Inside Gustavus January 11, 2017 | Volume 49, Number 17
1. Members approved the hiring of a Facilities Management position (Project Manager).
2. Vice President Rooney briefly reviewed documents in preparation for the January 16 Internal Budget Committee meeting.
3. Mr. Paul Cerkvenik, Executive Director of Minnesota Private College Council, joined the meeting by telephone to give an overview of the new federal tax bill concerning student and family benefits and charitable giving and institutional benefits. He also shared key issues in the 2018 reauthorization of the federal higher education act as well as how these tax changes may affect the upcoming Minnesota legislative session.
4. Vice President Rooney shared that as of January 1, 2018, moving expense reimbursements will be taxable to all employees. Section 11048 of the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act amends IRC Section 132(g). Beginning in January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2025, the qualifying moving expense reimbursement is fully taxable to the employee and included on Form W-2. There are some exceptions for members of the Armed Forces on active duty who move pursuant to a military order. This information will be shared with the campus community through Inside Gustavus.
5. Vice President Rooney gave a brief update on the work being done on new and revised all-college policies, including harassment, sexual harassment, anti-bullying, and a nondiscrimination statement. Associate Vice President for Human Resources Julie Kline will distribute the revised/new policies to Cabinet members today for their review. She requested feedback before the January 23 Cabinet meeting. The Board of Trustees will hear an oral report regarding the policies at its January meeting and be asked to approve the policies at its April meeting.
6. Continued discussion was held regarding moving to a tobacco free campus. Jolene will send Cabinet members additional information concerning this topic received last fall from Nurse Practitioner in the Health Service Nissa Fell.
7. Members reviewed two documents pertaining to the strategic planning implementation process, including a chart depicting the timetable for the process and a project plan template for the seven priority strategies. These documents will
be shared with the Board of Trustees at its January meeting.
Thank You...Thank you to all Gustavus employees for your contributions to the food drives that took place at your holiday parties! Collectively we received nine Turkey/Ham vouchers, 185 lbs of food, and $568 in monetary donations! The College is also matching matching $500.00 in monetary donations for a total of $1,068.00 being donated to the Saint Peter Food Shelf.
Employee Enhancement Days...The Office of Human Resources is pleased to announce that February 5-9 is Employee Enhancement Days. Stay tuned as session registration and information will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, contact Taylor Ziemke.
We need you...The offices of Community-Based Service and Learning (CBSL) and Human Resources are offering Gustavus faculty and staff the opportunity to be Trip Advisers for upcoming Habitat for Humanity volunteer trips during spring break April 1-8. This is an exceptional way for employees to grow in community service learning and professional development. Trip Adviser guidelines are posted on the CBSL website. There is no cost to participate and all employees are eligible (see guideline for approvals needed). The two sites needing a Trip Adviser are Taos, New Mexico and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Please contact Amy Pehrson at 507-933-6011 with questions or more information about this program.
New Campus Virtual Tour...Partnering with YouVisit, the Offices of Admission and Marketing & Communication developed and recently launched a full campus tour that incorporates 360-degree tour stops with a virtual tour guide, along with additional photos and videos that will introduce future Gusties to our beautiful campus. Check out the virtual tour online from your computer, phone, or using a VR headset.
Mileage Rates...Effective January 1, 2018, mileage rates are being adjusted by the IRS to .545 cents per business mile. Mileage driven prior to January 1, 2018 will be paid at the rate of .535 cents per mile.
Federal Holiday Observance...There will be no incoming or outgoing USPS mail on Monday, January 15 in observance of a federal holiday. FedEx and UPS will have regular delivery and pick up.
Donation request...Gustavus employees who would like to donate paid time off/vacation hours to a fellow employee who is on an approved FMLA leave, and will run out of paid time off (PTO) prior to the end of the leave, should stop by the Office of Human Resources and complete a request for hours transfer form.
Saint Peter Weekly Newsletter...As we continue to find ways to strengthen our partnership with the City of Saint Peter we would like to share this link to their weekly newsletter. Be sure to read it for the latest information about the greater Saint Peter community.
Campus Happenings
Discover Gustavus...The admission office is excited to host over 125 high school juniors and their families for Discover Gustavus on Monday, January 15th as they take their first look at Gustavus. They will be on campus from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Please feel free to smile, help with directions, and warmly welcome them to our campus community on what will likely be a chilly MN day!
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecture...Join us from 10-11:30 a.m. on Monday, January 15 in Christ Chapel for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecture. Civil rights leader and sociologist Dr. Joyce Ladner will provide a keynote address titled, "The Civil Rights Movement, Still Marching After All These Years" which will include personal stories as a leader in the movement and reflections on work that continues to be needed. The event will also be live streamed and archived at gustavus.edu/events/mlk.
The class schedule is modified so all students and faculty may attend.
#MeToo and Beyond...Please join us in welcoming The Theatre of Public Policy (T2P2) as they stop at Gustavus for a public show about politics in the #MeToo era. The group will be interviewing Gustavus Professor Alisa Rosenthal and Employment Attorney and DFL Activist Greg Abbot for both a funny and informative discussion. Gustavus graduates Tane Danger and Brandon Boat founded the group as a way to promote civil conversation across ideological lines. This event is hosted by the Gustavus Speech and Debate team.
Weekend Home Athletic Events
Support the Golden Gusties at one or more of these home athletic events this weekend:
- Swimming & Diving hosts Carleton at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12
- Women’s hockey hosts St. Thomas at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12
- Men’s hockey hosts St. Thomas at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13
Fine Arts
Schaefer Art Gallery
January 12 from 5–7 p.m. Opening Reception: August Henry: Hygge, Artist talk at 5:30 p.m.
Hillstrom Museum of Art
Through February 2, Stuart Klipper: The World in a Few States, and Jerome Myers: The Ash Can Artist of the Lower East Side
In The News
The St. Peter Herald previewed Monday's upcoming Theatre of Public Policy show covering the #MeToo moment and featuring political science professor Alisa Rosenthal.
Off Campus Events of Interest
Feed your soul by connecting more deeply with others in the congregation around the research of Dr. Brené Brown. Learn how vulnerability is the path to connection, courage, and deeper faith. Reverand Sarah Ciavarri, Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator-Consultant, will be facilitating. Please contact Jodi Maas at 507-933-7001 for more information
Obituaries
To inform the campus community of the death of a current student, employee, or trustee; an emeritus professor or trustee; or an immediate family member of a current employee, contact the Office of the President (x7538 or jnoren@gustavus.edu). Death announcements and funeral notices for students, current and emeritus faculty and employees, and trustees will be sent to the community via written notice from the president, posted on community-l, the official campuswide e-mail list, and published in Inside Gustavus or the Summer Scoop. Notices for immediate family members of current employees will be published in Inside Gustavus or the Summer Scoop.
To add or change items on the calendar, please fill out and submit a College Calendar event form. View the entire College Calendar online.
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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. For more information, contact Lorie Siebels (lsiebels@gustavus.edu or x7520).
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