An Iowa College in the Liberal Arts Tradition
Tuesday, April 28
TUESDAY 4/28/2020
The most recent version of the Tuesday is always available online at: http://www2.luther.edu/tuesday/
Published for faculty and staff by the Luther College Media Relations office • Copy deadline: Friday, 3 p.m., 75-word limit • Phone: (563) 387-2992 • Email: <Tuesday>
Note: All campus telephone numbers are in the 563 area code, all campus email addresses end in @luther.edu • ©2020
Submit an item for the Tuesday at: www.luther.edu/tuesday/submit/
ANNOUNCEMENTS / COLLEGE OPERATIONS / EVENTS
COMMUNITY / ARTICLES, CREATIONS, HONORS / UNCLASSIFIED ADS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Coronavirus updates
Each week, we will use this section to highlight key messages to various members of the Luther community and summarize developments and decisions over the past week. Whenever possible, we will also signal forthcoming messages.
Test Iowa Initiative
Governor Kim Reynolds encourages all Iowans to go to testIowa.com to complete a health assessment as part of an initiative to expand testing capacity to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa. The health assessment will inform Iowans of their current health status, whether or not they should get a COVID-19 test and instructions on how to get tested.
Rochester Semester
Due to the difficulties created by the pandemic in identifying internship sponsors, the Rochester Semester has been canceled for the Fall 2020 Semester. The Rochester Semester program will resume in January 2021. The cancelation of the Rochester Semester for Fall 2020 does not affect Luther College’s clinical year program at the Mayo Clinic for nursing students.
Summer Session I courses
All courses for Summer Session I will be offered in a distance learning format.
Summer collaborative research projects
Summer collaborative research projects will proceed for Summer 2020. Summer research students may not live in the residence halls and will have limited access to buildings on campus. Projects for this summer have not yet been chosen. The Dean’s Office will contact all student-faculty teams that submitted applications with further details.
Summer camps and conferences
All summer camps and conferences scheduled for June have been canceled due to ongoing restrictions on travel, guidelines for social distancing and the increased liability of minors on campus during a pandemic. The cancelations affect Dorian Summer Camps and athletic camps, including those for basketball, football, tennis, volleyball and wrestling. Decisions regarding camps and conferences scheduled for July will be made soon.
Financial relief for students
$690,342 in emergency financial aid made available to Luther College by the CARES Act will be disbursed directly to students. Per the guidance from the Department of Education, students with greater financial need will receive more emergency financial aid; the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated as a part of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will provide the baseline for this calculation.
College-sponsored gatherings and travel
All events at Luther College are canceled through at least Sunday, May 31. All college-sponsored travel is prohibited through at least Sunday, May 31. No travel should be scheduled or booked, even for after May 31, unless approved by a supervisor.
Personal protective equipment
All employees on campus are strongly encouraged to wear face masks while on campus. Employees and students residing on campus who need a free cloth face mask should contact Facilities Services at 387-1146.
Retrieval of belongings from residence halls
Residence Life has begun the process of inviting students back to campus to retrieve their belongings from residence halls. The process began with students from the local area and will then expand to other counties in Northeast Iowa that have reported low case numbers of COVID-19. The process will continue to expand out to other locations shortly thereafter, taking into account considerations for personal and community safety and shelter-in-place directives issued by state governments. Residence Life staff will work with students who live 500 or more miles away from campus and cannot return this summer to have their belongings moved to their fall room assignments.
Virtual Commencement
The campus community will celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2020 with a virtual commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. CDT on Sunday, May 24. The ceremony will also be available online after the event. Luther College remains committed to rescheduling an in-person commencement ceremony for a time when it becomes safe to host such an event. In preparation for the virtual commencement ceremony, graduating seniors have been asked to participate in a Virtual Grad Finale; graduating seniors and faculty will also soon be contacted to submit photos for inclusion in the ceremony.
Please continue to monitor the Health Advisories webpage for information connected to Luther College’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Iowa Department of Public Health, and answers to frequently asked questions.
COLLEGE OPERATIONS
HR updates
Economic Impact Payment
The IRS has a website with frequently asked questions and a link to check on the status of your Economic Impact Payment.
Face masks
Beginning immediately, employees on campus are strongly encouraged to wear face masks while on campus where you can not maintain the recommended social distancing measures. The CDC strongly recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Employees that need a free cloth face mask should contact Facilities at 387-1146, or stop down and pick one up. Facilities is coordinating the production of face masks with the generous staff of the CFA costume shop. Directions for making face masks are also on the HR website.
Annual steam shutdown to start May 26
As a reminder the annual steam shutdown is planned for the afternoon of May 26 through June 2. A limited number of buildings will have hot water and some HVAC systems will be cooler than usual. Please contact Facilities Services (387-1146) with questions.
