kinds of health care. This new care management model is expected to promote better health outcomes and a more efficient, convenient and satisfying experience for members seeking care. Because it does not separate mental health and substance abuse from an individual's other health care needs, it encourages treatment of the whole person, taking into account all of the conditions present.

For more information, read the details on the Accessing Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care page of the HRS website.

Make plans now to join us! Deadline is July 11th! Complete this registration form with payment

$40 - UVM staff, faculty, retirees, and UVM Foundation employees

$42 - Non - UVM

For more information visit: www.uvm.edu/staffcouncil or call 656-4493

Sponsored by UVM Staff Council Social Committee

The ticket prices begin with your admission to the game, includes dinner at the ball park, and a night of local Vermont baseball! 

Ticket cost:  $13 adults, $8 children (12 and under), $10 retirees and seniors(60+).

Ticket reservation deadline:  June 7, 2013, Registration Form must be completed with your payment

For more information visit: www.uvm.edu/staffcouncil or call 656-4493

Sponsored by the UVM Staff Council Social Committee

Our commencement ceremony represents the dedication and hard work of staff members across campus who clean classrooms, provide transportation, organize schedules, enter data, prepare food, fix computers, make copies, sort mail, and answer phones.  You are often the people that students turn to for support, advice, and counsel.  Commencement is the culmination of the work that each staff member executes individually, and it is the event that reveals how truly collaborative your diverse endeavors are. 

As our students step on stage to receive their diplomas at the 211^th Commencement Ceremony surrounded by family and friends, I hope you will all take pride in sharing their achievements.  The degrees conferred across the disciplines reflect the combined efforts, training, education, and leadership of all of the members of the community including our staff.  Commencement is truly an event celebrating the collective efforts and accomplishments of all members of our University community.  

UVM’s Center for Leadership and Innovation offers three dynamic seminars in May as part of our Project Management Certificate: Project Schedule and Cost Management; Project Human Resources and Communications Management; and Project Risk and Contract Management.

UVM employees receive a 20% discount.

For more information, contact Heather Palow, heather.palow@uvm.edu or 656-5791.

We had several excellent candidates come forward which made the ultimate appointments all the more challenging.

On behalf of Staff Council President Catherine Symans and Vice President Renee Berteau, we are pleased to announce the newly appointed representatives on  these two committees.

Audit Committee

• Wendy-Ayn Coy - Administrative Business Service Center

Educational Policy & Institutional Resources

• Amanda McIntire - Human Resource Services

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Staff Council Office at Staff.Council@uvm.edu or at 802-656-4493

OLLI at UVM is part of a statewide network and national network of Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes that provide adults 50 years of age and more with the opportunity to learn from seasoned experts and peers and to enjoy access to the many resources of the University, including its renowned faculty.

Registration is open for Spring 2013 classes, which include:

• Salvaged and Scrounged: Reduce, Repurpose, Restore with professionals from Fleming Museum, Vermont Folklife Center, Shelburne Museum, and Chittenden Solid Waste District
• What to Eat and How to Cook It: Shifting to a Plant-Centered Diet with Patsy Jamieson
• Bread to Bread: Women’s Experience in International Development with Fianna Verret
• Watercolor with Jean Cannon
• Intermediate/Advanced Spanish with Mario Martinez
• Bridging Science & Spirit: Premonitions, Telepathy & The Global Mind with Fred Fengler
• Using Photoshop with Mark Carter
• Beginners Tai Chi and Qi Gong with Christopher Judge
• The Decline of Rome with Lars Nielsen
• Medieval English Kings: The Historical Arthur & Historical Reality of Shakespeare's Plantagenet Monarchs with Lars Nielsen
• Civil War in Indian Country: King Philip's War in New England and the Iroquois Confederacy in the American War of Independence with Lars Nielsen
• Celebrating Herbs: From Garden to Kitchen with Patsy Jamieson

View the full list of classes.

In addition to classes, OLLI at UVM offers different special events throughout the semester. This April, in partnership with the Fleming Museum, Vermont Folklife Center, Shelburne Museum, and the CSWD Materials Recovery Facility, OLLI is presenting a four-session course on the past, present, and future of creatively reusing, repurposing, and restoring objects and materials from our everyday lives. Other offerings include:

• Community Cinema, in partnership with Vermont Public Television and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
• A reduced membership to the UVM Film Series
• OLLI at UVM Art Exhibits
• Sacred Harp Singing
• OLLI Travel

Register to become an OLLI at UVM member today! The annual OLLI at UVM Membership fee is $30 or $50 for two. All current UVM faculty and staff are eligible to receive a 20% discount on the membership fee ($24 or $40 for two). OLLI at UVM members enjoy priority registration for courses, and receive a 25% discount on all OLLI at UVM courses, among many other benefits.

