The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV

In this issue:

• Employee Profile: Ana Lopez 
• NSHE Cybersecurity Speaker Series
• October Observance: National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• Halloween Costume Safety at Work
• We Need Your Input: First-Generation and Veteran Employees
• Spotlight on Service
• Upgrading Your Digital Literacy
• Dates to Remember

Employee Profile: Ana Lopez

After more than eight years of service, Ana Lopez remains a rockstar for the Financial Reporting and Analysis team. As a senior accountant, Ana works closely with departments on campus to process reconciliations and ensure transactions are successfully posted in Workday. “I love collaborating with department representatives and developing positive working relationships,” she says. Ana recently completed another annual year-end audit, a critical task for Financial Services that takes significant time and requires attention to detail. 

She started her career as a student worker while completing her undergraduate studies. “I chose UNLV because I heard great things about the Lee Business School and wanted to study accounting and finance,” Ana says. Today, she helps to pave the way for future alumni by assisting Student Accounts with financial processes. Ana completes revenue reconciliations between the PeopleSoft (MyUNLV) and Workday throughout the year and balance sheet reconciliations at year-end. If an issue ever arises between the two systems, she assists Student Accounts in researching and correcting what went wrong. 

“Our two offices also collaborate if there is a change to student fees in the BOR NSHE Procedures and Guidelines Manual. We work together to update necessary PeopleSoft item types and ensure the accounting activity is mapped correctly so it hits Workday accurately,” she says.

Ana was born in Mexico, moved with her family to Las Vegas at age five, and now considers herself a native Nevadan. She loves the spooky season and scary movies like the Saw series and The Exorcist. One of her favorite hobbies is attending music festivals. Ana is looking forward to attending the When We Were Young festival this weekend to see artists like Green Day and Sum*41 perform. When she isn’t listening to some killer music, Ana enjoys hanging out with her boyfriend at venues like Area 15. She is also an axe-throwing expert with a knack for hitting the bullseye.

NSHE Cybersecurity Speaker Series

The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) recognizes National Cybersecurity Awareness Month by hosting virtual presentations featuring experts in the cybersecurity field. Presentations are open to all NSHE faculty and staff. Visit the NSHE Cybersecurity Speaker Series website to register or view previously recorded presentations.

October Observance: National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is recognized as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to commemorate the many contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. The theme for NDEAM 2023 is “Advancing Access and Equity.” To learn more about NDEAM, visit the Department of Labor website.

Halloween Costume Safety at Work

As Halloween approaches, Business Affairs wants everyone to have fun and celebrate while being safe and respectful to their fellow colleagues. While there are not any formal UNLV policies about costumes or decorative makeup, we encourage departments to establish standards based on environmental needs and requirements that ensure the continued functions of daily operations and the safety of individuals on campus. Please also consider the following:

• Masks that cover the entire face or head can impede vision and may cause a safety hazard; in particular in emergency situations
• Employees should make sure they have permission to wear costumes/makeup
• Those participating should consider wearing a costume that is comfortable and that they can easily change in and out of quickly
• Faux/replica weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited
• Show respect for all cultures in costume choices 
• Avoid costumes that allude to social issues as well as costumes that are too revealing
• Safety should always be the number one priority in celebrating any holiday

For further information on Halloween costume safety at work, visit this website. If you have any questions, please reach out to your supervisor.



Celebrating Halloween Around Campus

Will your team celebrate Halloween this year by wearing costumes or decorating your area? If so, please let us know. We would love to capture photos of your celebration to include in an upcoming Business Affairs Bulletin. You can also share your photos with us by emailing Heather Ortiz (heather.ortiz@unlv.edu). We look forward to seeing your Halloween spirit!

We Need Your Input: First-Generation and Veteran Employees

In November, we will recognize Business Affairs employees who are first-generation college graduates and veterans. We need your input to make sure everyone is acknowledged. See below for details:

First-Generation

UNLV's First-Generation Celebration Week is November 6 - 10! Each year, Business Affairs recognizes the division’s first-generation college graduates (a person whose parents did not complete a four (4) year college or university degree) in the Business Affairs Bulletin (BAB) and on the Campus Services Building (CSB) lobby screens. We are excited to continue this tradition!

If you are a first-generation graduate, please fill out this Qualtrics form by October 24. 

Veterans

We value the sacrifices our veteran employees have made for our country through their military service. In honor of Veterans Day (November 11), we will recognize and celebrate Business Affairs employees who served in all branches of the U.S. military in the Business Affairs Bulletin and on the Campus Services Building lobby screens.

If you are a veteran, please fill out this Qualtrics form by October 24. 

If you are both a first-generation college graduate and a veteran, please complete both forms. 

If you were featured last year as a first-generation or veteran employee, please complete the form(s) and indicate that you would like to be featured again and / or if any of your information has changed.

Spotlight on Service

In October 2022, we distributed our annual Business Affairs customer service survey. Many of our campus colleagues replied to the survey with notes of praise for our hard-working teams. See below for some highlights for our General Accounting team. 

“General accounting provides a wealth of knowledge and is always willing to assist with our questions and concerns.”

“Excellent customer service in this area. Pleasant staff and willing to assist with a smile.”

The 2023 survey is now live and will close on Nov. 6. If you’ve received a service from another area within the division over the past year, take a moment to tell us about your experience.

Upgrading Your Digital Literacy

Google Workspace is expanding the use of smart replies, suggested responses calculated by a custom model that has been trained on your conversation data, to all areas of Chat. Customers can now utilize smart replies, powered by machine learning (Artificial Intelligence), to quickly respond while on the go, in a hurry or unable to type messages in Chat. 

To learn more about smart replies, visit the Google Workspace Blog.

Dates to Remember

• October: National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• Oct. 27: Nevada Day Observed (Enjoy your day off!)
• Oct. 31: Nevada Day / Halloween 👻