August 12, 2015

t-notes archive

Next Issue: August 19

Thiel Happenings

Director of Athletics Jack Leipheimer ’74 set to retire at end of year

Thiel College announces today that Director of Athletics Jack Leipheimer ’74 will retire in December 2015. Leipheimer is a member of the President’s Cabinet and responsible for day-to-day operations of the athletics department, including oversight of the College’s 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports, competitive cheer and dance teams, intramurals, and other athletic initiatives.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Thiel College partnering with PCI to update and print alumni directory

Thiel College is partnering with Dallas-based Publishing Concepts Inc. (PCI) to update and print its alumni directory.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Noted Pittsburgh filmmaker Nugent joins faculty

Thiel College announces the addition of noted Pittsburgh filmmaker Ross Nugent, M.F.A., to its faculty as assistant professor of communication.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Humorous password reset video spreads message on important security issue

Senior Media Communication major Trent Keisling '15 and Solution Center Specialist Brendan Connelly show Thiel College employees the right and the wrong way to react to the password reset message employees will be getting over the next few weeks.

As part of Information Technology's efforts to increase security and maintain compliance with the College's auditors, a password expiration policy for all employees has been implemented. This policy will be applied to employees in stages to avoid wholesale password changes. 

Employees whose last name starts with 'A' or 'B' were notified first to change their password. Additional groups will receive notifications concerning expiration in the following weeks. Anyone who has changed their password within the last 90 days will not be prompted to change their password until 90 days from the date of the last change.

Key points to remember:

For more information, contact the Solution Center at ext. 4000.

Campus retreat and family picnic

The all-campus retreat is from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18. It will be followed by the Employee Family Picnic at 5 p.m. A full schedule of events was emailed to all employees on Tuesday. 

All those planning to attend the family picnic should RSVP to Special Events or print and drop off an RSVP at the Special Events office.

New faculty orientation is Monday

New faculty will meet in Room 120 at the James Pedas Communication Center at 8 a.m. Monday. The morning portion of the orientation will include presentations by faculty and staff and tours of campus. Following lunch, a group photo and technology session will be held. New faculty also will have the opportunity to receive their identification card, keys and parking permit as well as set up their computer and phone in the afternoon.

Jeffers wins ICAA 'Newcomer of the Year' 

Director of The Thiel Fund Leta Jeffers was named the Independent College of Advancement Associates recipient of the ICAA Conference Newcomer Award during the summer conference in late July. ICAA gives three different recognition awards annually to a newcomer, a mentor and a program. The newcomer award recognizes the top young professional newcomer from 120 educational institutions and more than 1,600 members.

Student News

GNC faculty, student researchers present at luncheon

First row (left to right): Assistant Professor of English Jared Johnson, Ph.D.; Associate Professor of Chemistry Chris Stanisky, Ph.D.; Beverley Kozuch '17; Austin Hall '17Kelsey Meyer '17; Professor of Biology Fatimata A. Pale, Ph.D.; second row: Assistant Professor of Biology Delbert Abi Abdallah, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor of Performing Arts Pete Rydberg, Ph.D.; and Greenville Neuromodulation Scholar of Neuroscience and Philosophy Erwin Montgomery, M.D.

Thiel College alumni Fred Haer ’65 and his wife, Jill (Shackett) Haer ’66, have pledged more than $400,000 to fund the GNC Faculty/Student Research Institute for the next three years. The institute is concentrated on connecting science and liberal arts at Thiel College.

More information on the inaugural summer research projects:

Opening Convocation

New students arrive Friday, Aug. 21. A full weekend of activities is scheduled including the Opening Convocation ceremony in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center. First-year students will line up and march along Brother Martin's Walk. The only other time they will take that walk with their class will be during the Commencement celebration.

Thiel College group ‘rises up’ in Detroit

Cole Smith ’18, Melissa Allen ’18, Pastor Jayne Thompson, M.Div., M.A., R.D.T., and Joshua Kenst ’18 take a picture with The Reverend Elizabeth A. Eaton, M.Div. (center). Eaton is the first female presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and was the 2015 Commencement speaker at Thiel College.

Pastor Thompson and a contingent of Thiel College students and staff were among the 30,000 people in attendance at the ELCA's Youth Gathering in Detroit in July.

The ELCA Youth Gathering brings together high school students and their adult leaders. The Gathering is a triennial event that takes place over five days and includes opportunities for worship, service, fellowship, study and holy play.

Special Notes

HR Notes

Thiel College says farewell to ...

Immunizations important regardless of age

Immunizations are not just for children. No matter how old we are, protecting ourselves against serious illness and disease is an important part of staying healthy. 

Investment counselor appointments available

Representatives from TIAA-CREF will be available for appointments in Roth Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 29 and Thursday, Oct. 8. Register online or call 800-732-8353 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Waldameer discount code

Thiel College employees are eligible for a special online discount to Waldameer and Water World Park in Erie, Pa. A combination pass for Waldameer and Water World is $30.99 and a combination pass for children under 48 inches is $22.99. Enter the code THIEL15 (case and space sensitive) when ordering tickets online. The discount saves $4 off a regular combination pass and $2 off a children's pass.

Information Technology Notes

Server maintenance

Information Technology will be performing maintenance on the servers starting at 6 a.m. Thursday. This maintenance consists of installing patches on all of our servers, which will require the servers to be rebooted. Outages for each server should be less than 10 minutes each and all patching will be completed by 8 a.m.

For more information, contact the Solution Center at ext. 4000.

Communications and Marketing Notes

Photographer available for professional headshots Monday

Leary Studios will be in the Rudisill Room from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17 to take headshots of new employees or current employees who would like a new photo. Contact Dominick at ext. 2188 for more information.

Events

Campus Events

Thiel College Day at Kennywood Park
August 23 
Kennywood Park

Tickets are $25 each. (Reg. $41.99). Contact Kraig R. Smith at ext. 2027 by Aug. 21 to purchase tickets. 

Summer Alumni & Student Picnic
Sunday at noon 
Cranberry Township, North Boundary Park

Thiel College Pittsburgh Alumni Club are hosting alumni, incoming, prospective, and current students and their families for a summer picnic. This casual picnic is an opportunity for Thiel College students to network and meet President Troy D. VanAken, Ph.D., local alumni, and members of the College community. Picnic will include food and fun for the whole family!

Contact Director of Alumni Relations Kraig R. Smith at ext. 2027 for more information. 

Etc.

Tomcat Tributes

Tomcat Tributes are designed to recognize the teamwork Thiel College employees exhibit each day. Employees can nominate co-workers for recognition in four categories (Random Act of Kindness, Going the Extra Mile, Had a Great Idea, Just Because).

Going the Extra Mile

Nominee: Miles Smith
Nominator: Anonymous
Comment: "As we get to the final weeks before the start of the semester, Miles has been going the extra mile to make sure painting projects are not only getting done, but getting done well! The classrooms and faculty offices he has worked on have never looked better!"

Important Dates for 2015-16

TNT Fall Dates

The 2015-16 TNT dates have been finalized. TNT takes place from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. in the Sawhill-Georgian Room in the Howard Miller Student Center (HMSC).

Other dates to note:

Connect with Thiel College

       

T-Notes Publishing Schedule

The next issue of T-Notes will be out Monday, Aug. 19. T-Notes returns to a weekly schedule starting that week.

Send your submissions by 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17 to tnotes@thiel.edu.

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