Inside Gustavus January 11, 2018 | Volume 50, 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.

 

News and Announcements  

Visit Gustie Newswire for more news...

Discover Gustavus...The admission office is excited to host over 125 high school juniors and their families for Discover Gustavus on Monday, January 15 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 Minnesota 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.

Congregational Outreach

Whole-Hearted/Daring in Faith Retreat...Hosted by St. John's Lutheran Church in Annandale, MN. The group will be coming on January 12 and 13 to the Gustavus Retreat Center. 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



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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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