ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tenure and promotions

At the Feb. 7-8 meeting, the Board of Regents granted tenure to Brittany Cord, Maren Johnson and Thomas Occhipinti. The three were also promoted to associate professor. Also announced at the February meeting are the following promotions: Molly McNicoll to associate professor; Eric Baack and Britt Rhodes to full professor. Congratulations to all!

Charrette follow-up

Though we know the daycare shortage affects many in our community, including our faculty and staff, it is not feasible for Luther to own and operate a daycare. But how else might we be involved, and how can Luther faculty, staff and students be partners in helping to meet this community need? Luther will continue to be part of these important discussions with Stephanie From, executive director of Winneshiek County Development, in addressing the shortage from a countywide perspective. Additional feedback from the Charrette will be available in the coming weeks.

COLLEGE OPERATIONS

Tuesday submission reminders

A reminder to the Luther community that posts submitted to the Tuesday should stick to a 75-word limit, should be relevant to a Luther staff and faculty audience and should be submitted via the Tuesday submission form. The deadline to submit a post is 3 p.m. the Friday before you'd like your post to appear. A post can run for a maximum of two issues, please plan accordingly.

Federal income tax withholding form update

The IRS released a new Form W-4 for 2020. Significant changes were made to the form, and the Payroll Office strongly encourages all employees to use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to see if they should submit a new W-4 form. You will need your year-to-date 2020 earnings statements from Norse Hub. If you have another job and/or are a two-income family, then you will need all other relevant year-to-date pay advices as well.

The Tax Withholding Estimator will help you complete a new W-4 form, if necessary. If you do not submit a new form, then your federal tax withholding will continue to match your year-to-date earnings statements on Norse Hub.

Questions about 2020 federal income tax withholding may be answered by the Tax Withholding Estimator Frequently Asked Questions list. Updated W-4 forms, if necessary, should be submitted to the Payroll Office, 387-1135.

February staff meetings

The monthly staff meetings will be held 2–3 p.m.Wednesday, Feb. 12, and 9–10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. Both meetings are in Peace Dining Room. Departments are asked to coordinate attendance between the Wednesday and Thursday sessions so that everyone is able to attend. For further information, please contact Marsha Wenthold, director of human resources, at 387-1415.

Admissions Office seeks outstanding student workers

The Admissions Office is looking for outgoing and energetic students who love talking about Luther and sharing their experience with prospective students. Please encourage your current first-years, sophomores and juniors to apply for the Student Ambassador program by directing them to submit an application online through our Admissions Application. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23.

Preus Library is looking for feedback

As part of a project to review and update a set of online research help resources, our Guides (guides.luther.edu), we're asking faculty to take this brief survey to help us gauge your awareness and use of the Guides in your teaching. Your valuable feedback will guide our plans for promoting and creating these resources going forward—thanks in advance! Contact Amanda Jenkins <jenkam01> with questions.

Summer camp fairs Feb. 13 and Feb. 20

Both fairs will be held 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in the Dahl Centennial Union. Many summer camp representatives will be attending each fair to visit with students about their summer staff positions. Great opportunity for students to look for summer jobs where they will learn team work, leadership, and problem solving skills all while having fun in a beautiful setting!

Luther Baseball 'Bitty Ball' Camp

For boys and girls in grades Pre-K-2nd grade, 1-2 p.m. Feb. 16. Fee is $15 and each participant gets a t-shirt or hat! Come and learn from all our Luther Norse baseball players! Register online.

Website changes and updates made within Reason

We have received several notifications of website changes and updates made within Reason not appearing on the live website. With our upgrade to Reason 4.8, you will need to remove any bookmarks you have to reason.luther.edu/admin—that URL will take you to an old server, and not our live website. Please use www2.luther.edu/admin to make any changes within Reason. ITS will be turning off access to the old Reason server on Friday, Feb. 14.

