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2023 DEI Forum Inspiring Belonging and Creating Community

The quad is buzzing with tourists, the cherry blossoms have bloomed, and April has officially arrived. The Professional Staff Organization is looking forward to welcoming Husky students, staff, and faculty to join the PSO for the 2023 Annual DEI Forum this Spring. This year is focused on inspiring belonging and creating community. Rickey Hall, Vice President for Minority Affairs & Diversity and University Diversity Officer, will provide an update on the University of Washington’s progress on Diversity Efforts, as well as join a panel composed of Tri-Campus Leadership to continue the conversation on DEI endeavors.  

During the 2-day event, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from Campus Leadership, Faculty, and Professional Staff while engaging in various workshops and small group discussions rooted in our commitment to social justice. In this space, we intend to spark conversation and further connection throughout our UW Tri-Campus community. Session topics will offer insight on building inclusive spaces, understanding the work necessary to achieve belonging, and begin paving paths for marginalized communities to succeed in all aspects on our campuses.

Register now for the DEI Forum!  

If you are a Professional Staff Member that is passionate about advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the PSO DEI Committee is currently seeking members to join in on developing future programming and contribute to engagement efforts that support our diverse Pro Staff community. You can inquire about joining the DEI Committee or other Standing Committees on the PSO Committees’ page.  

The PSO thanks our sponsors, Greater Washington State HERC, PSO Board members, and contributors to the PSO fund that have made this event and our work possible throughout the year.  

Resources to navigate a work-life balance

The PSO Board sometimes hears from professional staff needing extra assistance navigating difficult work situations. Here are some important resources you should know about:

When communicating with your supervisor regarding your job performance, expectations or responsibilities become unproductive, and you feel your concerns are not being heard, who should you turn to?  After your manager your next stop should be to your department’s human resources director.  A link to a searchable HR directory is available here.  

For questions that require extra attention, as professional staff we are fortunate to have additional options.  For free and confidential counseling of any type (from legal advice, financial guidance, work-life solutions, consultation for managers, and critical and traumatic events), you could contact the UW CareLink at 866-598-3978 at any time, 24/7. 

Another valuable option is the UW Ombud whose charge is to assist our staff with navigating and resolving workplace conflicts.  The Ombud’s office has a wonderful website describing their resources here.  

For specific questions regarding potential violations of the University’s policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment by employees, the University Complaint Investigation and Resolution Office (UCIRO) is available for consultations regarding your concerns by email:  uciro@uw.edu or by phone: (206) 616-2028.  

The UW community is here for you and has created these benefits for when you need assistance to be successful while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Let the PSO Board know if you need help figuring out what resources are available to you.

Tent City 3 at UW Seattle during Winter Quarter

Tent City 3 (TC3), a self-managed community of homeless individuals, will be staying at the UW Seattle campus until March 19, 2023. TC3 arrived in mid-December 2022 and are camped at Parking Lot E21, between the Husky Stadium and Waterfront Activities Center. TC3 has stayed at UW twice before – in 2017 & 2021. You can find out more information about UW hosting TC3 on this UW website. TC3 started in 2000 and operates mainly in the City of Seattle. If you would like to support TC3, you can check out their website with details on what donatiaons are needed and information on preparing a meal. 

PSO Board Member Spotlight: Sean C. Thomas

Why I Joined the PSO Board

Sean C. Thomas

I “officially” joined UW in January 2020 and my office is located in downtown Seattle.  I had only been to campus (Health Science) once before COVID-19 transitioned the majority of us to working from home.  If I was not feeling disconnected from the greater UW community before, I certainly was now.  I spent the prior 13 years before UW working for law firms and when the PSO was offering a legislative update in Fall of 2021, it felt like a safe first step into connecting with the UW community at large.

It was after this first positive experience that I decided that I started attending PSO Board meetings.  At one of those first meetings, the issue of Catalyst Surveys being came up retired and how the Board wanted to handle elections going forward.  I made a comment that I had just revised my departments old Catalyst Surveys in MS Forms and that the new format increased engagement significantly.  The Chairs of the Election and Recruitment Committee asked me join one of their upcoming meetings to explore converting the existing ballot forms.  I took a chance and started volunteering with the committee and designed the new ballot forms that were used for this past Spring’s Board elections.

Today I am on the Board for the 2022 – 2024 academic years, Chair of the Elections and Recruitment Committee, and serve on two faculty councils.  In the nearly four years I have been a UW employee, my engagement with the greater community has expanded exponentially thanks to my work with the PSO Board.  If you’re looking for a way to meet new people outside of your small corner of UW, and do amazing work along the way, come see what the PSO has to offer.

Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) before Oct 31

Are you an UW employee with student loans? Due to a temporary waiver from the U.S. Department of Education, you have until Oct 31, 2022 to take advantage of a temporary rule change to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. You may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balances after making 120 payments while employed by public sector employers. (You do not need to have made 120 payments before applying to the program). You can either submit the paperwork yourself or pay a fee to use a service called Savi.

