Students in OLS 320: The Leader Within recently presented to members of the Vernon County Women’s Leadership network. The network was founded in 2020 to support and engage more women leaders in Vernon County – both professionally and in our community. The presentation, “The Power of Self: Confidence, Awareness, and Leadership” offered an opportunity for participants to consider the challenge in balancing expectations of perfection and confidence – both internally and through societal norms. Feedback from attendees was very positive and future sessions will continue to provide class-based insights to local women leaders. The Network is open to any woman who lives or works in Vernon County; please contact Dr. Gallagher at cgallagher@cottey.edu if you would like to be included in future meeting invitations.

Ten women participated in “Her Investment House” this fall, investing $50,000 each in a simulated environment. They compare results from their individual funds and a group fund they collaborate to invest. Rimsa Upreti, a third-year student, finished an internship to research the software, recruit students, and develop a program to start using the stock trading lab this fall. The focus has been on learning various investment philosophies and making research-based decisions. They met weekly Tuesdays at 9 p.m. and will continue monitoring their portfolios over break and through the spring. Participants include Eden Bisetegn, Chido Shamuyarira, Lucy Wambua, Georgia Phillips, Magdalene Asare, Maria Olvera, Evelyn Munufieh, Emma Notick, Rocio Chuto, and Rimsa Upreti. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome to participate. Your entrance fees are paid: if interested, contact Dr. Tammy Ogren.

Carol Clyde Gallagher was recently named the 2021 Membership and Awards Committee Chair for the Woman and Leadership Member Community of the International Leadership Association. Carol is beginning her third year as a member of the Women and Leadership Executive Leadership Team and is also assisting on the planning committee for the 2021 Women and Leadership Colloquium, hosted by Brescia College (Canada’s Women’s College).

I’ve added a Yoga practice to celebrate the Winter Solstice to this playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y-40vw4wjY&list=PLupMq1ikEZH1iOKOLltt0KfmJ2H3X2_zG

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on: Wednesday, December 16 (11 a.m.-5 p.m.), Thursday, December 17 (Noon-6 p.m.), and Friday, December 18 (9 a.m.-2 p.m.), at the First Baptist Church, 301 E. Highland Avenue. Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org and enter NevadaArea to schedule an appointment.

On Dec 5-6, Jo completed YogaFit Level 5 teacher training, and is now a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) with the Yoga Alliance!

Students in OLS 360: Inclusive Leadership presented results from a community survey to members of the Nevada City Council during a highly attended meeting on Tuesday, December 1. Senior Shania Roberts and Junior Dharma Hopkins reviewed information regarding community inclusion, major community challenges, and key phrases arising from the research. In order to continue collecting information, the survey will remain open through Monday, January 11, 2021. Cottey faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to participate in the 10-15 minute survey at https://bit.ly/417CNS.

Invoices and Purchase Orders… Invoices or other items requiring a check to be issued before winter break must be received in the Business Office by Friday, December 18. Purchase requisitions for placing orders also need to be turned in by December 18. Please be sure that all submitted paperwork is complete.

Bank Deposits… Any money/payments received need to be brought to the Business Office by Tuesday, December 22nd to be deposited in the bank prior to break.

December Payrolls… December will have 3 payrolls, since the payroll for January 1 falls on a holiday it will be moved up a day. The payrolls are as follows: December 4, 18, and 31. As Wednesday, December 23, is our last day on campus before break, payroll will need transmitted that day for the December 31 payroll (Dec 13-26 pay period). Timecards have to be finalized and approved by the end of the business day on Monday, December 21. This means that the hours for December 22-26 will have to be estimated. (December 24 & 25 are holidays if you are eligible.) As usual, we will be sending out reminders to supervisors prior to time to submit.

I’ve added a new restorative yoga class to the yoga class playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-klRcaZk9Y&list=PLupMq1ikEZH1iOKOLltt0KfmJ2H3X2_zG

Dr. Carmen Bourbon attended the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Virtual Convention on November 20-22, 2020. She participated in a series of webinars related to effective language learning practices in times of COVID.

Announcing our first ever digital Fall Academic Showcase! During the week of Dec. 7-11, 2020, be sure to check out student work at https://cottey.edu/2020-academic-showcase/. Some items were previously displayed in the physical showcase, and some items are completely new. The work is from Ethnic Women Writers, First Year Writing Seminar, Psychology of Women & Gender, Professional Writing, and the Serenbetz Institute.

As a campus, the importance of TEAM work has probably never been more important than with the manner we have come together to address COVID-19, and keeping our students and campus community safe. One part of the campus TEAM, that has been an important asset, is the housekeeping staff. This was particularly true in the month of November, as we hit our highest number of students being quarantined. In working with the housekeepers, both the regular residence hall housekeeping staff and all those from other parts of campus who have filled in, we have been able to keep students and the campus community safe. They have, in the past month, been cleaning and sanitizing rooms and resetting them with linens, at a remarkable rate! We, housing and student health, could not have managed this process without their hard work and strong commitment to Cottey and our students. They have truly gone above and beyond this month! Thank you to each and every one of the Cottey Housekeeping Staff for your hard work and going the extra mile this past month!

Right before the Thanksgiving break, I received an assignment from the Editor of Kansas City’s Pitch Newspaper to do a story on small colleges and how they are handling the holiday break and Covid-19. I am happy to say that the story was completed the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and was published that same day. To read the article in full as well as see the photos that appeared in the article, please visit this link. https://www.thepitchkc.com/small-colleges-are-handling-a-coronavirus-holiday-season-with-multifaceted-approach/

For the past several years, Cottey has hosted a “Secret Santa for Seniors” drive, with the gifts being distributed to local senior care facilities and elderly shut-ins. The purpose behind this drive is to reduce the anxiety of loneliness experienced by the elderly who are isolated. This loneliness is often heightened during the holiday season. This year, more than any in the past, our seniors need our caring support. It is with greater purpose that we spread joy and hope to a population who has been so adversely affected by the current circumstances.

Our campus community has been very generous to past Secret Santa drives. I know you will be happy to support this initiative, again. Below you will find suggestions for Secret Santa items. Boxes will be located in RBAC by the Kolderie Center, Hinkhouse in the second floor, west stairwell and Main Hall by the Service Center. Donations will be picked up every Tuesday and Thursday by Rimsa Upreti, volunteer management intern, until the end of the drive on December 15. Donations will be distributed by the end of finals week.

Suggested Items:
• Reading / Puzzle books including large print
• Stationery / Calendars
• Hair Brushes/Combs
• Toiletries
• Room Décor
• Pillows
• Throw Blankets
• Socks or Slippers
• Homemade Christmas Card

Please wrap or sack your gift and identify it as male, female, or gender neutral.

If you are not on campus currently, there are many ways to support this initiative in your own community. You could adopt a senior in your neighborhood or send Christmas Cards to a local senior facility. Also, you can call a grandparent or elderly aunt or uncle. All you need to do is reach out and share the most precious gift of all—You!

