NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ash tree treatment — Wartburg has received information about a local company that can treat ash trees to kill emerald ash borers with an inoculation that lasts three years. We will be treating select trees on campus to save the trees. Holes are drilled into the tree, and the insecticide is drawn into the tree as it transfers moisture from the soil. The insecticide is not harmful to bees. In addition, bees do not feed on ash trees when they flower.
Fall 2016 early arrivals — Early Arrivals begins Saturday, Aug. 20, through the date of move in. Students who return early as groups for athletics, training, work, etc., are allowed to stay at the cost of $30 per day to their department. This cost includes a meal plan. If you have groups that you need to bring back to campus early, please contact Cassie Hales for more information.
Bars needed for Carlson benefit — The Cindy & David Carlson Benefit will be Saturday, June 18, 5-8 p.m., at Waverly-Shell Rock High School, and a variety of bars are needed. If you can help, please contact Kathy Traetow, Kristina Ladage, or Tracy Rucker. Bars are to be pre-cut into approximately 2-by-2-inch squares and packaged in disposable containers (which will not be returned.) A reminder and drop-off sites will be announced at a later date. Cindy, executive assistant to the president, began her battle with cancer in 2012, and she continues to fight this disease. To stay up to date with plans for the benefit, click here.
Advancement services changes – Institutional Advancement welcomes two new staff members — Barb Litterer, data manager, and Vicki Foelske, gift processor — and reminds faculty and staff of the following, beginning June 1: Requests for reports or data related to the alumni and parent database should be directed to Barb Litterer; questions related to gifts or pledges in support of the college should be directed to Vicki Foelske. Updates to the alumni and parent database (e.g. employment changes, contact information) should continue to be directed to Danise Flood, data specialist.
Fulbright Friday — Faculty, staff, and students are invited to an open house Friday, May 13, noon to 1 p.m. in Vogel Library Room 120. Fulbrighter Dr. Daniel Walther, professor of history, will answer questions about Fulbright applications, and Gloria Campbell, college sponsored programs administrator, will provide information on Fulbright and other competitive scholarship/fellowship opportunities. Light refreshments provided.
Golden Knight Awards — The Golden Knight Awards will be Monday, May 16, at 7 p.m. in McCaskey Lyceum. Join us to recognize the outstanding accomplishments and achievements of the 2015-16 Wartburg athletic teams.
Change in office hours — The Business and Financial Aid offices will not open until 9:45 a.m. Friday, May 20. Please plan accordingly.
SAFE 5K run — Join SAFE (Suicide Awareness for Everyone) in spreading awareness about mental health. SAFE will hold the Stampede the Stigma 5K color run/walk on Saturday, May 14, at 10 a.m. The route will begin and end on Warburg's campus. The cost is $10. Click here to download the registration form. Contact Kaitlyn Behnken for more information or with any questions.
College calendar — Stay up to date with campus events by following the college's official calendar.
PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dining Service hours for May Term – Click here to see a list of May Term hours for Mensa, the Den, Konditerei, and and Zesty Orange.
Staff and faculty with graduating seniors — Staff and faculty members who have a child at Wartburg graduating in May are welcome to congratulate their child after receiving their diploma at Commencement on May 22. Please contact Janeen Stewart for reserved seating and other details if you have not done so.
SOAR parent reception – Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s first SOAR day on Saturday. During each SOAR event, the Parent & Alumni Office will host a parent reception in the Castle Room from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m. Faculty and staff are invited to stop by and talk with parents about their departments and all that Wartburg has to offer. The remaining SOAR dates are June 6, 20, and 27. Click here to see parent and students schedules.
Presidential Forum notes — Notes from the final Presidential Forum of the academic year are now posted on the Info Center under President’s Reports.
Blood drive — TriBeta will sponsor a LifeServe blood drive 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday, May 9, in Chapel Commons. You can arrange to donate by emailing Tri-Beta@wartburg.edu.
VAC appreciation reception — The Volunteer Action Center invites all students, faculty, staff, and community members who participated in our activities this year to join us for snacks and refreshments Wednesday, May 11, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the McCoy rooms. Students who would like to learn more about our organization also are welcome.
Submit your calendar events — Remember, you can submit your campus events or modify existing events on the Wartburg website calendar; click here to do so.
Course adoption materials — Your effort to submit course adoption materials earlier is appreciated and will yield textbook savings to your students and Wartburg campus. As of April 22, the course adoption completed rate is: May Term, 100 percent; Summer Term, 85 percent; and Fall Term, 81 percent. The Wartburg Store is sourcing a higher percentage of used textbook for this year, and many of the Fall Term textbooks are already on the shelves for freshman students to purchase during SOAR. Parents and students have given feedback that they want to purchase much earlier than July 1, and this year that option is available for many sections.
The Vikings are coming! – A new course will be offered during Winter Term 2017. HI 351: Topics in European History will explore the history, language, and culture of the Vikings. Learn about runes, the art of shipbuilding, tales of violence and intrigue, and the wide-ranging impact of Viking attacks. The class will meet noon to 1:05 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and fulfills Interconnected Humanities/Fine Arts and is writing intensive. Contact Dr. Erika Lindgren for more information.
Proposed overtime pay changes — The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division is proposing a change to current regulations that would extend overtime pay to employees who had not previously qualified. An employer is required to pay hourly, or non-exempt, employees an hourly rate, compensating them for hours worked above 40 hours in a week at a rate of time and a half the regular rate of hourly pay. For employees to be considered salaried, or exempt, their positions have been evaluated on both a minimum salary test and a duties test, which considers the nature of the work and other factors. The DOL has proposed raising the salary threshold for exempt, or salaried, positions from $23,660 to $50,440 per year. Along with the salary requirement, a position must also meet the duties exemption, and it is not yet known how the new proposal will affect these duties. Wartburg Human Resources is monitoring the proposal and will inform the campus community as soon as more information or finalized regulations are available. For more about the proposed changes, click here.
Visit the InfoCenter for details on the following:
- Employee break clarification
- Equipment and technology requests
- Leadership & Service Awards
PROFESSIONAL NOTES
Dr. Daniel Walther, professor of history and director of the college’s German Institute, is one of 30 higher education administrators nationwide selected to participate in the Council of Independent Colleges 2016-17 Senior Leadership Academy.
Helen Leong, director of international student services, and Karen Edwards, Grinnell College, presented International Students & Career Services on April 22 at the Iowa International Educator’s Conference at Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids.
Dr. Nicki Bakko Toliver, assistant professor of music and associate director of choral activities, prepared and conducted the 2016 Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Honor Choir for the Northeast Iowa Choral Directors Association on April 18 at the Williams Center for the Arts in Oelwein. More than 250 young vocalists were selected from 34 school districts throughout the northeast quadrant of the state.
Kim Folkers, associate professor of marketing, presented as part of a panel at the MBAA annual conference April 13-15 in Chicago. The panel topic was In an Ideal World, What Should Constitute Scholarship and Research for Business Faculty? What Most Benefits Students, Institutions, and Faculty Professionally?
Todd Coleman, assistant vice president for admissions, and Tara Winter, director of student recruitment, are finalists for the Iowa Association for College Admission Counseling’s 2016 Admissions Professional of the Year. The winner will be announced May 16.
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