ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Community Forum for Public Conversation

Decorah Mayor Lorraine Borowski and Luther College Vice President of institutional Equity and Inclusion and Student Success, Lisa Scott are initiating a monthly gathering of community partners for public conversation and information exchanges.  

The Community Forums will be held monthly on the fourth Thursday of the month. The first one will be held on Thursday, Oct. 24, at Java John’s from 5–6 p.m.  

Representatives from the city government, Luther College, Decorah Police Department and Decorah Community Schools will be available for an exchange of ideas and views, comments, and questions and answers on various local issues. The main goal is to provide the public with an opportunity to interact with community officials and engage in discussion of issues impacting the community.  

Participants invited for this first session include; Decorah Mayor Lorraine Borowski; Jenifer K. Ward,
Luther College President; Lisa Scott, VP of Institutional Equity, Inclusion and Student Success; Chad Bird, Decorah City Manager; Dave Smutzler, Decorah Police Chief; Mark Lane, Decorah Community Schools Superintendent; Bob Harri, Director of Campus Safety & Security, Luther College; Jon Lof ’20, Luther College and Kelao Charmaine Neumbo ’22, Luther College.  

For further information please contact Chad Bird, City Manager at 563-382-3651, cell/text msg: 563-387-7628, email at <[email protected]>, or Mayor Lorraine Borowski at 563-382-3651, email at <[email protected]>. 

October Board of Regents meeting update

Luther College faculty and staff should have received a message from President Ward and Board Chair Wendy Davidson on Friday, Oct. 18, with an update about the October Board of Regents meeting. Faculty and staff who did not receive the update should contact <catherine.dyer>.

COLLEGE OPERATIONS

Road construction

Next week road work will be happening around Luther's campus. Please make note of the following schedule:

• College Drive will be closed for milling Monday and Tuesday from Luther's North Entrance south to Casey's. Asphalt overlay will happen Wednesday and Thursday. All work is weather dependant. Detour for local traffic will be through lower campus.
• Ridge Road will have saw cutting on damaged areas the week of Oct. 21 and will be closed for construction from College Drive to Meadow Court starting Oct. 28.
• North Street should be opened today, Oct. 18.

President Ward's Inauguration

The entire community is invited to attend President Ward's inauguration at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, in the Center for Faith and Life. The formal procession, music, and remarks by our new president promise to inspire. View the schedule online to learn more about all celebratory activities being planned for Nov. 1 - 3.

Library Fall Break hours

Tues., Oct. 22: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 23: 8 a.m.–midnight

Registrar's Office closure

The Registrar's Office will be closed Thursday, Oct. 24, and Friday, Oct. 25, as staff will be attending the Midwest Ellucian Client Association (MECA) Conference.

Flu shots Oct. 29

Don't miss another opportunity to say BOO to the FLU! On Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Williams Lounge/Union, Health Service will be sponsoring an outreach flu clinic. Free flu shots for students, staff and faculty pay $25 cash or check and can submit for reimbursement. Please encourage students to protect themselves and others by getting a flu shot! #SayBooToTheFlu #FightFlu

Halloween at Preus Library

Join faculty, staff and students for free bagels, coffee and hot chocolate from 9-11 a.m. Oct. 31 on the main level of Preus Library. Learn about the student academic support services located in the Library: Archives, Digital Media Center, Disability Services, Information Technology Services, Library Services, Research Help Desk, Speech & Debate Center, Center for Academic Enrichment (CAE), Technology Help Desk, Tutoring Services, TRIO Achievement Program, and Writing Center.

Adobe CC Expiration

If you receive the message that your Adobe CC product (e.g. Acrobat, Photoshop) "is using a license that is due to expire on November 30, 2019", you may ignore it. ITS is working on implementing the new Adobe licensing model and will have it in place prior to the end of November. This has already been implemented on lab/classroom/podium workstations and will be implemented soon on faculty/staff workstations. Once implemented, choose to "Sign in with an Enterprise ID," using your Luther email address. For details, visit Adobe Creative Cloud. 

Luther employee fitness classes

Sign up today for the second seven-week session of fall classes of wellness subsidized employee yoga and Zumba classes. Details and registration form are available on the online fitness class site. Classes are open to current employees and spouses. Email <wellness> with questions.

Employee chair massages

Wellness is hosting a massage therapist on campus for $20/15 minute chair massages, paid by cash, check or card at appointment or booking, from 1-5 p.m. every Monday afternoon! Chair massages can help reduce muscle tension, improve blood flow/circulation, increase energy-improving productivity, decrease anxiety and enhance immune system function. Visit the wellness event calendar for more information and to sign up.

