1. Today is U.S. Constitution and Citizenship Day

September 17th is U.S. Constitution and Citizenship Day! This date is significant because the United States Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787.  Every secondary and post-secondary school receiving federal funds must teach about the U.S. Constitution on this day. 

The Office of Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity will be handing out a limited number of pocket-sized U.S. Constitution booklets today, September 17th, from noon until 1:00 pm in the Madison Plaza lobby! For more information about the U.S. Constitution, check out the brief animated video lesson and resource links below. 

2. Virtual Benefits Fair for Employees is Next Week

In preparation for the upcoming Open Enrollment Period (October 1–15) the Benefits Office is hosting a Virtual Benefits Fair with sessions Monday, September 20 through Friday, September 24. 

Employees are encouraged to attend sessions in the comfort of your own home or office to gain a greater understanding of the benefits available to you. All sessions are approximately one hour. Choose your sessions below, and register via the link to get the Zoom information:

Active Health (Wellness Program)
Monday, September 20, 10:00 am
This presentation will cover the wellness program, the financial incentives available to you, and what is on the horizon for 2022 to help you stay motivated for long-term success.

Blue Cross Blue Shield
Monday, September 20, 2:00 pm
Discussion on provider network, identity protection, discount programs, fitness your way, Diabetes Prevention Program, and member tools.

Empower Retirement (401k/457)
Tuesday, September 21, 9:00 am
Allan Landstreet, CFP for Empower Retirement will review the State of Tennessee 401k/457 plans.

Lincoln Financial Group (LTD)
Tuesday, September 21, 1:00 pm
An overview of the long-term disability plan and frequently asked questions about disability insurance benefits.

Optum (FSA/HSA)
Wednesday, September 22, 10:30 am
Optum Bank will manage medical, limited purpose (L-FSA) and dependent care FSA (DC-FSA) programs. Learn more information on eligible medical FSA/HSA expenses, claim filing documentation and dependent care FSA reimbursement.

Davis Vision
Wednesday, September 22, 2:30 pm
This review will cover the plans, benefits, services, and changes for the upcoming year.

Cigna (Medical and Dental)
Thursday, September 23, 10:00 am
An overview of the 2022 medical and dental plans, any upcoming changes/enhancements, and teledentistry.

Optum (EAP and Behavioral Health)
Thursday, September 23, 3:00 pm
An Optum representative will discuss a wide range of services, including: Employee Assistance Program, work life services, behavioral health, and substance use treatment.

MetLife Short-Term Disability
Friday, September 24, 11:00 am
An overview of the short-term disability plan offered through the State of Tennessee. The sessions will review plan design options and claim examples.

Minnesota Life
Friday, September 24, 2:00 pm
Life Insurance 101: What do I need to know? An overview of life, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and what benefits are available to you through the State of Tennessee.

3. Promoting Size-Inclusive Health Care: Size Inclusion 101

Join Patrilie Hernandez of Embody Lib to learn about size-inclusive health care with a virtual conversation on Thursday, September 23 at 11:00 am CDT. Larger patients, whether they identify as overweight, obese, plus-sized, fat, larger-bodied, people of size, or something else, make up almost two-thirds of the population in the United States, yet society in general and the health care system in particular do not consider the unique experiences of these patients.

Topics covered will include:

• What a weight-inclusive health paradigm looks like in various health settings
• Policies that promote weight-inclusive care
• Tips on how to address weight stigma in public health settings

Please register for the session in Engage. 

This session is made possible by a mini-grant from the UTHSC Office of Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity.

4. Nominations Open for the DEI Faculty Award

Is there a faculty member that comes to mind who embodies the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion? Who demonstrates a commitment to those ideals by way of their service, outreach, and research? Who has taken the time to recruit and mentor diverse students, trainees, and maybe even other faculty members? If so, nominate them for the inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Faculty Award!

The DEI Faculty Award nomination form is open now and will close October 1 at 5:00 pm CDT. More information can be found on the DEI Faculty website.

5. Employees: Take the UT Survey

The University of Tennessee Employee Survey is open for completion. Please share your input in order to make the University of Tennessee an even better place to work. 

UTHSC employees should have received an email from McLean & Company yesterday, September 15, with a link to the survey. The survey should only take 15-20 minutes to complete and will be closed on Tuesday, September 28, at 11:45 pm EDT. 

McLean & Company, the vendor administering this survey, will ensure that your data and your answers are kept confidential. All data will be housed with McLean & Company, and the University of Tennessee will only have access to the final reports generated by McLean & Company. Reports will be generated in an aggregate format to ensure your privacy is maintained. Therefore, it is important to be honest in your answers, whether that is positive or negative. 

If you have any questions about this survey, please send an email to survey@mcleanco.com.