The Cottey Cupboard, formerly called the Food Pantry, was started in 2019 to address the food insecurities of residential and commuter students. At the same time this important initiative was created, there was an opportunity for the 2019 Newman Civic Fellow, Chido Shamuyarira, to accept a leadership role with the Cottey Cupboard and support the student body with a focus on diversity and inclusion. The coordinator of spiritual life and campus diversity serves as the mentor for the Newman Civic Fellow and assists the students in developing their leadership skills.

The Newman Civic Fellow also receives training from Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to fulfilling the purposes of higher education to empower young leaders as they explore their goals and visions. The 2020 Newman Civic Fellow is Magdalene Asare. Magdalene, along with fellow student volunteers, work to restock food items on shelves in each residence hall weekly. Usage data is also collected and compiled indicating students are highly benefitting from the Cottey Cupboard. Commuter students contact Dr. Sigauke for food items they may need. The Cottey Cupboard was and still is generously supported by faculty and staff. The October Cottey Cupboard challenge drawing winners were the staff members in the Office of Institutional Advancement and the Office of P.E.O. Relations and Alumnae Relations, congratulations! Each department received a plaque! Thank you and may you all enjoy the blessings of this festive season! Blessings! Dr. Sigauke

Congratulations to our two PTK Scholarship Nominees for 2020-2021, Erica Little and Choney Wangmo. Click on the photo to read their bios.

Dear Cottey Community,
Do you have an innovative idea for improved reputation, enhanced student experience, increased recruitment and retention, or long-term efficiencies at Cottey? Could you implement your idea if you just had some seed money to launch it? Then the Innovation Fund is just what you are looking for! The next deadline for Innovation Fund proposals is January 15. The revised application process can be found at the link below. All faculty, staff and students are eligible to apply.

http://public.cottey.edu/Innovation-Fund-January.pdf

President’s Council looks forward to reading your proposals.

Invoices and Purchase Orders… Invoices or other items requiring a check to be issued before winter break must be received in the Business Office by Friday, December 18. Purchase requisitions for placing orders also need to be turned in by December 18. Please be sure that all submitted paperwork is complete.

December Payrolls… December will have 3 payrolls, since the payroll for January 1 falls on a holiday it will be moved up a day. The payrolls are as follows: December 4, 18, and 31. As Wednesday, December 23, is our last day on campus before break, payroll will need transmitted that day for the December 31 payroll (Dec 13-26 pay period). Timecards have to be finalized and approved by the end of the business day on Monday, December 21. This means that the hours for December 22-26 will have to be estimated. (December 24 & 25 are holidays if you are eligible.) As usual, we will be sending out reminders to supervisors prior to time to submit.

I apologize, I did not get a new yoga video made, but in celebration of the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday, I suggest re-visiting this Gratitude Practice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F8swhJ2hAk&list=PLupMq1ikEZH1iOKOLltt0KfmJ2H3X2_zG&index=18

If that’s not what you are in the mood for, there are 24 other yoga videos in this playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiijHLfmaWA&list=PLupMq1ikEZH1iOKOLltt0KfmJ2H3X2_zG

Dr. Selena Kohel presented her research on “What Does It Mean to Be an American?” for students taking a social psychology class at North Central College, November 19. Dr. Kohel also co-facilitated a three week session of the Fusion Course, a course aimed to help faculty incorporate community-based learning in their online courses, through Campus Compact, October 27-November 13.

On November 10, the psychology department hosted the second in a two-part career panel series for psychology majors. The panel consisted of Angie Elmer (Cottey Class of 2017), Reanna Henderson (Cottey Class of 2015), Monica Hernandez (Cottey Class of 2015), Fakeha Khokhar (Instructional Technology Specialist at Cottey), Tamica Tillman (Cottey Class of 2020), and Fortunate Zondo (Cottey Class of 2016). Panelists described their current jobs and the path they had followed to that point and gave valuable career advice to those in attendance.

Be sure to check out the student work on display in the RBAC student art gallery November 16-20! There will be work from multiple disciplines, including Biology, Chemistry, Education, Leadership, Psychology, Spanish, and Writing. And new this year, there will also be a digital showcase in December, featuring additional works–stay tuned for more info!

The Cottey College Dance Department and the Cottey-in-Motion Dance Company present REBOOT: A Dance Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14, 2020, and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, 2020. The INformal Dance Concert, featuring all the Cottey Dance Classes is Tuesday, November 17, at 8 p.m. All performances are in the Auditorium of the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts. Each performance will be approximately 30 minutes and will not have an intermission. Admission is free and no tickets are required. Live audience limited to students and employees of Cottey College and family members of performers. Please wear masks and socially distance. Links to the videos of the performances will be made available the following week. For more information contact Jo Byrnes, Professor of Dance, jbyrnes@cottey.edu, 417-667-6333.

Dr. Trisha Stubblefield attended the 20th Annual North American Conference for Critical Animal Studies November 7-8, 2020. The online conference featured a wide range of scholars and activists, and showcased a variety of intriguing perspectives and resources.

On November 10, the psychology department hosted the second in a two-part career panel series for psychology majors. The panel consisted of Angie Elmer (Cottey Class of 2017), Reanna Henderson (Cottey Class of 2015), Monica Hernandez (Cottey Class of 2015), Fakeha Khokhar (Instructional Technology Specialist at Cottey), Tamica Tillman (Cottey Class of 2020), and Fortunate Zondo (Cottey Class of 2016). Panelists described their current jobs and the path they had followed to that point and gave valuable career advice to those in attendance.

Be sure to check out the student work on display in the RBAC student art gallery November 16-20! There will be work from multiple disciplines, including Biology, Chemistry, Education, Leadership, Psychology, Spanish, and Writing. And new this year, there will also be a digital showcase in December, featuring additional works–stay tuned for more info!

The Cottey College Dance Department and the Cottey-in-Motion Dance Company present REBOOT: A Dance Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14, 2020, and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, 2020. The INformal Dance Concert, featuring all the Cottey Dance Classes is Tuesday, November 17, at 8 p.m. All performances are in the Auditorium of the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts. Each performance will be approximately 30 minutes and will not have an intermission. Admission is free and no tickets are required. Live audience limited to students and employees of Cottey College and family members of performers. Please wear masks and socially distance. Links to the videos of the performances will be made available the following week. For more information contact Jo Byrnes, Professor of Dance, jbyrnes@cottey.edu, 417-667-6333.

Dr. Trisha Stubblefield attended the 20th Annual North American Conference for Critical Animal Studies November 7-8, 2020. The online conference featured a wide range of scholars and activists, and showcased a variety of intriguing perspectives and resources.

The Cottey Theatre Department is proud to present “Marian or the True Tale of Robin Hood” by Adam Szymkowicz ,this Friday, Nov 6 and Saturday Nov. 7 for our college students, faculty and staff at 8pm. We are presenting a special livestream “video on demand” performance available to people who cannot attend in person. Tickets may be purchased at showtix4u.com and searching Cottey. Tickets are $5 plus a small service fee. If a password is requested enter (CotteyPatron). Tickets are limited to 100 per device/computer. “A gender-bending, patriarchy-smashing, hilarious new take on the classic tale. Robin Hood is (and has always been) Maid Marian in disguise, and leads a motley group of Merry Men (few of whom are actually men) against the greedy Prince John. As the poor get poorer and the rich get richer, who will stand for the vulnerable if not Robin? What is the cost of revealing your true self in a time of trouble? Modern concerns and romantic entanglements clash on the battlefield and on the ramparts of Nottingham Castle. A play about selfishness and selflessness and love deferred and the fight. Always the fight. The fight must go on.”

