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. For the next CoffeeBreak, please submit by Friday, Feb. 1, for a Wednesday, Feb. 6, publication.

Pennies for a Purpose: ‘Coins for Cancer’

This year SAAC is renaming the ‘Pennies for a Purpose’ fundraising event to ‘Coins for Cancer.’ On Saturday, Feb. 2, during the men’s and women’s basketball double header, SAAC will be collecting monetary donations to give to the Nick Price Foundation. Men’s basketball plays at 2 p.m., and women’s basketball plays at 4 p.m.

The Nick Price Foundation is a nonprofit founded by one of our very own, Nick Price, who plays men’s soccer at Averett and overcame the odds of beating brain cancer in 2015. The foundation helps fund cancer treatments and surgeries for children with cancer.

At the game, there will be T-shirts and wristbands for sale as well as a raffle and mini games. There will also be a link posted to direct folks to donate online via the Nick Price Foundation website for SAAC. You can learn more about the foundation or donate to SAAC’s fundraiser by clicking here. 

All proceeds collected on Saturday will go to the Nick Price Foundation and will contribute to help SAAC win the conference wide ‘Pennies for a Purpose’ competition for the 5th consecutive year! This event is a win-win so we hope to see the Grant Center packed with fans willing to donate to this great cause!

Senior Dinner

The Senior Dinner is Thursday, Feb. 7. We need two bits of help!

First, the dinner is served to the students by faculty and staff. If you are interested in helping, please let Dan Hayes know. Students appreciate it so much and it will amaze you how this brief act of service makes a difference.

Second, if you have something we could use as a gift to hand out during the event, please let Dan know. Contact Dan Hayes at  (434) 791-7252 or [email protected].

Happy February Birthday!

Wishing you the nicest things that life can bring your way, And this is not just a birthday wish…it’s meant for every day!

Host: President Franks and Joe Franks
For: Celebration for Faculty & Staff with February Birthdays
When: Wednesday, Feb. 13
Where: Main Hall Penthouse
Time: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

RSVP to [email protected].

Valentine’s Day Dinner and Show by Smokestack Theatre & The 616

Come out this Valentine’s Day, Thursday, Feb. 14, and enjoy an incredible meal and a murder mystery! “Café Murder” is a murder mystery, audience participation show by Nathan Hartswick, produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Services, Inc. Denver, Colorado, and directed by James Anderson. Tickets include a 3-course dinner for two people and the show. There are two shows at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (434) 797-3463. Ticket cost is $129.99 per couple. Tax and gratuity is not included.

Averett’s very own Liz Cervantes is in the performance! For questions, contact Liz at [email protected].

SAVE the DATE: Spring New Employee University Orientation

The Spring New Employee University Orientation is on Tuesday, Mar. 5, in the multipurpose room from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. If you are a new employee (part-time or full-time faculty, staff or graduate assistant) who was hired since the August opening, or if you could not make it to the Fall New Employee Orientation, then plan on joining us this spring.

Invitations to the event will be coming soon via a Punchbowl email invite. The program will include lunch, an Averett history trivia game and updates from Dr. Tiffany Franks and her leadership team.

Mark your calendars and contact Kathie Tune, director of human resources, for additional information at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you at the program!

Academic Departments Needed for STEAM Night

Faculty, the CCECC has a great opportunity to showcase the excellence in your departments to our local community. Danville Public Schools is hosting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) Night at Bonner Middle School on Tuesday, Mar. 5, from 5-7 p.m.

They are looking for interactive displays to show our middle school youth the possibilities higher education offers. This event does fall during spring break week, but if we can get a display ready before, I can arrange volunteers (including myself) to represent Averett. If any of you are interested, the CCECC has resources to help. Please reach out to Dr. Billy Wooten at [email protected].

News from the New Wellness Coordinator

This year, Averett University has partnered with 2iWellness for a more personalized wellness program. You should have received a kick-off email last Friday from [email protected] and a subsequent email from 2iWellness. Please be sure to check your inbox for program details.

For future communications, important information and deadlines will come from the Wellness email account ([email protected]). Announcements and reminders will be placed in Coffeebreak. Send your questions to our new email account. Here’s to a healthy New Year!

More Information Concerning Retirement Plan Changes

As information continues to arrive in your email accounts and in this newsletter, we wanted to make sure you had an opportunity to view information that was being discussed at the group sessions. For Your Next Step, Millennium Advisors has created a webinar for you to view.