All Saints Chapel name submissions

All Saints Chapel will be 10:30–10:50 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1, in the CFL. This annual All Saints Chapel is an opportunity to gather as a community to celebrate the joy of new life and grieve the loss of loved ones. We include name(s) of immediate family/household members who are born or adopted in the past year and those who have passed away since Nov. 1, 2018. Please send names to College Ministries so we can include them in our All Saints Chapel bulletin. Send names or questions via email to <ministry> or by phone 387-1040.

The fall of the Berlin Wall

The German Program invites the Luther and Decorah community to a commemoration of the fall of the Berlin Wall (Nov. 9, 1989). If the division of Germany had an impact on your life: Where were you, when the Wall fell? Please share your story. We are asking for pictures and/or stories to be presented at an afternoon event on Nov. 8. Please contact Sören Steding <stedso01>.

Tuition Benefit program deadline Nov. 1

Luther is pleased to offer its faculty and staff a benefit that is highly unique in today's workplace: higher education for one's dependents. The Tuition Benefit program has a three-step application process available online.

Deadlines are as follows:
Nov. 1: Applications due
Dec. 1: Finalized list of colleges due
May 15: Confirmation form due

For complete information about the process and an application form, see the HR benefits website. Contact Derek Hartl, <derek.hartl> or 387-1433, with questions.

October Admissions Events

Admissions is hosting three events in the month of October:

Thursday, Oct. 17, Preview Day, registration closes on Tuesday, Oct. 15
Friday, Oct. 18, Preview Day, registration closes on Wednesday, Oct. 16
Friday, Oct. 25, Creative Arts Visit Day, registration closes on Wednesday, Oct. 23

Discount fitness trackers

Wellness has partnered with The Wellness Outlet to provide employees access to discounted activity trackers from retailers such as Fitbit and Garmin. Wearable activity trackers are a great way to track your activity levels and inspire motivation to reach your health and fitness goals. Learn more on how to access this benefit on the wellness website.

Luther Junior Cheer Clinic on Saturday, Oct. 26

Children in grades K-5 are invited to be a cheerleader for a day! Luther College cheerleaders will teach jumps, kicks, stunts and a fun dance that will be performed during halftime of the Luther home football game. The cost is $25, which includes a t-shirt and a mid-morning snack. Register your child here. Questions? Contact Kristin Padilla <padikr01>.

United Way campaign continues

Thank you for the continued support of United Way, and congratulations to our second prize winner, Brian Solberg, who won a swag bag donated by Alumni and Development. We are 27.5% of the way to our $13,850 goal. Return donations to HR, and help us support Winneshiek County families and individuals. Tomorrow we'll draw a donor to win a ticket to Peace Brunch, and on Friday, a donor will be drawn to win a t-shirt from the Book Shop.

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching

A new resource for faculty is now available at Luther College. The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) promotes student success by dedicating space and resources to Luther faculty for the cultivation of teaching practices. Grounded in the latest research on teaching and learning, CELT acts as a place of interdisciplinary collaboration for teachers and a resource for anything from writing rubrics to designing courses for 21st century learners.

New on luther.edu

The website for the new Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching is now live. Fnd out more about program offerings in CELT, including drop in consultation hours for faculty with campus experts, including Mike Garcia (Writing Director) and Holly White (Instructional Technology Librarian, Katie Expert). Both faculty and staff can sign up for a Book Group and find links to helpful pedagogical materials including David Thompson's Jones Professorship project "Speaking the Language of Inclusive Pedagogy" and Magna Commons.

Also new on luther.edu

Read about student researchers Cory Eull '21 and Julia Simpson '20 and their summer project "Movement Fundamentals Praxis for Community" with professor Jane Hawley. Learn how their teaching at recent Dorian Camps helped them create choreography, performances, and film.

Check out the new Strengths Leadership webpage

Luther's Strengths-Based Leadership Program now has a home on the Luther website! Visit the site and have a look. Be sure to view and consider strengths opportunities under the tab 'Invest In Your Strengths.' Email <strengths> for additional assistance. Big thanks to Sam Lahey '18 for her dedication and expertise as we put this together and for the terrific Photo Bureau staff for the fantastic photos!

Book Shop News

Book Signing Oct. 30
Daisy Reyes will giving a lecture at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, in Valders 206. with a book signing to follow. She will be signing her book, "Learning to Be Latino." Books are in stock at the Book Shop and will be available to purchase the night of the event.

Spooky Halloween Sales Event
Thursday, Oct. 31, from 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. stop in for 25% off all hoods and all clearance items in the store. This spooky event is only for one day so take advantage before it is too late!

Autographed Books
If you missed the Rebecca Traister, Farwell Distinguished Lecture on Oct. 10, we have autographed copies available for purchase