Be sure to stop by the Art Gallery (in the Center for the Arts) to experience and explore the latest art exhibit by Sarah Lorentz, from St. Louis. What do you think it means? She has invited everyone to write down their interpretation of her works in the sign-in book.

Several people/organizations have discussed taking charge of Quad-C Week which is currently scheduled for February 8-12, 2021. The week has historically been a time of fun and funny fundraisers for local organizations. Student have dressed up or had to pay a certain amount of money for suite-selected words or phrases. If you or your organization would like to take charge or be involved in this with this tradition, please get contact of Kris in the Campus Activities Office by November 30. Thanks.

The Cottey College Dance Department and the Cottey-in-Motion Dance Company present REBOOT: A Dance Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14, 2020, and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, 2020. The INformal Dance Concert, featuring all the Cottey Dance Classes is Tuesday, November 17, at 8 p.m. All performances are in the Auditorium of the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts. Admission is free and no tickets are required. Live audience limited to students and employees of Cottey College and family members of performers. Please wear masks and socially distance. Links to the videos of the performances will be made available the following week. For more information contact Jo Byrnes, Professor of Dance, jbyrnes@cottey.edu, 417-667-6333.

I’ve added a “Grief-busting” yoga class to this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiijHLfmaWA&list=PLupMq1ikEZH1iOKOLltt0KfmJ2H3X2_zG

Congratulations to Megan Corrigan for receiving the October Extra Mile Award. As a member of the multicultural festival committee, Megan was instrumental in its planning and organization, along with faculty, staff and students. The Festival, originally scheduled for October 4, has in the past attracted a huge percentage of the campus. Instead of cancelling the event due to the pandemic, they boldly move forward and coordinated the virtual celebration of world cultures through cooking demonstrations, cultural information, and performances of music and dance presented by Cottey students and employees. The video of the activities will be available later in the semester. Be sure to watch for it! On a daily basis, Megan also assists the international students and provides them with important resources and support. She opens many doors of opportunity for them. Her kindness and commitment is truly appreciated. Thanks for going the extra mile!

This year, Hanging of the Greens will be held Friday-Saturday, November 20-21. Due to COVID-19, we have put a different spin on the activities. Student organizations will decorate and hang their wreaths in advance of the weekend. Dining Services will present their traditional wonderful dinner on Saturday, November 21. We will move all of the Friday activities to the Center for the Arts and the schedule will be:
4-8 p.m.

• Skating on iceless ice skating rink
• Hot chocolate bar and wassail
• Holiday crafts
• Beanies giveaway
• 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dinner (pre-ordered individual pizzas)
• 6:30-7 p.m. Chapel service
• 7 p.m. Lighting of wreath and trees
• 8 p.m. Movie: Frozen II

It should be a great weekend, we hope to see you there!

Last week Dr. Kohn’s ecology class had the chance to meet with Lindsey Reinarz, the Osage Plains Project Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy. The class had the chance to visit one of the last wetland prairies in Missouri. It turned out to be a beautiful day.

Prof. Jo Byrnes attended the virtual National Dance Education Organization Conference, DANCE and SOCIETY: Developing Community, Empathy, and Understanding through Dance on October 23-25.

The Cottey College Dance Department and the Cottey-in-Motion Dance Company present REBOOT: A Dance Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14, 2020, and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, 2020, in the Auditorium of the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts. Admission is free and no tickets are required. Live audience limited to students and employees of Cottey College and family members of performers. Please wear masks and socially distance. A link to the video of the performance will be made available. For more information contact Jo Byrnes, Professor of Dance, jbyrnes@cottey.edu, 417-667-6333.

Please join us for Vacation College! Class proposals are due October 31.

Cottey Law Scholar Rebeca Dorantes (Class of 2019) spoke with pre-law students via Zoom on October 23 about her first-year experience at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law. Rebeca, now in her second year of the program, told students that the first year is challenging and requires self-discipline and the ability to write clearly and read analytically–a lot. She relayed that studying is a full-time occupation and that working a job more than 20 hours a week requires approval of the dean. During summers law students are expected to find a legal job to continue their learning. In her case, she worked for a judge. Rebeca also underscored the financial commitment that law school requires but added that, for her, it was something she was willing to take on to achieve her goal of being an attorney. Even though it might seem like there is little free time, she reflected, it is important to have a group of friends for support and to have a life apart from studying.

I had a request for some yoga one could do in their office/at their desks. I have created these 3 videos:

Rolling with a Tennis Ball (15 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xho1gkED36I&t=5s

Yoga at Your Desk (6 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD1t2yy_Jqw

Office Yoga (7 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaQ_DVXHv9w

Enjoy!

On Saturday, October 17th, both Martina Ramirez and Ella Page broke the Cross Country 5k school record. We raced at the Falcon NCCAA Classic hosted by Kansas Christian College where Martina won the race with a time of 19:29 and Ella finished in a close second place in 19:35. This breaks the 5 year old school record of 19:37!

There is a new exhibit in the art gallery located in the Center for the Arts. Viewing hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, until November 21. Be sure to catch it and comment on it before it is gone! Artist Bio: Contemporary painter Sarah Lorentz [American, 1994 – present] creates energetic, striking compositions full of bold brushwork and electric color while tapping into the nostalgia of her 1990’s childhood in a small, Midwestern town. Though the subject matter of her work ranges from evocative figurative commentaries to pastoral plein air landscapes, the physicality of material and deliberate remnants of the process reveal the same confident hand behind the brush.

