NEWSLETTER April 2021
Staying Connected
Updates from our
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Greetings Region III Family,
Alison Ward University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Spring has arrived for many of us already and creeping in for others. Spring brings a sense of renewal as flowers and trees bloom with freshness and color (and pollen) and more daylight. 2021 continues to present challenges in the forms of the ongoing pandemic, racial injustices, and personal burnout. Take time this spring to invest in the renewal of yourself. Step outside in to the sun, allergy meds optional, and take a deep breath. If you are searching for more than just a deep breath, join the ACUI Together Series or explore if your institution offers an Employee Assistance Program with mental health advocates or a coaching program to hit your fitness goals. We are a helping profession but don’t forget that we too can ask for help. Our first online learning program was April 1 and more are in planning stages. Additionally, conversations regarding regional conferences are still ongoing. Recognition of the financial uncertainties and travel limitations of our campuses are being weighed considerably by the association and regions during these conversations. All the best, Alison
Recognizing the achievements of oustanding
REGION III MEMBERS Presented at the 2021 ACUI Annual Conference
Legacy Leader Award -Dwyane Isaacs, University of South Florida St. Petersburg
Legacy Leader Award - Krista Harrell, University of South Alabama
Congratulations to these deserving recipients of the Legacy Leader Award, presented at the 2021 ACUI Annual Conference in early March. Two of the three recipients of this award came from Region III! Thank you for all you do to advance campus community.
What's happening
STAYING
CONNECTED CAMPAIGN INSPIRATION TO START OFF THE WEEK We want to feature YOU in our upcoming campaign known as Staying Connected! Are you or a colleague doing something new or innovative at your institution that you would like to share with the region? When we stay connected by sharing, it helps us all! We can implement what we have learned and improve practices at our own institutions. Staying connected virtually and spreading positivity during these challenging times is what we all need! Every Monday on social media we post inspirational quotes for our #MotivationMonday series. Have a quote that you would like us to share? Email us or send it to our DM!
@acuiregioniii "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision -Hellen Keller "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think" -Christopher Robin "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together" -Vincent Van Gogh "Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, some make it happen" -Michael Jordan
What's happening
STAYING
CONNECTED CAMPAIGN REMINISCING ON LIFE PRE-COVID As a part of our #StayingConnected Campaign, we feature a different photo from an ACUI event submitted by regional members on our social media pages each Thursday for our #ThrowbackThursday series. Because we haven't been able to gather in person for over a year, sharing moments from life pre-covid helps us to stay connected and advance campus community! If you would like to share your photos, email or DM US. Follow us on social media to see more!
@acuiregioniii
What's happening
STAYING
CONNECTED CAMPAIGN STUDENT UNION SPOTLIGHTS As another part of our #StayingConnected Campaign, we feature a different union within our region each Friday for our #FeatureFriday series. Many campuses have undergone changes since the beginning of the pandemic and sharing this with our members helps us to stay connected and advance campus community! Below are some of the featured unions, follow us on social media to see more.
@acuiregioniii Named after Agnes Scott College's third president, Wallace McPherson Alston, the Alston Campus Center at Agnes Scott is located in Decatur, GA and opened in 1988. Some of the new features implemented since the beginning of the pandemic include restricted card access only, the temporary closure of some spaces, sanitization stations, plexiglass shields and social distancing signage.
Alston Campus Center
What's happening
STAYING
CONNECTED CAMPAIGN STUDENT UNION SPOTLIGHTS
Emory Student Center Located in the heart of Emory University’s Atlanta campus, the Emory Student Center opened its doors in 2019. The student center includes a dining hall, coffee shop, a large multi-purpose space, and offices to support students and a variety of campus organizations. Since students' return to campus in the fall, the ESC has incorporated many changes to furniture layout, signage, and procedures to accommodate for physical distancing. Follow @emorystudentcenter to see more!
What's happening
STAYING
CONNECTED CAMPAIGN STUDENT UNION SPOTLIGHTS
Student Life Center Like many buildings, the Student Life Center (SLC) and Sarratt Student Center at Vanderbilt University have been adapted to new functions this school year. The 9,000 square foot SLC Commodore Ballroom has been set to a social distance classroom for academic classes and the Sarratt Box Office, Baseball Glove Lounge, and Local Java Coffee shop have all been spaced out and covered in signage for Covid-19 safety protocol. Our Student Centers team has also been doing rounds in our temporary outdoor tents to support safe student programming!
What's happening
STAYING
CONNECTED CAMPAIGN STUDENT UNION SPOTLIGHTS
Student Union @ The University of Tennessee Knoxville
The Student Union provides students a home away from home, a place where they can find their community at UT. It is where they meet their friends, grab a bite to eat, engage with student organizations, and attend events. It is the hub of campus, an educational space, and a place to gather. The Student Union was built in two phases, with the first being completed in June 2015 and the second in January 2019. Follow @utkstudentunion to see more!
What's happening
STAYING
CONNECTED CAMPAIGN STUDENT UNION SPOTLIGHTS
D.P. Culp Student Center The D.P. Culp Student Center, located in Johnson City, Tennessee at East Tennessee State University, was built in 1972 and is 46,000 square ft. The newly remodeled D.P. Culp Student Center had its grand opening just before COVID, and has been operating under social distancing since coming back to campus in the Fall of 2020. Follow @etsu_culp to see more!
Stay Connected at these
UPCOMING EVENTS In these "unprecedented times", ACUI has ramped up its online learning opportunities! There's a full calendar of seminars and institutes, as well as opportunities to connect regionally and virtually. Visit www.acui.org/events and www.acui.org/onlinelearning for details.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Virtual Series Planning For Juneteenth April 5, 2021 1:30-3:30 p.m. eastern Putting the 'Civil' Back in 'Civil Discourse' May 3, 2021 1:30-3:30 p.m. eastern Register at acui.org/onlinelearning
ACUI Together Series April 13 at noon eastern Sometimes, we just need a space to process what is happening in our lives with others who can relate. ACUI Together provides online space for you to meet with other ACUI members in small groups. We hope these opportunities for networking and support will help our members stay connected. Take a chance to get to know other ACUI members better and lift one another up. We hope you will join us.
Check out these
REGION III
OPPORTUNITIES Volunteer Looking to get involved? Serving as an ACUI volunteer is a great way to connect with peers at other institutions, build on skills, and grow as a professional! Various opportunities are posted throughout the year at https://www.acui.org/volunteer/. Short-term opportunities are also available on occasion for volunteers to assist with various Region III initiatives. Any questions about these opportunities can be directed to Emily Reynolds at reynoldse17@ecu.edu.
Nominate
Know of someone who advances campus community and would be a great addition to the ACUI volunteer roster? Nominate them here:https://www.acui.org/volunteer/nominate.
Scholarships
Scholarship applications are now open to receive funding for IPDS: New Professionals Virtual Seminar & I-LEAD (Institute for Leadership Education & Development)! Deadline to apply is May 24, 2021 at 5 p.m. eastern. Apply today at https://acuiforms.wufoo.com/forms/w1kh34r9115q8qh/
FOLLOW US ON Social Media @acuiregioniii Would you like to be featured in our next newsletter? Are you working on anything exciting that you would like to share with the region? Fun project on your campus? Research that you believe will help colleagues? New programming idea? Send it to us! Please contact Communications Coordinator Jennifer Duncan at jduncan@agnesscott.edu with any questions.