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, Nov. 17, for a Wednesday, Nov. 22, publication. CoffeeBreak entries submitted past the deadline will not be accepted.
GPS Student Spotlight
Meet Shandra Cauthen, a student pursuing her Master of Business Administration degree who is expected to graduate in 2017. To see her on the GPS blog, click here.
QUESTION: What is your motivation for obtaining your degree?
ANSWER: “My motivation for obtaining my master’s degree was due to a couple of reasons. I wanted a sense of accomplishment for being the first of my mother’s side of the family to get a bachelor’s degree, and master’s degree, and hopefully be an example to my other family members that it is possible to complete school at any age. I also wanted to continue to make my parents and son proud of me. Lastly, my motivation for obtaining my degree is to become more marketable in my career field, for any reason my career within the government didn’t work out.”
Bookstore Sale Ends Today!
The bookstore is wrapping up their November sale today. Offers include: In-store and online, 25 percent off: men’s and women’s hooded sweatshirts, crewneck sweatshirts, 1/4 zip and full zip sweatshirts and sweatpants; polos and long-sleeve tees; cold weather accessories (knit hats, scarves and gloves); backpacks, totes and fashion bags; all frames (including diploma frames); drinkware and blankets! Click here to shop online.
International Education Week
If you haven’t checked out the events each day in the Dining Hall, you still have three opportunities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.! Wednesday: Music – live entertainment; Thursday: Passport – travel around the world; Friday: Dance – Kuumba Dance Company.
VTAG “Thank You” Notes
Are you a Virginia resident? Every Virginia resident receives $3,300 in the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) to attend Averett University. In order to keep these funds available for students and at its current amount, we need your help! Please take five minutes of your time to write an electronic “Thank you for VTAG” note to your legislative body. It is important for our leaders to know how important this grant is for our students and families.
1. Please go here: http://capwiz.com/naicu/va/home/.
2. Put in your correct home address or University address.
3. Once your address and local officials are inputted, click the “Take Action” button toward the top. This will lead you to the page you can write in (in two boxes now) to your specific legislators and tell them how much we need VTAG. Make sure when you finish, you input “Averett University” under “College Affiliation” at the bottom.
You may also stop by the cafeteria and fill out your letter during lunch in the coming week with Admissions/Financial Aid.
Staff Meeting
There will be a staff meeting tomorrow, Nov. 16, at 11:15 a.m. in the multipurpose room. Staff Council will be announcing the November Golden Bagel award winner and discussing upcoming University holiday events. Come join us the meeting, followed by lunch in the café with your meeting lunch ticket! There will be no staff meeting in December.
Sam’s Club on Campus
Karen Shields, our Sam’s Club representative, will be on campus to renew memberships and register new ones today, Nov. 15, and tomorrow, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the dining hall. A $10 gift card and $100 instant savings are available. Karen can renew several months in advance if necessary. Contact Kathie Tune at [email protected] or Karen at (434) 250-4303 for additional information. The Plus Membership (Advantage and Business) is $100. The Basic Membership (Advantage and Business) is $45.
Averett Women’s Network
Please join us tomorrow, Nov. 16, at 4 p.m. for the next Averett Women’s Network Event, a panel with two extraordinary community leaders: Dr. Janet Laughlin, retired vice president for academic affairs, Averett University, and Dr. Martha Walker, extension specialist, community viability, Virginia Cooperative Extension. The event will be in the multipurpose room. We hope to see you there!
Safe Zone Training
Student Life is hosting a Safe Zone training this week for students, faculty and staff. Safe Zone is a program designed to create a network of visible allies to people who identify as part of the diverse LGBTIQA+ community. The two-hour educational session provides information and resources related to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The training session will be held tomorrow, Nov. 16, from 3-5 p.m., in Main Hall, room 131.
Policing in the 21st Century Speakers’ Forum
The “Policing in the 21st Century Speakers’ Forum” will be a bi-monthly gathering of students, staff, faculty and community members organized to present and discuss issues that have an impact on public safety and our communities. The first forum will take place tomorrow, Nov. 16, from 6-8 p.m. in Blount Chapel.
