Averett CoffeeBreak 2-13-19

Posted on February 13th, 2019 by Danielle Staub

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 formFor the next CoffeeBreak, please submit by Friday, Feb. 15, for a Wednesday, Feb. 20, publication.

Happy 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: Today, Feb. 13
Where: Main Hall Penthouse
Time: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

RSVP to [email protected].

Spiritual Life

Tomorrow, Feb. 14, Averett Chapel will be sponsored by our Black Student Union. Join us from 11:15-11:45 a.m. in Blount Chapel. All students, faculty and staff are invited!

Sunday, Feb. 24, is Averett Day at West Main Baptist Church from 11 a.m. until noon. Come be led in worship by Averett students, featuring musical performances by Averett Singers, a sermon from Junior LP Mua and many other Averett students and Averett family.

On Thursday, Feb. 28, Averett Chapel will have an encouraging message from Chaplain Skyler from 11:15-11:45 a.m. in Blount Chapel. All students, faculty and staff are invited!

Women’s Basketball Playoffs

Come cheer on the Women’s Basketball team this Saturday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. at the Grant Center! The team has earned the top seed in the USA South Conference’s East Division after clinching its first division or conference title in program history this season. The team plays this Saturday in the USA South Quarterfinals and Averett is hosting!

There will be free tickets given to the first 100 Averett students and 50 faculty and staff. Adult general admission is $8 while institutional faculty/staff/students/senior citizens (65 years and older) and children are $5. Children under the age of six are free.

Diversity TRUTH Talk Part 2: Follow-up and Answers

The CCECC and Student Life are co-sponsoring part two of our diversity TRUTH Talk from November on Monday, Feb. 18, in the back cafe of the Student Center. We encourage students to use their meal swipes starting at 5:30 p.m. (guests and students with no swipes, please let us know, and we will accommodate you).

The program will start at 6 p.m. As this is a follow-up to November’s diversity discussion, we will present answers to the unanswered questions from our first session and conduct a listening session for your additional questions/comments/praises/concerns regarding diversity in higher education and Averett.

This is a safe space for all of us to have a constructive follow-up discussion, so we will have the interactive texting technology during the session for those wishing to comment anonymously. We hope to leave the night feeling empowered and proud of our community for making progress toward an even more inclusive culture.

Then on Monday, Feb. 25, from 6-8 p.m. in Blount Chapel, we will have another presentation, “TRUTH Talk: Disability Services in Higher Education.” Refreshments will be served starting at 5:30 p.m.

There will be a panel of distinguished presenters who will discuss 1.) how we define disabilities in higher education, 2.) unique physical and mental health challenges students face in higher education, and 3.) challenges students face as they bridge into their career field.

February Staff Meeting

The February Staff Meeting will take place on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 11:15 a.m. in the multipurpose room. After AU Guess Who and department announcements, we will be hearing directly from members of our Emergency Response Team about inclement weather protocol. That will be followed by new business, the Golden Bagel and of course, lunch in the café!

Staff Council is always looking for Golden Bagel nominations. If you believe one of your co-workers has gone above and beyond in the month of January, please submit a nomination to [email protected].

Arts@Averett and the Averett Theatre Department Present: “Our Town”

Come support the theatre department and attend an “Our Town” performance on February 21-23, 7 p.m. in Pritchett Auditorium. Faculty and staff get two free tickets and Averett students get in free. Regular tickets: $10 adults, $8 students/senior citizens (60+).

The classic three-act play by American playwright Thornton Wilder tells the story of the fictional American small town of Grover’s Corners between 1901 and 1913 through the everyday lives of its citizens.

Sun Porch Sessions

One year from now we will transition from our Averett 2020 strategic plan to Averett 2025, and as a way for Dr. Franks to gather with members of our campus community in small groups, she will be holding “Sun Porch Sessions” in late February and early March.

This will be a time for Dr. Franks to listen and learn from everyone as we work together to continually strengthen and propel Averett forward. You should receive an invitation to your session this week – please contact Cyndie Basinger at [email protected] if your schedule does not allow you to attend your designated session. See you on the Sun Porch!

God’s Storehouse “Empty Bowls” fundraiser

God’s Storehouse in Danville is hosting its annual “Empty Bowls” fundraiser. The event is Friday, Feb. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at God’s Storehouse at 750 Memorial Dr. Tickets are $15 per person and include one bowl of soup, bread/crackers and water, as well as a handmade pottery bowl created by local artists. Tickets are available at God’s Storehouse, Karen’s Hallmark, Woodforest Bank (inside Walmart) and Commonwealth Home Health Care.

The event is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger and serves as a visible reminder that people go to bed hungry each night. For more information, contact Drew Wilson at [email protected].

Sam’s Club Representative on Campus

Karen Shields from Sam’s Club will register new members and renew memberships on Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dining Hall entrance. Remember, she can sign you up months in advance of your renewal date. She will have special offers for anyone registering with her that day. Email Kathie Tune at [email protected] for additional information.

 

 

Millennium Advisors on Campus

Millennium Advisory Services will be at Averett on Monday, Feb. 18, and Tuesday, Feb. 19, to meet individually with interested employees.

A financial advisor will be available to meet with employees who are interested in:
•       Reviewing any questions pertaining to the Averett retirement plan and their retirement account
•       Going through Millennium’s financial planning process offered to all employees
•       Reviewing and updating a financial plan that has previously been created for you
•       Retaining Millennium for professional fee-based asset management of their retirement plan account(s)

If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss your TIAA retirement account or go through Millennium’s financial planning process, please click here to schedule an appointment. You will receive an email confirming your appointment time.

