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January 9, 2003

Notices

ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Research grants

The Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health (CEEH) is offering pilot project funding in broadly-defined areas of “gene-environment interactions.” The CEEH fosters basic and applied research into the molecular and genetic basis for diseases with an environmental etiology. The CEEH is also interested in the Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) surrounding the use of genetic information from a public health context. Up to four scientific research projects including an ELSI-related project, will be funded in 2003 for up to $25,000 each. Applications are due on Feb. 3 for funding beginning April 1. For applications packet contact Azure Skye, Program Manager/Administrator, Center for Ecogenetics & Environmental Health via e-mail: azure@u.washington.edu  or phone: 206-543-4383, Box 354695.


OTHER NEWS

Reference Update

The following Administrative Policy Statements were adopted or revised during Autumn Quarter 2002:



Regents meeting

The University of Washington Board of Regents will hold a regular meeting at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17 in the Walker-Ames Room, Kane Hall. The Regents will meet in formal session to take official action on personnel appointments and changes, gifts and grants, contracts and agreements with outside agencies, and other University business.


Year 2002 W-2, 1099R and  Stipend Letter Form Disbursement

Year 2002 W-2s will be distributed on the Jan. 24 payday. Year 2002 W-2 Forms (Wage and Tax Statement) for employees active as of Dec. 26, will be distributed to their home departments with the Jan. 24 payroll. W-2 Forms for separated or inactive employees will be mailed by the Payroll Office prior to Jan. 24. The address used will be the local address on file in the Higher Education Payroll and Personnel System (HEPPS) as of Dec. 26. This is the address that was printed on the last paycheck or direct deposit advice, unless it was subsequently updated by the home department Payroll Coordinator.

If you do not receive your W-2 by Feb. 3, please call the W-2 Replacement Line (543-9214). This is the quickest way to get your replacement W-2. Give your Social Security Number and name. If you would like your replacement W-2 mailed, also give your mailing address. If you would like to pick up your replacement W-2 at the Payroll Office, please say so on your message. Bring your picture ID for proper identification.

Nonresident Alien Employees and Social Security and Medicare Taxes

If you are or will be a “resident for tax purposes” for calendar 2003 under the Internal Revenue Service’s substantial presence test, you may be subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. These taxes are applicable to all wage payments made by a U.S. employer to its employees unless an exception applies.

Nonresident aliens are exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 3121(b)(19) if the following three tests are met: The individual…


  • Is a nonresident alien for income tax purposes
  • Is present in the U.S. under a F, J, M or Q visa and has been here less than 5 years for students, or 2 years out of 6 for non-students, and,
  • Is performing services in accordance with the primary purpose of the visa’s issuance.

If you do not or may not meet any of the above three tests for calendar year 2003 (and you are not exempt under any other provision), the University will withhold Social Security taxes (6.2percent of taxable wages) and Medicare taxes (1.45 percent of taxable wages). If you have any questions, please contact the Internal Revenue Service, a tax advisor or pr-tax@u.washington.edu.

Important Notice Regarding Federal Income Tax Withholding

If you claimed an “exemption” from Federal income tax withholding during 2002 and you determine that you are eligible to renew your claim for 2003, you must submit a new Form W-4, “Employees Withholding Allowance Certificate”, to the Payroll Office by Feb. 1. Otherwise, the University is required by law to withhold Federal income taxes from your wages (at the maximum tax table rate of single, with a zero withholding allowance). The UW will not refund federal withholding taxes due to either a late or an incomplete W-4 form.

You should also file a new Form W-4, Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate” if your filing status or exemption allowances have changed since the last filing of your Form W-4. To obtain a Form W-4, please request one from your departmental Payroll Coordinator or download the form from the UW Payroll homepage: www.washington.edu/admin/payroll/forms.

Nonresident Alien Federal Income Tax Withholding

If you claimed an “exemption” from Federal income tax withholding under a U.S. income tax treaty for 2002 and you determine you are eligible to renew your claim for 2003, you must submit 1) a new Form 8233, Exemption From Withholding on Compensation for Independent (and Certain Dependent) Personal Services of a Nonresident Alien Individual, and 2) U.S. income tax treaty article, to the Payroll Office by Feb. 1. Otherwise, the University is required by law to withhold Federal income taxes from your wages (at the maximum tax table rate of single, with a zero withholding allowance).

