A&T Announcements - Oct. 3, 2022

Revised Policy - Disability and Reasonable Accommodation

Please be advised that the following revised policy has been posted for comment. Faculty and staff who wish to provide comments on these draft policies should send their comments to sjcobrand@ncat.edu no later than Oct. 13 for full consideration.

Get Prepared for 2023 State Health Plan Benefits Open Enrollment

The Open Enrollment period Oct. 10-28, 2022—is your opportunity to choose the health plan coverage that best suits the needs of you and your family. This year’s enrollment process will be different because there are two enrollment platforms. The one you use depends on which benefit you are enrolling in—eBenefits (Benefitfocus) or UNC (Empyrean). Remember, YOU MUST TAKE ACTION Oct. 10-28, 2022.

The Division of Human Resources/Benefits Office will provide information sessions (McNair Hall, room 240) and hands-on labs (Bluford Library lower level, ITTD Computer Lab) to help you navigate the open enrollment process. Both will be offered Oct. 10, 11, 17-21 and 24-28, 10 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m.

Chrome River Training Schedule

The University Travel Office with host Chrome River trainings for the month of October. Chrome River is the University’s travel expense management platform. Learn to navigate through the system and process your travel requests. Login instructions will be e-mailed once enrolled. 
   Oct. 4 Student Travel Training at 10 a.m.
   Oct. 5 Student Travel Training at 10 a.m.
   Oct. 6 Chrome River Training at 10 a.m.
    Chrome River Refresher Training at 2 p.m.
   Oct. 11 Splash Lab at 10 a.m.
   Oct. 12 Chrome River Refresher Training at 11 a.m.
    Chrome River Training at 2 p.m.
   Oct. 18 Cash Advance Training at 11 a.m.
   Oct. 20 Splash Lab (2 sessions) at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Diabetes Speaker Series - Call for Presentations (monthly, ongoing)

Our campus Diabetes Speaker Symposium is officially recruiting individuals to lead monthly research talks. We would like to hear from faculty and/or student researchers who can provide a 30-45-minute presentation during the AY 2022-2023. Topics can range from diabetes research, to social/ psychological/behavioral determinants of health, to methodologies used in diabetes related research. Interested speakers please contact Dr. Jeannette Wade (jmwade1@ncat.edu) to discuss scheduling. For more information, visit the NCDRC website.

Director of Undergraduate Admissions Public Presentation (Virtual) – Oct. 3

The Division of Enrollment Management requests your attendance Oct. 3 for finalist presentations for the director of Undergraduate Admissions.

Candidate: Dominique Harrison, Oct. 3 11-11:50 a.m.

Presentation Title: Critical Strategies to Achieve Enrollment Goals: The Role of Admissions in Strategic Enrollment Management. Join the presentations via Zoom.

Spring and Summer 2023 Course Advisement and Registration – Oct. 10-Nov. 28

Advisement for spring and summer 2023 begins on October 10, 2022. Students should contact their faculty advisor to schedule an appointment to discuss courses that should be taken based on their curriculum guide. Students must obtain their alternate pin from their faculty advisor and/or department chairperson.      

Registration begins on Oct. 31. Students are allowed to register based on their earned credit hours. 
   
   Monday, Oct. 31 – Graduate Students and Seniors (90 or more earned credit      hours) 
   Tuesday, Nov. 1 – Juniors (60 – 89 earned credit hours) 
   Wednesday, Nov. 2 – Sophomores (30 – 59 earned credit hours) 
   Thursday, Nov. 3 – Freshmen (less than 30 earned credit hours) 

When registering for classes, all students are required to OPT IN or OPT OUT of AggieAlert!, the university’s emergency notification system that sends text messages to your phone in the event of emergencies, life-threatening situations and/or inclement weather. Failure to opt-in or opt-out prior to class registration will result in a hold being placed on student accounts. To prevent an account hold, log into Aggie Access/Aggie Alert and follow the instructions. 

Registration closes on Monday, Nov. 28.

2023 State Health Plan Benefits Open Enrollment: Oct. 10-28, 2022

The Open Enrollment period is your opportunity to choose the health plan coverage that best suits the needs of you and your family. Benefits-eligible employees will be able to enroll in or update your elections. There will be no employee premium rate increases for the State Health Plan (SHP) for 2023. You MUST TAKE ACTION Oct. 10-28, 2022. To learn more, visit the North Carolina State Health Plan’s 2023 Open Enrollment Information webpages.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Application Deadline – Oct. 31

If you have student loan debt, you may qualify for debt forgiveness. We’re reaching out to make sure North Carolina A&T State University employees are aware of the upcoming deadline of Oct. 31, 2022 to get special flexibility on applications for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness.  

