• We are excited to announce that CLAS Knowledge Base is now live!
• This features many guides and information on topics such as BMS, CHAD, Purchasing, Payroll, and more.
• The CLAS Business Center is actively working to update and add articles.
  • If you have any suggestions or recommendations on how to make our Knowledge Base better, please contact bsc@uconn.edu.

• HR will bill departments monthly for pre-employment background checks using the Service Billing eDoc.
  • The eDoc will include a total cost for background checks as well as the PageUp search # and will no longer include the candidate name or cost breakdown.
• Human Resources uses the hiring process KFS# for billing.
  • For CLAS staff and TT/NTT teaching appointments, please use the CLAS Search Account: 2527220.
• Background checks cannot be charged to grants; provide an alternative unrestricted faculty/department KFS account.
• For questions regarding specific details on background checks in your billing eDoc, please email hr-cbc@uconn.edu.

• All HuskyBuy job aids have moved to the UConn Knowledge Base.
  • Please be sure to bookmark the new link in your internet browser.
• For more information, please contact huskybuysupport@uconn.edu.

• CLAS has created a PTR & Interfolio Updates page which features upcoming PTR/PR deadlines, a Process Spotlight, FAQs, and helpful resources.
• Read the September updates.

• The University phone system recently changed from Pinnacle to Softeligent. Departments will now be receiving monthly statements from Softeligent with your unit’s phone information.
  • There is no action needed on your end to pay the statements, which are processed automatically, so they are just informational.
• The Business Center will be following up with departments later this fall to review and update phone line information to ensure data accuracy within Softeligent.
• Some Phone Line Reminders:
  • Please do not cancel an existing phone line or purchase a new phone line without first connecting with the Business Center.
    • Phone lines are funded permanently, so we prefer to repurpose existing lines rather than purchasing new lines or cancelling existing lines, as we will not get the perm funds returned to the College.
  • If you have any questions or concerns about your phone line data, please contact the Business Center at bsc@uconn.edu.

• Monthly meetings will take place between CLAS Shared Services Management and the following:
  • Controller’s Office will take place on Friday, Oct. 18.
  • Procurement will take place on Thursday, Sept. 26.
  • Procurement and A/P will take place on Monday, Oct. 14.
  • Payroll will take place Friday, Sept. 27.
• CLAS Business Center Monthly Topic Overview will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10. Please reach out to bsc@uconn.edu with ideas for future topics.
• Please feel free to reach out to bsc@uconn.edu with any areas of concern to be discussed at any of these meetings.

• LinkedIn Learning is now available at no cost to all UConn staff on Storrs campus as an e-learning resource.
  • LinkedIn Learning offers an opportunity to develop professional skills through a digital library of over 6,000 courses.
  • Visit the Microsoft App store and navigate to the LinkedIn Learning application to activate your license.
    • Please reach out to brandon.murray@uconn.edu with any questions.
• CLAS Shared Services has a lending library with a variety of books on professional development and self-improvement.
  • For more information on how to borrow a book, please contact emily.petry@uconn.edu.
• Academic Impressions offers professional development resources for higher education professionals. Resources include hundreds of hours of trainings in topics such as Academic Leadership, Advancement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Faculty Success, Leadership Development, Compliance, and more.
• The Lexington Group, Inc is UConn’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The Lexington Group provides confidential face-to-face counseling, or in certain circumstances video counseling, to assist employees in identifying and resolving personal problems no matter how unique and diverse they appear. Examples include family and marital conflicts, stress, substance abuse, depression, and other emotional issues. The Lexington Group also assists with referrals for eldercare support, childcare, as well as legal and financial guidance through our Life Care program.
  • Employees may call The Lexington Group for immediate and confidential assistance at 1-800-676-HELP (4357) or visit their website. The Lexington Group is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
• Please see the schedule for the Graduate School’s Timely Topics Series.
  • Topics for live upcoming sessions include:
    • Racial Microaggressions and the Cumulative and Deleterious Effects on Historically Excluded and Racially Oppressed Faculty, Staff, and Students – Sept. 19 at 11 a.m.
    • Graduate Admissions: Program Application Processing in Slate and Admissions Cycle Kick Off! – Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.
    • New Graduate School Fellowships Process for Fall 2025 Admissions Cycle – Sept. 26 at 2:00 p.m.
    • “How Are You Doing?”…And Other Scary Questions, Continued – Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.
    • Graduate Assistants: What Supervisors Need to Know – Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.
    • Graduate Admissions: Reading and Reviewing Applications in the Slate Reader – Oct. 31 at 11 a.m.
    • Register for a session.

• Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) Mini Refresher Courses
  • Pre-Interview Evaluations – Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 10-11:00 a.m. in Austin 247.
  • Post-Interview Evaluations – Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Austin 434,
• Catering Conversations for University Planners – Essentials of Event Spaces, Dietary Needs, and Planning
  • This comprehensive session is designed for university planners seeking to master the foundational skills of catering for campus events.
  • Thursday, Sept. 19 from 11 a.m.-noon in Wilbur Cross North Reading Room.
  • Register for the session.
• Supervisor/Manager Training
  • HR will offer supervisor and manager leadership training through Transformative Leadership Strategies. TLS will offer two cohorts of the training this fall. The September/October cohort will be four three-hour sessions from Sept. 24 to Oct. 2. The October/November cohort will be two six-hour sessions on Oct. 22 and Nov. 5. There is a limit of 26 participants per cohort, and the total cost to participate is $287 per person.
  • To register, employees should complete this Kuali Build form.
  • Please contact brandon.murray@uconn.edu for more information.
• Kognito: Supporting Students in Distress
  • This interactive simulated training allows faculty, staff, and students to practice having important and life-saving conversations with students who are experiencing distress.
  • Kognito and other resources can be found on the Student Health and Wellness website.
• PageUp Regular Payroll: Sign up for a session.
  • Oct. 21 from 9 a.m.-noon
• PageUp Special Payroll: Sign up for a session.
  • Oct. 22 from 9-11 a.m.

• For the month of August, CLAS faculty submitted 35 grant applications with a total requested amount of $25M.
• For the month of August, CLAS faculty were awarded 9 new awards with a total funded amount of $5M.
• Tyler Tulloch, Assistant Director, presented “CLAS Shared Services Monthly Topic: GMS Unallowable Costs on Grants.” Presentation has been uploaded to CLAS Administrative Staff Teams Channel, under Files.

• Be sure to explore the latest articles in the IT Knowledge Base for helpful updates:
  • Share OneDrive Files/Folders from the Website
  • Adobe Licensed Products
  • Downloading and Accessing Adobe Creative Cloud
  • UConn Adobe Creative Cloud User License Login Process
  • How to Create Accessible PowerPoint Presentations

Hello Colleagues!

We are hoping that the start of the Fall semester is going well for all! My name is Brett DeMarchi, and I am the Team Lead for CLAS Facilities. The team and I have met many new faces over the past couple of weeks and we hope to eventually meet all of you.

A reminder that the CLAS Facilities team is available to help CLAS Faculty and Staff with building related needs. General requests for assistance can be emailed to CLASFSHelp@uconn.edu. Some examples are help with key and card access requests, surplus assistance, moving tasks, and any other non-urgent request that you need some help to navigate. To report urgent issues, potential property damage, or after normal business hours, please call UConn Facilities work order control at 860-486-3113. My cell number is 959-444-6264 and I’m always happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Enjoy the beautiful fall weather!

Brett DeMarchi