The UW will not refund federal withholding taxes due to either a late or an incomplete 8233 form. Form 8233 and its related Treaty Article may be downloaded from Payroll’s Web site: http://www.washington.edu/admin/payroll/nra.html


Nonresident Alien Federal Income Tax Withholding for 2003

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will require all 8233 request forms for the federal withholding tax treaty exemptions to have a valid Social Security Number.

Until a completed 8233 form (with its Article attachment) with a valid Social Security Number is submitted to the UW Payroll Office and approved by the IRS, federal withholding taxes will be withheld by the UW. Nonresident Aliens should be encouraged to acquire a United States Social Security Card prior to leaving their country of residence through an application process within a US Embassy or Consulate, or immediately upon arrival in the United States.

A non-resident alien may be entered into OPUS prior to recieving a Social Security number, however tax treaty benefits will not be extended. As soon as the Social Security number is received a copy of the card and a Form 8233 must be sent to the Payroll Office, the SSN will be corrected and taxes refunded if applicable. A helpful guide to acquiring a Social Security card may be found at our Payroll Website (under Employee Procedures): http://www.washington.edu/admin/payroll/nra.html  


Nonresident Alien Stipend Recipients

Non resident Alien stipend recipients without a social security number will have federal withholding tax withheld at 30 percent. Those with a social security number will be withheld at 14 percent. If you have any questions, please contact Ping Tan (pingtan@u.washington.edu) in the Payroll Office.


Blood drive

Thursday, Jan. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 2:45 to 5 p.m. in the Terry Hall Lounge; Friday, Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1:45 to 5 p.m. in the Health Sciences Lobby; Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:15 to 4 p.m. in the Black Room, UW Ethnic Cultural Center; Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 2:45 to 5 p.m. on Stevens Way across from Lewis Hall.

Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m. in Condon Hall on Northeast Campus Parkway.

Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 12:45 to 3:30 p.m. in Ballmer Hall.

DEGREE EXAMS

Members of the graduate faculty are invited to attend the following examinations. Chairpersons are denoted in parentheses.

General Examinations


  • Angela Faith Dickens, Chemistry, Ph.D. 3:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17. 510 Ocean Sciences. (Prof. Richard Gammon).
  • Chong-Suk Han, Social Work, Ph.D. 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. 210F Social Work/Speech. (Prof. Edwina Uehara).
  • Steven Kirkham Johnson, English, Ph.D. 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16. A101C Padelford. (Prof. Mark Patterson).
  • Erika J. Nesholm, Classics, Ph.D. 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16. 210 Denny. (Prof. Stephen Hinds).
  • Huaning Niu, Electrical Engineering, Ph.D. 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. M406 Electrical Engineering. (Prof. James Ritcey).
  • Nina Oestreicher, Pharmacy – School of, Ph.D. 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. H375F Health Sciences. (Prof. David Veenstra).
  • Maria Pereverzeva, Psychology, Ph.D. noon Friday, Jan. 10. 211 Guthrie. (Prof. Davida Teller).
  • Sean Michael Robinson, Physics, Ph.D. 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. C520 Physics/Astronomy. (Prof. Thompson Burnett).
  • Somsak Sukittanon, Electrical Engineering, Ph.D. 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13. 403 Electrical Engineering. (Prof. Les Atlas).
  • Min Wang, Electrical Engineering, Ph.D. 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. 403 Electrical Engineering. (Prof. Alexander Mamishev).


Final Examinations



  • Kathleen Elizabeth Burgoyne, Education, Ph.D. 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. 201 Miller. “Getting out of trouble: Understanding developmental pathways from early adolescence to adulthood.” (Prof. Michael Knapp).
  • Francisco Javier Dieguez, Public Health and Community Medicine – Environmental Health, Ph.D. 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17. 228 Roosevelt. “Role of nuclear factor-Kappa B in the molecular toxicology of mercury in kidney and brain cells.” (Prof. James Woods).
  • Eli Meir, Zoology, Ph.D. 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13. 114 Kincaid. “Modeling genetic networks to aid in understanding their function.” (Prof. Garrett Odell).