Dear Cottey Community,
The Serenbetz Institute for Women’s Leadership, Social Responsibility, and Global Awareness support Cottey’s mission to educate women to be contributing members of a global society. In an effort to support Cottey’s mission, the Serenbetz Institute provides opportunities to engage in leadership immersions, summer leadership internships, and undergraduate research grants. Applications are now being accepted for Spring 2021 Leadership Immersion and Undergraduate Research Grants. Students who have declared a baccalaureate major may apply. Please see below for more details. Leadership Immersion Grant A leadership immersion is an intensive academic study or personal enrichment travel experience that directly relates to at least two of the Serenbetz Institute’s three foci: leadership, social responsibility, and global awareness. Faculty sponsors or students with at least a 2.50 GPA are eligible to apply.
Funding requests may include proposals for group or individual travel. Funding will not be awarded to support study abroad experiences. Faculty-led group experiences will be given precedence. Funding requests should not exceed $1,250 per student. For further information, including example applications and the evaluation rubric, please visit the Leadership Immersions Program Process page. Note regarding Covid-19: Many conferences typically held in person have been moved to virtual events. The Leadership Team will accept applications for funding for these virtual events. Proposals must be submitted via eLearning by Midnight, November 13th, 2020: 1) Log into https://my.cottey.edu; 2) Faculty: Go to “Academics Tab,” then click the down arrow by “Faculty” on the menu to the left of the screen. Click “Forms.” Students: Go to “Academics Tab,” then click the down arrow by “Student” on the menu to the left of the screen. Click “Forms.” 3) Click on “Serenbetz Institute Leadership Immersion Application.”
Tip: The application includes several questions that will take some thought and revision of writing. You may find it helpful to review the application prior to beginning filling out the form. Undergraduate Research Grant Undergraduate research is an investigation or inquiry that is conducted by an undergraduate student and makes an intellectual or creative contribution to the student’s discipline. Undergraduate research grants are made available to students to focus on research projects related to the study of leadership and leadership development within their academic discipline. Students with at least a 3.0 GPA are eligible to apply. Funding will not be awarded to support research projects undertaken for academic credit, including projects embedded in courses and capstone projects. Funding requests should not exceed $2,000. For further information, including an example undergraduate research grant application, please visit the Undergraduate Research Grants page. Proposals must be submitted via the MyCottey portal by Midnight, November 13th, 2020: 1) Log into https://my.cottey.edu; 2) Faculty: Go to “Academics Tab,” then click the down arrow by “Faculty” on the menu to the left of the screen. Click “Forms.” Students: Go to “Academics Tab,” then click the down arrow by “Student” on the menu to the left of the screen. Click “Forms.” 3) Click on “Serenbetz Institute Undergraduate Research Application.” Tip: The application includes several questions that will take some thought and revision of writing. You may find it helpful to review the application prior to beginning filling out the form. Proposal Review Process All completed applications will be reviewed by the Leadership Team, an independent committee composed of administrative staff, faculty, and students. Applications will be prioritized by quality and alignment with Serenbetz Institute foci (women’s leadership, social responsibility, and global awareness). Evaluation rubrics can be found on the pages linked above. All applicants will be notified of their award status by the end of the Fall 2020 semester. Project Assessment All immersion experiences and undergraduate research projects require grant recipients to provide an assessment of the experience (including a personal reflection on learning), a campus presentation or workshop related to the experience, and at least two photographs showcasing the project. These items are due within 30 days of the completion of the experience.

The sponsors of Alpha Chi would like to invite the campus community to join us in inducting our new members for the 2020-2021 academic year through a virtual ceremony via Zoom on Tuesday, October 27 at 11 am (CT). The induction is an extraordinary recognition for the inductees as membership to the Alpha Chi National Honor Society is restricted to the top 10% (by GPA) of juniors and seniors at the member institution. We hope you will join us in welcoming and celebrating the new inductees for this year:
• Rose Atukunda
• Shania Roberts.

The link to the Zoom meeting is: https://zoom.us/j/91511624143?pwd=elVkYU1Lb1JaMFhIQjlaZXVLYUFjdz09 
Meeting ID: 915 1162 4143 Passcode: 347536

We look forward to seeing you there.

Best regards,
Dr. Bourbon, Professor Chelminska, and Dr. Roy

Rebeca Dorantes (Class of 2019, IR major; writing minor) will be holding an information session for interested pre-law students via Zoom on October 23 from 12:15 until 1:00 p.m. Dorantes is in her second year of law school at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law. She will discuss the law school admissions process and reflect on her first year of law school and summer employment. Then she will answer questions. Students interested in participating in the Zoom session should email pre-law advisor, Sandy Chaney at schaney@cottey.edu. Let her know their intent to participate and then she will send an invitation to the meeting.

I am excited to share this recording with you featuring Cottey professors, Chris Ortiz and Dr. Jorge Dioses, expressing the power of culture, language celebration, and also the value of diversity and inclusion at Cottey College.
Please use the zoom presentation that was recorded for 42 minutes and not the one recorded for 2 minutes.
https://zoom.us/rec/share/z1krYTBoxyioUf2IWkgKeb9jNrrqACL_bfIRL2uvYsxieULV-Gi_APV9r0EC8Ma8.ycPyKbB0qw_f-Y5j
Passcode: 9=Bzm!2A

On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the psychology department hosted a virtual career panel, emphasizing careers in psychology that require a graduate degree. Panelists included Dr. Angela AuBuchon, Director for the Working Memory and Language Laboratory at Boys Town National Research Hospital; Dr. Jason Lloyd, Assistant Professor in School Psychology at Pittsburg State University; Dr. Kristan Russell, Assistant Professor of Justice Studies at Prairie View A&M University; Megan (Griffin) VanBenCoten, Cottey graduate (’14) and nearing completion of M.S. in Clinical Counseling at Bellevue University; and Dr. Gaelynn Wolf Bordonaro, Professor in Art Therapy at Emporia State University. The panelists described what their work entailed and their paths to their current positions. The department is planning a second career panel for November with a focus on careers in psychology with a bachelor’s degree.

The Serenbetz Institute invites you to our virtual Women Who Wow event on October 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Selena Kohel participated in three diversity, equity and inclusion events in various roles. On October 4, she served as a mentor for the Asian American Psychological Association Convention mentor/mentee session. On October 9, she served as a panelist for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Student Committee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webinar. In both roles, she discussed ways in which one might incorporate social justice and advocacy in one’s work, including successes and challenges. On October 14, she served as a presenter/facilitator for the Antiracist Dialogues for Action Educator Wellness/Healing session. In this role, she presented/facilitated discussion of ways in which one might incorporate emotional intelligence in one’s work, in particular, managing one’s emotions.

Stop by the Library and view the current displays for Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through October 15th. Alpha Mu Gamma, Dr. Carmen Bourbon, and the library collaborated to create multiple display areas to celebrate and raise awareness about Hispanic Heritage. You may view a digital slideshow and book/film display focusing on the life and impact of Cesar Chavez, in addition to the origins of Hispanic Heritage Month. Additionally, there is a display in the library foyer with books and items that celebrate Hispanic authors, artists, and heritage.

Students in the Ecosystems Function and Management course visited a site conserved by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The Marmaton River Bottoms Prairie Wetland is one of the few remaining wetland prairies across the United States, and the largest one in Missouri. Students got to learn about the different management techniques implemented by TNC and discuss the associated challenges with the Osage Plains Coordinator Lindsey Reinarz. Experiencing one of the most unique types of grasslands, and learning about the wealth of biodiversity that prairie ecosystems contain as a result of land use change and anthropogenic choices was very interesting.

Get Your FLU SHOT On Campus! To continue to serve our Cottey community and strive for a healthy fall and early spring semester, Health Services and the Employee Wellness Program are teaming up for the third annual on campus Flu Shot Clinic. We will be hosting a registered nurse from Vernon County Health Department on campus 3-5 p.m., on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, and 10 a.m. to Noon, Thursday, October 29, in Hinkhouse, Health Services Office. To schedule your appointment, please contact Robin Conner at rconner@cottey.edu or by calling Health Services at extension 2157.

To solidify your appointment, please provide your name, date of birth, mailing address, a copy of insurance card, and which day and time you prefer by Friday, October 23. Students, I should have your health insurance card on file, if you do not have a copy.

