October 2020 Announcements

October 14, 2020 Emily Packard 8-min. read

Consistent with university regulations on review of the administrative performance of deans, two comprehensive leadership and program reviews will be held this semester. As a part of each review, the campus community is invited to attend an overview presentation of the unit’s goals and accomplishments.
- Dean David Hinks and the Wilson College of Textiles, Friday, October 23 from 1 p.m.- 2 p.m., accessible October 23 at go.ncsu.edu/textiles-review.
- Dean Mark Hoversten and the College of Design, Monday, November 9 from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m, accessible November 9 at go.ncsu.edu/design-review.

Questions regarding these reviews may be addressed to Courtney Thornton (chthornt@ncsu.edu) or Amy Jinnette (arjinnet@ncsu.edu) in the Office of the Provost.

Faculty and teaching graduate students are invited to join DELTA, NC State University Libraries and the Office of Faculty Development for Faculty Meetups held each Thursday from 12-1 p.m. via Zoom. Upcoming topics include mid-semester evaluations, providing scaffolding and feedback for student projects, tools for student engagement, and improving online course quality. Registration is required.

COVID-19 Updates

Following Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent announcement of Executive Order No. 169, Restrictions to Protect Lives During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Phase 3, updated guidance is available for campus programming, effective immediately.
NC State leadership is working with faculty, staff, students, the UNC System, and county and state health officials to continue planning for the spring. We will continue to share plans with the campus community over the next few weeks. Learn more about planning for the spring semester.
NC State will host a virtual commencement ceremony to celebrate all spring, summer and fall 2020 graduates on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, at 6 p.m. EST. The event will include thoughts from graduating students, some special memories and a remarkable commencement speaker. More information will be provided in the coming weeks and available at virtual.commencement.ncsu.edu. In the meantime, please mark your calendars for this special celebration.

From DELTA:

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically and swiftly changed the NC State community — closing our campus, shifting our structures and dispersing the Wolfpack. This year’s annual report highlights DELTA’s efforts to step up and meet the needs of the community with creativity, excellence and compassion.
DELTA has gathered resources and tools to help you effectively give formative and summative assessments in an online environment. From best practices for exams to tools for polling and alternative assessments, these resources will help guide you in evaluating a learner’s success.
We understand that finding the time to fit professional development into a busy day of remote teaching and virtual meetings may be hard for some faculty members. To help, we’ve compiled a list of DELTA’s most popular workshops that you can view anytime completely online.
DELTA Faculty Fellow Christine Cranford encourages faculty to use course maps to align learning objectives to course objectives, support learning objectives with learning materials, and assess student knowledge and skills. View the tips.
Student-to-student interaction is important for student learning as well as student well-being and persistence. Breakout Rooms in Zoom offer great opportunities for student-to-student interaction and help create a richer online learning experience.

From the Office of Faculty Development:

Join us over lunch virtually for whole-group discussions facilitated by staff from DELTA, NC State University Libraries, and OFD. Faculty and teaching graduate students are invited to attend. Bring your questions and ideas to share with colleagues about teaching in these challenging, uncertain times. Meet-ups will occur via Zoom every Thursday from noon- 1 p.m. during the Fall 2020 semester. Registration is required in order to receive the Zoom meeting details.
We are experiencing a school year unlike any other, filled with uncertainty. The campus-wide requirement to move online means that we are compelled to build more resilient courses. This situation is like nothing we have ever faced before. In order to provide peer support and community around teaching and learning and help faculty overcome feelings of isolation and lack of preparedness, the Office of Faculty Development is continuing our popular Conversation Series. For each session, faculty will read a relevant article/paper about the topic (optional), receive question prompts, engage in conversation around the topic with other faculty members, and reflect on how the conversation may have changed their thinking on the topic. All conversations will be facilitated by Dr. Maria Gallardo Williams, OFD SoTL Faculty Fellow.

Upcoming Sessions:

- Preparing for Spring (November 4, 2020, 11:30 a.m.)
Mark your calendars for OFD’s annual Teaching and Learning Symposium, which will be held virtually via Zoom on February 26, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.). More details, including the call for proposals, are coming soon — watch our Newsletter. We hope to see you there!

From the Office of Global Engagement:

Celebrated each year in November, International Education Month (IEM) pays homage to international education and the global opportunities offered across campus. IEM promotes programs that prepare students for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences. The Office of Global Engagement has created an event submission form and encourages the campus community to submit all international-related events during the month of November through this form. Events should be submitted no later than Tuesday, October 20. This is a great opportunity to show that, despite the current challenges brought by the pandemic, NC State is committed to being globally engaged, whether at home or abroad. Help support this initiative by planning and submitting your group’s internationally-focused events or programs that take place in November using this link: https://global.ncsu.edu/IEM.
An eight-week study-abroad program on global leadership gave a group of NC State students a front-row seat to corporate decision-making as Europe grappled with economic uncertainties and an emerging pandemic. Learn more about students engaged in the Global Leadership and Team Decision-Making minor.

