Benefits Open Enrollment Information Sessions and Fairs

Open to faculty and staff.
Register at www.hr.upenn.edu/registration

Open Enrollment Information Sessions; faculty and staff have the opportunity to learn details and ask questions about their benefits options. Benefits Specialists will give a full overview of your choices and what to expect for the next plan year. Presentations will run for 45 minutes, followed by Q&A time.

• 4/1; 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall
• 4/2; noon-1:30 p.m., Room 108, The ARCH
• 4/4; 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m., Ben Franklin Room Houston Hall
• 4/9; 1-2:30 p.m., Room 108 The ARCH
• 4/17; 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m., Gaulton Auditorium, BRB 2
• 4/18; 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Golkin Room, Houston Hall
• 4/22; 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall
• 4/30; 11 am-12:30 p.m., Room 209, Steinberg Dietrich Hall

Wellness and Enrollment Fair; 4/23; 9:30-1:30 p.m.; Hall of Flags Houston Hall. Representatives from Penn’s health-care providers and wellness partners will be on-site to share information. Learn about medical plans, prescription drug coverage, dental plans, vision coverage, flexible spending accounts, and the Penn Benefits Center. You can also take advantage of free health-related screenings and activities, plus learn about year-round wellness offerings for faculty and staff.

Wellness and Enrollment Fair; 4/25; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; New Bolton Center, Kennett Square. See above for detailed description.

Professional and Personal Development Programs

Open to faculty and staff.
Register at http://knowledgelink.upenn.edu/

Ted Talk Tuesday: How to Use Others’ Feedback to Learn and Grow; 4/1; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Most efforts to improve individual and organizational learning focus on teaching people how to give feedback. In this Ted Talk, Sheila Heen explains why, if you want to improve learning in your organization, the smart money is on figuring out how to receive feedback and use it to fuel growth.

Fundamentals of Strategic Planning; 4/1; 12:30-1:30 p.m. In today’s work environment, complex tasks and projects are more common than ever. By utilizing strategic planning skills, you’ll be able to set yourself and/or your team up for success. Participants of this course will learn to identify the foundation for creating a strategic team, discover strategic values, participate in strategic planning efforts and avoid common pitfalls that derail strategic plans.

SMART Goals; 4/23; 12:30-1:30 p.m. SMART is an acronym for the five characteristics of well-designed goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound. It’s a simple tool used to go beyond the realm of fuzzy goal-setting into an actionable plan for results. Put yourself on the fast-track of success by applying the SMART principles to every project or goal on your plate.

Models of Excellence 20th Anniversary Celebration; 4/23; 4-5 p.m.; Irvine Auditorium. This year, the Models of Excellence Program recognizes 92 outstanding staff members who play key roles in the University’s successes every day. President Amy Gutmann, Provost Wendell Pritchett, Executive Vice President Craig R. Carnaroli, and Vice President for Human Resources Jack Heuer will present the awards to staff members. To celebrate two decades of staff recognition, audience members will receive a commemorative 20th Anniversary gift bag with cheer items and a commemorative gift. A reception follows the ceremony. Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/models to learn more about this year’s honorees.

Creative Problem Solving; 4/30; 9 a.m.-noon; $75. While problems come in all shapes and sizes, knowing how to overcome them in a creative way can help find new solutions in various situations. This program will identify roadblocks that prevent creative thinking, rediscover your creative ability, learn techniques to recognize and identify problems, and explore ways to manage creative people.

Work-life Workshops

Open to faculty and staff.
Register at www.hr.upenn.edu/registration

Guided Meditation; 4/2; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Practice mindful breathing that focuses your attention on the present moment with kindness, compassion, and awareness. Self-massage and gentle mindful movements that promote relaxation and reduce stress may also be included in the workshop. No experience necessary.

