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, Feb. 24, for a Wednesday, Mar. 1, publication.

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Good Luck to Men’s and Women’s Basketball!

Averett University will host the USA South Men’s Basketball Conference Tournament Feb. 23–25. No. 1 Averett plays No. 8 Covenant College on Thursday, Feb. 23, in the quarterfinals of the tournament at the Grant Center at 7 p.m. The first 100 Averett students and first 50 faculty/staff members will receive free admission.

Also, congratulations to the women’s basketball team for advancing to the semifinals of the USA South Women’s Basketball Conference Tournament. The women travel to Maryville, Tennessee to play No. 1 Maryville College on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.

Congratulations and another good luck to our men’s and women’s basketball teams!

Averett Student in Spain

Averett student Sydney Glass is studying abroad for the spring 2017 semester in Sevilla, Spain! Sydney is a double major in biology and modern languages. For more information on study abroad, contact [email protected] or click here.

Ehrhardt a featured speaker at Miami Dade College

Alexis Ehrhardt, executive director for Averett’s Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness, recently spoke at Miami Dade College. The conference consisted of three sessions on team-building and employee engagement. Ehrhardt spoke on the topic of increasing institutional agility through leadership and represented Averett, which was one of only five other institutions outside of Miami Dade College to bring in featured speakers.

Student Accolades

This week Student Life would like to acknowledge Mitchell Smith, Kevin Watford, Tevin Perry and Hannah Glass.

Last fall, the Student Life department began recognizing students that go the extra mile in whatever they are doing on campus. Each week, the staff meets to select students for recognition for their dedication to Averett, and they are notified they’ve been nominated for a chance to win a $50 Visa Gift Card. At the end of the semester, we put all the names in a bowl and draw the name of one lucky student. This is our way to let the students know we appreciate all that they do.

GPS Student Spotlight: Corey Ross

Throughout the month, the Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) admissions team interviews and highlights our GPS students. We hope you will enjoy learning more about these amazing members of our Averett family!

Meet Corey Ross who is pursuing his associate’s of science in business and is expected to graduate in 2017.

What is your motivation for obtaining your degree? “There are three main factors that have motivated me to pursue my degree in business administration. As a father, one of the main things that motivates me is family. They say, “we are the windows through which our children see the world.” I want to set example for my children and show them the importance of obtaining a higher education. One of my life-long goals has always been to own my own business. This career goal, along with the potential for higher earnings, is what motivated me to choose a business degree.”

Why did you choose Averett’s Graduate & Professional Studies Program? “Averett University’s GPS Program was the best fit for my family’s lifestyle. The program stood out because of its “one course at a time” flexibility and “self-paced learning” along with its reasonable weekly deadlines. Averett’s academic schedule afforded me the opportunity to maintain fulltime employment and spend quality time with my family and friends, all while obtaining a degree.”

Please share one tip for your fellow classmates and future AU students: “The most valuable tip(s) I can give my fellow classmates and future AU students is COMMUNICATION and CLARIFATION. You would be surprised at how smooth this process goes once you’ve learned how to communicate EFFECTIVELY with your fellow classmates and instructor. When you don’t fully understand the assignment, I highly recommend reaching out to your instructor via email or telephone to receive clarification. We can all read the same exact instructions on an assignment with the ability to form different interpretations or assumptions on what is required. Don’t hesitate or feel embarrassed to ask for clarification.”

What helps to keep you motivated while you are in the program? “When I found myself in a position where I felt like giving up, I found motivation in thinking of the many reasons why I’d initially enrolled in the GPS Program. I receive continuous motivation from my children and thinking of their future. The thought of knowing I have someone depending on my success pushes me to strive harder in each course. I am inspired and motivated by my eldest sister, who has obtained her master’s of education, while raising a family and working fulltime. My sister allowed me to realize my academic goals were achievable. I’ve witnessed first-hand the many obstacles she faced to reach the finish line; in return, prepared me to overcome my own obstacles. I found motivation in the constructive feedback and words of encouragement from my instructors as well. It is refreshing to see that the instructors are able to relate to their students and acknowledge the dedication it takes to complete their course.”

SACSCOC is Here!

Don’t forget, the reaccreditation for Averett University by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, is underway while the on-site peer evaluators continue their assessment through tomorrow. Let’s all do our part to put Averett’s best foot forward and welcome the team.

For any questions during the visit or for more information about Averett University’s Reaffirmation 2017 process, contact The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research at (434) 791-5618 or [email protected], or click here.

Arts@Averett: “Of Ebony Embers”

The last event for Black History Month, the CORE Ensemble “Of Ebony Embers – Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance,” is a music theatre production that explores the life and times of African Americans who helped shape the Harlem Renaissance. It examines the lives of three outstanding, but very different, African American poets – Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Claude McKay. Join us for this musical performance on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. in the Pritchett Auditorium.

Two free tickets are available at the door to each faculty and staff member with an Averett ID. All other tickets are $5.

CANCELED: Faculty and Staff Lacrosse Clinic

The Averett University faculty and staff lacrosse clinic has been CANCELED. The event was planned to take place at North Campus tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 7-9 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience and are working on rescheduling the event after Spring Break! We will update you as soon as possible. For questions, please feel free to contact Kelly Ryan, head women’s lacrosse coach, at [email protected].

Red Flag Campaign

The Health and Wellness Center’s Red Flag Campaign is asking everyone to wear red tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 23. It will be a day to show your support for the Red Flag Campaign! There will be a table of information and photo session out front of the Student Center, on the lawn. Stop by from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

And on Tuesday, Feb. 28, all women are welcome for, Ladies Night in the Health & Wellness Center at 7 p.m. We will be talking about body image and snacks will be provided.

The Red Flag Campaign addresses dating violence on campus. Designed with a “bystander intervention” strategy, the campaign encourages friends and other campus community members to “say something” when they see warning signs (“red flags”) for dating violence in a friend’s relationship. Do you know of any “red flags”?

Recruiting Averett 101 Instructors

The freshmen are coming! The freshmen are coming! Would you like to connect with our new cougars upon arrival and build strong relationships with them? Then, consider teaching Averett 101!

In 2017, our goal is to have every Averett 101 section taught or co-taught by a faculty member. If you are interested, please notify Brigid Belko at [email protected] or (434) 791-5656, even if you previously taught.

Staff, are you interested in co-teaching Averett 101 with a faculty member? If you co-taught Averett 101 in Fall 2016, please notify Brigid of your interest. If you are interested, but did not teach in Fall 2017, please notify Brigid and submit an intent to teach form (on the intranet) to Mary Sullivan at [email protected].

Student Life Awards

The Student Life office will be giving out leadership awards at the Honors Banquet on Monday, Apr. 10. There are six awards – Emerging Leader of the Year Award, Student Success Mentor of the Year, Advisor of the Year, Outstanding Organization of the Year, Unsung Hero Award and the Student Leader of the Year Award. Nominations for these awards will be due by Wednesday, Mar. 15. Please email Taylor Mahaffey at [email protected] or Sierra Braxton-Sears at [email protected] and they will be happy to email you copies of the awards.