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, March 25 for a Wednesday, March 30 publication.
A warm Averett welcome is extended to …
Kaitlin Marvin, our new start coordinator for the Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Program. Kaitlin, who has been an integral part of our team since July 2015, was previously the graduate teaching assistant for the student success team.
As the new start coordinator, Kaitlin serves as part of the student success counselor team and will coordinate both new and readmitted student schedules. Throughout the scheduling process she will provide transitional support to newly admitted students through the end of IDS301 for graduate students and through the end of IDS310 for undergraduate students. Kaitlin will help guide readmitted students through the scheduling process and transition back into Averett in conjunction with the student success counselors. In addition, her responsibilities include aiding in compliance as it relates to the monitoring of attendance and grades.
Please welcome Kaitlin to her new position, and Averett, as you see her around campus.
Student Accolades
The student life department has been recognizing students who go the extra mile in whatever they are doing on campus since the fall of 2014. Each week during student life staff meetings, staff members nominate students whose dedication to the university they want to recognize. Students are notified about the nomination and their chance to win a $50 Visa gift card. At the end of the semester, all the names of those who were nominated are put into a bowl and the name of one lucky student is selected. This is the department’s way of letting students know their efforts and hard work is appreciated.
This week they are recognizing Marcus Terry and Rosie Anderson.
Phillips Serves as Guest Conductor
Dr. Janet Phillips, assistant professor of music and the band director, was a guest conductor for the Silver Honor Band at the Pittsylvania County All County Band Festival held in Gretna on Feb. 25 and 26. Middle and high school students from all over the county spent two days immersed in learning new music and making new friends. The event culminated with a successful concert on Friday evening.
Great Colleges to Work for Survey
A reminder to all full-time faculty and staff to complete the Great Colleges to Work for Survey by Friday, April 8. The survey opened Saturday, March 12, and was sent to your Averett email addresses with the subject line: “The Chronicle’s Great Colleges to Work for 2016 Faculty/Staff Survey.”
This is a confidential survey that measures the strength of certain organizational competencies and relationships that most directly impact and influence an institution’s culture. Your participation and honest feedback are critical to the assessment process. To ensure the confidentiality of your responses, the survey will be processed by Modern Think LLC, a research and consulting firm focused on workplace excellence. Averett will not be given any information that would enable us to trace survey data back to any one individual.
Thank you, in advance, for your participation. Please contact Kathie Tune (434) 791-7106 or visit www.chroniclegreatcolleges.com for more information.
Financial Literacy Summit
Enactus, a student group, is holding a financial literacy summit on Saturday, April 2 in Blount Chapel. The summit, which begins at 10 a.m., will teach participants about starting and managing a bank account, tips for improving their credit score, avenues for adult education and steps to first-time homeownership. Babysitting will be available for ages 5-15. Email Enactus to register by Friday, March 25. For the complete schedule for the day, check out the flyer.
Student Spotlight Art Show
The art department will hold a Spotlight Show for art majors and minors March 24-April 21 in Mary B. Blount Library and Jut’s Café. The show is free and open to the public.
1859-Coffeehouse Lecture
Dr. David Hoffman, professor of English and journalism communications, will present “Movement on the Riverwalk Trail in Danville” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29 as part of the university’s 1859-Coffeehouse Lecture Series. In this presentation he will share some of his favorite photographs and discuss the movement and changes he has witnessed during his daily walks on the Riverwalk Trail.
TIAA-CREF Rep on Campus
The university’s TIAA-CREF representative will be on campus Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, March 30. If you are interested in making an appointment with the TIAA-CREF representative, go to tiaa-cref.org/schedulenow to register.
If you are not a participant in the Averett University retirement plan and would like to be, this flyer provides information on how to enroll online.
Nominations for Faculty & Staff Award
Do you know of a faculty or staff member who should be recognized for a job well done? Nominate him, or her, for the Outstanding Faculty or Outstanding Staff member of the year award.
The nomination form should be filled out completely as nominations that do not have a reason will not be considered. All nominations must be submitted to [email protected] no later than Thursday, March 31. Nominations received after this date will not be accepted. The criteria for nominations and the form can be found on the Intranet under Groups & Committees and then under Staff Council.
Please note that the last three years’ winners cannot be nominated again. For the staff this includes Carly Pearce (2014-15), Sandy Bash (2013-14) and Gloria Robertson (2012-13). For faculty this includes Peggy Wright (2014-15), Barbara Kushubar (2013-14) and Ginger Henderson (2012-13).
New EMT Initiative
The Emergency Management Team (EMT) is asking all faculty and staff to stop by the security office in Davenport Hall on the Main Campus to have your photo ID updated and a new ID card printed. Jamie Walker, director of security, has designated Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. as the time he will be in the security office to take photos and issue new IDs. If you need to set up another time, you can email Jamie or call him at 434-791-5874.
“Hunger Games” Book Review
Linda Lemery, circulation manager in the library, is leading three book reviews on the “Hunger Games” trilogy using the Socratic Seminar Method. The reviews, which will take place on the main floor of the library in the couch seating area, will be held at 4 p.m. on the following dates: Tuesday, April 5, (“The Hunger Games”); Tuesday, April 12 (“Catching Fire”); and Tuesday, April 19 (“Mockingjay”).
These reviews are open to Averett students, faculty, staff and the public. Free books will be available to participants up to March 28. We ask that people only take a copy if they intend to attend the book reviews.
Simple Socratic Seminar rules and eight questions will accompany each book so that the reader may develop answers to the questions as a basis for discussion. For questions, or to indicate attendance and reserve your copies of the books, email Linda.
Second Annual Engagement Showcase
The CCECC invites everyone to attend the Second Annual Engagement Showcase on Tuesday, March 29 from 5-7 p.m. in the Frith Fine Arts Center. Students from Averett, Danville Community College and Piedmont Community College will showcase their contributions to the community through volunteerism and service-learning. Light refreshments will be served.
Support Averett students and faculty when Engage Leadership awards are presented at 5:30 p.m.
Engage Your Class
Faculty, as you plan your fall courses consider improving your learning outcomes with service-learning. Stipends up to $750 are available to faculty members who embed service-learning into their courses. Contact Brigid Belko to learn how service-learning can bring learning alive in your classroom.
Thank you to Dr. Michelle Liu, Dr. Susan Huckstep, Dr. Carrie Hendrick, Dr. Sergey Samoilenko, Ms. Meaghan Byrne, Ms. Mary Lou Dunn, Dr. Andrew Canady and all IDS 101 instructors for teaching 26 new service-learning courses this academic year.
2016 Wellness Program
From March 28-December 31 Averett is teaming up with beBetter Health to offer wellness tools and resources to help you improve or maintain your health. For additional information and details, visit: www.bebetterhealth.net or view the poster for more details.
Live & Learn Event
Lynise Anderson, communication and health promotion leader, and Adea Finch, wellness coordinator/coach, will be on the Main Campus to facilitate our first wellness workshop of 2016.
Live and Learn: Letting Go of Stress: Reaching your Wellness Goal! will be held at two different times Thursday, March 31 in order to allow as many people as possible to attend. The first session will be from 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Student Center in the Carrington Conference Room. The second session will be from 3:15-4 p.m. on the second floor of The Schoolfield House Booksellers, Averett’s bookstore.