• Appointments will be made and reserved based on a first come first serve who submit all the required entry documents.
• Most insurance plans accepted. (Cottey’s insurance plan accepted)
• For those with no insurance, but would like to receive the flu vaccine, please reach out to me and we will discuss free resources through the Vernon County Health Department if eligible or additional resources through the College. We want all students and employees to have access to the flu shot this season.
• Please dress in layers as injections will be administered to the upper arm.

All student and employees who participate will be entered into a drawing for various gift cards! If you have already received your flu shot for this fall, you may email me a copy of your verification and you will still be entered in to win!

Not sure if you want to get vaccinated or not? Please refer to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for more information: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/flushot.htm

Magdalene Asare, Eden Bisetegn, Tsion Shanko, Geneva Webster and Brenda Ross attended the 2020 Virtual National Summit on the Social Determinants on the afternoons of Monday – Wednesday, October 5 – 7. The conference was organized by The Root Cause Coalition (https://www.rootcausecoalition.org/), “a non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of more than 75 leading health systems, hospital associations, foundations, businesses, national and community nonprofits, health insurers, academic institutions and policy centers. The Coalition works to achieve health equity through cross-sector collaboration in advocacy, education and research. In support of this mission, the Coalition seeks to uphold its four core values: Focusing on Community Change, Advancing Authentic Collaboration, Scaling Innovative Solutions, and Engaging and Learning from Communities.”

FAFSA GIVEAWAY Complete and submit the 2021-22 FAFSA in October and be automatically entered into a random drawing for prizes! NEED HELP FILING THE 21-22 FAFSA? The Financial Aid Office is here to help! Call 417-448-1445 or email financialaid@cottey.edu.

Hello all . . . a new yoga class to counteract too much sitting has been added to this playlist! Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_qTSwKjwLg&list=PLupMq1ikEZH1iOKOLltt0KfmJ2H3X2_zG

The wellness committee together with the local YMCA is offering pickleball as a wellness activity this semester for all campus employees. See below for more info. Only 20 spots are open for each Thursday so please make sure to reserve your spot by sending an email to gfernando@cottey.edu. Spectators/friends/family members are welcome to come watch you play, everyone should follow COVID guidelines give below. There will be a mock tournament on Dec 10th for all participants.

You can also collect wellness points for your team challenge (see Bernadette Correa’s email last week for more info on team challenge) for attending the pickleball program. See you on the court this Thursday at 6 p.m.!

You do not have to be a YMCA member to attend this program. Just bring your Cottey ID card. If you have any questions, please email me or Bernadette (chair of wellness committee) at bcorrea@cottey.edu.

As a friendly reminder, please submit all website change requests through website request form which is found on the intranet under Marketing Resources. To submit a change, click on the Website Update Request link. This ensures that your requests get scheduled and makes these projects easier for the marketing department to track.
http://rock.cottey.edu/brand_guide/index.html

HANGING OF THE GREENS FORMAL DINNER –November 21, 2020 < /br>
Faculty and staff are invited to attend Hanging of the Greens Dinner unless restrictions change due to Covid. Ticket Sales for faculty and staff will take place during the lunch hour in Raney Dining Room foyer on the following dates: Monday, October 19; Tuesday, October 20; Wednesday, October 21; Thursday, October 22; Friday, October 23. If you are unable to purchase your ticket(s) during this time, please contact me at extension 2150 or email me at tstacy@cottey.edu.

We are sorry but no outside guests will be allowed this year (students, faculty, and staff only). Please feel free to email me ahead of time so I can put your name on the list and have tickets ready for you when you pick them up, or you can complete the following survey sent out to campus: https://forms.gle/EBKZiVxQAPAVWBnXA

Contact me for any seating preferences. First Seating: Dinner – 5:30–6:30 p.m. Second Seating: Dinner – 7:15– 8:15 p.m. Faculty and staff Price: $12.00. If you have any questions, please contact me.

The Curricular Advisory Board of the First-Year Writing Seminar is now accepting nominations for the Fall 2021 Common Reader, the text to be read by all FWS 101 students next year! We are particularly seeking texts that address the thread of “Global Awareness.” Submit your nominations here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdv_jAMdLIXtc0VGfyM7rMLcZTM4vSzNY8kNxrO7C-WZOMPGg/viewform< /br> Nominations will close on October 23.

I am very pleased to announce we have a wellness challenge starting October 1, 2020 that will run through November 30, 2020. From what I hear, last year’s weight loss competition was quite popular, and we want to do a variation of that this year to include those who may not necessarily want to lose weight but are interested in obtaining a healthier lifestyle. That being said, this year’s Cottey Wellness Challenge is activity based.

Each department will be a team to compete against other departments. One person from that team will track the time each team member spends doing physical activity for the duration of the competition. Physical activity could include anything from walking to weight lifting to competitive sports. At the end, the Wellness Committee will take the average amount of time per team and determine the winner. Winners will be announced at our Staff Wellness lunch in December and will receive a small prize. (More information regarding the Staff Wellness lunch will be announced soon.)

I understand that many of us work for multiple departments, so it is up to you to choose on which team you participate. The main goal is to encourage each other to participate in some type of physical activity more often than we already do. The hope is that by participating with your department you can encourage one another by taking lunch walks, using the treadmill desk, or making use of your 30 minutes twice a week Wellness Time for some activity.

Once you have your team please chose a “captain” who will send me the team members’ names and a team name. This person will also be tasked with tracking activity time and will have access to a Google Sheet to make this easier. They will also be able to see the competitions’ activity. For anyone who has a smart watch or fitness tracker this is a great tool to track your personal activity time. However, these devices are not required as the honor system can also be used.

I look forward to seeing what types of activities you all decide to participate in!

Jill Compton has been selected as the September extra mile award recipient. Her nomination stated, “Jill Compton deserves the extra mile award for many reasons. She is someone that is happy to jump in and help the students in a variety of ways. I have heard from students that she is easy to talk to even during difficult times or situations. I feel she goes above and beyond to ensure she is a team player and help in any way she can. She contributes great insight to CORT and the leadership team on campus. She is a great resource to have on our campus and for our students. Jill continues to take on an enormous role with handling all of the concern notices that are coming in this semester and that workload has been substantial.” Jill’s name will placed in a year end drawing for a fabulous prize. Thanks to Jill for going the extra mile for our campus community!

ANT 101 Students on two different Saturdays visited Nevada’s Deepwood cemetery to consider what anthropologists might analyze in these settings–demography through time, the material culture of graves, epitaph language, etc. They tried their hands at some of this documentation and analysis as well.

Do you like being outdoors? Do you like planting things? Do you like peppers and okra? Would you like a pocket full of cherry tomatoes? If so, join Drs. Quick and Kohn for a S.A.V.E. (Students Against a Vanishing Environment)-sponsored event this coming Saturday between 1:30 and 3:30. We’ll start at the RBAC garden (it’s between the northern parts of the RBAC building near the Austin side) and potentially break into smaller group that will work in the greenhouse as well. Any help appreciated: you can come at any point and stay as long as you like. If you have any questions or would like to help in the future (but can’t help Saturday), let Dr. Quick know.

