With a goal of raising more than $1 million and increasing the employee participation rate by 5 percent, the University of Miami has launched its 2013 United Way Campaign, a nearly three-month-long drive aimed at improving the education, financial stability, and health of children and families in the local community.

“UM has stepped up to the plate to support the United Way for almost four decades,” said Nerissa E. Morris, vice president for human resources, who is chairing the campaign for a second straight year. “Last year we raised more than $1 million for the United Way of Miami-Dade, and this year we’ve got our sights set on doing it again.”

Steven F. Falcone, chief executive of the University of Miami at Jackson Memorial Hospital and associate vice president for medical affairs, will head up the Miller School of Medicine’s component of the United Way Campaign.

An increase in undesignated giving—contributions that allow the United Way to direct money to agencies and programs that need it most—is another goal of this year’s campaign, said Morris. For the 2012 campaign, more than $413,000 in employee contributions were earmarked as undesignated gifts. Morris noted that each undesignated dollar contributed to the charitable organization’s Community Plan more than doubles after being matched by federal and state grants.

The campaign runs through November 22. Employees who donate early or pledge 1 percent of their salary will be entered in drawings for special prizes during the month of October.

Pledges made online through myUM, a portal to campus information and resources, will once again be the most effective way to contribute. Simply log on to myUM and click on “United Way Contribution” in the upper left side of the home page under “Give to United Way,” then follow the instructions to make your donation. Faculty and staff can assign their contributions as unrestricted, direct their gift to a University of Miami fund, or designate it to their favorite not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Gifts can be made as a recurrent payroll deduction from your salary or as a one-time gift through payroll deduction, check, or credit card.

If you have any questions concerning online giving, please contact your department’s ambassador. For a list of United Way Campaign advisors on the Coral Gables and RSMAS campuses, click here. For a list of ambassadors on the Miller School of Medicine campus, click here. You may also contact me via email at [email protected], or contact your campus co-chair.

“I have contributed to the United Way in many communities throughout my professional life and know the incredible difference the organization makes in the lives of so many people,” said Morris. “Working together, and with your generous support, we will make our 2013 campaign a success.”

Lisa Ling, the acclaimed American journalist and writer best known for her role as host of Our America on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, will be the University of Miami’s 2013 Fall Convocation speaker on Monday, September 9, at 4 p.m. at BankUnited Center. Ling will present “Open Heart, Open Mind.” Doors open at 3 p.m.

The event is free for students, faculty, and staff, but a ticket is required. Faculty and staff can obtain a ticket (one per employee), by clicking here. Enter the password linglisa2013 to access the ticket site. Students can obtain a ticket (one per student) by clicking here. Enter the password lisaling2013 to access the ticket site. A ’Cane Card is also required for entry. Read the full story

Swiss researchers recently found that swaying in a hammock will help one fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly than napping on a stationary bed. University of Miami students, however, are putting the slings to better use: relaxing while studying for final exams. Orange, green, and white hammocks hung near the fountain behind UM’s Ashe Administration Building are familiar signs of test-taking time as the fall semester comes to an end.

Earlier this year President Barack Obama outlined the steps that his administration is taking to make college more affordable and to ensure that students “know before they owe.”

In July, as part of that ongoing effort, the Obama administration unveiled the final version of the model financial aid award letter, or Shopping Sheet—an individualized standard financial aid letter that will help students understand their costs before making the final decision on where to enroll. The sheet will allow students to easily compare aid packages offered by different institutions.

Now the University of Miami is one of the more than 500 colleges and universities that have agreed to adopt the Shopping Sheet.

“The University of Miami is proud to partner with President Obama, the Department of Education, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to provide prospective students access to the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet beginning with the 2013-14 academic year,” said UM President Donna E. Shalala. “This valuable tool will allow students to easily compare aid packages offered by different institutions and will help them understand their costs before making the final decision on where to enroll.”

The Shopping Sheet makes clear the costs and responsibilities of student loans upfront (before students have enrolled), outlining their total estimated annual costs, institutional rates of completion and default, and information about potential monthly loan payments after graduation.

Ultimately the tool provides students and their families with useful information that can help them make a more informed decision about where to attend college. It also helps students to better understand the debt burdens they may face after graduation. To develop the Shopping Sheet, the U.S. Department of Education partnered with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a new independent agency established in the wake of the financial crisis.

For the 12th year in a row, the University of Miami has achieved Charity Navigator’s four-star rating for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency—the highest-possible score from an organization recognized as one of the nation’s premier charity evaluators. The rating comes on the heels of the institution’s reaching the $1 billion mark in its Momentum2 fundraising campaign.

“We are very pleased to receive this significant designation for the 12^th consecutive year,” said Sergio M. Gonzalez, senior vice president for University Advancement and External Affairs at UM. “This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator affirms that the University is a good steward of the gifts we receive from our many supporters.” Read the full story