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, Nov. 16, for a Wednesday, Nov. 21, publication.

Thank our Donors

The Office of Institutional Advancement once again is giving private scholarship recipients the opportunity to show their appreciation to our generous donors. Each fall, the office works with the Writing Center to set up a series of open workshops for the purpose of writing thank you notes to the donors. Recipients have received emails regarding this opportunity. Please encourage your students to participate in the donor appreciation project.

Who: Recipients of Private Scholarships
What: Thank You Note Writing Sessions
Where: Galesi Family Student Success Center; Writing Center
When: Workshops to assist in writing thank you notes are available this week

Today, Nov. 14: 8 – 11:30 a.m.; 12:30 – 5 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 15: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 1:30 – 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 16: Noon until 4:30 p.m.
(Tell your students: it should only take 15-20 minutes for them to write their note)

How: Drop by the Writing Center to write a note of appreciation for the donors of your private scholarship(s). Stationery will be provided. If a student is not able to make the workshops please contact Mrs. Marion Breen at [email protected] or (434) 791-5675 to arrange a more convenient time.

Did you get your Flu Shot yet?

There will be flu shots available tomorrow, Nov. 15, from 8 a.m. until noon at the SOVAH Clinic on the 4th floor of the Student Center.

Make sure to bring your picture ID and copy of your insurance card with you. Questions? Call or email Kathie Tune at (434) 791.7106 or [email protected].

Staff Meeting

Join your fellow staff members for the last staff meeting of 2018, tomorrow, Nov. 15, at 11:15 a.m. in the multipurpose room. There are a lot of events between now and the end of the year, so you won’t want to miss this meeting!

Remember, you can nominate a co-worker for the Golden Bagel Award at any time by emailing [email protected]. Congratulations on last month’s winner, Chris Ellis, director of GPS Student Services!

International Education Week

Averett is celebrating International Education Week (IEW), this week! This is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. Click here to see the Facebook event page.

There are two more events including the Haitian Food Truck tomorrow, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Francophone Food Buffet tomorrow, Nov. 17, 4:30-6 p.m. MPR.

Turnitin.com Refresher

Our representative at Turnitin.com will be hosting a live refresher session for the software, via Zoom conference (https://turnitin.zoom.us/j/218185758), tomorrow, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. A recording will be available after the fact, to accompany the training video already posted on averett.edu/turnitin, for those who cannot participate live.

This will be an opportunity to participate in an interactive Q&A. Instructors who may not have gotten the opportunity to test the software out this semester may find it useful for semester paper submissions and can take advantage of the timing.

Want to put your friend in “jail”?

Criminal Justice Club and Alpha Upsilon Chapter members will hold a Jail-A-Thon fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jordan Common. “Confinement” and “bail” fee schedules will be available at Jordan Common. For a modest fee, you can have a student, staff or faculty member put in “jail” and then see if the “inmate” can have someone post “bail” to spring the “jail bird” from jail.

Select community members will also be participating in the Jail-A-Thon. The “confinement” in the CJC/AUL “jail” will be of very short duration (e.g. 5 minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes max)! A portable jail will be available in Jordan Common to facilitate the Nov. 16, fundraiser.

For details, call advisor John Wilt at (434) 770-8822.

Free Football: Danville Community Support Day!

Join us for our last football game of the season, Saturday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. against Ferrum. In celebration of our great relationship with Danville and all those who reside, work here and in the region, this game is completely FREE admission!

Our city was hit hard by storms this fall and we want to come together and celebrate great college football as a community. Please help spread the word! Bring someone who has never been to a game here. See all that is happening at YOUR hometown university.

Come Pick out an Angel 

The CCECC is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Danville Area to host the Angel Tree Celebration for the 5th year in a row. Students, faculty and staff can stop by the CCECC any time to choose an Angel to sponsor. All presents must be dropped off at the CCECC by Monday, Nov. 19.

Host an International Student

Averett Family,

“Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.”– Theodore Roosevelt

If you are interested in hosting one or more of our international students for Thanksgiving dinner and possibly other meals during Thanksgiving Break, please email Tammy Jackson at [email protected]. The cafeteria will be closed during this time and finding a meal & good company will be challenging to our students who are unable to return home on this short break. Remember: One team, One family, One Averett!

Security Tips

Computer/File Security
• Lock your computer when you walk away, or set it up so that it locks itself automatically after a minute or so.
• Avoid taking sensitive data off campus, (anything with personal or confidential school data)
• If you must take data off campus, get a secure flash drive from IT
• How strong is your password or passphrase? Most security experts recommend passphrases, “SameAsItEverWas” or random words strung together that have significance to you, “BeachRockSoapDuck”, or even the common “jduehfo8473ur938ruY*(& RYU”.
• Never give your password to anyone, including IT. IT personnel will ask you to log in for them when on your PC; if someone asks for your password, let IT know immediately.

Wi-Fi 
• Always be wary when on free Wi-Fi. Never send personal data across these networks
• Same with smartphones, be aware of your surroundings

Web
• Try to avoid going to “interesting” sites and downloading “fun” content, typically these “fun” software packages are full of malicious software.
• Do not download applications such as “WeatherBug” or any shopping helper, or web “helpers”, these are notorious for malicious software. (You guys have been really good with this one.)

Multiple Employer Plan

As we previously announced, Averett University has joined with fourteen other member institutions from the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) to establish a single retirement plan called a 403(b) Multiple Employer Plan (MEP).

We are very excited to let you know that Averett is in the next group of institutions to implement the MEP! Financial advisors from Millennium Advisory Services have been holding group meetings to present important details about the MEP, including new investment options and enhanced services available to all employees.

Please see below for additional details and to schedule a meeting with a financial advisor on campus to discuss the upcoming changes.

Your Next Steps:

***If you were unable to attend a group presentation please read below to see how you can meet individually with a financial advisor from Millennium to get help.*** Based on the significance of the upcoming changes in our retirement plan and new options available, your attention to this is highly encouraged. You can meet individually with a financial advisor from Millennium to get details regarding:

•       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
•       Offer financial planning
•       Offer optional professional fee-based asset management

To schedule a meeting, you can reach Millennium’s Scheduling Team at [email protected] or (877) 435-2489 (option 1). You can also CLICK HERE to schedule a meeting on campus with an advisor.

GPS Student Spotlight

Meet Jessica Dixon, a student pursuing her Bachelor of Business Administration degree who is expected to graduate in 2019. To learn more about Jessica on this GPS blog, click here.

Why did you choose Averett University’s Graduate & Professional Studies program?

“I’ve always heard great things about Averett University. I know a few students that attend Averett, and that have also graduated from here. So I decided this is the school for me. Business is the program that I decided to pursue here at Averett. I was excited to find out that Averett offered great online classes, and that is very convenient for me being a 3rd shift worker and raising my children.”