February CELT programming

February CELT programming has started. Highlights include conversations about running effective discussions, constructing rubrics, and decolonizing your syllabus. Don't forget that applications for Teaching Partnerships and our newly launched Faculty Learning Communities are due this month. Finally, the Bandwidth Recovery book group meets today at 4:15 p.m. More copies of the book are available. 

Donate your redeemable cans and bottles to Habitat for Humanity

The Luther College chapter of Habitat for Humanity is collecting redeemable cans and bottles. Proceeds will go towards our spring break service trip (emphasis on SERVICE) and will also be shared with Winneshiek County Habitat. If you would like to donate, please let us know via email, <habitat>, and we will find a way to pick them up. Thank you so much!  

CEPE Book Group: Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop

In the aftermath of a senate impeachment vote that saw just one senator cross party lines, can American democracy still function? Lee Drutman argues that the electoral system in place in most states pushes us towards polarization and makes compromise impossible. He suggests that states could implement different forms of voting that might encourage the development of a multi-party system built on coalitions and compromise. Sign up for the book group to discuss these ideas. Facilitated by Eric Baack.

Free Friday morning open gyms Feb. 7–March 20

Wellness has partnered with UERPC Safe Routes to School to offer Free Friday Morning Open Gyms again this winter! Parents (or childcare providers) and children age 0–5 years can join from 10:30–11:30 a.m. for some open gym fun inside the Regents Center East Gym. There is no admission fee, and balls, scooters, etc. will be provided. Contact <wellness> with any questions.

CEPE book group

The Meaning of Matthew Shepard: My Son's Murder in Laramie and a World Transformed. Judy Shepard writes about losing her 21-year-old son Matt after he was brutally attacked, tied to a fence, and left to die outside of Laramie, Wyoming. Judy will be speaking on campus on March 3, as part of Hope Over Hate week, to promote a greater understanding of LGBTQ issues and empower audiences to embrace human dignity and diversity through outreach and advocacy. Sign up to join the book group.

Not Quite Free Lunch Feb. 11

Join colleagues at the Not Quite Free Lunch 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, 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 includes chipotle mango glazed ham, garlic and oregano roasted red potatoes, tossed salad and dessert. The charge is $5, payable by cash, check or Luther ID. Contact <wellness> with questions.

Emeriti Colloquium Feb. 13

All members of the Luther community are invited to attend the next Emeriti Colloquium at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, in Baker Village Commons. James Griesheimer will speak on the topic, "Beethoven and Form."

Luther College Woman's Club to meet Feb. 18

Four Luther students from diverse backgrounds will present "This Is Me," while Deanna (Rude) Casterton '91, director of the Luther Book Shop, will present "The Ever-Changing Textbook Landscape" at the next meeting of the LCWC, Tuesday, Feb. 18. 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 Feb. 18

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 this month's lunch-and-learn at noon Tuesday, Feb.18, in Nobel for a conversation with Michelle Whitehill as she helps us declutter in all stages of our lives. We have 16 free lunches, so register before Feb. 11. If you miss out on the free lunches, you are certainly welcome to join us and bring your own! Contact <wellness> with questions.

Interim pastor in College Ministries

College Ministries is glad and grateful to welcome Pastor Judd Larson as interim college pastor for spring 2020. Pastor Judd will be on campus Wednesdays, Thursdays, and two Sundays a month to meet with students and others for pastoral care, mentor College Ministries student leaders, and take part in leading chapel and Sunday morning worship. His office is in CFL 107 and his email address is <larsju01>.

Do you want to be a TED Talk Speaker?

TEDxLutherCollege is looking for brilliant, innovative, creative, local speakers who would like to share their ideas on our platform. Apply to be a TED Talk Speaker! Email <sactedxlc> if interested, and fill out the online form before Feb. 16. Sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement.

Book Shop news

Sweet as Candy V-day Party
We are celebrating Valentine's Day in the Book Shop Friday, Feb. 14, and Saturday, Feb. 15. Stop in for some sweet treats and take 25% off all clearance, long sleeve tees, and quarter zips. Happy Valentine's Day Norse!