2O36 Fundraising Campaign Launch Event this Friday

With an eye on Emory’s bicentennial, the 2O36 fundraising campaign focuses on investing in people for the benefit of people and aims to spearhead a movement to radically rethink and reshape our future. All Emory College of Arts and Sciences faculty and staff are invited to get a glimpse of that future at the 2O36 celebration on Friday, October 22, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Quad. View a video invitation to the event.

The campaign includes priorities across Emory and features three core areas where the campaign will place special emphasis: student flourishing, faculty eminences and research excellence – all of which directly impact the future of Emory College. At the event, President Fenves and other campus leaders will detail their visions for the university. Emory College Dean Michael Elliott will speak at noon. The immersive experience will also feature interactive stations under the five futuristic domes. View the full event schedule.

Reminder: Flu Shot Requirement and Attestation

Emory is requiring that all faculty, staff, and students get a flu shot no later than Friday, October 29. This requirement is another important effort to keep the campus community healthy and minimize strain on our healthcare systems. See the Emory HR site for details on how to get your shot on and off-campus.

You Must Complete the Attestation Form: Once you have had your flu shot, you will need to complete Emory’s Flu Attestation Form. Complete this form no later than October 29. Individuals who need a medical, religious, or other exemption from the flu shot requirement can select this option on the form. 

Onsite Flu Clinics: For employees who are working on campus for the Fall semester, onsite flu clinics will be offered through November 1. This option is only available to those working on campus. To view the schedule and register, go here.

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemptions - New Requirements

President Fenves recently approved revisions to Emory University’s COVID-19 vaccination exemption policy for all faculty, staff and students based on the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, the full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, current protocols in place across Emory Healthcare and the university, and new federal requirements. Under this policy revision, Emory will only allow COVID-19 vaccination exemptions for approved medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs.

By Monday, December 8, all faculty, staff and students must be fully vaccinated and upload their vaccination documentation, or have a validated medical or religious exemption approved. Faculty and staff who have previously received an exemption for medical or religious reasons will need to again apply for this exemption. This applies to all faculty, staff and students regardless of work/study location (remote or on-campus). 

Please note, fully vaccinated is considered 14 days after the final dose in either a one or two-dose vaccine series – and depending on the vaccine received, the full vaccination process may take up to six weeks. For this reason, unvaccinated faculty, staff and students should get their first vaccine dose as soon as possible to meet the December 8 deadline. Noncompliance after December 8 will result in disciplinary measures.

Faculty and staff who fail to upload proof of vaccination by December 8 or don’t have an approved exemption will be subject to disciplinary measures that will be shared directly through the HR employee conduct process.

Any campus member who receives an approved exemption will still be required to conduct weekly COVID-19 testing. Further details will be sent directly by Human Resources and Student Health Services for those who will need to take additional steps to be compliant – and additional information can be found on Emory Forward.  COVID-19 vaccination sites are listed on the Georgia Department of Public Health website. FAQ videos on the vaccine and its efficacy can be found here, and instructions for uploading vaccination documentation for employees and students is available online. 

Take the Campus Climate Survey on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

As part of the university’s ongoing efforts to cultivate a thriving academic community—one that is more diverse, equitable, and inclusive—Emory is participating in the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC). This survey, administered by the USC Race and Equity Center, seeks to assess the campus climate around racial diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The survey launches on Tuesday, October 26, and closes on Saturday, November 13. Faculty, staff, and students will receive an email from helpdesk@nacccsurvey.org that will provide them an individualized link to the survey. Learn more. Individuals who complete the NACCC survey will automatically be entered into a weekly drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card and a $10 Starbucks gift card.

Annual Benefits Enrollment Opens October 25

Benefits annual enrollment will take place October 25 – November 8 for the upcoming plan year. The annual enrollment website contains all of the information you need to know including what’s new for 2022, the 2022 Benefits Guide, rates, and more. Upcoming webinars include:

• Friday, October 22, 1 p.m.; Register for this session
• Wednesday, October 27, 10 a.m.; Register for this session
• Monday, November 1, 2 p.m.; Register for this session

Learn More about Changes to 403(b) Investment Options

Emory is making some important changes to the investment options in your 403(b) Retirement Plan. Here are some actions you may want to take:

• Review the new investment options.
• Review the fund mapping charts to learn how your investment options will automatically change to the new investments on November 1. If you do not wish to have your funds automatically mapped, you can move them yourself. Making changes is entirely optional, but you should do it before 4 p.m. EST, November 1, or your funds will be mapped. If you wish to make changes later, you can always do so.
• Contact your retirement vendor(s). Retirement vendors are available to assist you to help you understand these changes.
• Review your beneficiary designations for each plan account and update your beneficiaries as necessary. View instructions.
• View our Frequently Asked Questions or watch a recorded webinar.

For more information visit the website.

Fall 2021 Course Evaluations Timeline

Emory College of Arts and Sciences will conduct online course evaluations, as usual, this term. Department staff will be asked to review and amend their evaluation setup November 1-23 while instructors will be able to customize their own evaluations November 8-19. 

A basic training screencast on the course evaluation system is scheduled for 9:15-11:15 a.m. on Thursday, November 4 (requests to attend should be emailed to ec-courseevals@emory.edu). The target audience includes department staff who are entirely new to the system but the session may also be useful to those with some experience who could use an overall refresher, those whose departments are looking to make broad changes in how they evaluate courses, or those with specific “weedy” questions. 