UW HR’s PSLF webpage has more details about eligibility, how to apply, and more information about Savi.

 

 

PSO memo on unionizing efforts of Research Scientists and Engineers (RSEs)

As many have likely already heard, there is an effort underway by the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 4121 to organize UW’s research scientists and engineers (RSEs). Those organizing this effort filed notice and shared their petition with the Public Employment Relations Commission on January 3, 2022.

UAW 4121, which also represents UW’s teaching and research assistants and the postdoctoral scholars, has filed this petition to represent the following groups:

  • Research Scientist/Engineer-Assistant (19691)
  • Research Scientist/Engineer 1 (11492, 19692)
  • Research Scientist/Engineer 2 (11493, 19693)
  • Research Scientist/Engineer 3 (11494, 19308)
  • Research Scientist/Engineer 4 (11495)

Confidential employees, supervisors, employees covered under Chapter 41.76 RCW, and employees included in any other bargaining unit are excluded at this time.

The PSO Board recognizes and respects the unionization efforts of the RSEs. We welcome the opportunity to engage and learn throughout their process, and are in conversation with the organizers as well as UW HR so that we may fully understand the effort as it relates to our constituents and the mission of the PSO.

If you have any questions about the RSE organizing process, please visit www.uwresearchersunited.org or email contact@uwresearchersunited.org to talk with an organizer.

Other current or recent unionizing efforts at UW include the IHME Union, and the UW Libraries Union.

2022 Legislative Town Halls (virtual & phone)

Date Time District Members Location
02/16 6:00pm-7:00pm 32nd Senator Jesse Salomon, Reps. Cindy Ryu & Lauren Davis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaHouseDems

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WaHouseDems

02/16 7:00pm-8:00pm 44th Senator John Lovick, Reps. April Berg & Brandy Donaghy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenateDemocrats / Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/WASenateDemocrats
02/17 5:30pm-6:30pm 1st Senator Derek Stanford, Reps. Shelley Kloba & Davina Duerr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenateDemocrats

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WASenateDemocrats

02/17 6:30pm-7:30pm 28th Reps. Mari Leavitt & Dan Bronoske Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaHouseDems /

Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/WaHouseDems

02/19 11:00am-12:00pm 23rd Senator Christine Rolfes, Reps. Drew Hansen & Tarra Simmons Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaHouseDems

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WaHouseDems

02/19 1:00pm-2:00pm 43rd Senator Jamie Pedersen, Reps. Nicole Macri & Frank Chopp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaHouseDems 

Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/WaHouseDems

02/21 7:00pm-8:00pm 37th Senator Rebecca Saldaña, Reps. Sharon Tomiko Santos & Kirsten Harris-Talley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaHouseDems

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WaHouseDems

02/22 6:00pm-7:00pm 27th Senator Jasmine Trudeau, Rep. Jake Fey & Speaker Laurie Jinkins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaHouseDems Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/WaHouseDems
02/23 6:30pm-7:30pm 27th Bipartisan 10th District Legislators Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaHouseDems Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/WaHouseDems
02/23 7:30pm-8:30pm 42nd Reps. Alicia Rule & Sharon Shewmake Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaHouseDems Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/WaHouseDems
02/24 7:00pm-8:00pm 5th Senator Mark Mullet, Reps. Lisa Callan & Bill Ramos Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenateDemocrats

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WASenateDemocrats

02/26 11:00am-12:00pm 29th Representative Melanie Morgan Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/RepMelanieMorgan Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WaHouseDems
03/21 6:00pm-7:00pm 33rd Senator Karen Keiser, Reps. Tina Orwall & Mia Gregerson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaHouseDems Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/WaHouseDems

 

End of 2021 benefits updates and reminders

Since 2021 is drawing to a close, it’s a good time to review your UW retirement benefits. We are sharing the Annual Benefits Letter from the Faculty Council on Benefits and Retirement (FBCR).  It’s packed with good links and information that is relevant to professional staff. Below, we highlight a few upcoming benefit changes and information about a review of the UW Retirement Plan (UWRP):

We have uploaded a copy of the letter for your own reading to dig into more information about retirement benefits and options.

We want to thank FBCR for sharing the document with us and allowing us to excerpt portions of the letter in our newsletter on our website. As you may know, the PSO board has representatives on Faculty and University Councils to stay informed about issues on campus and represent professional staff interests.

PSO Legislative Preview Recap

On November 17, the PSO hosted its annual Legislative Session Preview, with guest speaker Joe Dacca, UW Director of State Relations. Over 100 people joined in to hear Dacca share the University’s legislative agenda and take questions. An important highlight is that compensation is the University’s top agenda item for the coming legislative session that begins on Monday, January 10th. A copy of the 2022 UW State Legislative Agenda can be found here.

For more information about the Office of State Relations, please visit their website. For more information about the PSO Legislative Committee, please reach out to Committee Chair Alex Bolton.