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, Oct. 6, for a Wednesday, Oct. 11, publication.
Moore Completes Doctoral Dissertation
Congratulations are definitely in order for Dr. Will Moore, assistant professor of biological sciences. Moore successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at Virginia Tech on Friday, Sept. 29. The title of his dissertation is “Small molecule, kaempferol, a novel regulator of glucose homeostasis in diabetes.” As if that is not enough, Moore is also getting married on Saturday, Oct. 7. Congratulations, Will!!
GPS Student Spotlight
Meet Michael Andrews, a student pursuing his Bachelor of Business Administration degree and is expected to graduate in 2018. To see him on the GPS blog, click here.
QUESTION: Why did you choose Averett’s Graduate and Professional Studies Program?
ANSWER: “I chose Averett’s GPS Program because of the accessibility and the amount of time that the faculty, administrators and staff put into each and every student. They make you feel that you are their only student.”
Athletic Training Student of the Month
The Averett Athletic Training staff has nominated senior Emily Kester as Athletic Training Student of the Month! She has displayed an outstanding amount of dedication while balancing soccer and obtaining a total of 20 clinical hours a week, on top of a rigorous curriculum. Her professors have expressed the excellence she has displayed in the classroom in her senior level courses and noted she has already been focusing in on her Board Exam in the Spring.
Not only has she been a tremendous student, but she has served as a leader for the other Athletic Training students by lending a helping hand in teaching of multiple proficiencies. Head Athletic Trainer Thomas Underwood commended her hard work within the Athletic Training Room and noted her development. In the future, she strives to pass her Board Exam and become an ATC within a physical therapy clinic working outreach to a high school, as she segways into PT school.
If you see her, please give her a “congratulations” and a “keep it up!”
Middle Border Forward Vision 2035 is Coming to Averett, today!
What will Danville look like in the year 2035? What changes would you like to see? How should we, as a community, go about making those changes? This is your chance to speak up and let your ideas be heard. So, make plans to join one of the FREE community sessions today, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m., noon or 1 p.m., in the multipurpose room. Each session is approximately 45 minutes. Lunch is included, but space is limited so arrive early.
Vigil for Peace
There will be a Vigil for Peace tonight, Oct. 4, at 8 p.m., on the Student Center lawn hosted by Averett Spiritual Life. Chaplain Skyler Daniel says it will last about 20 minutes. The group will commemorate victims of Las Vegas, and there will be a strong focus on prayer and peace for our country and world. They will also call to mind the threats of war with North Korea. All students, faculty and staff are invited to join.
Christian Student Fellowship Lunch
You are invited to CSF tomorrow, Oct. 5, at 11:15 a.m. for a service, lunch provided by Calvary Baptist Church and fellowship with the Averett community. Join us in Blount Chapel!
An Averett Edition of Showcase Magazine
If you haven’t seen it around town yet, Averett is featured in the October edition of Showcase Magazine! You can find a free copy at almost every local shop, restaurant or business. The magazine features Dr. Franks and four of our students on the cover, 15 pages of content and photos, and highlights four Averett alumni. Pick one up and tell your friends! Click here to check it out online.
We Need Your Help Selling Tickets for the Hometown Party!
Homecoming will be here before you know it! The Homecoming Hometown Party is on Friday, Oct. 20. If you would be willing to help sell tickets please contact Dan Hayes at [email protected]. If you sell nine, you get one free!
On Saturday, Oct. 21, two sports will be having their senior day activities – Women’s Soccer and Football! We will be honoring award recipients, athletics hall of fame inductees and the National Championship equestrian team. For the full homecoming schedule, to sign up for events or to buy tickets, click here.
Annual Campus Safety and Fire Report Available
Each year Averett University is required to publish a report that discloses key safety and security policies as well as statistics on the number of serious criminal offenses that have occurred on or near our campus locations. The Clery Report, as it is also known, is posted on the Averett website, under student life-campus safety, or under Human Resources on the intranet, and is now available for downloading. If you are unable to access the electronic version and need a hard copy, please contact the Averett security office for assistance at [email protected].
New Form I-9 Deadline in Effect
On September 18, a new Form I-9 update came into effect changing the deadline for completion of Section 1 and making the prior form no longer valid. The new form requires that employees complete section 1 by the start of employment (instead of the end of the first day). What this change means to Averett is that new hires must complete their section of Form I-9 before they may begin to work. The employer still has a three-day window in which to complete section 2.
