Board of Regents Meeting Today in Lincoln

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will meet today, Dec. 2, at Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege St. in Lincoln. Committee meetings begin at 9 a.m. and the Board meeting begins at 1 p.m. All meetings are open to the public. Meetings also will be audio-streamed live at http://www.nebraska.edu. Read more.

'Computer Assisted Interventions and Medical Robotics' Topic of Today's UNMC Event

The Center for Advanced Surgical Technology (CAST) at UNMC will host guest speaker Kevin Cleary today, Dec. 2. Dr. Cleary will present "Computer Assisted Interventions and Medical Robotics" at 10:30 a.m. 1005 Durham Research Center at UNMC. The presentation is free of charge and open to all UNO faculty, staff and students.

Dr. Cleary is currently the technical director of the bioengineering Initiative at the Sheikh Zayed Center for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His research has focused on the development of physician-assist systems for precision placement and manipulation of medical instruments during minimally invasive procedures. 

His presentation will focus on:

- Medical robotics for precision placement of needles in spinal procedures and for lung biopsy, including recent work in robotics for NOTES (natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery);

- Electromagnetic field sensor based localization of instruments for internal organ motion in liver interventions including work with cone-beam CT and open source software package IGSTK; and

- Directions for future research.

For more information, contact Shelby Buettner at 402.559.8348

AKD to Host Free 'People Like Us' Screening Tonight

The Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) Sociology honors society will sponsor a free screening of the documentary "People Like Us" tonight, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. in 101 College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CB).

"Come join us in watching ‘People Like Us,' a two-hour TV special examining American life through the prism of our country's unique class structure," said John Powers, ADK public relations officer. "‘People Like Us' shows how social class plays a role in the lives of all Americans, whether they live in Park Avenue penthouses, Appalachian trailer parks, bayou houseboats or suburban gated communities."

For more information, contact Powers at jcpowers@unomaha.edu.

UNO Theatre Production of 'Noises Off' Continues through Dec. 4

Directed by D Scott Glasser -- "Noises Off" -- a Michael Frayn's classic comedy-within-a-comedy will continue on stage tonight, Dec. 2.

The UNO Theatre performances will run tonight through Saturday, Dec. 2-4, at the UNO Theatre, located inside the Weber Fine Arts Building. The house opens at 7 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. curtain for all performances.

There will be a 9:45 p.m. talkback session, which is open to everyone, held in the theatre after the Dec. 3 production. Read more.

Immigration Documentary Screening on Campus This Evening

The UNO chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta, in conjunction with the Association of Latin American Students, will show the immigration documentary film "9500 Liberty" this evening, Dec. 2. The film focuses on current immigration issues happening in Prince William County, Va., which are also similar to the racial profiling issues that occurred in Arizona earlier this year.

The movie will start at 7 p.m. in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service Collaborating Commons. It is also being shown on the same date and time at UNL and UNK. One of the directors of "9500 Liberty" will be present at the UNL showing and will hold a question and answer session via satellite broadcast to UNO and UNK after the film.

The event is free and open to the campus community and the public. To see a trailer for the film, go to http://www.9500liberty.com/.

NUFlex Enrollment, HRA Participation Ends Tomorrow

This event has been designated a UNO Mav-Rec Wellness event.

All benefit-eligible employees have until 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, to complete the online enrollment in the NUFlex benefits program and the Health Risk Assessment. Employees who complete the HRA and who print out the confirmation sheet (Personal Health Summary) will receive enhanced benefits:

- Annual preventive care allowance of $300 (for insureds age 2 and over);

- Dependent child (under age 2) preventive care allowance of $600;

- 100 percent coverage, up to a $2,500 maximum, for routine preventive colonoscopy once every 10 years beginning at age 50 (services must be provided by a Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Provider); and

- $0 co-pay for generic prescription drugs through CVS Caremark's mail service.

When the NUFlex enrollment period ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, no benefits may be added or changed. This includes enrollment in the healthcare and daycare reimbursement accounts.

All benefits-eligible employees will have received e-mails through the campus e-mail system with information on how to access the Health Risk Assessment. All benefit-eligible employees have until 5 p.m. this Friday Dec. 3, to complete the online enrollment in the NUFlex benefits program and the Health Risk Assessment.