Course evaluations will (by default) be open for student submission Dec 1-15 but as usual, this can be modified at the department or individual course level. All evaluations must close by Dec 15, the last day of final exams.

Faculty Development Opportunities and Resources

Chronos Faculty Fellowship for Humanities, Social Sciences Research

The College of Arts and Sciences is accepting applications for the Chronos Faculty Fellowship for a tenured faculty member in the Humanities or Social Sciences. This opportunity seeks to support creative and ambitious scholarship in the post-tenure period when time for immersive research/writing can be especially difficult to secure. The Chronos Faculty Fellowship will support one academic year of leave, allowing a tenured member of the College faculty to pursue deep intellectual inquiry, pose important questions, and contribute to critical debates in and beyond a single field or discipline.  

The successful fellowship recipient will advance a bold research question and demonstrate the capacity to disseminate the results of that research through clear and compelling writing. The Chronos Faculty Fellowship is funded through a generous grant by the Albert J. & Phyllis Katz Foundation (salary and $10,000 in research/travel funds). In concert with this generous gift, the College will fund a Visiting Assistant Professorship (or similar instructional opportunity) in the successful Chronos Fellowship recipient’s field to provide a professional development opportunity for an individual in the early career stage, and to ensure the coverage of relevant courses.

Fellowship applications should include the following:

• CV
• A research/writing proposal no longer than 3 single-spaced pages.
• A brief letter of endorsement from the department chair
• Courses to be released during the academic year of leave

Proposals should be submitted to Dean_of_Faculty@emory.edu no later than Monday, November 1. Proposals will be judged on the creativity of the research question; the need for an extended research period; and the demonstration of a record of clear and effective writing.

Hightower Speaker Funds

Each year Emory College receives funds from the Hightower endowment, which memorializes the late Robert E. Hightower Sr. This endowment provides funds to bring outstanding visiting lecturers to Emory.

The College has typically committed funds of $75,000-$100,000 annually. These include small allocations for partial funding of a single speaker to large amounts to support conferences with several speakers. Applications for Spring and Summer events are currently being accepted.

The deadline to submit applications for Spring events is Monday, November 15. More information about the application process can be found on the Office of Faculty website. Applications should be submitted electronically to Dean_of_Faculty@emory.edu.

CFDE Classroom Teaching Update Webinar Oct. 27

The Center for Faculty Development and Excellence is hosting a fourth webinar on pandemic teaching on Wednesday, October 27 from 2:30-3:30 pm. Register here.

The focus of this webinar will be on how instructors can support students who are in isolation, in quarantine, or otherwise absent from class. Briefly, the CFDE recommends that all instructors plan ahead for how to handle student absences, especially related to exams. As a reminder, Emory wants anyone who has COVID symptoms to stay home from class (instructors included). Our panelists will discuss ways Emory’s schools support students in isolation or quarantine, and offer advice for instructors on supporting those absent students. Panelists include:

• Joanne Brzinski, Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Emory College
• Wesley Longhofer, Associate Professor, Goizueta Business School
• Valerie Molyneaux, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Oxford College
• Jeffrey Staton, Senior Associate Dean, Laney Graduate School

There will be plenty of time to answer your questions at this webinar. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the CFDE website.

Final Call for Applications: ILA Interdisciplinary Teaching Fellowship

Emory College faculty are invited to apply for the Institute for the Liberal Arts (ILA) Interdisciplinary Teaching Fellowship for the 2022-23 academic year. The opportunity provides a full-time Emory College faculty member, at the level of senior lecturer, associate professor or above, one academic year immersed in the ILA.

The Fellow will be released from teaching and service responsibilities in the home department. In addition, the ILA will provide a research stipend of $4,000. Applications are due Friday, October 22. For details and to apply, please visit the ILA website.

Reminder: Open Office Hours for Faculty

Deboleena Roy, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty, will hold open office hours twice a month during the remainder of the semester. New faculty are especially encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to speak with Dean Roy and meet other faculty in smaller group settings. Faculty may RSVP and receive meeting information by contacting Shannon DeMyers at Dean_of_Faculty@emory.edu. Office hours this fall include:

• Thursday, Oct. 21, 1 – 2 p.m. (Zoom)
• Friday, Nov. 5, 2 – 3 p.m. (In person)
• Friday, Nov. 19, 1 – 2 p.m. (Zoom)
• Thursday, Dec. 2, 1 – 2 p.m. (In person)
• Friday, Dec. 10, 2 – 3 p.m. (Zoom)

Updates from the Office for Undergraduate Education

Spring Registration

Registration for Spring 2022 courses begins next week. Students will register based on their current earned credit hours:

• Students with 75+ hours: Monday, October 25, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, Oct 27, 11: 59 p.m.
• Students with 45-74.99 hours: Monday, November 1, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, November 3, 11:59 p.m.
• Students with 15-44.99 hours: Monday, November 8, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, November 10, 11:59 p.m.
• Students with 0-14.99 hours AND class of 2025: Monday, November 15, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, Nov 17, 11:59 p.m.

Add/Drop/Swap opens at 12 p.m. on Monday, November 22 and pauses for Winter Break at 11:59 p.m. on December 22. Add/Drop will reopen on January 5, 2022, at 12 p.m. and will close for the semester on January 18, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.

Enrollment Holds

A number of students have enrollment holds placed on their OPUS accounts for a variety of reasons (including missing immunizations, delinquent student balances, advising holds, etc.) Information on these holds and how to resolve them appear on the hold in OPUS. If you hear from your advisees that they are unable to register due to a hold, please direct them to check the hold information for resolution details.