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program forgives the remaining balance on federal direct student loans for certain public service employees after a total of 120 months of qualifying payments. The State Government is a qualifying employer. Other types of qualifying public service include work for other types of government, 501(c)(3) organizations, and some nonprofits.  

The temporary PSLF waiver makes it possible for millions of public service workers to get credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify –reducing or potentially eliminating student loan debt. For example, under the waiver:

1. Past periods of repayment will now count whether or not you made a payment, made that payment on time, for the full amount due, or on a qualifying repayment plan;
2. Borrowers with a FFEL Program loan, Perkins Loan, or certain other federal student loans can benefit by consolidating their loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan and receive credit for periods of repayment pre-consolidation; and
3. You are eligible for forgiveness even if you are not employed by a qualifying employer at the time of application.
4.  The deadline to take advantage of this opportunity is Oct. 31, 2022!  

To learn more:

1.  Visit studentaid.gov/pslf/, studentaid.gov/pslfwaiver, or ncdoj.gov/PSLF.  
2. Contact your student loan servicer and let them know that you are interested in PSLF and the waiver.  Your loan servicer should be able to assist you.

It is important to act quickly as consolidation could take one to two months to complete. Please set aside time this week to see if you can benefit – and thank you for serving your community and our state!   

Quality Enhancement Plan Graduate Assistants

During the fall 2022 semester, Quality Enhancement Plan: Toward Enhanced Achievement in Mathematics (QEP: TEAM) graduate assistants are tutoring students enrolled in MATH 101, 102, 103, 104, 110, 111, 112, and 131. The purpose of QEP: TEAM is to improve student success in eight general education mathematics courses. Graduate assistants tutoring program is part of the QEP: TEAM student support initiative.
   
Lovie Matthews tutors in the Bluford Library on the 2nd Floor in Room 5 each week on Monday 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 6 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Amel Hamidouche tutors online through Upswing (Upswing Tutoring) each week on Monday 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Strategic Priorities

The following focused priorities for 2022-23 reflect North Carolina A&T State University’s goal to perform and be recognized at the highest level of doctoral research universities. As we pursue new levels of competitiveness and impact, we continue to drive toward meeting

A&T PREEMINENCE 2023 key performance indicators (KPIs) for student success, while also advancing the research enterprise and institutional efficiency and effectiveness through operational improvements. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) are integrated throughout the priorities. All employees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the university’s strategic priorities at here.

Faculty & Staff Headshots 

The sign-up period for university headshots has ended. There are no available time slots for Sept. 21-22. Another date will be scheduled in October.

If you have an appointment, A&T work attire is required for these photographs, so please dress accordingly:  

• Managers and office workers should wear business professional attire. Business casual is an option for those who do not work in an office setting. 
• A&T uniforms may be worn by those who are required to wear them.  
• T-shirts and sweatshirts—regardless of the fabric—will not be photographed.  
• Clothing branded with non-A&T marks will not be photographed. 

Please arrive no more than 5 minutes before your scheduled time. To cancel an appointment, email uncomm@ncat.edu at least 24 hours in advance.  

Fall 2022 Digital Learning Faculty Fellows

Would you like to discuss online teaching and digital tools? Need faculty feedback on embedding career competencies and micro-credentials into course design? Our Fall 2022 Digital Learning Faculty Fellows are here for peer consultations and support. Connect with these knowledgeable faculty during virtual office hours or weekly online teaching check-ins. Visit the Online Faculty Commons Community in Blackboard and click on the "Digital Learning Faculty Fellows" link in the navigation bar to connect.

Follow N.C. A&T on Social Media
Make sure to stay in the know! Get the latest information, updates, news and activities. Follow N.C. A&T on all social media platforms. Visit here.

As gas tax that supports a well-functioning transportation system has become unsustainable over the last decade, the Eastern Transportation Coalition, a partnership of 17 states and Washington D.C., needs your help to explore an alternative approach, called a Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF), where each driver pays for the miles they drive instead of the fuel they buy.