The health risk assessment and the annual NUFlex enrollment can be accessed through Firefly Employee Self Service - https://firefly.nebraska.edu/. The log on for the HRA is "uno" and eight-digit NU ID number (located on all UNO employee ID cards).

The initial password is "wellness," after the initial log on participants will be prompted to change the password to something that is unique to the user.

If you have problems logging onto Firefly or need to have your Firefly password reset, call the Help Desk at (402) 554.4357. NUFlex enrollment questions can be direct to Human Resources at (402) 554.2321.

The mission of Mav-Rec Wellness, UNO's health promotion program, is to create a culture of health and wellness among all faculty, staff and students. Health goals are encouraged through programming and initiatives that celebrate healthier lifestyle practices within the UNO community. For more information, contact David Daniels at (402) 554.2008, daviddaniels@unomaha.edu or http://www.unomaha.edu/wwwocr/health/stampede.php.

UNO to Celebrate Kwanzaa 2010 Tomorrow

UNO will host a Kwanzaa Banquet that is open to all faculty, staff and students this Friday, Dec. 3. Banquet organizers ask that members of the UNO community R.V.S.P. for the banquet by 4 p.m. today, Dec. 2, because space is limited. To R.S.V.P., contact Student Organization Leadership Programs Office at (402) 554.2711 or e-mail Melissa Berry at maberry@unomaha.edu.

UNO's Kwanzaa Celebration 2010 is being brought to everyone by:

Student Organizations and Leadership Programming, Student Organizations Leadership Programs, American Multicultural Students, African American Organization, National Council of Negro Women, Incorporated, IMPACT, Circle of Brotherhood, Association of Latino/Latin American Students, Asian Student Association, UNO National Pan-Hallenic Council, Indian Student Association and Pan-African Student Organization.

Friday, Dec. 3

Noon to 1:30 p.m.

UNO CELEBRATES KWANZAA!

Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom

Free Food

For more information, call Valerie Thompson at (402) 554.2711.

Lydia House to Benefit from Warm Winter Clothing Drive

Approximately 2,000 people in Omaha are homeless each night. To assist these homeless men, women and children, the UNO School of Communication honor society, Lambda Pi Eta, and the UNO Ad Club will accept donations for their second annual Warm Winter Drive through Thursday, Dec. 16.

Acceptable donations include coats, hats, gloves, mittens, earmuffs, scarves, socks and blankets. Donations will support the Open Door Mission's Lydia House, which provides emergency services for women and families in need of immediate assistance.

Donation drop-off boxes are located in 140 Arts and Science Hall and the Criss Library main entrance. Read more.

Thompson Center on Facebook

The Thompson Center at UNO has created its own Facebook page. The site features facility information and the opportunity for clients to upload building and event photos, post reviews or join discussions. Event planning tips and other helpful information will be posted regularly.

"It's a great avenue for our potential customers to discover more about the Thompson Center and for existing clients to promote their events," said Greg Trimm, Alumni Center manager.

Facebook fans can "like" the Thompson Center at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Omaha-NE/Thompson-Center-at-UNO/112864108774746.

Women's and Gender Studies Colloquium to Focus on HIV/AIDS Issue

Jason Coleman, an assistant professor College of Education, School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and the Women's and Gender Studies Program, will present 'Exploring HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma in Faith-based Organizations: Lessons learned from Project FAITH (Fostering AIDS Initiatives that Heal)' on Friday, Dec. 10, in the Milo Bail Student Center U mon hon (Omaha) Room. The hour-long colloquium starts at noon.

The presentation is being hosted by the Women's and Gender Studies Program. The first 20 people to arrive will receive a complimentary box lunch. Anyone planning to bring a group or class to the event should contact Karen Falconer Al-Hindi at kfalconeralhindi@unomaha.edu.

TIAA CREF Rep Openings Still Available

Openings are still available for TIAA-CREF representative campus visits on Dec. 7 and 21.

Jana Steigelman-Simon, a TIAA CREF consultant for Individual Client Services, will be on campus for individual appointments with employees.

Appointments can be made by calling Robyn Galvin at the Omaha TIAA-CREF office at (402) 548.3614.