Connection Tool Frequently Asked Questions

Connection Tool: Overview 

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What is the purpose of the Connection Tool? 

The tool provides a resource to UVA faculty and staff who are parents/guardians of young or school-aged children.  The tool facilitates connections with other UVA parents/guardians with similar needs and priorities, including: 

  • Contingency planning: establish networks with other UVA faculty/staff who are parents/guardians to assist one another if schools close due to Covid-19,
  • Community building: help UVA parents/guardians find others to connect with for support and engagement,
  • Recent relocation: meet other UVA faculty/staff who are new to town and interested in connecting.

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Who is eligible to use the Connection Tool?

UVA Employees (Employees of UVA, UVA Health System, and University of Virginia Physician’s Group) are eligible to participate. UVA post-docs, graduate and professional students, and medical residents and fellows are welcome to participate.

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How do I access the Connection Tool? 

After you have submitted a registration form, an email will be sent to you with instructions and a link for accessing the Connection Tool. 

Please allow up to 72 hours to receive this email as your information must be mapped before you are able to view connections.  

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What information will be available for others to view in the Connection Tool? 

If you choose to opt into the Connection Tool, you consent to the sharing of your name, UVA email address, child(ren)’s age range(s), elementary school district, connection priorities, and whether you are a newcomer with other, similarly situated UVA employees.  

This information will be available in the Connection Tool to UVA employees who: 

  1. Have also opted into the Connection Tool, 
  2. Live in the same high school district as you,* and 
  3. Have a similarly aged child (defined as infant through pre-k, K-5th grade, 6th-8th grade, or high school). 

Your information will only be available to the subset of UVA employees using the Connection Tool who meet all the above criteria. 

*Note: Residents of surrounding counties will view a slightly larger geographic area, to ensure more opportunities for connection.  These geographic areas will be grouped: 

Rockingham, Augusta, Nelson

Greene, Madison, Culpeper, Orange

Louisa, Fluvanna, Buckingham

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How else will my information be shared?

We may share a summary of the general trends and registration responses with UVA leadership (including UVA HR and the Provost’s Office, Dean’s Offices and the Family Support Collab that is reviewing dependent care options for UVA Employees) for purposes of identifying trends, key needs and possible supports and solutions. This information will be shared anonymously and will not be attributed to individuals.

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How long will the Connection Tool be active or my data be stored? 

We plan to continue the Connection Tool through August 2022.  At the end of that time, we may ask that you opt-in/ opt-out of continued participation.  Your information will be destroyed 3 years after the end of fiscal year in which you cease using the Tool, according to UVA Records Management Series Number: 101-200550.

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Connection Tool: Usage

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How might I use the Connection Tool? 

We hope the Connection Tool will help to foster a sense of community and allow you to form connections you may otherwise make in the workplace. 

We encourage you to email your connections to learn of resources, share ideas for school/childcare options, welcome newcomers, and more.   For a full list of acceptable uses of the tool, please the Connection Tool Terms of Use.

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What will the Connection Tool not be used for? 

 Inappropriate uses of the Connection Tool include excessive email traffic, marketing of for-profit childcare, and activity inconsistent with UVA policies concerning employee conduct.  For full details, please view the Connection Tool Terms of Use.

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I am not sure how to start a connection.  Do you have any suggestions? 

We encourage you to email connections with whom you find common priorities and determine whether there are opportunities to support or connect with one another. 

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I would prefer to be contacted on a personal email instead of a work email.  Is this possible? 

The Connection Tool only utilizes your computingID@virginia.edu email.  However, if you feel comfortable, you may share alternative contact information with your contacts if you wish to do so. 

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If am not the primary caregiver in my household.  Can the primary caregiver sign up instead?  

Only UVA employees may sign up for the Connection Tool.  Once connections are formed, you may help facilitate additional contacts with the primary caregiver in your household. 

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How often are connections updated? 

Connections are mapped into the system as we receive them.  We recommend checking for new connections once a week. 

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May I opt-out of the Connection Tool after I have agreed to participate?

Yes, if you wish to opt-out, please complete this opt-out request.  Please allow one business day for processing.

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Connection Tool: Technical Troubleshooting

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I am not sure how to access the Connection Tool.  How do I get started? 

After you have submitted a registration form, an email will be sent to when your connections are ready to view, at the bottom of the Parent Connections webpage. 

Please allow up to 72 hours to receive this email.  

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I have accessed the Connection Tool but do not see any connections.  What should I do? 

First, please be sure that you have clicked in to “Login with Smartsheet Account”.  

Computer cursor hovering over Smartsheet blue login blue button

 

If you have done so and see the screen below, including column headings, please ensure that you have clicked into the correct zone corresponding with your information.  

Parent Connections for Charlottesville City screenshot showing 8 columns (Parent Name, Email, UVA School or Unit (where parent(s) work, UVA Employee Type, Are you a newcomber to area, elementary school district, Ages of Pre-K Children, Infannt-Pre-K Connection

 

If you are in the correct zone but do not see any connections, (including your own information), please email parentconnections@virginia.edu.

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I have accessed the Connection Tool and see my information, but no other connections.  What should I do? 

If you can see your own information, you have correctly completed the login. 

It may take time to build connections.  Check back at least once a week to see if any additional connections have been added in your district.  

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I accessed the Connection Tool but see a completely blank screen.  What should I do? 

If you see a completely blank screen (i.e. no column headers) when you access the tool, check which browser you are using.  The Connection Tool is compatible with Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Google Chrome.  It is NOT compatible with Internet Explorer or Safari.  

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I use a UVA Health, Darden, Law, or McIntire email extension and am not sure if my primary alias is set up.  What should I do? 

If you typically use an extension, and do not believe that you have set up your user-id@virginia.edu as an alias, please follow the instructions under “create your primary alias” first.  

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I am still having trouble accessing the tool.  Who can I contact for help? 

Please email parentconnections@virginia.edu with any further technical questions. 

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Other 

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I have a need that is not met by the Connection Tool.  What other resources are available at UVA? 

UVA HR maintains dependent care resources at https://hr.virginia.edu/dependent-care.

FEAP maintains an Employee Community Resources Service to help members of the UVA community connect with local organizations who can assist with basic needs such as housing, clothing, utilities and food, as well as assistance with personal budgeting and finance strategies.  Learn more at https://uvafeap.com/counseling-services/community-resources-support. 

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Faculty Affairs