Dr. Erica Sigauke the coordinator of spiritual life and diversity is mentoring a variety of students in leading various programs on campus. She is excited to have several volunteers who are helping to restock food items on the three Cottey Cupboards in the halls. The restocking of food items is done every Sunday. Magdalene Asare, the Newman Civic Fellow, is in charge of leading the volunteers and they are doing a tremendous job since they started doing that at the beginning of the semester. She documents all the food items, checks on the expiration dates and also helps with the restocking in collaboration with other students. The program is making a huge difference to many students including commuter students.

Assistant Professor of Art, Tara Booth, will have a solo exhibition at Kansas City Artist Coalition from October 2-30 in Kansas City, MO. The gallery is open to 5 people at a time, masks required. For more information or to sign up for a time to view the show, please visit https://kansascityartistscoalition.org/tour/october-2-30-2020-2-2/

I have added a new class to this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Lr4gYaDkXpU&list=PLupMq1ikEZH1iOKOLltt0KfmJ2H3X2_zG. I hope to add one or two each month, and will post the links here in the Chronicle. Any requests, let me know!

The Ecology class just had its first field trip to Walton Park, where the class collected data on stream macroinvertebrates. Highlights included collecting a freshwater mussel and seeing some toads. Wearing a mask and waders while in a stream was a new experience for many of the students.

We continue with our celebrations as we observe the Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month is an important national celebration recognized September 15–October 15, 2020, for the contributions both Hispanic and Latino Americans made to the United States. The President made a proclamation on September 14, 2020, expressing how more than 60 million Hispanic Americans have made countless contributions to the American culture and society. This is the largest minority group in the United States today. History states that the generations of Hispanic Americans have consistently helped make this country strong and prosperous. This year’s celebration theme is “Hispanics: Be Proud of Your Past and Embrace the Future.” This celebration was established as Hispanic Heritage Week by Rep. Edward R. Roybal and President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, and is now a month-long observance.

We invite everyone to respect and observe this month by supporting the rich culture and values of the Hispanic community. You are welcome to read more regarding the history and outstanding leadership by some Hispanic men and women serving people with their different gifts. Also, please see the link to the trailer for the 2020 Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. It is always a joy to celebrate together and show our love to those who celebrate their cultures around the world.

https://www.hispanicmonth.net/hispanic-heritage-month/hispanic-heritage-month-theme-2020

Le Cercle français (French Club) is hosting a French baking class from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at the CWL. You can join us on Zoom using the following information:

https://zoom.us/j/7575012179?pwd=YVBDWUFhbXJZbittYWM0Qi9CcldGZz09

Meeting ID: 757 501 2179 Passcode: 749316

The spiritual life and diversity office invited the Cottey community to participate in various peace week activities as part of the annual celebration. Our celebration included library resources, lunch time dialogues and listening to peace music. These activities brought students together and allowed them to share some peaceful encouraging community building messages that promote love, peace, respect and unity. In addition to that, students participated in an amazing activity of posting peace messages on posters that were placed in each hall for the whole week. This year’s theme, Shaping Peace Together, encouraged everyone to focus on spreading love, compassion, kindness, and hope in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. The community prayed together during lunch on September 21, as part of the International Day of Peace celebration. We are very proud of our community for the outstanding support for one another.

We have received questions about how to find the most recent campus COVID-19 reports. Simply go to the Cottey.edu website, click on the “COVID-19 Information and Updates,” and then click on the red “Cottey COVID-19 Statistics.” The numbers are being updated twice per week.

Jo Byrnes completed Level 4 YogaFit Teacher Training September 10-13. Only one more course and she will complete her Registered Yoga Teacher 200-hour training!

Congratulations to the following employees who won gift cards in the recent drawings for those who participated in the biometric screening event and the voluntary COVID-19 testing program.

$100 gift cards for COVID-19 testing participation:
Jo Byrnes
Carrie Dreyer
Angela Glosser
Adrianne Rogers
Elizabeth Verklan

$20 gift cards for biometric screening participation:
Connie Allen
Robin Conner
Tracy Farrales
Denise Carrick Hedges
Hannah Todd

This past Saturday, we hung a new art exhibit by Liz Darling from Pittsburg, Kansas. As many of the pieces are related to females, moons, nature, and rebirth, I thought that you might enjoy the exhibit. I have attached some sample images. The gallery, located in the Center for the Arts, is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Title of Exhibition: Luna Artist Bio: Liz Darling is a visual artist from Kansas. Deliberate and intricate, Darling uses watercolor, ink, collage, and other media to create precise, organic compositions that often center on themes of spirituality, transience, the divine feminine, and the natural world. In 2010, Darling earned a bachelor of fine arts degree with an emphasis in painting from Pittsburg State University. In addition to creating daily, she contributes to the collective creative consciousness by teaching art to extremely inspiring and enthusiastic elementary school students.

Artist Statement: My work is an exploration of the sacred. I work in a variety of media, often utilizing subject matter that celebrates the exquisite magic of the natural world and the duality of growth and decay. The symbolism and content in my work are heavily informed by motherhood, my religious upbringing, and immersive spiritual experiences. Through my art practice, I seek to manifest an alternative way of thinking about the power structures within which we live. I hope to contribute to the shift of common social paradigms by challenging institutions and ideas that provide the script for our widely embraced and often destructive belief systems.

Raney is now offering a separate take-out area! See the attached flyer for more information.

Cottey received a letter of acknowledgment of and appreciation for Dr. Oindrilla Roy, chapter advisor for Alpha Chi. The letter stated that even in the midst of the pandemic, Dr. Roy “ensured that many of [our] high achieving students were recognized for their exemplary academic work with membership in an honor society that has been recognizing and encouraging student scholarship since 1922.”

Dr. Roy, we appreciate you and your service to Alpha Chi.

At the end of each term, the Office of the Registrar reports the cumulative grade point averages (GPAs) for the suites, as well as commuter students who are included in one group. Any suite or group who earns a 3.5 or greater cumulative GPA for that term is recognized with a certificate for the suite. The state/district/group who sponsors the suite/group is notified so that information can be shared via social media. Additionally, the suite/group who has the highest GPA overall is recognized by having its name added to a plaque that is displayed in the Rubie Burton Academic Center.

Last spring, despite the unusual circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, five suites earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater: Arkansas Suite (P.E.O. Hall), Cal-Gardner Suite (P.E.O. Hall), Missouri Suite (P.E.O. Hall), Santa Barbara Suite (Robertson Hall), and New Mexico Suite (Reeves Hall). The suite recognized for the overall highest GPA for spring 2020 was the California-Gardner Suite. Congratulations!

Cindy Spencer, Director of Housing, shared, that of the spring residents in those recognized suites, the following students are enrolled at Cottey this term. Please congratulate them when you see or hear from them!

