Dear Colgate Community,
Many thanks to AVP Hernon for taking my place at the helm of the digest last week. I appreciate some readers’ concern but can assure you that I’m fine. (I was off trying to get that little checkbox next to my Twitter handle, but apparently they want proof that I’m real, too.) It’s a pleasure to be back in your inbox for this last digest of the semester.
The Health Analytics Team dashboard shows a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases. This is not surprising, given the surge across the state and the nation. With current events in mind, the Task Force on Reopening meets tomorrow to discuss boosters and potential reentry protocols for spring 2022. Watch for more information on these topics within the next week, as soon as recommendations are reviewed by the Executive Group.
While monitoring conditions here on campus, the Task Force also has an eye on the global situation relative to off-campus study programs. They will be discussing any potential issues around arrivals and departures at their next meeting. Again, they will be in touch if and when decisions are made.
All that remains is for me to wish you the best of luck with finals and safe travels.
When I was in college, a friend of mine fell asleep at the wheel driving home for the semester. He totalled his car but walked away without serious injury. Not everyone is as lucky. Government data show that drowsy driving was behind 91,000 crashes in 2017, causing some 50,000 injuries and 800 fatalities. The trend continues and might be an underestimate because the full facts won’t always be obvious to investigators. Read more from the Sleep Foundation, the CDC, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (Thanks to my friends in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences for the stats.)
With the pandemic still doing its thing, it makes good sense to limit stops on the road, but do it carefully so you don’t fall asleep at the wheel. Get a good night’s rest before departure. Crank up Emrys’ playlist.
Since I’m only driving this desk today, I’ll just grab another cup of coffee. Again, good luck with these final days of the semester. Stay (or get) healthy, and have the happiest of holidays. Talk to you in January.
Sincerely,
Laura H. Jack
Vice President for Communications
Take Note
There are still appointments available for Moderna boosters on Thursday, Dec. 16. Sign up for an appointment and bring a completed vaccine consent form to your appointment.
The Community Leader application for the 2022–23 will be sent via email to all eligible students on Jan. 23. There will be several informational sessions during the first two weeks of February. If you have any preliminary questions please feel free to email reslife@colgate.edu.
Localist, our campus events calendar, is being upgraded to a new version. The campus community will see visual changes to the calendar as soon as today. The event submission form and process remain the same. Reach out to website@colgate.edu if you have any questions.
The Colgate women’s basketball team hosts two more home games before the holiday break. The Raiders will welcome Merrimack College to Cotterell Court this Saturday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. for a Holiday Hoopla. Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite holiday sweater, participate in cookie decorating, and meet the Raiders during a post-game autograph session.
The Raiders will take on Harvard on Tuesday, Dec. 21, for a noon-time employee appreciation game. The first 100 employees in attendance will receive a voucher for the concession stands. Faculty and staff may reserve up to three complimentary tickets by logging in to their colgate.universitytickets.com account in advance.
If you are traveling over the break and have any concerns about multi-factor logins with Duo and Google, please reach out to the IT service desk. The service desk will be available over the break, but with reduced hours — so you might consider reaching out to itshelp@colgate.edu before the break for a quick consultation if you have any questions or concerns. For more information, visit colgate.edu/mfa.
ITS will be applying Banner upgrades on Monday, Dec. 20, from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. During that time, Banner will be unavailable. All portal services and Tableau dashboards will be available. These upgrades are required for end of calendar year processing. If you experience any issues with Banner after these changes, please contact the Service Desk at 315-228-7111 or email itshelp@colgate.edu.
In accordance with Colgate's document retention and destruction policy, the purchasing office has scheduled the Confidata shredding truck to arrive on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, between 10 a.m. and noon. If you will be sending material for shredding, please contact Suzie Meres or Molly Ogden in purchasing with the number of copier boxes, banker boxes, bags, etc. Please make arrangements to have all shredding material sent to central receiving between Tuesday, Jan. 4 and Monday, Jan. 10. All efforts will be made to ensure the confidentiality of the material prior to the truck's arrival.
The summary of the annual report of the Emeriti Retiree Health Plan for Colgate University, a health and dental plan (Employer Identification Number 15-0532078, Plan Number 508), for the plan year 01/01/2020 through 12/31/2020 is now available.
Hours at Case-Geyer and Cooley libraries during the final weeks of the semester are as follows.
Case-Geyer
12/13–16, 8 a.m.–2 a.m.
12/17, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
12/18–19, CLOSED
Cooley Library
12/13–16, 8 a.m.–2 a.m.
12/17, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
12/18–19, CLOSED
Students, want to help your classmates and assist with food insecurity on campus? Donate meal swipes by clicking on “Donate a Meal,” located at the bottom of the GET app. Select either guest meals (premier plans) or a meal from your block plan — enter the number you wish to give, and then click “Donate.” Meals will be distributed to students experiencing unforeseen or challenging circumstances while long-term solutions are secured. Need meals? Apply for emergency support.
Rapid tests will be available to students by appointment only — Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m in the Clark room. Please sign up online.