Dear faculty colleagues,
Below are opportunities, updates and reminders. Please share the relevant information with colleagues and those you mentor.
Review Your Annual Enrollment Insurance Options
During Annual Enrollment from July 15-31, you have the opportunity to make benefit elections for the 2022-2023 plan year that begins September 1. Please review the newsletter published by the UT System Office of Employee Benefits and pay specific attention to the premium and plan changes for UT Select to ensure you understand changes that will occur after September 1. Please see the recent email from UT’s Human Resources for more information.
New Mileage Reimbursement Rate Effective July 1
On July 1, 2022 the standard mileage rates for the use of a personal car (including vans, pickups, or panel trucks) increased from 58.5 cents per miles to 62.5 cents per mile. The rate of 58.5 cents per mile will apply for travel dates prior to July 1, 2022. Note: The rate of reimbursement is affected by the travel date, not the reimbursement date. Refer to askUS. If you have further questions about mileage reimbursements, please contact Travel Services oa.travel@austin.utexas.edu.
Academic Calendar – Next Four Years
The next four years of the academic calendar are now published. This should help as you plan for future terms and assist students with their academic needs. The academic calendars are available on the Registrar’s website.
Guidance for Faculty Living with Immunocompromised Dependents
A temporary Flexible Teaching Modality Arrangement (FTMA) is available for the fall 2022 semester for faculty and assistant instructors (AIs) who live with an at-risk household member defined as immunocompromised and who:
- weighs less than 88 lbs and is of any age, or
- is under 12 years of age and of any weight
The request for this FTMA may be completed online via Qualtrics:
Accepting Applications: Faculty Travel Grant
The Faculty Travel Grant Program (FTG) in the Graduate School is accepting applications for travel awards for the 2022-23 academic year. The Faculty Travel Grant Program and VCFRG (Virtual Conference Faculty Registration Grant) Program support the presentations of scholarly research from UT Austin at recognized conferences and professional meetings. Grants support oral and poster presentations as well as select creative performances and exhibits. Eligible faculty members can receive up to $1,400 per academic year for approved travel expenses.
Interested faculty members can learn more about eligibility, allowed expenses, and more here and submit applications through the Graduate School Awards System. Applications close on Friday, August 25, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Jaskolka at lisa.jaskolka@austin.utexas.edu.
Digital Badging Initiative
UT Austin faculty and staff can now offer digital badges through a UT Austin Digital Badging Initiative. There are no restrictions on who badges can be awarded to. For more information, visit the digital badging page.
Faculty Mentor Survey
The Office of Undergraduate Research wants to know more about your successes and experiences mentoring undergraduate researchers. If you have 5 minutes, please share about your work with undergraduates by completing their faculty mentor survey. They are specifically hoping to find out more about students who were co-authors on papers or presentations in 2021.
CDC Definition for “Up to Date” Vaccinations for Those 50 Years or Older
The CDC recently changed its definition for “up to date” vaccinations for adults ages 50 years or older to now include the second booster of a COVID-19 vaccination. Employees who are 50 years or older should take this definition change into account when reviewing the university’s COVID-19 Exposure Action Chart if they have been exposed to COVID-19 or have tested positive.
If you have any faculty-related questions, concerns, and solutions please feel free to contact the Faculty Affairs team. We’re here to support you in any way we can.
Stay well,
Tasha Beretvas