Inside Gustavus January 20, 2011 | Volume 43, Number 18

News & Announcements

Attention, Dive Habitués... Gustavus student IDs will be required for admittance to Friday night Dive dances starting Feb. 11, 2011. Students will no longer be able to show up at the Dive without a student ID or rely on the Gribly to account for their student status. Guest policy still applies.

Tax Information... IRS FICA tax change for 2011: The employee tax rate for social security (FICA) was changed to 4.2% beginning January 1, 2011. IRS Pension Limitations for 2011: The elective deferral (contribution) limit for employees who participate in section 403(b) plans remains unchanged at $16,500. The catch-up contribution limit under those plans for those aged 50 and over remains unchanged at $5,500. W2's can be viewed on-line by signing into WebAdvsor. New Box 12 Code: DD — Cost of employer-sponsored health coverage: The amount reported with code DD is not taxable.
This is reporting information signed into law March 21, 2010, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in an effort to provide employees with better information about the value of their health care benefits. If you have any further payroll tax questions, please call Barb Lundgren in Human Resources at x7505.

Employee Enhancement Days... The 2011 Employee Enhancement Days will be held Tuesday, Feb. 1, and Wednesday, Feb. 2 (with CPR training scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 3). This annual event is open to all employees at Gustavus Adolphus College. The schedule of presentations follows. All sessions will be held in Alumni Hall unless otherwise indicated.

• Tuesday, Feb. 1
  8 a.m. - Doors open
  8:15 a.m. - "To Live with Intention," Amy Dee-Kristensen, the Truth Fairy
  9:45 a.m. - Break
  10:00 a.m. - "What Really Works: Discovering the Seven Fs," Paul Batz
  11:30 a.m. - Lunch and Learn (Heritage Room): "The Five Essentials of Health and How to Apply Them to Your Life," Tiffany Sayuk & Dr. Jerod Ochsendorf (Register by e-mailing Rachelle Dosch at rdosch@gustavus.edu or calling x6468 by Jan. 28.)
  1 p.m. - "To Live with Intention," Amy Dee-Kristensen, the Truth Fairy
  2:30 p.m. - Break
  2:45 p.m. - "What Really Works: Discovering the Seven Fs," Paul Batz
  
  
• Wednesday, Feb. 2
  8 a.m. Doors open
  8:15 a.m. - "Eyes Wide Open: Identifying and Referring Students in Distress," Steve Bennett, assistant dean of students; Ray Thrower, director of Campus Safety; Patty Dawson, Student Health Service nurse & team leader for SART (Sexual Assault Response Team); & Janet DeMars, High Risk Drinking Initiative coordinator
  9:15 a.m. - "Personalities at Work: What Sled Dogs Know that We Don’t," Chris Heeter
  Noon - Lunch and Learn (Heritage Room): "Important Nutrition Information to Help You Make Healthier Choices Every Day," Georgianna Elliot, registered dietitian (Register by e-mailing Rachelle Dosch at rdosch@gustavus.edu or calling x6468 by Jan. 28.)
  1 p.m. - "Personalities at Work: What Sled Dogs Know that We Don’t," Chris Heeter
  2:45 p.m. - "Eyes Wide Open: Identifying and Referring Students in Distress," Steve Bennett, assistant dean of students; Ray Thrower, director of Campus Safety; Patty Dawson, Student Health Service nurse & team leader for SART (Sexual Assault Response Team); & Janet DeMars, High Risk Drinking Initiative coordinator
  
  
• Thursday, Feb. 3
  9 a.m.-Noon - CPR Certification and Recertification Training. (Space is limited; reserve a space by calling Lisa at x8809.)

Campus Happenings

Chapel Schedule... All are invited to the worship services at 10 a.m. weekdays and 10:30 a.m. Sundays in Christ Chapel. The upcoming schedule is as follows.

• Friday, Jan. 21 - Amy Jo Bur, Good Samaritan United Methodist Church
• Sunday, Jan. 23 - Chaplain Rachel Larson
• Monday, Jan. 24 - Chad Fothergill (Christ Chapel cantor)
• Tuesday, Jan. 25 - Conversion of St. Paul: Chris Johnson (CVR))
• Wednesday, Jan. 26 - Morning Praise
• Thursday, Jan. 27 - Lydia, Dorcas, Phoebe: Nissa Fell (health service)
• Friday, Jan. 28 - Commemoration of Thomas Aquinas, Teacher: Deborah Goodwin (religion)

Public Foldings... Robert J. Lang, a physicist who is recognized as one of the world’s leading masters of the art of origami, is currently in residence as the Rydell Professor at Gustavus Adolphus College. Lang’s residency is divided into two stints. He is on campus Jan. 17-28 to co-teach a January Term course, titled “Mathematics of Origami,” along with Gustavus faculty members Barbara Kaiser and Carolyn Dobler (both MCS). During this first visit, he will demonstrate his mastery as an origami artist at two “Public Foldings,” on Jan. 24 and 26 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. across from the Book Mark, in the lower level of the Jackson Campus Center. He will then return in the first week of March for a series of public events on campus and in the Twin Cities. The Rydell Professorship is a scholar-in-residence program designed to bring Nobel laureates and similarly distinguished scholars to the Gustavus campus as catalysts for enhancing learning and teaching. It was established in 1995 by Drs. Robert E. and Susan T. Rydell of Minnetonka, Minn., to give students the opportunity to learn from and interact with leading scholars.

