May 12, 2025

May is National Pet Month, and we're celebrating the companions who bring us joy and comfort. Whether your pet barks, meows, chirps, or slithers, we want to see them!

Help fill our feeds with pawsitivity this month and submit a photo of your pet(s) no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27 to be featured on our social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn).

Feel free to get creative with costumes, silly expressions, or showing off some FIU swag! Every submission will be entered into a special chance drawing. It’s our way of saying THANK YOU for sharing the love and the laughs that pets bring into our lives.

Questions? Contact HR Relations at (305) 348-6099.

Calling all parents!

Join the Office of Employee Assistance (OEA) in their support group, Parents Growing Together, for a welcoming space for Panther parents to connect, share, and grow.

These gatherings offer:

• Emotional Support & Community: Connect with others who understand your challenges and build meaningful friendships.
• Parenting Tips & Skill Building: Learn practical strategies and discover new ways to grow as a parent.
• Mental Wellness: Reduce stress and anxiety through shared experiences.
• Resources & Motivation: Access helpful tools and stay encouraged to reach your parenting goals.

These virtual sessions occur every second Friday of the month at noon. Be sure to register beforehand!

Questions? Contact the Office of Employee Assistance at (305) 348-2469.

Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month? Each year, the OEA joins millions to promote awareness, share resources, and advocate for everyone’s mental well-being.

The OEA is partnering with Mental Health America (MHA) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to provide tools and tips that help you prioritize wellness, reduce stigma, and support those around you.

This year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Month is Turn Awareness into Action. The world is constantly evolving, and it can be overwhelming to navigate all the changes and challenges happening around us. The pressures of work, family, relationships, societal factors, and so many other things can significantly impact our mental well-being—often more than we realize.

Mental health can’t wait. Whether it’s setting boundaries, reaching out for support, or making time for self-care, small steps can make a lasting difference.

The OEA is committed to supporting faculty and staff with tools to help navigate life’s difficulties. Start by using our free and confidential mental health screening to better understand what you may be experiencing.

Questions? Contact the Office of Employee Assistance at (305) 348-2469.

Student Life and Development presents the FIU Giveaway Tour in collaboration with Maybelline New York and That’s It Fruit Energy Bars — a beauty and wellness pop-up you won’t want to miss.

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to stop by the Giveaway Tour locations below to stock up on goodies and treat themselves while supplies last!

Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC)

Thursday, May 15

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Graham Center Pit

Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC)

Friday, May 16

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Wolfe University Center room 141

Questions? Contact the Division of Student Affairs at (305) 348-2797.

The Office of Business Services is curating next year’s Food Truck Pool and is looking for fresh, flavorful ideas!

Submit your favorite food trucks using the Food Truck Recommendation Form by Tuesday, May 27, and let us know which vendors you'd love to see on campus.

Know other campus event planners? Share the form and spread the flavor!

Once finalized, the list of approved vendors will be available on the shopFIU website, making it easy to start booking for your 2025–26 events.

We can't wait to see your tasty suggestions!

Questions? Contact the Office of Business Services at (305) 348-2187.

Beginning in the Fall 2025 semester, FIU will require all courses awarding academic credit and non-credit courses required for degrees or certificates to use Simple Syllabus. Simple Syllabus is FIU’s centralized platform for creating, managing, and distributing course syllabi.

This includes pass/fail and in-progress courses like dissertations, internships, and independent studies. In preparation for the Fall term, faculty and instructional staff are encouraged to reach out for support or to attend trainings.

Resources and in-person assistance are available at the on-campus Faculty Resource Centers below:

Modesto A. Maidique Campus

Green Library (GL)

Room 158

Biscayne Bay Campus

Academic Center 2 (AC2)

Room 240B

Check out the events calendar to view information on how to attend the Simple Syllabus Open House or register for a Simple Syllabus training session!

Questions? Contact the Simple Syllabus Support team at (305) 348-2814.

Looking for an on-campus early learning program for your child?

FIU’s Children’s Creative Learning Center (CCLC) offers a full-day, hands-on early education program for children ages 2 to 5. Designed to support development through play-based learning, the CCLC also serves as a demonstration site for university research, training, and community engagement.

The program is open to children of FIU faculty, staff, students, alumni, and nearby residents. Faculty and staff are eligible to receive a special discount on tuition rates.

Visit their website for more information and submit an application today!

Questions? Contact the Children's Creative Learning Center at (305) 348-2143.

Stay informed and up-to date on FIU's policies! Please make sure to familiarize yourself with FIU policies and policy updates that may impact your work at the university.

The updated policies below have been recently published:

• 1360.035 Semester Credit Hour Policy: This policy ensures compliance with minimum credit hour requirements for awarding baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degree programs as stipulated by Federal Regulation (34 CFR Part 600), Florida Statute 1007.25, Florida Board of Governors Regulation 6.017, and institutional accreditation standards set forth by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). 

Visit the FIU Policy Library for more information.

Questions? Contact the University Compliance Office at (305) 348-2216.

Check out May's Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Shout Out featuring Sandra Gonzalez, senior laboratory technician, Biology, College of Arts, Sciences & Education.

Do you know someone that actively promotes safe practices and behavior to ensure a safe work and learning environment? Recognize them with an EH&S Shout Out!

Anyone can be a champion for safety. Protect your fellow Panthers by reporting safety concerns or near misses to EH&S.

Questions? Contact Environmental Health & Safety at (305) 348-2621.

Join us for the Wellness Bite Webinar: Pawsitive Connection with Our Pets on Wednesday, May 14, at 12 p.m.

Wellness Bite Webinars provide our faculty and staff with bite-sized information sessions compact for a busy schedule. Be sure to review the upcoming wellness events to discover opportunities to learn, grow, and prioritize your well-being.

Remember, your time is valuable and your wellbeing matters. Register today!

Questions? Contact Benefits Administration at (305) 348-2181.

Knowledge of Financial Education (KOFE) is delighted to be back with more financial counseling resources for our workforce!

KOFE is designed to help Panthers stay financially fit by providing online self-help resources and unlimited financial coaching. To access these resources, faculty and staff can register for free using your FIU credentials. Don't forget to read KOFE's May newsletter!

Be sure to attend all upcoming webinars for an opportunity to win!

Questions? Contact Benefits Administration at (305) 348-2181.

Stay current with the following important benefits updates and reminders:

• 9-Month Faculty: Deferred Earning Program (DEP) Enrollment Period | 2025-2026 Academic Year
• Important Information for Employees Donating Sick Leave Hours

Questions? Contact Benefits Administration at (305) 348-2181.

Don't miss out on these great savings offered through the Employee Perks & Services Program:



• AAA Auto Club Group
• Spot Pet Insurance
• Actor's Playhouse
• Tickets at Work
• In Season Jewelry
• Splash Day with Baptist Health

Questions? Contact Benefits Administration at (305) 348-2181.

FIU is a State University System of Florida member, Equal Opportunity, Equal Access, and Affirmative Action Employer for individuals with disabilities and veterans. FIU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, age, disability, national origin, marital status, and veteran status in its employment decisions, programs, and activities.  For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination, contact FIU's Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Accessibility at 305.348.2785 or email ocrca@fiu.edu.

Should you need an ADA accommodation to participate in a university event, program, or activity or need to request materials in an accessible format, please contact FIU’s Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Accessibility (CRCA) at (305) 348-2785 or accomodations@fiu.edu. All requests for ADA accommodation or accessible materials for this event must be submitted to CRCA at least seven (7) business days prior to the event or at the earliest possible opportunity.