You may also contact our scheduling team at (877) 435-2489, option 1, or via email at [email protected] to schedule time to meet or speak with an advisor.

Millennium Advisory Services is a registered investment advisory firm that specializes in working with higher education institutions and their employees, providing education and advice services to retirement plan participants.

All Averett employees are offered the opportunity to meet privately with an advisor to go through Millennium’s financial planning process and receive a personalized financial plan. This goal-based financial planning process is intended to help provide guidance on issues such as how much you should be saving for retirement, how your retirement account should be invested, and whether you are on track to reach your personal retirement goals. Spouses/significant others are encouraged to participate as well.

All Averett University non-student employees of who receive compensation reportable on an IRS Form W-2 are eligible to participate in the plan. Please refer to the Averett University Availability Notice by clicking here for more information.

Averett Central Satisfaction Survey

Averett Central has created a survey asking for feedback to see how we can grow our department and adjust, if necessary. This survey asks about how useful the office of Averett Central is to the Averett Community. The information obtained from students will be confidential and participation is voluntary.

The survey is only open to currently enrolled traditional students and should take around two to three minutes to complete. Students are only allowed to complete the survey once and we will be taking responses until Thursday, Feb. 28, at 4:30 p.m.

There will be a single drawing for one student to win (1) $25 gift card to Me’s Burgers and Brews, (1) $10 Starbucks gift card, and some Averett swag from the Bookstore.

Here is the link to share with your students and thank you for helping to remind them! If students, faculty or staff have any questions, feel free to stop by Averett Central or give us a call at (434) 791-5600. Thank you so much for all you do.

Cougar Cares

A new program called “Cougar Cares” provides students with basic necessities to help them succeed inside and outside the classroom. Select services are given to students who meet specific criteria. Services include food, clothing and toiletry donations. All donations can be taken to the CCECC. Cash or check donations can be brought to the Dean of Student’s Office. Click here to see the full flyer. For any questions, contact Lesley Villarose at [email protected] or Billy Wooten at [email protected].

Advising Tips

It is very important to keep in contact with your advisees throughout the school year. A quick e-mail reminding them of important dates or events will help the advising process and help the students stay on track to graduation. Consider the following for this week.

1. Review any Academic Early Alert Grades students received.
2. Discuss experiences, problems to date.
3. Provide referral information if needed.

Civil Rights Exhibit

The Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History will host “The 1963 Civil Rights Movement: The People, The Protest, The Stories” exhibit until Sunday, Mar. 3. Admission for the exhibit is $4. The museum, located at 975 Main St, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2-5 p.m. on Sunday.

Mural Contest in Danville

The Center for Housing Education in Danville is sponsoring a mural contest on the theme “Cultivating New Housing Lifestyles.” Each entry must send a design on an 8.5×14 canvas (or larger) to the Center for Housing Education’s office on Franklin Street before Monday, Apr. 15. The chosen winner will be announced in late April and will receive a $1,000 prize and her/his artwork will be painted on the side of the Center’s office building.

For more information, please click here to see the flyer or email Kimberly Walker at [email protected]Direct any internal questions to the CCECC.

Parks and Rec Summer Employment

Colleagues, please take a moment and share with your students. Danville’s Parks and Rec Department is hiring 15 summer positions that range from $9-11 per hour, and they would love for our Averett students to apply. Click here to see all of the descriptions and the application process.

As they develop their materials, please remember the CCECC staff is available to help them develop a polished resume, cover letter and any support materials. They should email Angie McAdams, our career services director, to schedule an appointment. We also have a professional clothing closet, should they need clothes to wear for a job interview.

Thank You

“I just wanted to thank everyone in the Averett Community that reached out to me after the death of my Grandmother.  It was very overwhelming.  I feel blessed to be a member of this community.” Sincerely, Sandra Isom

 

 

Welcome, Emma!

Emma Lugar is the new director of development, corporations and foundations in Institutional Advancement. Emma possesses over 10 years of experience in higher education. She has a background in development, marketing/public relations and project management. Prior to joining Averett, Emma worked at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C. Emma received her Bachelor of Arts degree in communication, public relations from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., and her Master of Arts degree in English, technical and professional communication from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. Currently, she resides in Ringgold with her dog, Addie.

Dr. Samoilenko Publishes Research

Dr. Sergey Samoilenko’s latest research, “It Should Be There, but It Is Hard to Find: Economic Impact of ICT in Sub-Saharan Economies,” was published as a chapter in an edited book “Locally Relevant ICT Research” published by Springer. Click here to learn more.

 

 

 

 

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GPS Student Spotlight

Meet Takoda Poindexter, a student pursuing his Bachelor of Business Administration degree who is expected to graduate in 2019.

Why did you choose Averett University’s GPS program? 

“I chose the GPS program because I cannot afford to go physically, and I’ve seen my friends, family members and co-workers struggle paying off student debt because they didn’t work full-time or goofed off and had to drop out having taken out more than one student loan. My motto is “work smarter not harder.” The GPS program is very flexible as well and they give you the tools and mentors needed for success.”

 

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!

“WOW – WiFi is not that bad!”

“The campus is safe.”

“Main hall – my floor is like a family – women’s hall.”

“There is plenty of extra stuff to do like intramurals.”

“I like the food. I can eat all that I want.”

“If you wear anything with Averett on it you get recognized.”