The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV

In this issue:

• Message from Vice President Casey Wyman
• Employee Assistance Program Resources
• With Gratitude and Encouragement: Stories from Dec. 6
• Monthly Observances
• New Fire Impairment Notification System (FINS) Process
• Administrative Faculty of the Month (December 2023)
• Business Affairs Employee Appreciation
• Spotlight on Service
• Updating Your Digital Literacy
• New Hires
• Promotions
• Anniversaries
• Dates to Remember

Message from Vice President Casey Wyman

Hello colleagues,

Preparing for this spring semester required unprecedented efforts from many Business Affairs teams. Your dedication to tasks ranging from building repairs to expense management made returning to campus seamless for our faculty, staff, and students. Thank you for your collaboration and unwavering commitment. You make me proud to be a Rebel. 

As we look ahead, I realize our work isn’t finished. Recovery will take time and Business Affairs teams will continue to play an essential role in the process. Earlier this month, President Whitfield introduced the Rebel Recovery Program, a comprehensive effort to enhance the university community's safety, security, and mental health support. In line with this initiative, a Committee on Campus Safety and Security is being formed, and I’m pleased that Musa Pam and Heather Ortiz will represent Business Affairs as part of this vital group. I encourage you to monitor the Rebel Recovery webpage for updates. 

In addition to our recovery planning, the Business Affairs Senior Leadership team will come together in mid-February to strategically plan divisional priorities for the next year. We’ll share these with the division at an all-staff meeting in early March. Keep an eye out for more information in the coming weeks. 

As we continue to support the university’s mission, remember the importance of supporting one another. The road to recovery looks different for everyone, so let’s approach every interaction with empathy and compassion. A small gesture of kindness goes a long way. 

Best regards,



Employee Assistance Program Resources

Trauma Group Counseling Sessions

UNLV’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider ComPsych will host group counseling sessions in February for all employees affected by the traumatic event on campus on Dec. 6. 

Led by a professional therapist, these free, one-hour sessions offer employees the opportunity to talk openly with colleagues about their experiences, challenges, thoughts, and feelings. This can help with short and long-term effects and promote resilience and recovery.

Sessions will take place at Lied Library on the dates and times below. Register in advance as seating is limited to 25 people per session. Please only register for one session.

• Date and time: Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. Register
• Date and time: Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. Register
• Date and time: Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. Register
• Date and time: Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. Register

Virtual Webinars

ComPsych will host 60-minute virtual webinars focused on topics related to recovering from a traumatic event. Please register in advance. There is no participation limit. 

• Coping with a Traumatic Event
• This workshop will help you to recognize physical, emotional, and cognitive responses to crises and trauma, post-trauma dos and don’ts, and tips for taking care of yourself following a crisis or traumatic event.
• Date and time: Jan. 29 at noon Register
• Moving Through Grief and Loss
• This workshop will provide coping techniques to help with the grieving process.
• Date and time: Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. Register
• Resiliency: Bouncing Back After a Setback
• This workshop will examine ways to introduce greater resilience into our lives.
• Date and time: Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. Register
• Managing Worry and Anxiety
• This training will address methods of intervening with worry and anxiety.
• Date and time: Feb. 13 at noon Register
• Tools to Handle Stress
• This course focuses on specific, practical activities to reduce stress. 
• Date and time: Feb. 22 at 9 a.m. Register

With Gratitude and Encouragement: Stories from Dec. 6

The UNLV Today team is collecting sentiments of gratitude and encouragement to share with our Rebel community as we continue the Rebel Recovery process together. Employees and students are invited to share stories about the people they helped, see as a source of inspiration or simply share words of encouragement for the spring semester.

Messages will be posted on the UNLV Strong webpage and preserved as part of the UNLV December 6, 2023 Memorial Collection housed at the UNLV Libraries' Special Collections & Archives. These stories may also be shared in newsletters, on social media, and through other platforms in the future.