The topic is “Community Partners and Policing.” The panel will consist of four members: Deputy Chief Dean Hairston, Danville Police Department, Danville, Va.; Ms. Tara Martin, executive director, Community Improvement Council Head Start Program, Danville, Va.; Dr. Alexis Ehrhardt, executive director, CCECC at Averett University; and Dr. James Hodgson, director of Sociology/Criminal Justice, GPS, Averett University.
Arts@Averett Presents: “Doubt”
Come support Averett Theatre students as they perform “Doubt” starting tomorrow, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m., and running Friday and Saturday with shows at 7 p.m. in Pritchett Auditorium. Admission is free for all faculty, staff and students, and employees get an additional ticket for free.
An Oscar-nominated film, the play is set in the fictional St. Nicholas Church School, in the Bronx, during the fall of 1964. Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn are put into direct conflict when she learns the priest met one-on-one with St. Nicholas’ first African-American student. Mysterious circumstances lead her to believe that sexual misconduct occurred. Sister openly confronts Flynn with her suspicions. He angrily denies wrongdoing. She is left with great doubt in herself and her faith. The audience is left with its own doubt.
Open House – 105 Commons
The 2020 Strategic Planning Team invites all faculty and staff to an Open House this Friday, Nov. 17, from 1-2:30 p.m., to view the new community lounge for students at 105 Commons Apartments. This is part of the first phase of the Residence Hall Master Plan and we would love for you to see this newest renovation. Refreshments will be provided.
Wrestling Goldrush
Join us on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. in the Grant Center as Wrestling kicks off their FIRST EVER home match at Averett University. The first 50 fans in attendance will receive a free gold rally towel! You do not want to miss out on this GOLDRUSH event as Wrestling makes their mark.
Winter Commencement
Adjunct faculty and staff members are invited to participate in the Winter 2017 Commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m. In order to participate in the exercises, you must have received at least a graduate degree and have the proper regalia. If you would like to participate, please email Mary Sullivan at [email protected] by Monday, Nov. 27.
Late Night Breakfast
As the semester is nearing an end, the Office of Student Engagement is working to organize the annual late night breakfast. Late night breakfast occurs on Reading Day, Thursday, Nov. 30, and will begin at 10 p.m. in the café.
Student Engagement is searching for staff and faculty willing to participate and help serve breakfast for the students as they prepare for exams. Please email Taylor Mahaffey at [email protected] if you are available and willing to help.
Averett Family Holiday Celebration
President Tiffany Franks and Joe Franks invite you and a guest to the Averett Family Holiday Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 4:30 – 7 p.m. at the President’s Home, 500 Hawthorne Drive. You may RSVP to Cyndie Basinger by phone at (434) 791-5671 or by email to [email protected].
W-2’s For 2017
Want to receive your W-2 a lot earlier this January? Exciting news – W-2’s for 2017 will be delivered to you through the E-Stub system. In preparation for W-2’s you MUST log in and get familiar with your personal E-Stub account. There are options that you can select so that you will be notified when your pay stub is available and the same options will apply when the W-2’s are uploaded. To sign into your account for the first time use the following steps:
- Website: https://www.my-estub.com
- Click on Employee Portal
- Enter User ID: AU + Employee Number + First four letters of first name. Example: AUP00001234John Default Password: AU001 (AU is capital letters and then the numbers zero) You will create your new password using the set-up guidelines.
- Options are given for email delivery and text messages.
If you have any questions, contact Pam Paynter at (434) 791-5613. Additional instructions can be located on the Intranet – Business Office – Payroll – E-Stub Set-Up Instructions. NOTE: If you do not log in and set up your information, you will not receive your W-2 until the end of January.
Student Success Center Celebrates First Generation Month
The Center for First-Generation Student Success is a proud supporter of the Council for Opportunity in Education’s inaugural First-Generation College Celebration! In the month of November, institutions around the country are invited to celebrate first-generation college students, faculty and staff on campuses.
If you are a first-generation college student, or if you are a faculty or staff member who was a first-generation college student, then please allow the Student Success Center to recognize you! Stop by the SSC and have your name put on our celebration board. Please contact Aries Wilson at [email protected] with any questions.
Academic Support Updates
Academic Support will not host tutoring and/or writing support over Thanksgiving Break (Wednesday, Nov. 22 – Friday, Nov. 24), as the University is closed.
