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, Sept. 15, for a Wednesday, Sept. 20, publication.
GPS Student Spotlight
Meet Jessika Holder, a student pursuing her Master of Business Administration degree and is expected to graduate in 2019. To see her on the GPS blog, click here.
QUESTION: Why did you choose Averett’s Graduate and Professional Studies program?
ANSWER: Initially, the positive comments made by others who attended or worked for AU motivated me to call. I appreciated getting all my questions and concerns answered clearly by the admissions counselor. I chose Averett’s GPS program because of the class format, which allows students to take one class at a time and complete the program in about 2 years. I love that this format allows working adults like myself to create a balance of employment, family life and continuing education.
Study Abroad Fair!
Study Abroad will have a table set up tomorrow Sept. 14, in the Student Success Center as part of Sophomore Student Success Week. There will be information on applying for a passport, entering a prize raffle and making the most out of the college adventure. Please contact the Study Abroad office at [email protected] with any questions.
Please encourage your students to stop by the annual Averett Study Abroad Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the multipurpose room. Click here to RSVP on Facebook. Representatives from Averett’s affiliates, as well as faculty and students who have studied abroad, will be there to answer questions and present their programs. New this year, representatives from service-learning, financial aid and career services will be there to help maximize the study abroad opportunities.
Historical Marker Unveiling
Averett University’s Main Hall has been accepted to receive a Virginia Historical Marker! The marker has been installed and you are invited to the unveiling event on Monday, Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. in front of Main Hall. Join Dr. Tiffany Franks, Danville Mayor John Gilstrap and the Virginia Department of Historical Resources as we celebrate the historical impact and legacy of Averett’s iconic Main Hall.
Constitution Day: American Citizenship in 2017
Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by 39 men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens. At Averett, we honor this day in a variety of ways, including voter registration efforts and other initiatives. This year, we hope you will join us for an engaging program, “American Citizenship in 2017,” led by students and community members from Averett and the Dan River Region.
The Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness ( CCECC), along with Middle Border Forward, are hosting this event, which will take place on Monday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m. in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center.
TIAA-CREF Representative on Campus
LAST CALL! All Averett employees (part or full time, non-student) are eligible to join the Averett retirement plan. Matt Meade, our TIAA representative, will be on campus Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 19 and 20. Click here for additional information or to make an appointment.
Senior Pinning Ceremony
President Tiffany Franks cordially invites faculty and staff to join in honoring our seniors at the Senior Pinning Ceremony. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 4 p.m. in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center. There will be a reception immediately following the ceremony at the home of Dr. Franks and Joe Franks, 500 Hawthorne Drive. Please RSVP for either the ceremony or the reception or both, by Sept. 18, by emailing [email protected].
Double Check Your Security Information
As you may have heard in the news, Equifax, Inc., one of the nation’s largest credit tracking and reporting agencies, experienced a series of data breaches from May through July 2017. They estimate about 143 million U.S. consumers suffered information breaches. For several years Averett University conducted background checks through ADP which accessed Equifax when credit checks were required. Although we conducted very few checks that would fall into that category, as consumers nearly everyone has a ‘file’ at Equifax.
We recommend that you take a minute and visit the webpage that Equifax established and find out if your information was compromised, and if so, what steps you should take to protect yourself and what your rights are by clicking here: www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. From that webpage, you can also access FAQs about the breach, contact Equifax and enroll in a free protection service.
Danville Concert Association: An Odyssey of Great Performance & The Classics
Please feel free to stop by the President’s Office if you would like a season ticket for the 2017-2018 Danville Concert Association Odyssey performances. We have 10 free season tickets available on a first-come basis.
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].
Rental Car Procedure
When you need to rent a vehicle from Enterprise Rent-a-Car, please use the following process:
• Tell Enterprise you are with Averett University and rent in Averett’s name so you will receive the contracted price.
• Always decline the insurance offered by Enterprise. Averett’s auto insurance covers vehicle rentals.
• No car rentals above standard size unless there are 3 or more people riding together.
• No rental upgrades that cost the University more money than the original rate (free upgrades are acceptable).
• If you have been issued an Averett corporate credit card, please use it to pay for your rental. This provides another layer of protection in the event of an accident.
• If you need to rent a van, make sure you reserve it well in advance to make sure they have it at their location when needed.
• Make sure you fill the gas tank before returning the rental. Enterprise charges a premium per gallon when not returned full.
• If you are renting a van, you will need to go through the driver approval process. This process will require the driver candidate to take the United Educator’s and Traveler’s Driver Training courses (delivered online).
Please contact Tammy Jackson at [email protected] to complete this training and approval process. If you have any questions concerning this process, please contact Mark Sheets at [email protected].
Health and Wellness Center hosts C-MET
The Health and Wellness Center hosted a C-MET, Cougar Motivational Educational Talks, along with the Student Success Center on Monday, Aug. 28. The C-MET was devoted to developing a social skills both in the dormitories and in the classrooms. It was a lively back-to-back motivational talk with approximately 200 total students in attendance. If you would like to partner with the Health and Wellness Center to develop a C-MET, please contact Kennsel Anderson at [email protected].
Healthy Solutions BeBetter: Move More!
Ready to jumpstart your physical activity? Join the “Move More” challenge! This six-week challenge rewards you for getting more active – walking, running, biking- anything that makes you move more. Everyone who tracks on average 150 minutes each week (15 hours total during the challenge) wins 50 wellness points! Registration opens Monday, Sept. 18, on the bebetter website. Participants can register by logging into their wellness portal. A link to this particular program is located on the homepage and on the My Rewards page.
Academic Support Tutoring Services
Students are taking advantage of Academic Support’s tutoring services. Pictured to the left is Hayden Rigsbee, a math tutor, tutoring her fellow peers in Math 103. Please encourage students to seek assistance from one of our academic support tutors, writing consultants, or speaking consultants, should the need arise. Students needing these services can contact Holly Kilby at [email protected] or (434) 791-5788.
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: Think realistically about time and effort. It takes time to learn. Don’t expect to master every topic under the sun in one sitting.