Register for an OLLI at UVM Course, or contact us with any questions. You may reach us at 802-656-2085 or uvmolli@uvm.edu.

If you want to share your artistic abilities with the UVM community, we want to hear from you! All University of Vermont regular full and part time staff members are eligible.  The Exhibit has been planned to coincide with Staff Appreciation Week and is one way recognize and appreciate the talents of our colleagues. Click here to read more about the exhibit and see images from past years' exhibits.

We are looking for all types of art: paintings, sculptures, pastels, pottery, watercolors, ceramics, photography, quilts, mixed media, and the list goes on. Space is limited to one or two works per person, dependent on size and medium, and will be accepted on a first come first reserve basis. Our hope is to have as many staff members as possible participate.

Additionally, we invite you to the Third Annual UVM Staff Art Exhibit Reception that will take place Tuesday, September 24, 2013  from 12 noon to 1:00 pm in the Livak Fireplace Lounge, 4th Floor, Davis Center. This will be an opportunity for all artists to talk about their art and interact with colleagues. This event will be part of larger Staff Appreciation Week events. Light Refreshments will be provided.

If you are interested in participating, contact the Staff Council at Staff.Council@uvm.edu or 802-656-4493 to reserve space. The deadline to sign up to participate is Friday, June 14, 2013.

Although there is still snow on the ground, it won’t be long before the first harbingers of spring are making their appearance. Already the sun is higher and the days are longer. While we anticipate warmer weather, there is much to accomplish in the weeks leading up to Commencement on May 19th. Before schedules become overwhelming, I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of days in Killington attending the Vermont Women in Higher Education 2013 Women’s Leadership Conference. What a wonderful opportunity to meet women from higher education institutions from all over the state of Vermont. Whether from Landmark College, CCV, St. Michael’s or UVM, this conference serves as a reminder that there are many of us engaged in the profession of providing a quality educational experience for our students. Our own UVM Marsh Professor-at-Large, The Honorable Madeleine Kunin, provided the inspiring keynote address.  It was an informative and energizing two days!

The Staff Council’s four Standing Committees have been hard at work on a number of important initiatives.  The Compensation, Benefits and Budget Committee is in the final stages of preparing a one-page document to be distributed to staff in the coming weeks. This informational document will provide information on the budgeting process at UVM. The Outreach, Assessment & University Engagement Committee is busy putting the final touches on the draft annual staff survey which will be emailed to staff in late April or early May and the Executive Board has been preparing for the Provost Search interviews scheduled for the end of April. All the hard work done by the Staff Council takes place at the Committee level, and it is the engaged and dedicated committee members who commit their time and energy to finding solutions to issues and concerns that impact staff and the larger UVM Community.  All non-represented staff are welcome to participate on any of these four committees. It is time well spent.

Another great way to learn about UVM while working to make positive change for staff and our larger community is serving as a Staff Council Representative.

Staff Council is also holding elections for Representatives in several Units/Colleges across the University. The deadline to nominate yourself or a colleague is Wednesday, April 17, 2013. You can find more information about Representative Elections by visiting our Get Involved page on our website. Click here for a Nomination Form

Those units holding elections include the following:

• College of Nursing and Health Sciences – (1) three-year term
• College of Medicine
• • Adminstrative – (1) two-year term
  • Basic Sciences – (1) two-year term
  • Clinical Sciences – (2) one-year terms
• Continuing Education – (1) three-year term
• DFES/ AFS – (1) three-year term
• DFES/ETS – (1) three-year term
• Rubenstein School – (1) three-year term
• Research and Graduate Studies      – (1) two-year term
• School of Business Administration – (1) three-year term
• University Relations and Campus Life – (2) three-year terms, (1) two-year term, (1) one-year term

For more information, contact the Staff Council Office at 802-656-4493 or Staff.Council@uvm.edu

Click here to find more information about becoming a part of Staff Council!

Last year Vermont won the National Bike Challenge and University of Vermont was the top scoring employer in the state, with 83,002 points and 33,860 miles. Let’s get out there and do it again this year!

The Challenge is a great way to take your riding to the next level, get back in to bicycling, or bike for the first time!  Every kind of riding counts, from commuting to work a couple of times a week to doing a rail trail ride on the weekend with your kids to flying down a single track on your mountain bike.

There will be drawings every month for gift certificates from Earl's Cyclery and Fitness, plus a grand prize of a free bicycling vacation from Sojourn Bicycling and Active Vacations!

The Vermont Bike Challenge is co-presented by Local Motion, the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, and the Green Mountain Bicycle Club.

More info:

Local Motion
Jason Van Driesche
Jason@localmotion.org

CATMA@UVM.EDU
802-656-RIDE (-7433)
www.catmavt.org

Related Links:

www.localmotion.org

www.nationalbikechallenge.org

www.catmavt.org

www.bikleague.org

UVM Transportation and Parking Services

We can do this UVM, sign-up and participate for you, your community, and UVM. Win some fantastic prizes, contend with other workplaces on the hill, and do something different and healthy.

