Academic staff members share observations on moving their department from one building to another. Anyone who has ever moved their possessions from one home to another will confirm what we all know: Moving can be one of life’s most stressful events. Now imagine for a moment you’re not moving just yourself or your family into a new home, but an …
Planning for and actively managing the human side of change can ease transitions You don’t need to be an expert in ancient Greek philosophy to understand that change is the only constant in life. From new buildings to new technologies to new policies, change on campus is happening more rapidly and frequently than we can …
A new column celebrating the weird, wild, and wonderful work of academic staff at UW–Madison Most UW-Madison staff are familiar with the skills—both soft and technical—required by a job when they apply. We know our work requires specialization and subject matter expertise. And yet, working at a nationally ranked public research institution also requires next-level …
Troy Reeves likes to describe UW–Madison as a city unto itself. And as the university’s Distinguished Oral Historian, one of his jobs is to capture and preserve the stories of some of the citizens who live in this city. That’s the primary reason why Reeves launched the Academic Staff Award Oral History Project ten years …
Nearly everyone on campus is familiar with the eye-catching begonia W at the southern edge of the Humanities Building, or the red-and-yellow tulips that dot Bascom Hill. But there are other places on or near campus where you can bask in blooms this spring. UW–Madison’s greenhouse team works with the Division of Facilities Planning and …
The Operational Excellence (OpEx) Advancement Program is a campus initiative to incubate and accelerate projects to strengthen financial controls, streamline and simplify processes, and enhance administrative services for UW–Madison. The OpEx Advancement Program does this in a unique way by bringing together cross-functional working groups to participate in future-state design and problem-solving and develop recommendations …
The news of job or income loss can come with feelings of stress and uncertainty. How can I prepare? What happens to my health insurance? What do I do now? To help UW–Madison staff navigate these challenges and understand their rights, the Office of Human Resources has created the Employee Guide to Job or Income …
Many events that have shaped UW–Madison’s history are well documented while others are more obscure. In this issue, we reveal some happenings from years gone by that may have missed the headlines, including a student worker strike, ski jumping on Bascom Hill, hockey on Library Mall and a rare campus snow day. January, 1914 – …
When winter settles in and budgets tighten, it can be daunting to consider gathering with colleagues outside of your divisional or departmental conference room. But getting out of your office and into a new space on campus can be energizing and inspiring. Whether you are looking for a one-on-one conversation or a formal team retreat, …
While typical resolutions often focus on what we should stop doing, the New Year is a perfect opportunity to explore what we can start doing right here at UW–Madison. From exploring a new craft to conquering the stairs of our tallest buildings, our campus is packed with talented instructors and world-class facilities designed to help …