Submit a message of gratitude or encouragement

Monthly Observances

February is National Black History Month. Created by Carter G. Woodson in 1926 as “Negro History Week”, the celebration has grown to an internationally recognized month that honors the achievements of Black individuals worldwide. Visit the UNLV Libraries Black History Month Resource Guide to learn more.

February is also American Heart Month, a time when we are reminded to focus on our cardiovascular health. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the first American Heart Month to address heart disease in the United States. Take steps this month to pay special attention to understanding, preventing, and treating heart disease, the #1 killer of Americans.

New Fire Impairment Notification System (FINS) Process

Risk Management & Safety (RMS) has implemented a new Fire Impairment Notification System (FINS) process that provides email communication to building occupants when a fire protection system (e.g., sprinklers, underground fire mains, smoke evacuation systems, fire alarms, etc.) will be out of service or modified. The responsible party (e.g., building representative, contractor, etc.) must submit an impairment permit request prior to any shut-off or modification.

RMS’ Fire and Life Safety (FLS) will conduct a site inspection before the impairment permit is approved to ensure proper protocols are followed. The FINS is a fire code requirement that notifies the local fire department as well as the appropriate insurance company and is meant to mitigate risks posed when a fire protection system is shut off or modified.

For more information about the process, visit the FINS website or contact Fire and Life Safety.

Administrative Faculty of the Month (December 2023)

John Tomola, Occupational Safety Program Manager, Risk Management & Safety

John was selected as the Administrative Faculty of the Month for December 2023. The Administrative Faculty Committee recognizes outstanding administrative faculty who go above and beyond in their duties and are acknowledged by their respective colleagues to advance the university's mission and goals. Congratulations, John!

Business Affairs Employee Appreciation

Do you work with a Business Affairs colleague who consistently goes above and beyond to make it happen? Did a coworker recently go out of their way to help you with a project? Does someone’s positive attitude make the workplace a more enjoyable place to be? If so, show your colleagues how much you value their contributions by nominating them for the monthly Business Affairs employee appreciation awards! The deadline to submit nominations for January is extended to January 31 at 5 p.m.

To nominate an outstanding colleague, complete the nomination form.

Spotlight on Service

“Jorge's small gesture really helped one of UNLV's newest employees. I was walking from the CSB building to the Foundation building and quickly realized Google Maps was incorrect. Lost and on the verge of being late for my first Foundation meeting, I asked several people where the building was located. Unfortunately, no one could help me. That's when I saw Jorge driving by on a golf cart on his way to a work order. I flagged him down and explained my dilemma. He kindly offered to give me a ride, as he mentioned I was not even close to the building. During the trip, he told me he worked on the irrigation team. He didn't know who I was and I knew that he was genuinely just trying to help out a fellow Rebel and get to the next work order. I thanked him for the ride and made my meeting on time. I am thankful for Jorge and his selfless act. I'm proud of him, his team approach to helping others, and his Rebel service.” - Casey Wyman

Upgrading Your Digital Literacy

As of December 2023, GrackleDocs Inc. acquired AbleDocs - a company with a robust suite of products and services that help ensure digital accessibility compliance, testing, training, and web accessibility auditing. Grackle will begin integrating AbleDocs' offerings into its portfolio during the first few quarters of 2024. This merger will bring users a broader range of services and enhanced capabilities.

Visit the GrackleDocs website for updates on new services and features as they become available.

New Hires

• Gabrielle Valdez, Facilities Management
• Jimmy Dagum, Facilities Management

Promotions

• Alexandra Nikolich, VP Office
• Frank Miranda, Facilities Management
• Orlakdy Douangprachanh, Facilities Management
• Xinia Carver, Facilities Management
• Zoe Howard, Administration Technology Services

Anniversaries

Congratulations to the Business Affairs employees celebrating work anniversaries in January! Years of service have been determined using the UNLV hire date - first employment date without any breaks in service here at UNLV regardless of job type or full-time status.

If you notice an error in your listing, contact Heather Ortiz.

Dates to Remember

• February - Black History and American Heart Months
• Feb. 11 - Las Vegas hosts Super Bowl LVIII