Stay tuned to the website for more information or contact CATMA.

http://waytogovt.org/

Related Links:

CATMA Commuter Programs

CarShare Vermont Campus Program

CCTA Routes & Schedules Information

UVM Transportation and Parking Services

More information will be available in the coming months.

Visit the Staff Council's website at www.uvm.edu/staffcouncil

The following CSA options are available. Please note that there are $20 discounts for those who sign up prior to April 1!

To sign up for a CSA, click here. For more information, visit www.uvm.edu/~cgsref.

The Bachelor’s Degree (1/2 share)

Regular Price: $220 / Early Bird Special: $200             

Veggies feed 1-2 people. Mid-season baskets vary and may include:

The Master’s Degree (full share)

Regular Price: $390 / Early Bird Special: $370     

Veggies feed 3-4 people. Share includes veggies from the Bachelor’s Degree, plus extra squash, carrots, and specialty veggies. These may include:

The Harvest Share (1/2 share)

Price: $100 (plus manual labor)

Strapped for cash? Yearning to learn about farming hands-on? We are offering 10 harvest shares this season for those who can work in the field for four hours on harvest days. The harvest shares are the same size as a Bachelor's share at half the cost. If you are interested, please email us.

Veggies feed 1-2 people. Mid-season baskets vary and may include:

Staff can pick up their shares on Wednesdays beginning in June on campus at Jeffords Hall from 4 to 6 p.m., or at the UVM Horticulture Research Center (or “Hort Farm”) at 65 Green Mountain Drive, South Burlington, from 4 to 7 p.m.   Those who pick up from the Farm will be able to pick some of their own vegetables, herbs and flowers. Alternative pick-up arrangements can be made on an individual basis. Please stay tuned for more details regarding on-campus pick-up.

Payment for the CSA should be sent to: Common Ground Farm, 105 Jeffords Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 05405. Checks and money orders made out to Common Ground Farm are accepted, as is cash.

To sign up for a CSA, click here. For more information, visit www.uvm.edu/~cgsref.

University of Vermont’s Business Savvy course equips non-business majors with the skills, know-how and experience they need to translate a liberal arts or science degree into a promising career. This 6-credit course takes place May 20 – June 14, 2013 as part of UVM’s Summer University.

BSAD 101:  Business Savvy provides students with valuable career experience, business skills, networking opportunities – and a paycheck. In this intensive four-week summer program, your student will earn 6 credits; prepare for a paid internship; develop interviewing, business etiquette, and decision-making skills; and learn about job-search strategies, effective communications and team building. 

Students connect with business professionals, develop career goals, and gain a basic understanding of accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, management and strategy. Register now while there’s still room: This popular program fills up quickly!

More information is available at uvm.edu/summer/savvy or by contacting bsavvy@uvm.edu or (802) 656-2085.

COMMUNITY MEDICAL SCHOOL – Spring 2013

WHEN: Tuesday and Thursday evenings, April 16 –May 14, from 6:00-7:00 p.m., followed by a Q&A session

WHERE: Carpenter Auditorium, UVM Given Medical Building

Free and open to the public. Register online at www.fletcherallen.org/cms or call (802) 847-2886.

Tuesday, April 16

Top of Mind: The Brain’s Frontal Lobes and their Role in Memory

Deborah Black, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurological Sciences

Examine the brain’s frontal lobes and determine what makes them different – and similar – to other primates’ frontal lobes. Review the hallmarks of memory loss and find out why these symptoms do not always point to Alzheimer’s disease, and gain an appreciation for how working memory affects the capacity to transmit symbols of culture – from The Iliad to the Eiffel Tower – from generation to generation.

Thursday, April 25

The Coming Changes in Vermont’s Health Care Delivery System

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

Join Vermont’s former Governor for an enlightening presentation featuring his perspective on such health care reform issues as the Affordable Care Act, the single payer model, health care systems, the role of government in health care, and why Vermont is different than other states in terms of health care reform.

Tuesday, April 30

Hot Off the Press: The Latest News in Menopause

Zaher Merhi, M.D., Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences

Hot flashes, thinning hair and skin, and abdominal weight gain are common signs of the transition leading to menopause. Review the clinical indicators and find out how doctors determine a diagnosis of menopause. Hear about the variety of available therapies for menopausal symptoms, as well as the latest ongoing research in the field of hormone replacement therapy.

Tuesday, May 7

My Regeneration: Using Stem Cells to Repair the Heart

William Hopkins, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, and

Jeffrey Spees, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine and Director, Stem Cell Core

Learn about how cardiovascular disease impedes heart function, and what takes place during and after a heart attack occurs. Explore the potential of stem cell therapy after heart attack, and review the details of post-heart attack cardiac regeneration therapies currently in development.

