Staff Notes Daily Announcements

Thank you to staff who have provided candid feedback about the challenges you’ve experienced entering your time in Workday, in particular the amount of time it takes to complete the biweekly process for those who divide their worked time among multiple account keys.

We hear your concerns, and UCAR Operations is taking a multi-faceted approach to address them in Workday. So far, the team has

• Compiled data based on individual concerns expressed
• Met with several peer organizations to review their time reporting solutions
• Started discussing opportunities for improvement directly with Workday

Our next steps include analyzing how account keys are assigned to staff, and an effort to gain a better understanding of the challenges staff are experiencing through targeted feedback. The team will:

• Identify a cross section of staff members from different entities and job categories who have expressed concerns
• Reach out to these individuals with an invitation to participate in a 30-minute, moderated user experience feedback session
• Launch a brief questionnaire, open to all staff, to gather additional data

If you would like to volunteer to participate in a feedback session, please contact Heather Hoyer (contact information below). Watch Staff Notes Daily for more information about the questionnaire coming soon.

Please stay tuned for additional updates as this effort progresses. The team is aiming to identify and implement solutions within the first half of 2021.

The Xdev Python Tutorial Seminar Series continues on Wednesday, January 27th at 1PM Mountain Time. The content for the tutorial -- creating your own Python package -- can be found here: https://ncar.github.io/python-tutorial/tutorials/yourfirst.html#first-python-package

Join The GLOBE Program for our next webinar: "STEM Storytelling from an Apache Point of View" on January 25th at 9:15am MST. Link to join: ​​​​​​​https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86128915401

This webinar is part of a series of webinars hosted by GLOBE for the International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS). This webinar will feature 4 speakers from Mescalero, New Mexico as they discuss STEM storytelling and experiences creating projects for the IVSS.

The speakers:

Arthur “Butch” Blazer Semi-retired

Arthur “Butch” Blazer was elected by his people and served his term as the President of the Mescalero Apache Tribe in 2018-2019.  During the Obama Administration, Butch served as USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment from 2011 through 2016. In 2003, Governor Bill Richardson appointed Butch as "State Forester" for New Mexico, the first Native American to hold that position. A member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, Butch has been involved in Tribal issues throughout his life. In 1983, he co-founded the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society, a national tribal non-profit organization and has served (twice) as the National President of the Society.  Butch currently serves on the Board of Directors for two national conservation organizations, the National Wildlife Federation and Conservation Legacy. Butch graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Range Science and worked with various federal, tribal, and state entities, as well as numerous non-profit organizations, in executive management and leadership positions during the course of his career.

Nate Raynor

Mescalero Apache School Teacher/Mentor Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Robotic Retired Military (USAF)

Shylo Cochise-Klinekole Student at Mescalero Apache School 12th Grade

Kameryn Chino 11th Grade Mescalero Apache School STEM/Robotic team leader

This webinar will be recorded and the recording will be available after the webinar on globe.gov/science-symposium. We encourage you to also view our other 2021 webinars available on the IVSS website.

The IVSS is an annual virtual event for K-Undergrad students to showcase their research and hard work. Through the IVSS, students create research reports, using GLOBE data, to explore the environment and develop important science skills. In March, students will submit their reports for feedback from STEM professionals, teachers, grad students, and other interested community members. Please visit globe.gov/science/symposium for more info and for the link to volunteer as a judge.

Due to COVID-19 exposure risk and current facility access limitations, UCAR will not be able to hold its annual onsite Health Fair and associated blood draws this year. Your health care provider can likely conduct many, if not all, of the blood tests normally provided through the UCAR Health Fair.  Please keep in mind, however, that your provider may need to charge you for the tests if they are not medically necessary. Contact your health care provider to discuss your options. UCAR is hoping to resume the annual Health Fair in 2022 and will share additional information once planning begins.