2020 Discovery Camps canceled
It is with great sadness that we are announcing the cancelation of the 2020 Discovery Camp programs this June. Given the uncertainty of the times and to best protect our beloved campers and their families we have determined this is our best course of action at this time. Full refunds will be issued to families who have already registered. We strongly encourage all of our families and campers to continue to explore the natural world together and we look forward to planning the best summer yet for 2021. If you need ideas and inspiration for your outdoor explorations, contact Emily Neal, <nealem01>.
Wellness during COVID-19
During this time of prevention and distance learning and working in response to COVID-19, the Wellness staff is here to help you stay healthy and well. Learn more about wellness services, opportunities and resources available here.
Spring wildflowers and garlic mustard removal
Luther's natural areas are rich in spring wildflowers, but threatened by garlic mustard. Garlic mustard removal can be accomplished with appropriate social distancing, while enjoying the outdoors. Thursday, April 30 at 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 3 at 3 p.m., RSVP required. Can't attend either afternoon, but want to help other times? Contact Molly McNicoll <mcnimo01>. Volunteers should be able to hike over difficult terrain.
Message from the Document and Mail Centers
This is a reminder that the Document Center and Mail Center will continue to be open at our regular hours. Inter-campus delivery is available. If you are working from home, please contact us if you have questions. Document Center Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mail Center: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday with no Saturday service until further notice.
Gather at the well with Wellness
For centuries people gathered at the community well to draw the water needed for their families to survive and thrive, it was also a time to socially connect with others in the community. Visit the wellness event calendar every Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. until summer to gather via Zoom for connection, a break from work and to recharge at our "virtual Luther well"!
Wellness virtual lunch and learn - Blossoms and Blooms
Register to join the Wellness staff for a virtual lunch and learn via Zoom Wednesday, April 29 at noon with JoAnn Uhlenhake. JoAnn is the former owner of "Blooms" in Ossian and she is going to help us develop our spring and summer flower beds as well as answer questions such as "what can I plant that the deer won't eat?" "How do I keep flowers blooming all summer?" "What flowers work well together?"
Luther professors explore COVID-19
In an effort to keep the Luther community engaged in active learning, the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement is offering a collection of faculty talks, during which faculty members reflect on the current pandemic from their individual disciplinary perspectives. A sincere thank you to the faculty who have contributed so far. Please email <cepe> if you are willing to contribute.
Book Shop news
Book Shop - closed but you can still make a purchase
If you'd like to make a departmental or personal purchase, email <bookshop> or call x1036. There are great $10 deals found here and BOGO promos. When checking out, remind us you work at Luther and we'll intra-campus your purchase.
Greeting cards available for purchase, including Mother's Day
The Book Shop has greeting cards set up outside the Book Shop. Mother's Day (May 10th), Graduation, Birthday, Sympathy and Encouragement cards all for $2.50. Just leave cash in the basket.
EVENTS
Chapel this week
Join College Ministries Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 10:30 a.m.-10:50 a.m. for a time of prayerful connection through Luther Zoom Chapel. You may join the service at: https://zoom.us/j/811331503.
Wednesday, April 29: Jimmy Hoke
Friday, May 1: Jane Clare '20, senior chapel
Monday, May 4: Gather Morning Praise
Home sporting events
The American Rivers Conference has canceled spring schedules.
Events this week
The health and safety of our students, staff, faculty and neighbors are of the utmost importance to us. Following directives from President Ward, effective immediately all events at Luther College are canceled through at least Thursday, May 21.
COMMUNITY
Celebrations this week
Birthdays
April 28: Heather Frey, Anna Peterson, Hayley Jackson
April 29: LuAnn Meeker-Gast
April 30: Kathleen Poppe
May 1: Tim Herman, Joseph Wathier
May 2: Kristen Underwood
May 3: Leland Holthaus
May 4: Dan Davis, Janet Jacobson, Dan Marlow, Mark Martin
ARTICLES, CREATIONS, HONORS
Loren Toussaint and his colleague's research on forgiveness in the workplace was featured on the smartphone wellness app, Living Ashram.
Andi Beckendorf has been named to a four-year appointment as chair of the Music Library Association’s Public Services Committee. This role coordinates three subcommittees working in the areas of research instruction, reference sources and access to resources and services.
Ideas and Creations
Read Telling Our Stories: Preserving the History of COVID-19 at Luther College. In this article, College Archivist Hayley Jackson shares how she's working with others to preserve the history of what's currently happening with COVID-19.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
And finally...
A quote that resonated with me this morning.
“Taking care of yourself makes you stronger for everyone in your life…including you.”
–Kelly Rudolph