Archives for August 2020

New Student Orientation is online beginning Monday, August 31, through Thursday, September 17. We are excited to welcome all of our new students via a Moodle New Student Orientation course that was developed over the summer. Staff and faculty may have new students reaching out to them with questions as a result. Please feel free to reach out to Sarah Luedtke-Jones (sluedtkejones001@luthersem.edu) or Chenar Howard (choward001@luthersem.edu) with any questions.

We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who played a role in creating content for the course!

The book group kickoff for “The Index Card” is at 4 p.m. Central today. The Zoom link will be provided in the community announcements email.

How to do the book group:
1. Register here: https://moodle.luthersem.edu/course/view.php?id=1647. Use the enrollment code: Fall2020. The first session will start on Wednesday, September 2, and if you stay on schedule, you should be polishing it off before Halloween.

2. Order the book now so you are ready to get going! https://www.amazon.com/Index-Card-Personal-Finance-Complicated/dp/1591847680

Questions? Email Catherine at cmalotky001@luthersem.edu.

This book group is sponsored by the Stewardship Leaders Program and paid for by a grant from the Lilly Foundation.

Because a clean, sanitized campus is especially important during this pandemic, the Luther Seminary facilities staff has outlined a cleaning plan to keep the campus safe.

The facilities staff will regularly clean and sanitize public areas; however, you should assume that someone may have touched door handles, equipment, and other surfaces since the last cleaning. Per CDC guidelines, please wash or sanitize your hands frequently, particularly after touching a surface others may have touched, and avoid touching your face.

Common areas cleaning:
The Luther Seminary facilities staff will clean and sanitize common areas daily, Monday through Friday, in Bockman Hall, Olson Community Center, and Gullixson Hall, including classrooms, lounges, meeting rooms, and halls. This work includes wiping down handrails, door handles, drinking fountains, bathrooms, kitchen areas, elevators, and other common hard surface areas that are shared. Arrangements will be made for areas that might need additional attention.

Office cleaning:
Individual offices will only be cleaned upon request. If any special cleaning or other details are needed, arrangements can be made by an email to maintenance@luthersem.edu. Please leave trash and recycling containers outside office doors in the hallway for removal. The CDC has stated that the coronavirus can survive up to 72 hours on most hard surfaces. If your office is unoccupied for that period of time, sanitizing isn’t as necessary. However, sanitizing is only effective on clean surfaces. With that in mind the facilities staff will schedule regular area cleaning projects throughout campus. Students and staff will be notified in advance of areas to be cleaned.

Bockman Residence 3rd Floor:
The residence floor in Bockman Hall will require extra cleaning and sanitizing, which will be a joint effort between students and staff. Each resident will be responsible for their individual room. The facilities staff will clean the bathrooms and common areas on the third floor. Student employees will be assigned to clean the lounge on the third floor and basement kitchen.

Supplies:
Staff or students who need supplies to clean offices or other areas on campus can obtain them from the facilities office in Bockman Hall, Room 130. You may request supplies by emailing maintenance@luthersem.edu.

Tom Mullaney, facilities manager, leads a small, dedicated team of facilities professionals: Ron Hosek, Doug Peterson, and Jake Ratkovich. This team is supplemented with a number of contractors and hard-working student employees. We want you to feel safe on campus. Please contact either Tom or Michael Morrow, vice president of finance and administration, if you have concerns or suggestions for improvement.

Join us for a brief kick-off for “The Index Card” book group on Monday, August 31, beginning at 4 p.m. Central. Watch your community announcements email on August 31 for the Zoom link.

Meanwhile, register for the book group here. https://moodle.luthersem.edu/course/view.php?id=1647. Use the enrollment code: Fall2020. The first session will start on Wednesday, September 2, and if you stay on schedule, you should be polishing it off before Halloween.

Order the book now so you are ready to get going next week! https://www.amazon.com/Index-Card-Personal-Finance-Complicated/dp/1591847680

Questions? Email Catherine at cmalotky001@luthersem.edu.

This book group is sponsored by the Stewardship Leaders Program, and paid for by a grant from the Lilly Foundation.

Thank you to everyone who has donated masks in the past. Your creativity and generosity are greatly appreciated!

We have handed out all of the masks that were donated previously and are hoping to collect more to pass out as needed. If you would be willing to donate masks, please email Sarah Luedtke-Jones at sluedtkejones001@luthersem.edu. She can work with you to coordinate a drop-off or mailing.

Dear Luther Community,

Reminder: At 1 p.m. Central today, Contextual Learning will be hosting an appreciation event for Karen Gieseke as she transitions from her role as associate director of contextual learning to a part-time deployed associate working with South Dakota Synod interns through December 2021.

Please note that this hybrid gathering on the front lawn of Bockman Hall is limited to no more than 25 people (masks required, as well as social distancing practices). You may also attend virtually. The Zoom link will be in the community announcements email.

All other well wishes regarding this transition may be sent directly to Karen at her Luther email address: kgieseke002@luthersem.edu.