The webinar, led by financial advisors from Millennium, has been created for your convenience. A live link is available on the AU Intranet under the HR TIAA-CREF tab.

Based on the significance of the upcoming changes in our retirement plan and new options available, viewing the webinar and/or meeting with a financial advisor from Millennium Advisory Services is highly encouraged.

The webinar provides the following details:
•What the 403(b) Multiple Employer Plan is
•Why Averett has chosen to adopt the MEP
•A look at the new 403(b) MEP features
•Timeline of what to expect, when, and how it will work
•Decisions that must be made by all active retirement plan participants
•New investment menu
•Options available to guide you throughout the process Help is Available!

Schedule an Individual Appointment:

Financial advisors from Millennium will be available to meet privately with employees to:
•Answer questions about the changes
•Provide counseling and advice
•Provide financial planning
•Provide optional professional fee-based asset management To schedule a meeting, you can reach out to our scheduling team at [email protected] or (877) 435-2489 (option 1).

We realize that there will be questions related to these changes and ask that employees view the webinar or meet with a Millennium Advisor before making inquiries with the Human Resources office. For those viewing the webinar, click here to see the informational handout that was distributed at the group presentations.

Part-Time Employment Opportunity: City Van Driver

The City of Danville is looking for Averett students seeking part-time employment to serve as van drivers in the City’s transportation system. As Danville’s bus/van system serves our community, especially those who face physical challenges related to transportation, this job is more than a job – it is a community service.

The City will provide the necessary training and will work around students’ schedules. No Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required. The pay is $10.75 per hour. Please note: even though a CDL is NOT required, if employees want to obtain a CDL, the City provides paid training for them to get it.

Please tell your students to remember the CCECC staff is available to help them in developing a polished resume, cover letter and any support materials needed. They should email Angie McAdams, career services director, to schedule an appointment. The CCECC also has a professional clothing closet at their discretion, should they need clothes to wear for a job interview.

Please contact Dr. Billy Wooten if interested at [email protected] or (434) 791-7212, or Angie McAdams at [email protected].

Build Your Strengths

You are unique. You are powerful. Your strength lies in your talents. You sense them; you always have. Gallup StrengthsFinder gives you the language to name them, confidently talk about them, and intentionally use them to live the life you were meant to.

Gallup StrengthsFinder opens a whole new way of maximizing potential and collaboration! It tells you how you’re talented. It identifies what you naturally do best. It shows you how you’re special, and how to succeed by turning your talents into strengths.

If you and your faculty and/or staff team are ready to improve collaboration and maximize potential, the Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness is ready to support with free coaching and retreat services. If interested, contact Brigid Belko Gorton at [email protected].

GPS Student Spotlight

Meet Angela Clarke, a student pursuing her Master of Business Administration degree who is expected to graduate in 2019. To read more about Angela on the GPS blog, click here.

What is your motivation for obtaining your degree here at Averett University? 

“I believe that many of us graduate from high school and we are pushed by our parents to go to college because that seems like the “right” thing to do. Unfortunately, some of us do not have a clue as to what we want to do or where we want to be in life. Well, I was one of those kids that did not know what I wanted to do. Before I knew it, I had kids, got married and the family life took over and I never ended up attending as planned.

I have been through several layoffs since 2008 that really created the foundation and “pushed” me to return to college to further my education. As the education levels and job competition has increased, I realized that I needed to make myself more competitive within the workforce. I graduated in 2016 from Averett with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with Magna Cum Laude honors and a 3.65 GPA. I recently returned to obtain my MBA with a concentration in human resource management. I chose Averett because I already had an established relationship and I knew how the program worked. It was very easy to return start my MBA program.”

Averett 101: From the Eyes of Freshmen

During every Averett 101 class each fall semester, the students go to the president’s house and enjoy a dinner with Dr. Franks and her husband, Joe. During that time, Dr. Franks asks the students what they love about Averett and if they have any concerns. During the spring, we will be sharing some of the comments students shared with Dr. Franks and Joe about Averett!

“I love the volleyball team.”

“The new concrete pad at the Field House is good.”

“It is very hands-on training in athletic training.”

“My classes are a good walking distance.”

“Commuters are getting involved in campus activities.”

“The summer schedule days were really helpful.”

“I like the social events because I’m able to meet new people.”