Books must be donated with no strings attached and may be used in any way that benefits the new high school library or Knox County schools. Books may be dropped off at the Office of Research during the following times:

• 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 3
• 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, February 6-9
• 8:00 a.m. – noon Friday, February 10

All books are welcome. Book with a focus in introductory science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are especially desired. It is preferred that books be reasonably current, and in good condition. The school is unable to accept magazines or journals at this time. All books should be packed in boxes. (For extra boxes email eburman@utk.edu.)

View the L&N’s book wish list here. For more info visit the Office of Research website.

The UT Alert system sends messages to any device that can receive text messages through cellular service, such as cell phones, text pagers, and smart phones.

If you have not signed up for UT Alert, please take time to enroll now so that you will be included in the test. Sign up for UT Alert at http://www.utk.edu/utalert. You will need your NETID and password and the phone you are registering. Current subscribers also should take time to make sure their information is up to date. Confirm your information here.

UT Alert messages are sent only during serious emergencies when situations require you to act immediately or to be aware of an imminent threat to your safety and welfare. The system also is used to let you know about severe weather and major facilities issues that may impact a large portion of the campus or a large number of people.

In addition, the UT Alert system is used to notify the campus when the university is closed or on a delayed opening schedule due to inclement weather conditions.

There is no cost to sign up for UT Alert. The only charges you incur would be the normal fees charged by your mobile service provider for receiving text messages. For more information, visit the FAQ at http://www.utk.edu/utalert/faq.shtml.

If you have questions, contact utalert-help@utk.edu.

The two-day event features educational sessions, dietary discussions, and workout demonstrations focusing on the needs of women, men, and seniors. Highlights will include the Food City Eat Right Stage and Sampling Pavilion, ZUMBA fitness on the Dancemoves Get Active Stage, and free health checks and screenings from dozens of exhibitors.

The expo is open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. For more information on the event, visit the Healthy Living Expo website.

Safe Zone training explores LGBT issues in an honest and open way and provides an opportunity for participants to become an LGBT allies. Training sessions will take place on the following dates:

• Friday, February 17, 9:00 a.m. to noon in the University Center Crest Room
• Friday, April 13, 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Multicultural Student Life Center

Safe Zone awareness-building is part of the Chancellor’s Civility and Community initiative and is administered through the Office of the Dean of Students. UT’s Employee and Organizational Development provides the training through small group activities, information-sharing, and large group discussions that explore commonly held myths and beliefs of the LGBT community.

Those interested in the training should register through UT Human Resources Employee and Organizational Development or the Safe Zone training link on the Commission for LGBT People’s website.

Special departmental training can also be arranged. For more information call 974-6657 or e-mail safezone@utk.edu.

The same form (T-30) and supporting documents or invoices are still required. However, instead of submitting paper documents to the Office of the Treasurer, these must be scanned and routed electronically through IRIS. Instructions for processing these transactions are located here.

Beginning February 1, the Office of the Treasurer will no longer accept paper T-30 forms or invoices for conference registrations. For more information, contact Accounts Payable at 974-3086.

Registration is now open. Employees interested in a variety of supervisory, management, and personal development classes may take advantage of this service by visiting “Training Pages” at http://humanresources.tennessee.edu/eod/publications.html.

EOD encourages managers and supervisors to share the catalog with employees who may not have access to e-mail by printing and posting the catalog pages in a communal area or sharing copies directly with employees.

For more information or to register for a course, visit the website or call 974-6657.

E-Verify is an Internet-based system that allows an employer, using information reported on an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to determine the eligibility of that employee to work in the United States.

To assist with the January implementation, Human Resources has developed websites and training documents at http://humanresources.tennessee.edu/recruitment/. Follow the link to I-9 and E-Verify on the left hand side.

Entry into the E-Verify system will be handled centrally by Human Resources, but departments will still have responsibility to submit I-9 paperwork to HR within three days of a hire.

Several legislative bills were introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly aimed at addressing illegal immigration in Tennessee. The Tennessee Lawful Employment Act passed and requires that employers with six or more employees to E-verify all new employees beginning January 1. Verification must occur within three days of hire for all new employees.

The university has been using the E-Verify process for employees that were paid from a grant or contract with a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause since 2009. New regulations now require the university to perform the function for all new workers.

For additional information or to schedule a departmental training, please call the HR Call Center at 946-8847 or email human resources at systemhr@tennessee.edu.

Experts say household waste often increases more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. That means the holidays can have a negative impact on the environment.

However, there are ways to make the holidays more environmentally friendly.

“Small changes to our routines can help make the holiday season more fun and less wasteful,” said Gordie Bennett, UT Knoxville’s sustainability manager.

An informal poll of UT Knoxville faculty and staff members found some unique and easy tips for “greening” the holidays this season. Here are two more interesting sustainability-focused holiday tips from UT Knoxville’s faculty and staff:

“We are firm believers in re-gifting. We also use old paper grocery bags as wrapping paper. You can decorate it with stencils and paint, and it may end up being nicer than the gift! Also, as our tree lights fail over time, we replace them with more energy-efficient strands.” – Aly Chapman, laboratory section chief, College of Veterinary Medicine

Gordie Bennett adds: “My personal tip is to skip presents in favor of making a contribution to your loved one’s favorite charity. This reduces waste and helps make the holidays a little nicer for someone in need.”

Experts say household waste often increases more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. That means the holidays can have a negative impact on the environment.

However, there are ways to make the holidays more environmentally friendly.

“Small changes to our routines can help make the holiday season more fun and less wasteful,” said Gordie Bennett, UT Knoxville’s sustainability manager.

Jay Price and his family.

An informal poll of UT Knoxville faculty and staff members found some unique and easy tips for “greening” the holidays this season. Here are two more great energy-saving holiday tip from UT Knoxville’s faculty and staff:

“One cool green thing we do each year is to hand dip chocolates. My mom makes the centers with as many different ingredients as possible (like raisins or pecans). She then gives them out as gifts to her friends. She doesn’t wrap them—just buys nice boxes for them—then collects as many boxes back as she can for the next go-around.” – Jay Price, coordinator, UT Recycling

“I like to host a couple of holiday potlucks. Everyone is still asked to bring a dish, but we all cook together at my house instead of everyone doing it separately. This way, we pool our resources. The oven can bake several items at once or in a row, and you don’t have to buy an entire bag of sugar or shaker of sprinkles—we can all use the same products, which means everyone buys less. Half the party is the fun of cooking together—it also makes for some interesting moments of dodging a flying spoon, spilling someone’s drink, and taste-testing a new creation! The rest of the party is enjoying collectively what we’ve made.” – Anne Hulse, coordinator, Programs Abroad

The discount applies to UT gifts and apparel (some exclusions apply) and to selected general books. The discount does not apply to text books.

Faculty and staff of the Knoxville campus may bring their UT ID to any of the bookstore’s four main campus locations to take advantage of the sale, which runs through Friday, December 23.

Store hours vary by location.

• UT Bookstore at the Carolyn P. Brown Memorial University Center, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
• Team Shop at Neyland Stadium, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. This location is accessible by entering the stadium through Gate 20.
• Team Shop Stokely Athletic Center, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
• UT Bookstore at the UT Conference Center, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

All store locations are closed on Sundays. For more information call 865-946-BOOK (2665).