Tuesday, May 14

Cancer and Exercise: Improving Function and Fitness During and After Treatment

Kim Dittus, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, and

Susan Lakoski, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine

Cancer and cancer therapy can significantly impair physical function and cardiopulmonary health. This decline can occur during cancer therapy and may continue long after therapy is completed. Discuss the impact of the toxicities of cancer therapy on the cardiopulmonary system and how this leads to loss of physical function. Learn how exercise training can diminish these effects, and review a model of oncology rehabilitation used at Fletcher Allen Health Care both during and after cancer treatment.

This exhibit, which was created by Vermont Works for Women in collaboration with the Vermont Folklife Center, features stories and photos celebrating the transformative power of work by focusing on ways in which work can engage our passion and connect us to others and in communities. It was created as part of VWW’s 25th anniversary festivities.

There are three UVM staff members featured in the exhibit: Deborah Lisi-Baker, administrative services manager at the Center for Disability and Community Inclusion; Candace Taylor, student services professional at the UVM Women's Center; and Marie Tiemann, endowment accountant in Financial Reporting and Account Services. 

The featured women are farmers, doctors, tattoo artists, college presidents, electricians and general store clerks. They are passionate about their work, exemplify excellence in their field, and are an inspiration to others. Through Labor of Love, we have the invaluable opportunity to discuss our experience of work with the young people in our lives and with each other – to talk about the choices we’ve made and the twists and turns of our individual journeys. They are stories worth sharing.

To read an article about the exhibit from last spring, click here.

To learn more about the exhibit from Vermont Works for Women, click here.

This is a time when we need balance addressing the budget challenges while taking advantages of opportunities to position the University to continue the remarkable progress it has made over the last several years.  For example, at the February Board of Trustees meeting, we had an extensive discussion about the draft housing master plan.  The plan proposes additional housing options for undergraduates as well as graduate students, faculty and staff.  The vision contained in the plan will be transformative for the University.

One of the proposals involves creating the “Green Mountain Walkway” – a pathway that would connect Redstone Campus on the south end to Trinity Campus on the north end winding through several other residential areas past the Davis Center and Bailey/Howe Library through the heart of the academic center of the University. The plan includes proposals for several new buildings and significant renovations and transformations to existing buildings. 

The cost of implementing this plan will be significant and some have asked why even engage in discussions at a time when we are working to address a budget shortfall. The answer is simple—we must continue to invest in the future and to explore every opportunity that will secure UVM’s position as a preeminent university that attracts outstanding faculty, staff and students and serves the State of Vermont.  While we need to be attentive to the challenge before us, we must purposefully consider all opportunities to achieve the vision for this great University.

I am confident in our collective capacity to address the budget challenge in an effective and strategic manner. I am equally confident in the long-term strength and excellence of UVM.  Why, because this is a University community where we all work together and support each other toward the University’s goals.

To learn more about this initiative and review the Housing Master Plan presentation given at the February Board of Trustees meeting, click here.

Though the program places particular emphasis on the first months of the semester, our hope is that mentors maintain contact with students throughout the academic year.

Mentors may be expected to:

• Participate in a reception at which you will meet your mentee
• Make frequent contact with your mentee – especially if it is their first semester at UVM. That means:

• Face-to-face meetings every 2-3 weeks in the first months (ex: chat over coffee)
• Weekly check-in emails to see how things are going and offer support
• Occasional off-campus experiences (ex: ice cream downtown, a trip to the movies, a visit to the Echo Center, or a meal in your home)
• Introduce your mentee to departmental, campus and community resources as needed.
• Communicate with the Office of International Education or other campus support services as needed – a mentor may be the first person to hear a student is struggling academically or having a difficult time acclimating to UVM. You aren’t expected to solve these problems for students, but to help connect students with the appropriate resources on campus.

What other mentors are saying:

“Personally, I have developed a meaningful relationship with a young person who is now part of my family. Professionally, I have a window into the [international student] experience and the possible support services UVM can provide to strengthen this program. I feel fortunate to be part of the program.”

-- Ellen McShane, Academic Support Programs

"I love answering questions, helping with language and sharing food, games, traditions and ideas about school, traditions, studies, social life... everything! A mentor can help [international] students feel more at home at UVM and in Vermont. A student can help a mentor feel connected to the world! It is a wonderful exchange that grows into a special friendship."

-- Jennifer Francoeur, University Communications

To sign up as a mentor, please complete a mentor application form, available here:

http://www.uvm.edu/oie/?Page=services/involvement.html

 We will do our best to pair students and mentors according to mutual application preferences.

For any questions about the Office of International Education - International Student Mentoring Program, or to return your completed application, please contact Evan Mills at Evan.Mills@uvm.edu

Thank you for supporting international efforts at the University of Vermont!