To better understand how an MBUF program could work, the Coalition is conducting a FREE Pilot Program in North Carolina and they want N.C. A&T students, faculty, and staff to join and tell them their perception of MBUF and its impact on our communities. Please see more information and sign up on this link. Your voice matters for new upcoming statewide transportation initiative!

The fall semester schedules will go as follows:
Student Center***
Effective Saturday, Aug. 15
Monday – Friday, 7 a.m.-1 a.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday, noon-11 p.m.

Campus Recreation Center***
Effective, Wednesday, Aug. 17
Monday – Thursday, 6 a.m.-midnight*
Friday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.*
Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.**
Sunday, 2 p.m.-9 p.m.**
*Closed weekdays from 2p to 4p for deep cleaning
**Closed for home football games

Corbett Pool***
Effective, Wednesday, Aug. 17
Monday – Friday, noon-8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, Closed

***Subject to change with notice

COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination/Boosters Available
The A.V. Blount Jr. Student Health Center is available for COVID-19 testing Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

COVID-19 vaccines are also available at the Student Health Center Pharmacy Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. daily. 

Counseling Services has partnered with an online service called TogetherAll to provide 24/7 support to students. Students can register with their Aggie email, provide quick demographical information (can also remain anonymous) and in 3 minutes have access to a counselor at any time. The service also provides mental health resources, peer support communities, creative outlets and more.

Aggies students, current alumni, and graduating seniors: it's time to DREAM BIG and Explore The Extraordinary for the 2022-23 academic year!

-Do you want to become a leader and gain a network of global peers at the U. of Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar?
-Would you like to pursue an independent project, earn a postgraduate degree, or help foreign students learn about America while learning English as a Fulbright Program grantee?
-Are you interested in FULL FUNDING to learn a language, study or intern abroad, conduct independent projects/research, participate in leadership and graduate school preparation programs, earn a postgraduate degree, and more?

Get in contact with Ms. Alsace Gallop in NCAT Extraordinary Opportunities: acgallop@ncat.edu. Stay tuned now through next semester for required campus deadlines, advising deadlines, and information sessions.

Learn STEM Skills and Credentials with Digital Badge Program
N.C. A&T is starting a digital badge program, funded by the National Science Foundation, to enable undergraduate students to increase their STEM skills through mentorship programs, experiential learning activities, research opportunities, scholarships, and more.

The ASETTS program will connect students to researchers, professionals, and alumni from STEM‐related fields currently working in transportation careers and give students extra credentials to increase their marketability and secure employment after graduation.

Calling All Survivors - "Power in Pink" – Registration Deadline Oct. 4

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Student Health Center will be hosting the "Power in Pink" Parade on Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. beginning at the Student Health Center. We would love an opportunity to recognize our survivors on campus during this event. If you are a survivor and would like to participate in this event, please register no later than Oct. 4

National Coming Out Day – Oct. 4

The Office of Intercultural Engagement and the LGBTA Resource Center will have a resource table outside of the Williams Cafeteria Breezeway for National Coming Out Day on October 4, 2022. Stop by between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to get learn about resources and get free giveaways. For more information, please contact the Office of Intercultural Engagement at oie@ncat.edu or 336-334-7800.

Literature Review Workshop – Oct. 4

 What is a literature review? What purpose does it serve in research? Join Bluford Library to discuss strategies for conducting a literature review. Along the way, we will explore library services you may not know about and learn how to connect with librarians in your subject area for more in-depth help finding information. The workshop begins at 11 a.m. and last approximately 60 minutes. Register here.

Graduate School Exploration Fair – Oct. 5

The Graduate School Exploration Fair will take place on Oct. 5th from noon to 3 p.m. in the Deese Ballroom in the Student Center. This fair is an opportunity for students to meet with recruiters from various graduate and professional school programs (doctoral, master’s, medical, law, etc.). All majors and classifications are welcome to attend. This is a chance for students to gain all the information needed as it relates to applying to graduate school programs. Students can register here.

Open Educational Resources and Course Adopted Texts – Oct. 6

Now is the perfect time to plan to lower textbook costs in the future. Open educational resources (OERs) and Course Adopted Texts are great alternatives to traditional textbooks. Bluford Library invested in a product called Faculty Select to strengthen its commitment to helping faculty explore textbook alternatives and saving students money. Learn about how to use licensed library ebooks and openly licensed materials via Faculty Select instead of costly textbooks. This workshop will also present research demonstrating the quality and efficacy of OERs. The workshop will begin at 3 p.m. and last approximately 60 minutes.

