Optional Practical Training Archive

Winter Break Internal Deadlines: All grant proposals and other sponsored research documents that are due between Thursday, December 15, 2022 and Tuesday, January 9, 2022 must be submitted to OSRP no later than Tuesday, December 13, 2022 for submission.

The Fall 2022 End-of-term Course Evaluation Survey will open on Monday, November 21 and will remain open through Sunday, December 4. Instructors are asked to talk to their students about the survey and let them know that you value their feedback. Students can access the survey via a link in the email they will receive from the Center for Learning Innovation (CLI) or starting Monday, via a link found in the Tools area of Blackboard.

Illinois Tech’s annual open enrollment period for benefits will run from Tuesday, November 1, 2022, through Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Changes made during Open Enrollment become effective January 1, 2023. You're encouraged you to attend a live informational session to learn about benefit changes for 2023, watch the livestream of the first presentation, or watch the recording of the first session that will be posted on the HR website’s benefits page following the presentation.

Human Resources is pleased to present a series of Financial Wellness courses, made possible by Illinois Tech’s partnership with PNC Bank. The fourth and final course of 2022, Teaching Kids Smart Money Choices, will take place via virtual workshop on Tuesday, November 15 at Noon.

Launched in January 2021, Alumni University provides the opportunity for Illinois Tech faculty, staff, and researchers to share their work with the broader Illinois Tech community. This virtual academic series allows alumni and friends of the institution to learn about Illinois Tech led innovative advances, interesting research and transcending individual programs. View past sessions and volunteer to be the next featured presenter.

As part of the university-wide VoIP telecommunications project that was completed last year, the Office of Technology Services (OTS) has configured a redundancy link (i.e., backup system) to ensure voice services will not be interrupted in the event of an outage. On October 14, 2022, OTS will be testing this link during the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

The Office of Human Resources is pleased to present a series of Wellness Wednesday sessions, presented by Lifeworks, Illinois Tech’s Employee Assistance Program. As always, Lifeworks is available 24/7 for free and confidential assistance for Illinois Tech Employees and their families. Their monthly Heartbeat Newsletter has new features and topics every month, they have ongoing resources like LIFT Virtual Fitness, and Life Coaching, both of which are completely free, and there are even discount opportunities.

Illinois Tech will be hosting virtual appointments with both of our 403(b) Retirement Plan vendors for retirement planning sessions this fall. TIAA and Fidelity will be available on October 19 and 31, and on November 1 and 29. Sessions are free for all benefits-eligible faculty and staff regardless of retirement plan vendor election (e.g., if you have elected Fidelity but would like to schedule a session now, our TIAA consultant will assist you).

This year, Illinois Tech was happy to be able to offer all eligible employees who submitted an application a chance at a Tuition Exchange Scholarship for themselves or their dependents beginning with the 2023–2024 academic year.

Flu and bivalent COVID-19 booster shots for faculty and staff will be available Thursday, November 10, from 10 a.m. –noon, in the HR Training Room on the 13th floor of the Galvin Tower. Registration for this event is required and closes on November 8!