1. Employees: Changes to COVID-19 Paid Leave

The University will end paid leave for COVID-19 exposure and positive cases on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. The vaccine is readily available through various channels and will minimize risk on campus. Please note that if you are not vaccinated and test positive for COVID-19 or are exposed to COVID-19, you will have to use your sick and annual leave to cover the quarantine or isolation period.

2. UTHSC Alert Testing on June 15

In order to ensure your continued safety on the UTHSC campus, and ability to receive emergency messages and alerts, UTHSC Campus Police will be conducting a system-wide test of the UTHSC Alert system Tuesday, June 15, 2021. During this exercise, a “TEST” message will display via text, email, phone, desktop pop-up, cable TV, and digital signage.

This is a great time to install the Rave Guardian app on your mobile device, if you haven’t already done so. This app provides an additional way for you to receive emergency notifications from UTHSC. You must use your UTHSC email address when signing up. The app is available for download through Google Play and the App Store.

For more information about UTHSC Alert, please visit https://www.uthsc.edu/alert/index.php. 

3. Cybersecurity Alert: Widespread Phishing Attacks

UTHSC is currently under attack by phishing emails. Part of the Office of Cybersecurity’s defense strategy is making the campus aware and preparing faculty, staff, and students to respond. Here is what we are currently seeing:

• All of the phishing emails are coming from external email addresses. External email addresses will have [Ext] in the subject line.
• One phishing email was sent to almost one thousand UTHSC email addresses last night with a word document attached from an external email address. The subject of these emails was "[Ext] PO 345345# University of Tennessee".
• Another phishing attack uses the names of some of our deans and department chairs from an external email address, such as @gmail.com or @my.com. The email is asking the recipient for a cell phone number so the conversation can be continued outside of the UTHSC environment. Because of this scam, at least one person has purchased $500 worth of gift cards.

• If you responded with your cell number, block the number that is asking you to do a "favor". 
• If you opened the attachment using a UTHSC device, contact the ITS Service Desk at 901.448.2222 for a device check.
• If you opened the attachment using a personal device, run your antivirus software immediately.
• Forward ANY suspicious emails to abuse@uthsc.edu.

4. Required HIPAA Training Due June 30

Faculty, Staff, Postdocs, Residents, and Students: To ensure everyone is aware of their responsibilities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s (UTHSC) workforce must undergo periodic HIPAA Privacy Training. This online training is the official 2021 UTHSC-sanctioned training for federal HIPAA compliance purposes.

To access the UTHSC HealthStream HIPAA Training, you MUST use this link: https://www.healthstream.com/hlc/uthlth 

The deadline for completing this training is June 30.  

5. Employees: Join the Sick Leave Bank by June 30

The Sick Leave Bank is an opportunity for eligible employees to protect their income. The Sick Leave Bank may provide paid leave to bank members who have exhausted all of their own paid leave due to a personal illness or injury.

Open enrollment for the Sick Leave Bank this year is April 1 through June 30. Enrollment forms must be submitted to the Employee Relations office within Human Resources at 910 Madison, Suite 764 by June 30.

For additional information, please see HR0382 Sick Leave Bank Policy (UT System) and UTHSC Sick Leave Bank Procedures.