Did you know Brown employees can get discounted gift cards and savings on everyday purchases? Learn more in the latest episode of the Brown U. Benefits Buzz.

This August, we are focusing on problem-solving & resourcefulness, the ability to look at roadblocks not as dead ends, but as puzzles waiting to be solved. In any busy work environment, we regularly encounter shifting priorities, unexpected roadblocks, or missing pieces of information.

This July, we are focusing on effective decision-making, the ability to make thoughtful, timely, and well-reasoned choices when faced with competing priorities, uncertainty, or limited information. Strong decision-making is not about always having perfect clarity. It is about using the best available information, considering trade-offs, and moving forward with intention.

This June, we are focusing on influence without authority, the ability to move ideas forward, gain buy-in, and inspire action regardless of title or position. Influence is not about control or hierarchy. It is about clarity, credibility, and connection. It shows up in how you communicate, how you listen, and how consistently others trust your perspective.

TAP provides eligible faculty and staff with financial assistance toward undergraduate tuition costs for their eligible dependent child(ren) enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree program at an accredited institution. Review details and access the new application on the TAP webpage.

This May, we are focusing on mindful communication. Effective communication is more than just exchanging information. It is about listening, understanding and connecting with others in a thoughtful and intentional way. Mindful communication helps you build trust, foster collaboration and navigate challenging conversations with clarity and empathy.

This April, we are focusing on creativity and innovation. Innovation is not just for inventors or designers. It is a mindset that allows you to see problems differently, generate new ideas, and create opportunities in your work and life. This month is an invitation to explore curiosity, challenge assumptions, and embrace the what ifs that can spark meaningful change.

This March, we’re focusing on the part of learning that moves us forward: action. Take the next few weeks as an opportunity to take what you’ve been noticing, collecting, or questioning, and start testing it out in real time.

Form 1095-C is required by the Affordable Care Act. Brown University is required to provide this form to employees who were eligible or enrolled in a medical insurance plan provided by Brown University in 2025.

To further support your well-being and healing journey, Brown has partnered with Spring Health to expand our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits. In 2026, all employees will have access to 20 counseling sessions, an increase of 10 additional sessions.

We’re focusing this month on the practice of deeper learning – learning that doesn’t just pass by, but stays with you. Inspired in part by the idea of “marking what matters,” deeper learning asks us to engage with information rather than simply encounter it. It’s about giving yourself permission to slow down long enough for insight to take root.

The Brown community is ever true.

Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brown University and Headway are offering assistance to help employees impacted by the recent tragedy at Brown University navigate behavioral health services. Learn more about available support and resources.

A new year brings fresh energy and a chance to reset. This January, Learning, Development & Engagement (LDE) encourages you to think not just about resolutions, but about rhythms: What daily practices help you stay grounded? What priorities will shape your time and energy this year?