CoffeeBreak is an e-newsletter distributed to Averett faculty and staff to keep them up to date on campus activities and information.

Please send information you would like included in CoffeeBreak via this form by 4:30 p.m. Friday, October 16 for a Wednesday, October 21 publication.

Rowland Earns Certification

Susan Rowland, Director of Distance Education and IDEAL, has successfully met all of the requirements for the Quality Matters Certified Peer Reviewer designation. This certification requires successful completion of rigorous Quality Matters professional development courses and current for-credit online teaching experience. Congratulations, Susan!

Quality Matters, Inc. (QM) is a non-profit, international organization serving stakeholders in the online and blended learning industries. QM’s quality assurance processes and tools have been developed to improve and certify the design of online and blended courses and have become the national standard for course design.

Obenchain-Leeson to Serve as Assistant Editor

Dr. Alice Obenchain-Leeson, Acting Dean of the GPS Program and Professor of Business, was recently invited to serve as an Assistant Editor for The Qualitative Report, a peer-reviewed, on-line monthly journal devoted to writing and discussion of and about qualitative, critical, action, and collaborative inquiry and research. The Qualitative Report, the oldest multidisciplinary qualitative research journal in the world, serves as a forum and sounding board for researchers, scholars, practitioners, and other reflective-minded individuals who are passionate about ideas, methods, and analyses permeating qualitative, action, collaborative, and critical study. Congratulations, Alice!

Alice is currently enrolled in the final course of a graduate certificate in Qualitative Research from Nova Southeastern University’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Out of the Darkness

Sherry Phelps will be participating in the Out of the Darkness walk at Angler’s Park River Walk Trail on Saturday, October 24 to raise money and awareness about suicide prevention. Let her know if you would like to be a part of her team by Friday, October 23. If you would like to donate to this cause please click here. Donations can be made through December 31, 2015.

 Student Accolades

The Student Life Department began recognizing students who go the extra mile in whatever they are doing on campus last fall. Each week during Student Life Staff meetings, staff members nominate students they want to recognize for their dedication to AU. Students are notified about the nomination and their chance to win a $50 Visa Gift Card. At the end of the semester, all of the names of those nominated are put into a bowl and the name of one lucky student is selected. This is the department’s way of letting the students know they appreciate all they do.

This week the department would like to recognize Krystal Link for her continued support of Averett.

 Clery Report

Averett University annually complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, also known as the Clery Act. The report provides information about safety-related policies, procedures, practices, and resources. These policies and procedures may be updated or revised after publication of this report; the updated information is accessible through the Averett University website by clicking here.

Save the Date!

Fulbright FLTA Jawad Essakri will give a presentation on his hometown of Lyon, the “second city of France” on Thursday, October 22 at 4 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the Student Center. The presentation is open to Averett faculty, staff, students and the community. Refreshments will be served!

Enactus Hosting Yard Sale

The Enactus group will be hosting a yard sale in front of Blount Library on Saturday, October 17 from 7:30-10:30 a.m. They will be selling merchandise from the Ten Thousand Villages organization and other items to raise money for a few projects they are planning in the spring. If you would like donate items to be sold at the yard sale please bring them to Meaghan Byrne’s office, which is located in Bottom Danville, 103B, by noon Friday, October 16.

CPR Course for Faculty and Staff

With the addition of 6 new AED’s on campus, our CFO, Aaron Howell, has agreed to fund 30 people to become CPR certified. If you are interested in learning CPR please email Dr. Carrie Hendrick by Tuesday, October 20 at [email protected].

TIAA-CREF Representative on Campus

Christian Pechuekonis, a TIAA-CREF representative, will be on the Main Campus Wednesday, October 28, Thursday, October 29, and Friday, October 30 from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. in Main 131. The last appointment will be scheduled at 3:30 p.m.

Faculty and staff (full and part-time) are encouraged to meet with the financial advisor or call the 800 number to enroll in our retirement plan or to discuss retirement planning. Go to www.tiaa-cref.org/schedulenow or call 1-800-732-8353 to schedule an appointment.

Free Gifts!

Win an iPad mini, a fitbit, or a $50 gift card to the dining hall. The only thing you have to do is give to the faculty/staff giving campaign. At press time we were at 37 percent on our quest to get to this year’s goal of 80 percent faculty/staff giving.

If you are already giving through payroll deduction you are all set. If you are planning to give in the spring, but want to participate in the contest, you can give a “place holder gift.” Your support is important! One of the questions US News and World Report and the Princeton Review ask is “what is the percentage of faculty/staff giving?” These publications are two tools high school students and their parents use to choose a school. Help us be higher on the list! Contact Dan Hayes if you have questions 434-791-7252.

 Wellness Screenings

The fall 2015 Wellness and Health Screenings will be held Tuesday, October 20 and Wednesday, October 21 from 7-10:30 a.m. in the multipurpose room of the Student Center. All registration details are outlined in the attached flyer. Please remember to register for your date and time of choice and make sure to complete the Health Assessment prior to scheduling your screening appointment. For more information, please visit www.healthgram.com. All promotional materials are also posted on the intranet.

Feel free to ask questions of the Gateway Health nurses as they will be the health administrators on site for the two screening clinics. These wellness screenings qualify for the $20 monthly Wellness Premium Incentive.

A light breakfast and a complimentary lunch ticket will be available to all participants. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Flu Shots

CVS Pharmacy will be on campus during the Wellness Screenings on Tuesday, October 20 and Wednesday, October 21 from 7-10:30 a.m. in the multipurpose room. Get your flu shot while you’re having your Wellness and Health Screening.