myHR: September 17, 2025

Get Ready for Be in the Know Fall Biometric Screenings

Penn’s annual Be in the Know wellness campaign is available for all benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and postdocs. Alongside a new WebMD platform partner, Be in the Know provides programs, tools, resources, a simplified rewards format to support your health and feel your best — and options for a biometric screening.  

HR’s wellness team is pleased to offer free on-campus biometric screenings at convenient University locations from September 30 through November 25. These quick, confidential screenings provide valuable insights into your health — and completing one earns you a $50 cash reward as part of the Be in the Know campaign.

How to Schedule Your Screening

Signing up for an appointment is easy:

1. Visit the Health Advocate website and login with your PennKey and password.
2. Click the HEALTH tab, then select Get a Health Screening.
3. Choose Health Screening Event, click Schedule Now, and follow the steps to book your preferred time and location.

You’ll receive a confirmation email from Health Advocate, Penn’s biometric screening partner, once your appointment is set.

What You’ll Learn at the Biometric Screening

Quick, convenient, and confidential biometric screenings provide key indicators about your health status. Your privacy is strictly protected. Penn will never know your individual screening results, health assessment answers, or personal health goals.

At these non-fasting, on-campus biometric screenings, Health Advocate personnel will measure your:

• Blood pressure
• Lipids, including total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
• Blood sugar/glucose

Screenings Kick-Off Event and Mini-Wellness Fair

A special biometric screenings kick-off event and mini wellness fair will be held on Tuesday, September 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Houston Hall, Bodek Lounge. Visit with wellness partners and vendors, pick up information and resources, and enjoy a quick chair massage. Stop by to meet representatives from WebMD, Penn’s new wellness platform partner, and learn about their research-based programs and resources to support your well-being, as well as Be in the Know 2025-2026. 

You can register to have your biometric screening at the kick-off event or simply enjoy the wellness fair and make an appointment later. 

Be in the Know for Your Health and Rewards

A biometric screening is the perfect way to “be in the know” regarding your health status, plus earn 1,000 points and a $50 cash incentive for the 2025-2026 campaign year. Once you complete an on-campus screening, Health Advocate will automatically send credit to the new WebMD wellness platform on your behalf. (Please allow a few weeks for biometric screening credit to appear on WebMD.)

To earn rewards, you must enroll on the new WebMD platform. Get started by visiting WebMD or downloading their “Wellness At Your Side” app (connection code: Penn). For 2025-2026, complete your choice of qualifying wellness activities to earn up to $300 in cash rewards. All cash incentives will be added to your paychecks (less applicable payroll taxes) and paid on a monthly basis starting October 2025.* 

The Be in the Know 2025-2026 campaign year runs July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. 

For complete details, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow.

*Per IRS guidelines, all Be in the Know rewards are subject to applicable payroll taxes. 

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Celebrate Staff with Models of Excellence Nominations

Penn’s annual Models of Excellence Awards Program celebrates the outstanding achievements of individual full- and part-time staff members and teams throughout the University’s schools and centers. Now in its 27th year, the program advances the University’s principles and practices by honoring the people who are the foundation of all we do.

Join this long-standing tradition by nominating individual staff members or teams for a 2026 Models of Excellence honor. The 2026 call for nominations is open now through November 7, 2025.

Anyone in the Penn community may nominate individual Penn staff members and teams for an award in three categories: Models of Innovation (previously named the Models of Excellence Award), Pillars of Excellence, and Model Supervisor. Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/models to learn more about the practices recognized for each category.

In all Models of Excellence categories, award recipients each receive an engraved keepsake and a $500 cash prize. Awards will be announced in the spring term. The next Models of Excellence Award Ceremony will take place in Harrison Auditorium at the Penn Museum on June 1, 2026.

The Models of Excellence Selection Committee rates each submission based on the content of your nominations. That means your submissions are crucial to make sure all worthy staff have the opportunity for recognition.

Nomination Information Sessions

Learn how to submit a nomination that conveys the exceptional work of your colleagues. Attend a virtual Writing a Compelling Models of Excellence Nomination session on Wednesday, October 1 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. or Tuesday, October 16 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Register at www.hr.upenn.edu/models-infosession.

Visit the Models of Excellence Program webpage or email models@hr.upenn.edu for more information.

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Retirement Information Sessions Make Planning Easier

Is your upcoming retirement on your mind? To help you prepare for the next phase of your life, Penn will host the next series of Thinking About Retirement information sessions on October 15 at Houston Hall, Golkin Room.