Arkansas Suite: Ashanti Knight and Alison Brown
Cal-Gardner Suite: Wadzanai Ndambakuwa, Laureen Dulo, Julia Foster, and Choney Wangmo
Missouri Suite: Maria Olvera Penaloza and Shania Roberts
Santa Barbara Suite: Alyssa Montoya, Rimsa Upreti, Geneva Webster, Audrey Denekas, Mikayla Lawrence, and Kennedy Knueven
New Mexico Suite: Tsion Shanko and Leah Calkins

Congratulations to these students on their hard work and dedication to their studies.

Alpha Mu Gamma invites the Cottey community in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Different activities will be taken as part of this annual celebration.
So come and join the fun!

I have added a new class to this playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zxWi4KCrc&list=PLupMq1ikEZH1iOKOLltt0KfmJ2H3X2_zG
I hope to add one or two each month, and will post the links here in the Chronicle. Any requests, let me know!

We have begun a sign up process for pool use due to high demand for wanting to use the pool and COVID restrictions on maximum number of people allowed in the pool. There will be a sign-up sheet on the pool door where patrons can sign up for 30 minute sessions.

The Comets are hosting the Cottey College Invitational this Friday, Sept 11, at Frank E. Peters Golf Course. The Comets are opening their season and racing in a 5k at 6:30 p.m. Spectators are not allowed, but anyone can follow their Instagram for updates and results (@cottey_xctf).

The Cottey Cupboard, formerly known as the Food Pantry, is a student-led initiative that supports all Cottey students facing food insecurity by providing non-perishable food items at no fee. Residential and commuter students are welcome to use this resource available on campus. An example of foods available may include cereals; soups; crackers; noodles; spaghetti sauce; canned vegetables and fruits; dry mixes; flour; sugar; rice; and condiments. The program also provides opportunities to students in developing leadership skills through collaboration, organizational skills, and volunteerism. 

The Newman Civic Fellow, Magdalene Asare, is responsible for tracking inventory of donated food items and items used. Magdalene is also available to pick up any donations to the Food Pantry you may have by contacting her by email at Magdalene.asare@student.cottey.edu. We are very grateful to the Cottey community for the great support of this project.   

Each hall has an area designated for food items and is accessible to all residents. At this time, commuter students contact Dr. Sigauke to make arrangements for food items.

A non-denominational service, under the director of Dr. Sigauke and co-led by students, is scheduled every Sunday for the campus community. The services are held from 9-9:45 a.m., in the Missouri Recital Hall. These services are an opportunity for the campus community to come together to worship despite our diverse values and spiritual beliefs.

Following the service, please join the drum circle to practice and play a variety of rhythms. Playing with the drum circle is a fun and therapeutic experience for some.

The Serenbetz Institute is hosting a scavenger hunt to encourage student interaction with the National Archives Rightfully Hers displays. Students can locate the displays in the RBAC student lounge and the RFAB lobby, and then fill out a questionnaire through Google Forms with information found on the displays. For each correct answer provided, students receive an entry into one of four drawings, each for $25 in Cottey Cash. While this is a student event only, we thought faculty should be aware to promote the opportunity!

Cottey College stands apart from a vast majority of colleges and universities across the country insomuch as the institutional bylaws require the college to remain debt free. This means that any financial undertaking, no matter how large or small, must be fully funded prior to initiation of purchase or start of project.
According to a (2014) study performed by NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers) the average long-term debt carried by a college or university stands at $217.5 million. Many college and universities rely on annual operating budgets to repay these debts. This is not the case with Cottey College, and as a result the annual operating budget is developed to truly support the core mission and goals of the College.
Many projects and purchases at Cottey College come from gifts given by one or many donors. A great example of this is the recently renovated library space. The College previously planned to renovate the library sometime in the future but received an unexpected gift designated to be used specifically for library renovations. With this gift in hand, Cottey was able to accelerate the timeline of the library renovation.
Another example is that of the student center initiative. The College created a plan of action centered on enhancing the student experience by adding a designated student center to campus. An initiative was started to raise the funds necessary to construct the new student center. Within approximately 18 months, the college received enough financial support to fully fund the construction of the new space.
Cottey College prides itself on being an institution that remains debt free and is dedicated to being good stewards of its resources. Because of the foresight of leadership throughout the years, Cottey is well positioned to withstand troubling times, including the current pandemic. It is because of careful consideration and wise decision making that Cottey College boasts such a strong financial position and is poised to strengthen that position into the future.

NACUBO. (2014). Strategic Debt Managment. Retrieved August, 2014, from file:///C:/Users/ttubbs/Downloads/CUBA_Strategic_Debt_Management_FINAL%20(3).pdf

Justin Mays is the student life August extra mile award recipient. His nomination stated, “We are beyond thankful for Justin’s patience during such a busy time. He is always calm, cool, collected and never seems to get upset nor show frustration with the many of tasks on his plate. His positive attitude and exceptional patience to answer any questions is nothing short of a miracle. There has never been a time when Justin is unable to help. Justin is always helpful and even dropped everything when we called during Orientation to get the ID machine fixed up as well as his help with live streaming Convocation.” Student Life thanks you for going the EXTRA MILE! Justin’s name will be placed in a drawing for a year end gift.

Stop by and view “Drawings by David Hicks” in the Art Gallery located in the Center for the Arts. His large-scale pieces center on human nature and the exhibit will be taken down on Thursday, September 10. Don’t miss out!

The Common Reader for this fall’s First-Year Writing Seminar is Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson. The rest of the Cottey community is also invited to read along! See the attached reading schedule, which also contains a link to a content warning guide for the individual chapters.

Now that faculty and staff alike are returning to offices and classrooms for the start of another academic year, I would like to take a moment to remind everyone that out of respect for members of our community with allergies that Cottey is both a smoke-free and scent-free campus. Employees are asked to adhere to the following guidance:
Scent Free and Smoke Free Campus
Cottey is not only a smoke free, but also a “scent free” campus. People with chemical sensitivity are adversely affected (nausea, vomiting, headaches, and migraines) by fragrances found in such personal products as perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, and scented lotions. Please be mindful of the effects that scented products can cause and refrain from wearing them on the Cottey College campus.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this. I hope that everyone has a great start to this academic year. Let’s all work together to make it the best one yet at Cottey!

Beginning its 22nd year on campus, the Peer Empowerment Program (PEP) is a group of selected student volunteers trained by the counseling office to provide support to students. Peer listeners are trained on the importance of confidentiality, listening and communication skills, conflict resolution, high risk behaviors, sexual assault responses, and mental health first aid. They may assist with various concerns including family issues, homesickness, academic stress, relationship problems and other conflicts. They are also trained on crisis intervention and when to make referrals to the Counseling Office and other resources.

Peer listeners for 2020-2021 are:
P.E.O. Hall: Evelyn Munufieh, Choney Wangmo
Reeves Hall: Joan Dwomoh, Phoebe Arthur
Robertson Hall: Avriana Daniels, Gillian Schlichtmann, Rae Stuits, Mary Winsor

Peer listeners returned to campus early for training. They will continue weekly training and supervision throughout the year. Peer listeners are trained to help students identify and clarify problems, empower students to generate options and alternative actions, offer support and encouragement, and seek additional help when needed. Peer listeners are encouraged to set healthy boundaries in order to take care of themselves and their coursework first. Please feel free to refer a student by recommending the peer listener option to students. Thank you for your support of PEP.

