Visit Penn's website

Dr. Mirjam Cvetic's last name was misspelled in a front-page story in the May 27 issue, which announced that she is the inaugural holder of the Fay R. and Eugene L. Langberg Endowed Professor in Physics. We regret the omission of the last letter of her name.-- Ed.

back to top

 

 

Cyclists & Volunteers for MS Ride The UPHS Cycling Team is looking for riders and volunteers to participate in the MS 150 City to Shore Bike Tour, Saturday and Sunday, September 20 & 21, a charity ride to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The two-day event starts at the Woodcrest station of the Lindenwold High Speed Line in Cherry Hill, travels some of the most scenic roads of south Jersey, and ends at the beach in Ocean City. The second day, the route is reversed, ending at the Woodcrest station. The traditional route is 75 miles each day. However, on Saturday there is an optional 45-mile ride that starts in Hammonton and ends in Ocean City. For a greater challenge, there is an optional 100-mile Century Route on Saturday. The route is supported with rest stops, refreshments, and road support services. Participants must submit a registration form with a registration fee of $40 until 8/30; $45 until 9/12; $50 until 9/19; and $60 day of event. Each rider is required to raise a minimum of $200 in additional donations. Riders who raise and turn in a minimum of $200 to the National MS Society by August 15 will receive a UPHS Team Cycling Jersey. There will be a pre-ride UPHS Team dinner the evening before the ride at the Spaghetti Warehouse, and a post-ride party. To register online, visit www.ms150biketour.org/city2shore/index.htm. Please remember to indicate UPHS Team. Paper registration forms and brochures can be obtained from UPHS Team Captain, Emily Silvis, of Patient Registration. Dr. Stephen Kolb, of Neurology, is Co-Captain. For informaton, go to www.home.earthlink.net/~uphsteam or call Emily at (215) 615-2378, or e-mail uphsteam@earthlink.net. Anyone can participate. Riders are not required to work for Penn. back to top

 

 

Tax Rate Changes

The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 that was signed into law on May 28, 2003 allows for reductions in Federal Income Tax Withholding. The new withholding tables incorporate the lower tax rates for employers to use when figuring the federal income tax to withhold from their employees' wages. The 2003 tax rates have been revised to reflect the following changes:

1. The tax rate brackets of 27%, 30%, 35% and 38.6% have been reduced to 25%, 28%, 33% and 35% respectively.

2. The supplemental flat withholding rate of 27% has been reduced to 25%.

These changes were put into affect starting with the weekly pay cycle for the pay period ending June 8, and check date June 13. Monthly paid employees should have seen the effects of the changes beginning with the June pay cycle. Contact the Payroll Office, (215) 898-6301 or e-mail at payroll@pobox.upenn.edu with questions.

--John Christina, Jr., Payroll Manager

back to top

 

 

Telecommunications Alert: Possible Verizon Work Stoppage

Verizon is in the midst of a collective bargaining process with their unions to reach an agreement before contracts expire at midnight on August 2, 2003. It is possible that the unions will go on strike, which would impact ISC Networking and Telecommunication's ability to deliver some types of phone service to the University community.

It is important to note that your current phone service should not be affected by a strike. New service and repair requests, however, will likely be delayed as we may not be able to rely on Verizon for quick turnaround service. To that end, we have reserved additional phone service in many areas of campus in the event that customers lose their current phone service. Please keep in mind that critical service lines (supporting systems such as fire alarms) will continue to receive our highest priority.

While Verizon will make every effort to maintain service standards currently in place, it is our expectation that response to all service orders and repairs will be slow. Our office will continue to advise our customers on progress, problems, and other strike related issues as they occur. We are dedicated to providing the University community with excellent customer service.

For more information, call our help line at (215) 898-4840.

-- ISC Networking and Telecommunication

back to top