October 7, 2019
President's Corner
I hope that your fall semester is going well! I want to provide you with a couple of updates on things happening at the College.
- I have asked Lori Edgeworth to take on the responsibility of overseeing Institutional Effectiveness for the next year or so. As the budget allows in the future, Dr. Bates has proposed hiring an Asst./Assoc. Vice President for Academic Affairs who will oversee assessment, accreditation, and institutional effectiveness at the College. Institutional Effectiveness is closely aligned with the Strategic Plan that Lori oversees. Dr. Bates and Lori will continue to collaborate with the Institutional Effectiveness Committee to support progress related to enhancing Institutional Effectiveness.
- The College Catalog is finalized and is available on the Mercy College website. Please take time to review the Catalog for updates that may be relevant to your scope of responsibilities.
- As I shared at the Professional Development meetings at the Toledo Zoo, the College Board of Trustees approved investigating changing the name of the College to better reflect our purpose at their September meeting. A small group of College individuals, led by Marc Adkins are working on gathering any and all relevant information to make a decision. At this time, we are only investigating and a new name has not been decided. I will keep you informed as this process continues.
- The College hired an external consultant who has made recommendations and offered strategies to the BSN-P faculty and administration to make program improvements. Further, the consultant has recommended that the College delay the start of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (ABSN) to ensure all students pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in nursing benefit from any changes that are made. Based on the consultant’s recommendation, we will delay the start of the ABSN until the summer of 2021.
- An HR informational session for our 2020 Bon Secours Mercy Health health care benefits was scheduled for Tuesday, October 22, 2019 on our campus. We are aware that this conflicts with Fall break and the Day of Service. We are working with Mercy HR to determine an alternate date for this session. As soon as we have a date secured we will share it. You may also attend any of the other sessions that are scheduled.
- Friendly deadline reminder: Mandatory learning for all faculty and staff required by both Mercy Health and Mercy College must be completed by Friday, November 1, 2019.
- Our next College Assembly is on Monday, October 14, 2019 at 11:00 am. The focus will be preparations for our HLC reaffirmation of accreditation visit on November 18-19, 2019.
As always, please let me or a member of the Executive Team know if you have questions with the above information.
Thank you
Susan Wajert
CEO-Gram
Send a message to Dr. Wajert using the following CEO-Gram link: http://intranetapps.health-partners.org/EmailForms/Toledo/CEOgramMercyCollege.aspx
Mercy Café Menu
Submitted by Steve Joyce
Human Resources Update
Angela Nowak is the Director of Human Resources for the College. She is located on the Sixth Floor of the Mercy College Building (Jefferson Street Side). She will be rounding the floors to introduce herself. Feel free to stop by with any questions or call her at her direct line, 419-251-4661.
Campus Improvements
Campus Beautification
A project team was created and met identifying the needs of the campus grounds. Several employees went to work planting and weeding around campus in July. Some of the areas that received new plants: include the front entrances of Madison and Jefferson, memorial garden located at the round courtyard, the fountain at the main entrance of Jefferson, the area around the sign on Jefferson, the courtyard behind the statue of Mary. New stone was added to several landscaping beds. The project team will be meeting again in October to make plans for fall planting and weeding.
The fountain will be restored Spring of 2020. Two new table umbrellas and one picnic table will be purchased. The wooden benches will be replaced with four new benches in blue/green colors.
If you would like to be a part of the project team contact Sherri Boggs.
Learning Commons Construction Underway
Construction has begun on the 6th floor of Jefferson for the new Learning Commons. The space will be at opposite end of the hall from Student Records. The 6500 square foot renovation will have two large classrooms, three team-based spaces, a large study/student lounge area and a space for collaboration. There will also be new restrooms in this area. More updates to come on this exciting space. This space is scheduled for completion in January 2020.
Compliance Corner- Mandatory Red Flag Identity Theft Training
Submitted by Leslie Erwin
Just what you all wanted to hear...ANOTHER mandatory learning module in Workday! Sherri Boggs, Manager of Operations, will be sending out an updated list of mandatory Workday learning modules, and you will see an additional module that is not currently listed in your Required Learning in Workday- MH Identity Theft Prevention Program: Complying With The FTC "Red Flag" Rules. If you recall from AICUO President Todd Jones' presentation at College Assembly a few weeks ago, cybersecurity concerns are a major issue in higher education. The Office of Compliance and Risk Management has been working with Dave Burgin, College Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Security Officer, on a comprehensive information security plan (CISP), which will be published for the college community and incorporated into new hire orientations. Part of the CISP requires us to have an Identity Theft Prevention Program, and the Workday learning module is one part of that program. Please feel free to contact Leslie Erwin, Dave Burgin, or Sherri Boggs with any questions regarding this new training.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month Activities
Submitted by Suzanne Hall
Counseling and Wellness Services is offering domestic violence month awareness activities this month at both the Toledo and Youngstown campuses.
Toledo is hosting the Silent Witness Project, an exhibit recognizing women in northwest Ohio who have died from intimate partner violence. The display will be located in the Jefferson 3rd floor lobby by elevators on Monday, October 14 from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 15 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, October 16 from 9:00-11:00 a.m., with resources available as well.
In Youngstown, students are invited to participate in the Hands and Words Are Not For Hurting Project. During the day on Wednesday, October 9th and evening on Monday, October 14 students, staff and faculty will be making purple cutouts of their hands and signing their names to pledge “I will not use my hands or my words for hurting myself or others.” These pledges will posted throughout the college. A Ted talk will be available to view and informational cards and flyers for prevention, education, and resources will also be available.
For more information about these events, contact: Suzanne Hall at 419-251-1454 or suzanne.hall1@mercycollege.edu (Toledo) or Ann Bair at 330-480-2874 or Ann.Bair@mercycollege.edu (Youngstown).
Items Sent to Students via Inside Mercy College
Mercy Café Menu - see above
Domestic Violence Awareness Month Activities - see above
#RealCollege Hope Survey - Real Talk: We need your help
submitted by Kristen Porter
Let’s get real. You’re the expert when it comes to what’s happening in college. So we need your help to make Mercy College of Ohio the best it can be for you and your friends. We're just reminding you that there is still time to fill out the survey!
Share your real talk in the #RealCollege survey. We chose you simply because you attend Mercy College. In appreciation, you can win a $100 gift card for completing the survey.
The email has been sent out the last couple weeks with the subject - Real Talk: We need your help, there will be one final reminder sent out next week (October 8, 2019) and the survey link will close on Thursday, October 31, 2019.
We greatly appreciate your time in filling out the survey!
Food Pantry - Opening Day October 23
submitted by Kristen PorterFood Pantry Open House Wednesday, October 23, 1:00-4:00 p.m., M5812
Join us for a Blessing of the Food Pantry - 1:00 p.m.
Stop by anytime during the open house for a snack and to get more information about this free service for students, faculty and staff in need of food.
The purpose of the Food Pantry is to supply free food for any member of the Mercy College community who may be experiencing hunger or struggling to buy food for their household. The pantry is open to all Mercy College students, faculty & staff.
To request food, please visit www.tinyurl.com/MCfoodpantry.
Want to donate items?
Email foodpantry@mercycollege.edu to receive a list of items needed. Donations can be brought to Room M5706 or placed in the collection box near the 5th floor Madison elevators.
Questions? Contact the Mercy College Food Pantry at foodpantry@mercycollege.edu.
CEO-Gram
Send a message to the Mercy College President using this link.
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