The new version of the Form I-9 appears very similar to the prior version, however, the key to easily telling them apart is to look at the form number in the bottom left corner. It should read, “Form I-9 07/17/17 N” – anything else is an invalid form.
We are in the process of developing online training on the rules and steps to complete a Form I-9 properly. In the meantime, please refer new hires to one of the trained authorized representatives (a list is posted on the intranet) or contact our policy and compliance specialist for assistance at [email protected].
Cougar Nation Discount Program
Do you like to eat, play and shop in Danville? Averett’s new community-wide Cougar Nation Discount Program is helping you do just that! Not only does this program reward students, faculty, staff and alumni for supporting local businesses, but it also encourages the growth in our community! The list of participating businesses is continuing to increase, but we still need your help. If you know of any businesses in the Danville area that would be interested in participating, please contact Katherine Bishop at (434) 791-5632 or [email protected]. Go Cougars!
Week to Engage: By the Numbers
Thank you to all of our Week to Engage volunteers, and a special thanks to those staff and faculty who took the time to serve! In total, 522 volunteers served 963 hours, which equates to an economic benefit of $23,247 to our community. Way to go, Cougars!
Additional Tutoring/Writing Assistance
Academic Support has created additional open tutoring groups in high-need subject areas. Please know that open tutoring groups function as a drop-in service, so students do not have to schedule to attend. If students would like to schedule tutoring appointments, in addition to attending open tutoring groups, please email either [email protected] or [email protected]. In the Writing Center, additional hours have been added as well; these hours operate as times for drop-in assistance. If students would prefer to schedule an appointment, they may email [email protected] or [email protected]. You can learn more about these exciting opportunities by clicking here: 100317 Open Group Tutoring and Writing Support_Fall 2017.
Student Success Academic Workshops
Academic Support Coordinator Holly Kilby is shown leading an academic workshop entitled “Exam Preparation.” This workshop was held this past Monday, Sept. 25, at the Galesi Student Success Center. These workshops are held by Mrs. Kilby every Monday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in rooms A/B of the Student Success Center. Each workshop focuses on different study skills to help improve overall academic performance. These are free workshops that are available to all Averett students.
Data Breach Protection
In the wake of the Equifax data breach, criminals are using the fear of subsequent breaches to their advantage. The Federal Trade Commission is reporting that people are already receiving calls from people claiming to be from Equifax, as well as a surge in phishing emails with the intent of stealing personal information.
Many attempts will have greater success due to the following:
• These messages are timely. They appear at a time when people are looking for information on breach prevention.
• They will arrive mixed in with legitimate emails offering genuine advice about the breach. This will make the phishing mails less conspicuous.
• They appear to come from trusted sources. These criminals have become very adept at mimicking well-known entities that provide genuine protection and advice.
• Reputable credit monitoring agencies still require personal information. Before you give out personal information, make sure the person you are communicating with is who they say they are.
Keeping this information in mind, and following a few simple rules, will keep you safe in the end.
• Never fill out and submit forms found in the body of an email. These forms are fine for surveys and quizzes but they are not secure. Legitimate organizations will direct you to a secure website to fill out the appropriate forms.
• Triple check the address of any website requesting personal information. Pull up the organization’s real website and compare the text that appears before the first “slash” (/) in its address. Look for slight differences such as .co instead of .com, “typos” or extra “dots” in the main name. Also, make sure the address is beginning with https:// instead of http://; the “s” ensures that the data encryption.
• Beware of requests for information that the sender should already have. The bank will have your account ID; the IRS already has your social security number. Some legitimate agencies will ask for partial ID numbers to confirm your identity, but be careful, giving this info to a thief can help them pose as you.
Following these rules is important, but if you are still unsure what to do, please contact us. Spending a few minutes investigating an email is much better than spending a couple of days or weeks recovering from a breach.
Averett Athletics Naming Opportunities
You have the opportunity to be a part of history! Would you like to see your name on a brick in Frank R. Campbell Stadium, your business on the scoreboard or your name on a chair in the Grant Center? To see the full list of options and pricing, click here. For questions and to purchase, contact Bren Taylor at (434) 791-5677 or [email protected].
Mindset Minute: Averett’s QEP
Have you helped a student think with a growth mindset today? Need ideas for encouraging students? Each week we will provide a snapshot into the world of growth mindset research and practice through “Mindset Minute,” where you can check back for tips!
Growth Mindset Tip of the Week: Redefine “genius.” The myth’s been busted: genius requires hard work, not talent alone.