The last day for open group tutoring opportunities through Academic Support is Wednesday, Nov. 29. Click here to view: Open Group Tutoring_Fall 2017_Updated 111317. All scheduled tutoring sessions will also end on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The end date is November 29 because schedules are in flux during the week of finals, and peer tutors need this week to focus on their finals. Should you need assistance during the week of finals, please contact Holly Kilby at [email protected] to schedule a tutoring session with a professional tutor.
Beginning Thursday, Nov. 30, new hours will begin in the Writing Center, again due to the final exam schedule. Drop-in assistance and scheduled sessions will remain available. Stop by the Writing Center to view the advertising board for the daily schedule. Email Holly Kilby to schedule a session.
The Writing Center is pleased to announce expanded hours on Sunday nights to accommodate the demand for assistance with final papers. The additional hours are as follows:
Sunday, Nov. 19: 6–9 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 26: 6–9 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 3: 6–9 p.m.
*Finally, please remember that SmarThinking is a wonderful online tutoring resource. You can receive guidance with a paper or assistance with a math problem, plus much more! You can access SmarThinking for free (24/7) through your Moodle account. Click here to access the instructions for Accessing Smarthinking_Handout_2017 CB 111317. Thank you for allowing Academic Support to help you this semester!
Averett Partners with CREDO to Administer Academic Advising Survey
Averett University is partnering with CREDO to assess our current academic advising model. In an effort to gain as much perspective and feedback as possible, four surveys will be sent out to faculty, staff, students and administrators on Wednesday, Nov. 15, to their Averett email addresses. The surveys will be open until Nov. 29, and it is the hope that everyone will respond candidly to ensure we have an accurate snapshot of our advising model.
The data will be processed by CREDO and shared in the Spring 2018 semester. We look forward to hearing back about the process. Any questions can be directed to Dr. Sherill Anderson, [email protected], or Barbara Kushubar, [email protected]. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Angel Tree Celebration
This Friday, Nov. 17, is the last day to pick up an angel! The CCECC is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Danville Area to host an Angel Tree on campus. All presents must be dropped off at the CCECC before Thanksgiving break.
The Angel Tree Celebration will be on Tuesday, Nov. 28, from 5:30-7 p.m. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THE CELEBRATION! Volunteers must arrive by 5 p.m. in the multipurpose room. From there, each volunteer will be “buddied up” with a child for dinner in the back cafe. After everyone has eaten pizza and decorated cookies, the volunteers will walk with their “buddy” over to Carrington Gym to open presents! For questions, contact Tia Yancey at [email protected].
Campaign for Puerto Rico Crisis
Averett University is a community that fosters awareness, inclusiveness, equity and service while fulfilling our mission and vision. To this end, the Student Success Center is asking our university and community to join in our effort to raise funds that will be donated to GlobalGiving, allowing us to assist in their relief and recovery efforts to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. GlobalGiving is hoping to raise $10,000,000 to support hurricane recovery and relief efforts.
As a University, we hope to raise at least $1,000 by the end of the semester, which we will contribute to GlobalGiving’s overall goal. The Student Success Center and the CCECC will house several donation jars for students, faculty and staff to contribute loose change or bills to this effort. We are willing to provide donation jars to any departments or offices that would like to house one as well. Donation jars will come with instructions on housing them in the different locations. If you would like to know more, please contact Ms. Aries Wilson at [email protected].
Averett Featured on Danville Historical Society Holiday Ornament
The Danville Historical Society featured Averett on its holiday ornament this year! Ornaments can be found at Foxglove Clothing, 1011 West Main Street, next to The Schoolfield Restaurant. Cash or check only, $20. All proceeds go to the Danville Historical Society. Great gift idea and thank you!
2018 Alumni and Friends Tours
Registrations for the Averett Alumni and Friends Tours for 2018 are now being accepted. There are two trips planned: Canadian Rockies Splendor, June 13-21, and Bordeaux, France river cruise, October 21-28, through the world’s most famous wine region. The Canadian Rockies trip has a $400-per-person group discount if deposit is received before December 22. Contact Larry Wilburn at [email protected] or (434) 770.3285 for more information.
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: Stop seeking approval. When you prioritize approval over learning, you sacrifice your own potential for growth.