Prepare and Prevent: Assisting Leaders with Behavioral Tools to Better Support Employees Webinar; 4/11; 11 a.m.-noon & 3-4 p.m. Join us to learn about the benefits of our EAP program and the managerial assistance available to you. Guest speaker Bert Alicea, vice president of EAP+Work-Life for Health Advocate and a licensed psychologist, will cover topics including employment performance issues, supervisor issues, enabling employees and more.

Guided Meditation; 4/24; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Practice mindful breathing that focuses your attention on the present moment with kindness, compassion, and awareness. Self-massage and gentle mindful movements that promote relaxation and reduce stress may also be included in the workshop. No experience necessary.

Take Your Children to Work Day; 4/25. Penn understands the importance of providing children with positive, productive experiences in their formative years. That’s why we host the annual Take Our Children to Work Day, an event that encourages and inspires youngsters and introduces them to the workplace. Each year Penn provides an exciting array of activities on campus for children ages 9-15. Please note, all participants must have supervisory approval and must accompany their young guests to all activities. Registration opens April 11.

Admissions Brown Bag—Making the Most of the Campus Visit; 4/29; 12:30-1:30 p.m. Faculty and staff with college-age dependents are invited to join Penn’s undergraduate admissions office to discuss the importance of the campus visit. The session will cover helpful information to assist you and your child in planning and making the most of campus visits.

Penn Healthy You Workshops

Open to faculty and staff.
Register at www.hr.upenn.edu/registration

Gentle Yoga; 4/4 and 4/18 , noon-1 p.m. Let your body reward itself with movement! Join us for this Gentle Yoga session and explore the natural movements of the spine with slow and fluid moving bends and soft twists. During this session, you will flow into modified sun salutations that loosen those tightened muscles and joints of the lower back, neck, shoulders, and wrists. And as an added bonus, you’ll get a workout in the process. Mats and props will be provided.

April Wellness Walk; 4/5; noon-1 p.m. It has been proven that spending more time outside reduces stress, increases energy levels, and boosts immunity. We would like to help you achieve these goals by inviting you to join us for our first outdoor wellness walk of 2019! Meet the Center for Public Health Initiatives staff at noon in front of College Hall by the Ben Franklin statue for a 2-mile walk (you may exit the walk at any time). We hope you will be able to join us. Bring a colleague, your water bottle and don’t forget your sneakers!

Get to Know What Is Healthy at Houston Market Tour; 4/11; 11:30 a.m.-noon. Join Dan Connolly, Bon Appétit’s registered dietitian nutritionist, on an interesting tour of the many delicious, healthy options in Houston Market. You will meet Mr. Connolly at Houston Hall’s Information Desk, where he will give a brief history of Bon Appétit and explain the elements of a healthy meal. Then, you’ll follow him downstairs to Houston Market, where he’ll walk you through the various food stations and explain how you, too, can eat healthy at Houston Market!

Zumba; 4/11; noon-1 p.m. Perfect for everybody and every body! Each Zumba® class is designed to bring people together to burn calories. We take the “work” out of workout, by mixing low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness party. Once the Latin and World rhythms take over, you’ll see why Zumba® Fitness classes are often called exercise in disguise.

Oral Health 101: All You Want to Know About Your Teeth and More; 4/18 and 4/30; noon-1 p.m. Healthy mouth, healthy body: The link between them may surprise you. Taking care of your teeth isn’t just about having a nice smile and pleasant breath. The condition of your mouth is closely tied to your overall health. Find out how oral health is linked to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and more at this interactive seminar with experts from Penn Dental Medicine. Lunch will be served. If you have any dietary restrictions, please contact Richard Le at rle@upenn.edu

Spin; 4/29; 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Pedal your way to a fantastic workout indoors! With the use of stationary cycles, each class is led on a “virtual” outdoor road, complete with a variety of exercises. This class will give you an energizing, calorie-burning, fun workout and it is great for all fitness levels because you will always ride at a self-directed pace.

­—Division of Human Resources