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. Please submit by Friday, Oct. 19, for a Wednesday, Oct. 24, publication.
Tropical Storm Michael
To all faculty and staff,
As you should have seen on the website and through the LiveSafe notification system, Main Campus is operational for faculty and staff today, Oct. 17. Traditional classes will not resume until tomorrow, Oct. 18.
Please know that remediation from the storm has, in effect, just begun with the power being restored to campus just Monday night. It’s also clear that assessment efforts will continue for several days as faculty and staff return to their spaces and identify issues that may not yet have been reported. You can each help with this.
As you return to work this morning, here are several things to take note of:
• There are still streets affected in town and near campus. Please allow for extra time and caution.
• Woodland will be inaccessible, at least today, as the effort to remove the fallen tree and take-down/removal of the damaged retaining wall occurs.
• Please be aware of, and stay away from, any remaining downed power lines.
• Please be aware when walking below trees that some have loose branches that may be in the trees that have not yet fallen and could at any time.
• Parking throughout and around campus is being impacted by the remediation and recovery contractors.
When you arrive at work, here are a few steps you can take to help in the recovery:
• Document any damages in your areas, both narratively (as much detail as possible) and through photographs. Please send those to Mark Sheets. Please do not send directly to Elliot or his team or put in work orders for storm damage.
• For those of you who’s spaces may have received a significant amount of water, it is possible that your flooring may eventually be replaced and walls remediated. To that end, it would be good if you begin the process of “streamlining your space.” This means taking home personal items, etc. that could be damaged or in the way during the eventual remediation.
• If you have damaged furniture, in addition to documenting it, please know that we will need to continue using that furniture until new furniture is ordered and arrives. So documenting the damage is the most pressing item (as opposed to throwing anything away at this point).
• If you are needing help in moving items (such as to take those personal items home), please understand that the Facilities folks will be working on high priority areas and damages first and identifying alternative sources of support (colleague helping colleague) may be a more timely solution. But please focus on safety and don’t be moving things you shouldn’t or can’t.
• Any purchases related to the storm damage must be approved by my office. We want to document appropriate expenditures for the insurance claim.
• Please be patient. This is being reported as a 750-year event so, naturally, the recovery is expected to take months. We want to hear from anyone effected but need everyone to understand that this will be an elongated process.
Remember that this weekend is Cougar Preview and we will be making a terrific impression on our students and families demonstrating Averett’s resilience and assuring the families that this is, indeed, where they want to send their children. Please do all you can to ensure that your role and space is ready to greet the students and families.
The Show Will Go On!
The theatre show scheduled for this weekend, is still scheduled for this weekend! Arts@Averett and the Averett Theatre Department presents “Caesar & Cleo.” With a hip-hop chorus providing narration, the wily slave Colitus angles to gain his freedom while guiding his master, the great Julius Caesar, through the intrigues and plots that threaten Caesar’s very life.
The show will run October 18-20, 7 p.m. in Pritchett Auditorium. Students get in free with their Student ID. Faculty and staff get two free tickets. Tickets: $10 adults, $8 students/senior citizens (60+)
“Hidden Figure” and NASA Engineer Coming to Averett
This Saturday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Averett will be hosting Dr. Christine Mann Darden in Blount Chapel. Dr. Darden is one of the featured researchers in the book “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race.” She will be presenting to local educators and as well as education students.
Dr. Darden will then hold a public lecture at the Danville Science Center that afternoon at 4. She devoted much of her 40-year career in aerodynamics at NASA to researching supersonic flight and sonic booms, and she will be speaking about her NASA career and what led her down the path to be one of those featured in “Hidden Figures.”
Her lecture at the Danville Science Center is FREE! and open to the public; however, seating is limited to the first 100, and will be given on a first come, first served basis.
Story Time for the Averett Community
Join the English and education students in ENG444 Literature for Children class this Friday, Oct. 19, from 2-2:30 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the Blount Library. The students will be leading a story time for children of Averett faculty, staff and students. Each week will feature a different storybook reading of favorite fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel.
Future story times (same time and location): Oct. 26, and Nov. 2. Contact Dr. Catherine Clark with questions at [email protected].
Happy October Birthdays!
