COLLEGE OPERATIONS

Finals prep week

A campus programming reminder to all that Tuesday, Dec. 10–Sunday, Dec. 15, is considered Finals Prep Week and is intended to provide additional space for students to prepare for tests, papers and finals. These six days are set aside for academic preparation for finals and Luther does not schedule public events during this time, including student-led events. Exceptions are social gatherings, athletic events, Christmas in the Union and Kwanzaa.

Holiday party

Luther College invites staff, faculty and emeriti to join the festivities 4–6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, for the holiday party. The menu will include pizza, salad, dessert and soft drinks. Wine and beer will be available for purchase. We ask all staff and faculty to check their email inbox and spam folder for an electronic invitation to complete the RSVP. Gluten-free and dairy-free options will be available. Questions may be directed to Sally Ming in the President's Office at 387-1527 or <mingsa01>.

Annual Staff Christmas coffee (in lieu of monthly staff meeting) 

Staff are invited to a Christmas coffee 9–10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, in Peace Dining Room. This event is in lieu of the December staff meeting. Please plan to attend! We hope most offices will be able to close so that all can enjoy an hour of fun, great treats, and conversation.

Not Quite Free Lunch Dec. 10 location update

Join colleagues at the Not Quite Free Lunch 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 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 the baked potato bar, salad and dessert. The charge is $5, payable by cash, check or Luther ID. Contact <wellness> with questions.

Drop-In Video Editing Workshop Dec. 10 and 12

The Luther College Digital Media Center is hosting a drop-in video editing workshop 4–6 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 12, in Preus Library 100A. Current Multimedia technicians will be teaching participants how to import, edit and export video projects. This event is open to faculty, staff and students.

Christmas in the Union transition

In the past, Christmas in the Union has taken place following the Christmas at Luther performances. A survey of students told us the timing of these events posed difficulties in attending Christmas in the Union and as a result, a new tradition was created...the Student Stress Less Party. This holiday tradition, in its fourth year, occurs at 8:30 p.m. on the first night of finals. Students may stop by the Union during a study break for cookie decorating, hot chocolate bar, games, a balloon drop with prizes, and of course...Santa! 

Fall science research poster symposium Dec. 12

Colleagues across campus are invited to attend the annual fall science research symposium poster session from 9:40–10:50 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, in the Valders and Sampson-Hoffland Concourses. We have 76 posters by students from courses in biology, chemistry, environmental studies, mathematics and nursing. Come for the Christmas cookies and learn about the projects students have been completing in their various science classes and find out more of what's been happening over on this end of campus!

Emeriti Colloquium Dec. 12

All members of the Luther community are invited to attend the Emeriti Colloguium at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, in Baker Village Commons. Ed Epperly will speak on the topic, "Your Grandpa's World: Rural Iowa 1900-1920."

Library books due Dec. 13

Library books are due! Dec. 13 is the due date for books checked out from the Main Stacks by faculty and staff on, or before, Sunday, Dec. 8. Books checked out by faculty and staff may be renewed online or by emailing <library>. The new due date is May 15, the last day of classes for the spring semester. Books that have already been renewed three times (two years) will not be renewed again; rather you will need to bring these books in physically to the circulation desk to have them checked in and then out again to "re-start the clock." View your account online by clicking on "Library Account" at  http://www.luther.edu/library.

Hot Reads for Cold Nights

Love reading? Love winning prizes? Curl up with a book this winter and participate in Preus Library's Hot Reads for Cold Nights. By reading books during winter break and J-term, you can earn opportunities to win fun prizes. Open to all students, faculty and staff, whether you are on or off-campus for J-term. To sign up, fill out the online form or visit the circulation desk. Happy reading, Norse!  

Christmas break shuttles

Reminder to students to buy their tickets now for the Christmas Break shuttles! Shuttles to Rochester/Minneapolis, Madison/Rockford, Cedar Rapids/IA City, and Ames/Ankeny depart at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19. Shuttle to Chicago departs at 6:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20. Reservations made less than four days (96 hours) prior to the date of departure have a late fee of $10 non-refundable. Ticket purchases close two days (48 hours) before the shuttle leaves. Students should visit tickets.luther.edu for more information on how to purchase your tickets. Contact Jenna Mockler-Gjerde, <mockje01>, with questions.   

CELT grading fun for faculty Dec. 18-19

CELT is offering two days of sugar-fueled grading fun for faculty. Bring your grading (and maybe some treats?) to CELT on Wednesday, Dec. 18, and Thursday, Dec. 19, for moral support as you finish up your fall grading. We'll have three rooms reserved—a silent room for those trying to fly through final exams, a semi-quiet room for those who prefer a bit of ambient noise, and a raucous room for the rest of us. Katie expert Holly White will be in residence both days from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. for all of your Katie gradebook needs. Bring your breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your snacks, hunker down and get it done. Contact Kate with questions, <ellika03>.   

Vagina Monologues Zine submissions

This year in congruence with the final production of the Vagina Monologues, we are planning to put together a "zine" to sell at the show to fundraise for Helping Services in Decorah. We are looking for Luther students, staff and faculty (of any gender expression) to write a brief piece about their experiences, struggles and triumphs with their body or their sexuality. We will also accept visual interpretations. This is in an effort to broaden the stories that are told through the Monologues and show a diverse set of experiences that the Luther community have lived through that are not captured in the on-stage production. Authors may choose if they would like their name published in the zine or if they would like to remain anonymous. Please submit your piece using the online form before Feb. 16, 2020.

LinkedIn Learning Available

LinkedIn Learning is a highly personalized learning experience designed to help you achieve your goals through learning you'll use, love and apply. When signing in to linkedinlearning.luther.edu, each Luther faculty, staff and student has the option to connect their LinkedIn account. If you have any bookmarks to our prior system, LyndaCampus, please update them to the new URL linkedinlearning.luther.edu before the end of December. Contact the Technology Help Desk with questions.

Little Free Pantry

College Ministries invites the Luther Community to give and receive from the Little Free Pantry this holiday season. The LFP is open to all students, staff and faculty to use, and is located at the back of the CFL in the Prayer Chapel, which is accessible 24/7 through the exterior door. The LFP carries food and health and hygiene items. Hope to see you soon!

Off-campus program director announcements

The Deans Office and the Center for Global Learning are pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Moore (Art) and Sarah Frydenlund as the 2021-22 Nottingham Program Co-Directors and the appointment of Steve Holland (Economics) as the 2021 Malta Program Director. We are grateful to all three individuals for providing leadership to these two important and longstanding off-campus programs.

CFL Accessibility Update

Students from Luther Disability Alliance met with CFL staff and others to brainstorm ways to improve CFL accessibility. Kristen Underwood reports that, as of Christmas at Luther, back hallway bathrooms have been retrofitted and are now ADA compliant. Thanks to facilities for that project. The creation of a gender neutral ADA compliant bathroom in the front lobby was raised, possibly located left of the balcony stairs. Share your CFL accessibility comments/ideas with <k.underwood>, or Andrew Avila <avilan02>, for further discussion.

The Scrambler Challenge in January

January will soon be here and so will the desire to connect more, exercise more. Join the Wellness Team's 2020 start-off program called "The Scrambler 2 Challenge." Visit the Wellness website for the complete instructions and sign up with the Head Scrambler Vicky Jaeger, <jaegervi>, before Dec. 28