RoboPong!... Six robots designed by students in the J-Term Robotics Workshop course will compete in a fast-paced contest of RoboPong in Wallenberg Auditorium on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. Lego robots will battle to push as many ping-pong balls as possible to their opponent's side within 60 seconds. Come and cheer on these digital marvels. For more information, contact Mike Hvidsten at hvidsten@gustavus.edu.

Gustavus Good Food for All... On Feb. 12-13, Gustavus and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will partner to host an event in the Jackson Campus Center that will address the complexities of food insecurity and local and global hunger through speakers, advocacy work, and an emergency food pack of 250,000 meals with Feed My Starving Children funded by Thrivent Financial. Speakers and educational activities will be from UNICEF, Minnesota FoodShare, Center for Earth Spirituality, Tiny Footprint Coffee, Bread for the World, Heifer International, Open Farms, and ELCA World Hunger. For more information and to sign up, go to http://gustavus.edu/events/food/.

Off-Campus Events of Interest

Reader's Theater at Arts Center... The St. Peter Players present a reader's theater production of Oscar and the Lady in Pink by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt Sunday, Jan. 23, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Arts Center of Saint Peter (315 S. Minnesota Avenue). Doors open a half hour before the performances. Admission at the door: $7 general, $5 Arts Center members. The St. Peter Players wish to thank alumnus Lars Lofgren ('58) for his assistance with this project.

Women in Leadership Luncheon... Attention, Gustavus women faculty, staff, students, and alumnae! You are invited to attend the Gustavus Women in Leadership Luncheon. This luncheon will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Minneapolis Club (729 Second Avenue S., Minneapolis). A light lunch will be served. The luncheon topic will be “Women in Leadership,” presented by Kathi Tunheim, assistant professor of economics and management at Gustavus. Kathi has recently been named recipient of a grant from the C. Charles Jackson Foundation to fund a leadership conference at Gustavus in April 2011. In anticipation of that conference, Kathi will share key themes identified in her research of women in leadership roles. She will encourage breakout discussions and engaged dialogue and will conclude her presentation with a call to action to inspire faculty and alumnae to better mentor younger women so they will be prepared to take leadership roles more quickly, efficiently and effectively. You will also be invited to attend the Gustavus conference if you want to learn more. Registration for the luncheon is required by Feb. 4; cost is $20. Cancellations are required by Feb. 7 for refunds. Call 507-933-6512 to register by phone, or you may register online at gustavus.edu/go/leadershipluncheon. Future luncheons are scheduled for Friday, May 13 (featuring Cheryl Reinitz ‘81, treasurer at H. B. Fuller Company) and Friday, Sept. 23 (featuring Cathy Ten Broeke ’91, coordinator to End Homelessness, Hennepin County). The Gustavus Women in Leadership Luncheon is a thrice-annual luncheon with speakers and discussion forums focusing on issues that affect women in business and community leadership positions. Feel free to bring a friend.

Congregational Outreach

Retreats... The Office of Church Relations will host a confirmation retreat for Bethlehem Lutheran Church from Mankato this weekend. The Gustavus Adolphus College Association of Congregations Retreat Center, coordinated by the Office of Church Relations, will host a retreat for St. John's Lutheran Church from Northfield, Minn.

Events... Gustavus is a partner site for Trinity Institute's 41st national theological conference, "Reading Scripture through Other Eyes," which opened on Wednesday (Jan. 19) and continues through Jan. 21. The conference is being broadcast live over the Internet with keynoters Walter Brueggemann, Mary Gordon, Teresa Okure, and Gerald West. Facilitated small-group discussion is included to address questions in a theological context. If you still wish to participate, contact Marilyn Beyer (x7001).

Music in Worship... Any Gustavus music ensemble or soloist is welcome to perform in congregations. For more information, contact Marilyn Beyer (x7001).

Thank-Yous

Thanks for Food Shelf Donations... The Staff Personnel Committee would like to thank everyone for the donations to the Food Shelf at this year's Christmas Luncheon. We raised $180.00, which was matched by the College for a total of $360.  The food donation was 254 pounds.

Inside Gustavus is a newsletter for Gustavus Adolphus College employees produced by the Office of Marketing and Communication. It is published weekly during the academic year (except during the week of Thanksgiving, the Christmas break, Touring Week, and the Spring and Easter breaks). Anyone may submit items by filling out an online submission form. While online submissions are preferred, items may also be submitted typewritten on a letter-sized sheet of paper. Send "snail mail" items to: Inside Gustavus, Office of Marketing and Communication. Items must reach the office no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before publication. The week of Nobel Conference the deadline is 4:30 p.m. Monday. For more information, contact Steve Waldhauser (waldo@gustavus.edu or x6413).

Home | News & Info | Inside Gustavus Archives | Submit an Item Online