Toot the horn! Bang the drum! It’s a party! Can you come? President Franks and Joe Franks are inviting faculty and staff to celebrate with October birthdays on Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Main Hall Parlor/Lobby from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Please RSVP to Cyndie Basinger by emailing [email protected].
Fall Career Development Workshops
Please encourage students to attend remaining fall career development workshops. All workshops are from 11:15 a.m. until noon.
The schedule is below:
Thursday, Oct. 18 – First Semester Résumé Check-up for Seniors – Frith 109
Tuesday, Oct. 23 – Building Your Brand – Davenport 104
Thursday, Nov. 1 – Résumés, Cover Letters & Interviews, OH MY! – Frith 109
Tuesday, Nov. 6 – Starting Your Internship Search – Frith 109
For further information, students should contact Angie McAdams, director of career development at [email protected].
Conference on Freshman Engagement and Empowerment
The Conference on Freshmen Engagement and Empowerment will take place on Thursday, Oct. 25. This conference will allow freshman to demonstrate an understanding of issues in our region, and gain skills needed to meet volunteer needs with our community nonprofits. Any questions should be directed to Tia Yancy at [email protected].
Take Back the Night
On Monday, Oct 29, from 5:30-8 p.m., Averett University is partnering with Haven of the Dan River Region for the “Take Back the Night” event. The mission of Take Back the Night is to create safe communities and respectful relationships through awareness building. We seek to end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse and all other forms of sexual violence.
Shuttles will be available from Main Campus to the Danville Courthouse from 5:30-6 p.m. The march will start at the Danville Courthouse at 6 p.m. and finish at Averett’s Student Center for a celebration from 7-8 p.m.
Halloween Staff Meeting
The October staff meeting and Halloween costume contest will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 11:15 a.m. This year, when you walk into the MPR in your costumes, you will be given a number. (Either group 1,2,3 or individual 1,2, 3 ….etc.) After department announcements, we will vote on best costume, group and individual. You will cast your votes before we go up for lunch. We would love to have a “parade” through the café before you get in line for lunch, so we will plan to line up on the stairs. Once everyone sits down and the votes are counted, we will announce the winners! Start brainstorming and get excited. Can’t wait to see everyone!
Harlem Globetrotters are Coming to Town
The world famous Harlem Globetrotters will be performing at the Grant Center on Averett’s North Campus on Friday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at North Campus front office or by clicking here.
Averett 2020 Update: Brand Standards
The Brand Excellence Theme Team recently rolled out the University’s brand standards guideline, presented at faculty and staff meetings last month. The Marketing and Communications team has worked to streamline all visual assets of the University, unifying the brand and voice of Averett under one, consistent look and narrative.
The brand standards guide can be found on the intranet (Go to Offices & Departments -> Communications -> Policies & Guidelines) or on the website by clicking here. For questions, please contact Danielle Staub or Travis Dix at [email protected] or [email protected].
African & African American Studies Minor
To all faculty, Please alert interested advisees of the following spring semester courses in service of the African & African American studies minor:
REL/AFAM 306: African American Religions (TBA); ENG/WGS/AFAM 311: Caribbean Literature & Culture: Caribbean Woman (Muneal); NUR/AFAM 330: Cultural Care of the Client* (M. Lewis); SOC/AFAM 317: Race & Ethnicity (Brune); ENG/AFAM 399: Issues of Race in Southern Literature (Robeson).
Note: This course will satisfy a “society” general education requirement and is a good option for majors in physical education, wellness & sport science. Contact Toni Gazda at [email protected] or (434) 791-7101, if you have questions or send students directly to her for more information.
GPS Student Spotlight
Meet Yarnetta Sellers, a student pursuing her Bachelor of Business Administration degree who is expected to graduate in 2020. To learn more about Yarnetta on this GPS blog, click here.
What is your motivation for obtaining your degree here at Averett University?
“My motivation for obtaining my degree was December 16, of 2015, when I was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. I also wanted to be an inspiration to my children and grandchildren that no matter what happens in life, never give up on your dreams. I was unable to attend college after high school, then my family came along, and my dreams were put on hold, so I wanted to get my college degree as a personal accomplishment.”
