COLLEGE OPERATIONS

HR updates

Cologuard and colonoscopy screenings
Both Cologuard screenings and the regular routine colonoscopies are covered under the UMR health plan at 100 percent if it is billed as routine. If the Cologuard screening report comes back as something abnormal, the next colonoscopy may be billed as medical in nature and would be subject to the member's deductible and coinsurance. If both screenings are billed as routine, the plan would cover both at 100 percent, but this is rarely the scenario. Please call human resources, 387-1415, with questions.

TIAA individual counseling sessions Jan. 22–24
TIAA announces individual counseling sessions 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, and 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24. Space is limited. Register online at www.TIAA.org/schedulenow or by calling 800-732-8353 between 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Monday–Friday. Sessions will be held in the Financial Aid Conference Room, Main 27.

Sign up for W-2s online

All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up to receive electronic W-2s using the link in the employee section of NorseHub.luther.edu. Electronic W-2s can be accessed from anywhere and not easily lost or stolen. Those that chose the electronic option for 2018 need not do it again for 2019. More detailed instructions and additional information can be found by clicking the W-2 Options link on the HR website.

Therapy Assistance Online (TAO)

TAO is a confidential, convenient and free self-help tool available to faculty/staff and students. TAO’s interactive, educational modules and mindfulness library can help address concerns about depression, anxiety, stress management, relationships and more. Sign up using your Luther email address. Click "Sign Up in Self-Help with an Institution" at thepath.taoconnect.org to get started.

Hot Reads for Cold Nights weekly winners!

Congratulations to the first weekly prize winners, Allison Breen and Navia Erbst. Be sure to submit your books read to <reading> for more chances to win!

Using email filters

Save time and be more organized by using email filters. Filters catch certain emails and perform actions upon them, such as skipping your email inbox and labeling messages for you. You can learn more in ITS's January Tip of the Month.

Web Content Requests Queue

The web content team would like to send out a friendly reminder to submit any and all web requests through the Web Content Requests Queue (help.luther.edu) within Kbox. The web content team uses the queue as a tool to help prioritize and organize work for their upcoming sprints. If your request is not represented within the queue, it will fail to be represented in the team's planned work. If you have any questions, please contact Jordan Cunningham, <cunnjo01>.

Singing with the Broadway Stars

Area singers are invited to submit a 1–2 minute audition video to win a chance to perform in the Center Stage Series production, "Neil Berg's 101 Years of Broadway," on Feb. 14. Visit www.singingwiththebroadwaystars.com for full audition details or contact Kristen Underwood <undekr01> with questions. Auditions must be submitted by Feb. 7.

Not Quite Free Lunch Jan. 14

Join colleagues at the Not Quite Free Lunch 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, in Peace Dining Room, sponsored by Wellness. Boost social and emotional wellness by getting away from the typical work space and mingling with folks from across campus. The menu is pasta, marinara sauce, alfredo, sliced roasted chicken breast, roasted seasonal vegetables, market salad, breadsticks and dessert. The charge is $5, payable by cash, check or Luther ID. Contact <wellness> with questions.

Peace Scholar applications due Feb. 3

Faculty and staff are asked to encourage sophomores and juniors who are interested in studying in Norway this summer to apply to the Peace Scholars program. An outgrowth of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, this scholarship provides funding for two students to study for a week at the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue in Lillehammer, and then for six weeks at the University of Oslo. Details can be found on the Peace Scholars website. Applications should be sent to Victoria at <victoria.christman>. 

CELT J-term workshop and event registration

The CELT workshop and events schedule for J-term is now open for registration. Topics include everything from constructing and sequencing writing assignments, to considering best practices when it comes to late work policies. Workshops and events are held 2:30–4 p.m.Tuesdays and 11 a.m.–noon Wednesdays. The Wednesday offerings are repeated at 11 a.m. Thursdays. Please visit the CELT events page for more information and to register.

CEPE January Book Groups

Visit the CEPE website to sign up for one of two J-term book groups. Both groups include a free copy of the book and are open to students, faculty, staff and community members. Tara Westover's "Educated" is an autobiographical memoir of a young girl born to survivalists in Idaho who leaves her family and gets a PhD from Cambridge or, "A Witness: The Haiti Earthquake, a Song, Death, and Resurrection," a moving account of the earthquake in Haiti 10 years ago, in which thousands lost their lives, including Luther alumnus Ben Splichal Larson. Written by Larson's widow, Renee, this book documents her experience in the earthquake and its aftermath. 

Admissions listening sessions—time and location update

The admissions staff would like to hear from faculty and staff that are currently going through, or have recently gone through, the college search process with a child. Please join us to share your experiences with campus tours, publications and communication with colleges. Sessions will be held 10:30–11 a.m. or 3:30–4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, in the Union Nobel Room or 2:30–3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, Valders 362 (please note change in location from last week's post). We will bring the coffee!

Luther College Woman's Club to meet Jan. 21

Education and adventure through film and travel will be the focus of the next meeting of the Luther College Woman's Club. Nancy Sojka will present "Oneota Film Festival XI: Inform. Inspire. Engage," while Molly (Williams) Holkesvik '97 will present "Decorah Schools: European and Washington, D.C., Trips." The meeting takes place at 1:30 p.m. in Peace Dining Room, Dahl Centennial Union. Shuttle service from the Decorah pool lot leaves at 1:10 p.m.

Wellness Lunch-n-Learn event Jan. 28

Individuals are constantly changing in their quest to live life well, the Wellness Program's 2019-2020 theme is "Actively Becoming." If you are staying stagnant and not moving forward, you are not living life to the fullest. Join us for lunch-and-learn at noon Tuesday, Jan. 28, for a conversation with Scott Fjelstul as he helps us think about our futures and how we can help prepare for our exits from this world. We have 16 free lunches, so register before Jan. 21. If you miss out on the free lunches, you are certainly welcome to join us and bring your own!

Register for Luther College Community Music School

Youth Choir (Soda Club) begins Jan. 27, and meets 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays at Decorah Lutheran for eight weeks, $60. Private Lessons begin Feb. 8 and are scheduled individually, $150 for 12 lessons. Group classes begin March 4 and meet 8-8:45 a.m. Wednesday mornings at Decorah Lutheran for eight weeks, $40. Visit the LCCMS website for more information and to register. Contact Claire Thompson <LCCMS> with any questions.