Please join me in congratulating the Fall 2020 Cottey-in-Motion Dance Company! Gabby Bastidas, Stephany Crooks, Emily Fisher, Gillian Schlichtmann, Sasha Smith, Giselle Souza, Maya Struhar, Elsa Yeager

M–7:45-8:35 a.m., Mariana; 7– 9 p.m., Kim
T–7–9 p.m., Kim
W–7:45–8:35 a.m.,Mariana; 7–9 p.m., Arianna
R–7-9 p.m., Kim

F–7:45–8:35 a.m., Mariana; 10:35-11:35 a.m.; Stephany; 7–9 p.m., Mariana
SAT–3–5 p.m., Arianna

SUN–3–5 p.m., Mariana

1. Maximum capacity:

• 9 people in the water
• 12 people total (deck and water)

2. Face mask must be worn at all time while on the pool deck.
3. Upon Arrival

• Temperature will be checked (no admittance if temperature is >100.4)
• Use hand sanitizer to disinfect hands

4. Upon entry to the water

• Remove face mask
• Follow 6 feet of social distancing- use signs on deck to be aware of your position in relation to others
• The lifeguard may use lane lines and/or ropes to create social distanced areas
• Use only clean equipment from the storage area
• Do not share goggles, nose clips, swim caps, snorkels, etc.
• Do not use goggles, etc. you find lying on the deck

5. Swimming in lane lines

• If you are alone in the lane – swim in the center of the lane
• If you are sharing a lane
• Segregate by speed –to avoid having to overtake other swimmers
• Swim as far to the side of the lane as possible
• Start from different ends of the pool to avoid congregating when stopping

6. Upon exit of the water

• Replace face mask
• Put any used equipment on to the “to be disinfected pile”

Recently the CDC updated its mask guidance to state that they do not recommend using masks if they have an exhalation valve or vent. The purpose of wearing a mask is to help prevent respiratory droplets from reaching others and potentially spreading COVID-19. Masks with valves and vents do not do enough to prevent respiratory droplets from leaking out. Therefore, Cottey asks that employees refrain from wearing masks with valves and vents.

You can read more about this recommendation and the CDC’s general mask recommendations by going to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html.

Thanks to everyone for working together to keep Cottey as safe as we can this semester.

Dear Cottey Faculty and Staff, I hope you all have had a great first week back together on campus! It was wonderful to see and talk to so many of you at the Campus Celebration. Months of planning will now be put into place as we welcome our new students to Orientation and our returning students back to campus. I’d like to thank every member of the Cottey team for your hard work and dedication to make this semester successful for our students. Let’s make this academic year a great one!

Sincerely, Jann Weitzel, Ph.D. President

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Opening Convocation ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2020, will be open to new students only and will be available for viewing via livestream. To allow for adequate social distancing, the event will be held in two sessions:

• Students with last names A-J will begin at 7 p.m. Central Time

• Students with last names K-Z will begin at 8:30 p.m. Central Time

The event will be live streamed at cottey.edu/convocation. We encourage you to watch as the new students are welcomed to the College and take part in the 85-year tradition of signing of the Cottey Book. Sarah Raffurty, Cottey Class of 2011, will be the honored speaker for Convocation. Ms. Raffurty holds an Associate in Arts degree in History from Cottey College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a focus on Women and Gender Studies from Purdue University and a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies from Syracuse University. She currently serves as the membership manager for the still-under-construction International African American Museum. Ms. Raffurty has a strong background in the arts and cultural institutions, with internship experience at notable institutions across the U.S. such as the National WASP WWII Museum, Erie Canal Museum, National WWI Museum and Memorial, Bellamy Mansion Museum, and Smithsonian National Postal Museum. She has experience in a range of roles—from exhibit designer at the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine to development coordinator for Powell Gardens. In addition to working in museums, Sarah also serves as a museum volunteer.

We regret that there was a limit on the number of attendees for the Faculty and Staff Meeting held on August 19, which limited access to the meeting for some of our employees. Please know that we’re working to address this issue so that future meetings are not impacted. The PowerPoint slides from the meeting are available for viewing; please check your email for the link to view the slides.

As you know, Dr. Rusalyn Andrews retired over the summer. The Fine Arts Division wants to honor her 21 years of service with a commemorative brick in the Chapel/Student Center Initiative and we are asking for your help to accomplish this. Any donation, large or small, is appreciated. This is a surprise, so please don’t tell her. Here are the instructions for how to make a gift: If you would like to make a gift in honor of Rusalyn, you may bring your gift to Institutional Advancement or you may make your gift online; cottey.edu/giving, after entering your information, choose ‘Chapel/Student Center Initiative,’ click the drop down arrow next to ‘I am making this gift in honor or memory of someone,’ select ‘As an honorarium,’ and for ‘List name’ enter ‘Dr. Rusalyn Andrews Retirement.’ You do not need to fill in the name and address of the notificant. Thank you for your assistance in honoring this very special educator who has done so much for our students and the Cottey community!

Explore the Rightfully Hers pop-up exhibit from the National Archives at lunch in Raney Dining Room on Wednesday, August 26. This exhibits commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Explore the history of the ratification of this historic amendment, women’s voting rights before and after, and its impact today. The exhibit is presented in part by the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of Unilever, Pivotal Ventures, Carl M. Freeman Foundation In Honor Of Virginia Allen Freeman, AARP, And Denise Gwyn Ferguson. For more information, contact the Serenbetz Institute for Women’s Leadership, Social Responsibility, and Global Awareness.

Hello all… For anyone interested, here are some yoga classes I’ve recorded over the past few months. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcI5r0pM7vU&list=PLupMq1ikEZH1iOKOLltt0KfmJ2H3X2_zG
I hope to add one or two each month, and will post the links here in the Chronicle. Any requests, let me know! Thanks, Jo

Please join us for an open house for the Stock Trading Lab and Esports Arena on Thursday, August 27, from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Stock Trading Lab and Esports Arena space is located in the lower level of Hinkhouse. This event will be a great opportunity to see the new space as well as meet Bovey Zhang, Esports program director. He will be on hand from 12:00 to 1:00 pm to answer questions you may have about Esports and the team. We are grateful to the California P.E.O. Chapter whose generous donation made this space possible.

If you would like some free green hanging folders or colored file folders, please contact Kris in the Campus Activities Office (ext. 2186).

In June, Amanda Gilchrist graded AP Psychology exam response questions from the comfort of her own room, as rating was remote this year. It was a new experience after doing it in-person in Tampa, FL in 2019. This year she graded over 1200 free-response questions. Because of all of the work the raters did, she got done two days early. She hopes to grade exams next year–hopefully once again in-person in Tampa.

We wanted to share good news about Alpha Chi with you. Our chapter was recognized as notable chapter for the 2018-19 school year. I want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow sponsors Dr. Bourbon and Prof. Chelminska for their hard work.