From the Office of Information Technology:

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Protect the Pack: You are Security! Your data’s privacy depends on your ability to secure it safely. Your ability to secure your data depends on what you know.

During Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM) in October, the NC State Office of Information Technology, along with the NC State Department of Computer Science, ePartners Program, LabCorp, and MetLife, will co-sponsor “Protect the Pack: You are Security” to provide you with valuable yet simple advice to protect your personal and work-related data and devices.

This year’s event will highlight a four-member panel of Google Security experts on Wednesday, October 21 who will answer questions about the type of content that should be stored in Google Drive and the level of security the university’s G Suite environment provides. This panel discussion will be held at 2 p.m. online and is open to the novice and the experienced NC State G Suite user. Event participants will have an opportunity to win great prizes, including a Fire TV 4K Essentials Bundle, a RT ROCKTEK G1 Android TV 9.0, a Jabra Speak 410 portable conference speaker, and Yubikeys. To register, visit REPORTER.

For more information, see NC State’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month website.

The IT Accessibility Office recognizes that there are many individuals at NC State University that are committed to eliminating digital accessibility barriers. The Accessibility Champion Award was created to recognize these individuals and celebrate the work that they do. The Accessibility Champion Award is presented quarterly to a member/ members of the NC State University student body, faculty or staff for outstanding work in expanding digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities at NC State University. To nominate someone or yourself, please fill out the Accessibility Champion Award Nomination Form. For more information, please contact the IT Accessibility Office at accessibility@ncsu.edu or (919) 513-4087.

From the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity:

NC State’s upcoming Racial Equity Summit on October 15 is one of a series of focused events calling for more to be done in the fight for racial justice. The Summit invites community engagement and input from faculty, staff, students, community members and alumni into how NC State can address specific issues and common themes to improve racial equity at NC State and help ensure that NC State moves forward toward our vision of a more inclusive, diverse and welcoming community where all can succeed and thrive.
Each year, the Women’s Center recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) with a full slate of programs and events throughout the month of October. From peer-facilitated learning opportunities and educational workshops to drawing submissions and podcast discussions, there are plenty of opportunities for the NC State community to take part in DVAM. This year, the Women’s Center is offering a range of virtual opportunities via Zoom, Instagram, and through online submissions to observe DVAM and spread awareness about support and resources available for the NC State community.
We need your input — help make NC State a more inclusive place by taking our survey by October 31. Once you’ve completed the survey, you can choose to enter a drawing for several OIED branded items.

From the Office of Research and Innovation:

Research Week will be October 26-30. There will be multiple virtual events, including an interview with the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, a forum highlighting COVID-19 research and an NCURA presentation.
The Nonwovens Institute is partnering with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, Freudenberg Performance Materials, UNC Health, the NC Healthcare Association and NC Medical Society to manufacture N95 masks. The masks will be given to frontline workers across the state.

Other Announcements:

This year’s Annual Enrollment (AE) period for benefit plan changes is October 15-31, 2020. Changes made during the AE period will become effective January 1, 2021, for plan year January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021.
A month-long program at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine explores issues of race and representation in the veterinary profession and higher education. The CVM’s inaugural Fall Program on Race and Representation includes weekly presentations streamed live October 8 through 22. As part of the program, the CVM will hold its first Diversity, Inclusion and Wellness Symposium on October 30. The 2020 distinguished alumni lecture will be held Nov. 5. All events are open to CVM faculty, staff and students, as well as the general public through the college’s YouTube channel.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes it’s likely that flu viruses and COVID-19 will both be spreading this fall and winter. So, you’ll want to take every precaution you can, including getting a flu vaccine. NC State Faculty and Staff have several available options to receive their annual flu shot. One of those is through on-campus clinics, which will require an appointment and face coverings. Learn more about all options for flu shots here.
NC State will host its first Energy Week on October 19-23. This packed week of virtual events will showcase the university’s energy research and our collective opportunity to shape a clean energy future. From energy justice and entrepreneurship to an energy-themed pitch contest and career fair, this week highlights energy’s role in our lives and future. Learn more and RSVP for events at go.ncsu.edu/energyweek.
University Police are hosting a National Drug Prescription Take Back Day Event on October 24 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the University Police Department. This event is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs.. This is a no questions asked event where people should feel safe dropping off the items. Masks are required for all participants. University Police will not take liquids (including creams or lotions), needles or sharps; they will only take pills or patches. Questions should be directed to Major Ian Kendrick at 919-513-2019 or ijkendri@ncsu.edu.
For informational and compliance purposes, the university provides annual notifications on topics that are of utmost importance to the NC State community. Please see the NC State Annual Notifications information page which includes links to several important topics, including relevant policies, resources and/or additional helpful information.