WELCOME BACK!

I hope you had a nice break, whether short or long, and that you’re as eager to start the new semester as I am.

JOIN ME FOR LUNCH ON MONDAY
All are invited to a complementary lunch in the Stearns Dining Hall on Monday, Jan. 17, during regular lunch hours (11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.). In recognition of Martin Luther King Day, we’ll have information about service opportunities in the community. I’ll make a few remarks around noon, but the main point will be to reconnect with one another and celebrate our community. Please stop in and enjoy a free lunch anytime during this period.

WELCOME BACK COFFEE ON FRIDAY
Another “meet and greet” opportunity for faculty and staff that week will be on Friday, Jan. 21. I’ll host a “Welcome Back Coffee Break” at the Stearns Performance Space from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Please join me for some breakfast goodies and a quick update on campus improvements, new hires and future plans. I hope you can make it.

THANKS TO THE PHYSICAL PLANT
The Physical Plant crew has done a great job keeping up with the snow these past several weeks – it seems to have snowed constantly. They also completed a number of upgrades and repairs during the break, including the renovation of four classrooms in Bentley Hall with new ceilings, lighting, flooring, storage and ADA-compliant entryways.

Best wishes to all for a rewarding spring semester – and I hope to see you at next week’s events.