Specially designed for Penn staff and faculty, Thinking About Retirement offers three different information sessions, each covering an important aspect of retirement benefits. You can register for any of the sessions by selecting the links below.

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The Annual 25 Year Club Celebration

The Division of Human Resources will celebrate members of the Penn community who have worked at the University for 25 or more years at the annual 25 Year Club Celebration. The event will be held on Thursday, October 23, in the Pottruck Health and Fitness Center (3rd Floor), from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registration is required. 

If you are a current or new member, please register by Thursday, October 16.  For more information, visit the 25 Year Club webpage. 

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Work Smarter, Feel Stronger

Feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or constantly racing against deadlines? You're not alone—and there’s a more effective approach. What if boosting your productivity isn’t just about managing your time, but managing your energy? In the Time and Energy Management workshop on October 21 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., you’ll explore practical tools and strategies to help you stay focused, energized, and balanced, so you can perform at your best without burning out.

During this interactive workshop you’ll do activities, including a personal energy assessment to help identify the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual things that provide energy or cause us to be drained.

“Managing time is important, but managing energy is what allows you to stay engaged and motivated,” says Sam Lunney, Talent and Organizational Development Consultant.  

“By learning how to invest your energy where it matters most, you create space for both productivity and well-being,” he adds.

Time and Energy Management covers these essential skills:

• Time management and prioritization. By exercising control over the amount of time you spend on activities and arranging tasks in order of importance, you can increase your effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.
• Workflow systems and the 1-3-5 to-do list rule. What process or method do you use to accomplish tasks? The 1-3-5 rule allows you to create a list that includes one big activity, three medium-sized activities, and five small activities so that you can optimize your efforts.
• Energy management and how it relates to work-life balance. Energy is the ability to do work or perform a task. We must examine how best to spend our energy and how to renew it once it has been depleted.

Register today for Time and Energy Management and find tools and strategies to optimize your efforts.

For more information about Penn’s Talent Development programs, visit the Learn and Grow webpages on the HR website.

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Healthy Meals: Unstuffed Zucchini Casserole

Unstuffed Zucchini Casserole is a hearty, one-pan dish that captures all the savory goodness of traditional stuffed zucchini — without the fuss. Fresh zucchini is sautéed and baked with ground meat (or plant-based alternatives), aromatic herbs, onions, garlic, and a rich tomato sauce, then topped with melted cheese. It’s a quick, wholesome meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights, offering all the flavor of a classic casserole with a lighter, veggie-forward twist.

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Ingredients

• 2 medium zucchini, sliced into ½-inch rounds (about 4 cups)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
• 3 medium cloves garlic, thinly sliced (about 1 tablespoon)
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided 
• 1 1/2 cups lower-sodium marinara sauce
• 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded Italian 4-cheese blend
• 1 tablespoon small fresh basil leaves

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack about 7 inches from the heat source (middle position). Combine zucchini slices, 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; toss until well coated. Let stand at room temperature.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground beef; cook, breaking the meat into bite-size pieces, until mostly browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, sliced garlic and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; cook, stirring often, until the onion softens, about 2 minutes.
3. Stir in 1 1/2 cups marinara, 1 tablespoon vinegar and the remaining 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; cook, stirring occasionally, until gently simmering, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully transfer half of the meat sauce (about 2 cups) to a medium heatproof bowl. Spread the remaining meat sauce (about 2 cups) in an even layer in the skillet. Layer half of the zucchini slices (about 2 cups) over the meat sauce. Spread the remaining meat sauce over the zucchini. Top with the remaining zucchini slices.
4. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup Cheddar and 1/4 cup Italian cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and the zucchini is tender, about 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to broil. Broil until the cheese is browned, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon basil.

Meet With a Registered Dietitian Today!

• One-on-one, virtual sessions you can schedule at any time that works for you
• 100% covered under many insurance plans
• Available to spouses and dependents
• Fill out the Ramp Health Nutrition Counseling Sign Up Form or call 800-484-7720.

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Did You Know: Penn Friends and Family Day on October 4

Penn will host its annual Friends and Family Day celebration on Saturday, October 4. Faculty, staff, postdocs, and their friends and family are invited to Shoemaker Green and Franklin Field for games, sports, ice skating, cultural activities, and more. You can order up to four free tickets per person for the lunch and tailgate party and the football game. Additional tickets are $8 each. Please order tickets at the Penn Athletics website by October 1. For additional information, please contact the Ticket Office at (215) 898-6151.