TUESDAY 5/12/2020

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

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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.

Photos for Virtual Commencement
Graduating seniors were asked to submit their photos via a web portal by Wednesday, May 13. Faculty and staff were asked to submit photos for use in the traditional “gauntlet.” These photos should be sent to <programming> by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13. Please take a head-and-shoulders photo in vertical orientation, with a celebratory, smiling pose, dressed in academic regalia or formal clothing. For more information, please contact <k.underwood>.

Virtual Town Hall Meeting
Faculty and staff are invited to a Virtual Town Hall Meeting from 9:45-10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 14. At the meeting, President Ward and members of the Cabinet will answer questions that were submitted last week by faculty and staff. Further details about the meeting will be sent to faculty and staff by email. 

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.

Employment announcements 

Effective June 1, the Office of Admissions and the Office of Financial Aid will merge to become the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. As part of the department restructure, Aaron Steffens will become the director of financial aid operations, and will oversee the awarding of financial aid to new and returning students, as well as managing operations related to compliance, personnel and budgeting. Kristin Padilla will move into a new role as director of admissions operations and will oversee day-to-day operational processes, while still managing admissions group visit events. Both Aaron and Kristin will be highly involved in admissions and financial aid strategy development as part of the enrollment leadership team. 

Andrew Bailey will become associate vice president for finance and will oversee the operations of the office for financial services as well as overall budget development and management. Andrew will report to the vice president for finance and administration. Peggy Lensing will remain controller and move to .8 FTE starting Sept. 1. Peggy will report both to the vice president for finance and administration and the associate vice president for finance. Amy Wrightsman will become director of risk management and internal controls and will oversee risk management, insurance, internal controls, as well as the work on health care plan administration, information security and other projects in partnership with financial services. Amy will continue to report to the vice president for finance and administration.

Beginning June 1, Megan Torkelson will become director of the Luther Fund, which raises more than $2.1 million each year from 9,000+ donors. Megan will direct critical fundraising programs for the Luther Fund, including continuing to serve as "Gnome in Chief," directing all aspects of Luther's Giving Day ($1 million goal in 2021) and managing key mail and email fundraising campaigns. She will also direct Luther's student engagement and young alumni donor programming and will directly supervise Luther's year-round student calling fundraising efforts.

COLLEGE OPERATIONS 

Closing out the fiscal year

As the end of the fiscal year is fast approaching, the Office of Financial Services asks for continued assistance in closing out the fiscal year as smoothly as possible. All outstanding travel expense reports, original invoices, supporting purchase orders/purchase permits or account adjustments should be sent to OFS by June 12 to be included in the FY 19-20 budget. All items for deposit should be sent to the OFS by June 5. Thank you in advance for helping OFS close out the year in a timely manner.

HR update: Teladoc services

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Teladoc has rapidly scaled to meet the new demand and sustain its commitment to clinical quality and high member satisfaction. Thousands of board-certified physicians have been added to Teladoc’s network and the number of providers actively taking consults has more than doubled. Since March 30, visit requests are resolved in less than 15 minutes on average. Teledoc’s coronavirus member website offers a self-assessment questionnaire, access to a test finder and more.

Sending for seniors and retirees

Graduating seniors and faculty and staff who are retiring or leaving Luther: plan to join chapel at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 15 so we can send you out with our prayers and blessings! Send an email to <ministry> with your name as you would like us to list it as we prepare for the blessing.

Project underway will increase energy sustainability on campus

Jim Martin-Schramm, will present "Solar to Storage" during the Winneshiek Energy District's May Online Lunch from 12-1 p.m. Tuesday, May 19. Jim will discuss a new project that will more than double the amount of solar energy that serves the campus. To learn more about this project click here to register for the webinar.

Library due dates extended to Sept. 1

The due date on all Preus Library materials currently checked out to returning faculty/staff/spouses/emeriti/dependents has been extended to Sept. 1. However, faculty leaving Luther continue to have a due date of May 15. Early returns can be made anytime through the book slot in the library entryway or through appointment by contacting <library>. Questions about interlibrary loan materials should be directed to Emily Mineart <ill> as these materials have different due dates set by the lending libraries and will be handled on an individual basis.

Luther now a chapter of the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society

Luther is now a recognized chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD). ALD is a national honor society known for recognizing first-year student success in higher education with a mission to promote a continued high standard of learning and encourage superior academic achievement. In its first year, Luther will be inviting eligible sophomores and juniors to be members of this prestigious honor society.

