Opportunities for Engagement + Professional Development

Beyond Leaning In: Inaugural Pop-Up Virtual Book Club with Melanie Ho

Early Registration by Jan. 15
February/March 2025

This virtual book club will use Melanie Ho's book Beyond Leaning In: Gender Equity & What Organizations are Up Against as a springboard for discussion and reflection about how values show up in the workplace, why change is so difficult, and what empowering ourselves and others means we begin 2025. 

100 Days of Accessibility

Feb. 5 through May 15 marks the second annual 100 Days of Accessibility at the University of Iowa and you are invited to take part!

The goal of the 100 Days initiative is to provide a window of opportunity for individuals and groups to effect real progress in their accessibility journey. Throughout the 100 Days, Accessibility@IOWA will offer trainings, workshops, and other resources to increase awareness, develop skills, set goals, and inspire knowledgeable action toward accessibility and inclusion. 100 Days of Accessibility culminates on May 15, 2025, with Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

Here are a few offerings from the first 50 days:

Jan. 17: 100 Days Pre-session: What You Should Know About WCAG
Feb. 5: 100 Days of Accessibility Kickoff event
Feb. 7: Roles, Rules, and Tools Track: Core Skills for Digital Accessibility
Feb. 14: Roles, Rules, and Tools Track: Using Free Tools to Support Digital Accessibility
March 7: Accessible Document Series: PDF Part I
March 14: Accessible Document Series: PDF Part II

Microsoft Loop: Getting Started with Loop Components

Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. via Zoom
Register via the link below in Employee Self-service

Microsoft Loop is a transformative co-creation experience that brings together teams, content and tasks across your tools and devices. This training will focus on Loop components, which are portable components that move freely and stay in sync across Outlook, Teams, and other Microsoft 365 tools. 

In addition to the training course offered by the University of Iowa, there are many additional Loop trainings on LinkedIn Learning.

Dance Marathon Volunteers Needed

The University of Iowa Dance Marathon is hosting the 31st Big Event on Feb. 7 and 8.

Dance Marathon is a student organization that provides year-round support to youth cancer patients and their families. The Big Event is a 24-hour Dance Marathon where students assemble to celebrate the children survivors and remember the children who have passed away throughout the year.

This event would not be possible without the support of volunteers. Click on the links below to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

Family Room Volunteer
Volunteer Check In
VIP Check In
Bag Check
Visitor Check In
Helping Hands

Back to the Basics: Build Your Foundation of Well-Being

Back to the Basics is a group coaching series that empowers University of Iowa employees to focus on four core foundations of well-being: nutrition, physical activity, mental well-being, and sleep.  

February: Physical Activity
Join this 5-week group coaching program with Health Coach, Erica Blaha to learn more about how to incorporate movement into daily life.

March: Nutrition
Join this 5-week group coaching program with Registered Dietitian, Madison Coyne to learn more about everyday eating and feel-good nutrition.

Links to register for varying times may be found at the link below.

Heartlanders Educator Appreciation Game - Jan. 31

Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.
Xtream Arena, Coralville

The Iowa Heartlanders are excited to host an Educator Appreciation Game on Friday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m.!

They are offering a buy one, get one free ticket offer to teachers, staff, administrators, and everyone across the UI campus.

The Iowa Heartlanders are proud ECHL (formerly East Coast Hockey League) affiliates of the Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild. They play out of Xtream Arena in Coralville.