National Manufacturing Day Virtual Panel – Oct. 7

In recognition of National Manufacturing Day Friday, Oct. 7, you are invited to join us virtually from 9:45-11 a.m. for a panel discussion being presented by the Triad, Triangle and Charlotte Business Journals and the Center of Excellence for Product Design and Advanced Manufacturing (CEPDAM) at N.C. A&T: “Meeting North Carolina Manufacturing Needs in the 21st Century.”
   
This event will feature senior leaders from Hanes Brands Inc., HAECO Americas and Core Technology, CEPDAM Director and University Distinguished Professor Salil Desai, Ph.D., Triad Business Journal Market President & Publisher Mark Gendle, Associate Vice Chancellor Todd Simmons as moderator and others from industry and academia. It will also shine a light on A&T’s leadership in the rapidly growing advanced manufacturing sector across our state in front of a high-impact audience.
   
Feel free to share the link with friends, colleagues and students studying in related fields.

Student Center & Campus Recreation Center Fall Break Schedule – Oct. 10 and Oct. 11

 Student Center
 Monday, Oct. 10 and Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
   
Campus Recreation Center
 Monday, Oct.10 and Tuesday Oct. 11 from noon to 8 p.m.

NanoImpacts Conference 2022 – Oct. 13-15

The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering will host NanoImpacts Conference 2022 on Oct. 13-15, 2022. The focus of the conference is Semiconductor Synthetic Biology and Beyond. Key experts from academia, government, and industry will identify research targets and recommend paths to develop faculty with relevant expertise and the next generation of students prepared to engage and thrive in this dynamic frontier. This is a free event, and registration is open to all.

Opening night of the MRS NanoArt Exhibition is also scheduled for that evening. Day 2 of the conference, October 14, is centered around progress made toward the SemiSynBio Roadmap's five goals and opportunities to explore ideas beyond the original initiatives. On Day 3 of the conference, October 15, JSNN will be hosting an undergraduate research symposium. This symposium is open to undergraduates from any academic institution that are majoring in STEM-related fields.

NanoArt Exhibition Opening – Oct. 13

We invite the Triad community to join us for an evening of art and science on the nanoscale highlighting the beauty of research through art. The exhibition opens on Oct. 13 at 4 p.m., and it will remain open throughout the entire NanoImpacts Conference 2022. This event will be in-person at the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, and it is sponsored by the JSNN Materials Research Society (MRS).

Copyright and Fair Use – Oct. 13

Join Bluford Library to learn the basics for copyright, fair use rules and user rights in general. Let us help you determine if works are Public Domain or Open-Source, and help with Plagiarism vs. Citing. With all the information available, you need to know what’s right and what’s wrong in the world of copyright. You tell us whether your use is for research, teaching, and/or performing and we will help you find appropriate resources to protect you and the University. This active workshop will help you navigate current legislation and common practices to avoid plagiarism and/or infringement situations that can put us all at risk. The workshop will begin at 3 p.m. and will last approximately 60 minutes. Register here.  

STEM Undergraduate Research Symposium – Oct. 15

On Oct. 15, JSNN is hosting an Undergraduate Research Symposium as part of the NanoImpacts Conference 2022. This event is open to undergraduate students in the Triad and surrounding areas to present their STEM research through poster and oral presentations. The event’s goal is to allow participants to learn more about innovative research, network with other students and faculty, and gain experience in the scientific field. Registration is free for all presenters and non-presenters. In addition, the top three presentations in the oral and poster sessions will receive prizes and recognition. Register here.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis or having thoughts of suicide, please contact Counseling Services. Counseling Services provides trainings on suicide prevention. You can become a gatekeeper and save a life by recognizing the warning signs, offering hope, and referring others to seek professional assistance. Here are some resources on suicide prevention.

·         National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24 Hours) 1-800-273-8255
·         American Psychological Association (APA) http://www.apa.org/
·         Suicide warning signs http://www.apa.org/topics/suicide/signs.aspx
·         Speaking of Psychology: Preventing suicide http://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/preventing-suicide.aspx
·         Suicide Prevention http://www.apa.org/advocacy/suicide-prevention/index.aspx