Invitation to Paideia 112 Research Symposium

The Paideia 112 Research Symposium is available to view online from Monday, May 11 through Saturday, May 16. Go to the Paideia Online Research Symposium in KATIE and click "Log in as a guest" to see presentations on themes ranging from "Activism" to "Art that Looks Forward" to "Causes of Demise."

Union flashing repair - Phase 1

On Monday, May 4, we began phase 1 of a 2 phase project on the east side of the Union. The project entails re-flashing window openings to prevent water migration. Phase 1 will be the south side of the building, mostly affecting the Bookshop, admission counselors and marketing & communications. The work is expected to be completed by late June. During this time we ask that you use the northeast entrance or the entrance off the patio near the mailroom instead of the main entrance. Signs will be posted at each entrance that you may use.

Call for proposals

The Paideia Endowment Governing Board invites members of the Luther community to propose presentations on the theme “Building Community in a Changing Society” for the 2020-21 Texts and Issues Lecture Series. Participants are encouraged to address the theme from the perspective of a wide variety of texts drawn from the arts, sciences and humanities. If interested, please submit a tentative title and a brief 250-word proposal by Monday, May 18.    

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, May 13: Vicar Amalia Vagts preaching and sending of College Ministries intern, Vicar Amalia Vagts
Friday, May 15: Anne Edison-Albright preaching, blessing & sending of seniors and retiring faculty/staff, and installation of Anne Edison-Albright as director of College Ministries and Tricia Crary as office coordinator of College Ministries
Monday, May 11: No chapel

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 Tuesday, June 30.

COMMUNITY

Welcome, new hires

Celebrations this week

Birthdays

May 12: Marty Jacobs, Deanna Dlhy, Corey Sabin
May 13: Lori Ostile
May 14: Doreen Fullhart, Adam Strand
May 16: Trent Orth, Megan Torkelson
May 18: Jeff Boeke, Heather Williams

Anniversaries

May 1: Russ Schouweiler, 10 years
May 8: Mary Teslow, 20 years

ARTICLES, CREATIONS, HONORS

Nancy Gates Madsen's article "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: Ecology and Human Rights in Gioconda Belli's Waslala" was recently published in Ecozon@: European Journal of Literature, Culture, and Environment (April 2020). She's especially grateful to the small posse of Luther folks who assisted her along the road to publication, including Victoria Christman, Andy Hageman, Elizabeth Steding and Mackenzie Zenk '21.

William Kuhlman, professor emeritus of music and Yvonne Kuhlman, retired director of campus programming have been elected secretary and vice president of "Friends of Music", an arts organization presenting promising young artists in concert as well as sponsoring worthy community projects promoting fine arts and music throughout the year in the city of Tucson. They were also recently appointed members to the "Music Department Advisory Board" at the University of Arizona.

Diane Scholl's poem "Spring in the Year of Coronavirus" appears in the May 7, 2020 issue of "The Christian Century."

Ideas and Creations

In this two-part series of posts, two seniors reflect on their experiences during COVID-19 and their last few months at Luther. Ashalul Aden shares her thoughts in "The Luther Community" and Madeleine Ross describes her experience in "Grit, Grace, and Gratitude."

UNCLASSIFIED ADS

For rent: 2 bedroom upstairs apartment in a duplex house. Close to downtown. No smoking, no pets. Looking for a quiet and responsible renter. $550 a month. Utilities not included. Available June 1. Call 546-7785.

For sale: NetGear dual band wi-fi router, new condition. Includes all necessary items in original box. $25 or best offer. Email inquiries only to <bjerkr01>.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

And finally...

Celebrate Syttende Mai, Norway’s “Constitution Day,” on May 17. 

Syttende Mai is the day Norway ratified its constitution in 1814 at Eidsvoll and Norwegians celebrate with excited crowds—especially children—marching through the streets, waving flags and singing songs. Hosted by the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Decorah has a long tradition of celebrating with a children's parade, a performance by the Decorah Nordic Dancers and other activities. This year that event has been canceled but Vesterheim has put together everything you need for an at-home Syttende Mai celebration!

The first event is at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 14 when Harley and Norma Refsal present "Celebrating Norwegian Folk Art from Sámi North to Wooded South." Harley and Norma Refsal will share some favorite pieces from their personal collection and tell the stories of the lovely and diverse landscapes and history of Norway. Register in advance for this webinar here.

For more Syttende Mai activities and recipes visit their website.