The Employee Volunteer Program was created to allow Elon staff to receive paid leave to volunteer with community organizations, a benefit now formalized through Human Resources. Today, full-time staff working 30 or more hours per week can take up to 16 hours of paid leave annually to support causes that positively impact the quality of life within communities. Beyond the policy itself, the program reflects something deeper.

“Allowing Elon employees to have paid volunteer leave is symbolic of �þ���’s commitment to supporting local communities,” said Bob Frigo, director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and assistant dean of campus life.

He emphasizes that engagement is not just a student responsibility, but “it is important for staff and faculty to model the way in terms of being active citizens in our communities.”

For many employees, these hours open doors to experiences that might otherwise be difficult to access during a busy workweek. Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach, used her volunteer time to work the polls during a local primary election.

“Volunteering is something I’ve been doing my entire life, and I’m so thankful that Elon gives us the opportunity to volunteer during work hours,” she said. Her role involved guiding voters through the process, but the experience became more personal than procedural.

“I volunteered in my own voting precinct; it was lovely to chat with folks that live near me that I might not otherwise get to know,” said Harer.

Nicole Bergen, program assistant for the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, also participated in an experience that highlights the variety and flexibility the program offers. From reading with first graders to participating in Haw River cleanups, she has used her hours to connect with the Alamance County community in multiple ways.

“I am always amazed at what a group of working volunteers can accomplish in such a short time,” she reflected. Whether collecting bags of trash or seeing “a student partner smiling at you the second you appear in the doorway,” Bergen has found both purpose and connection.

For Bergen, who does not live in the county, the program has been especially meaningful.

“It has felt like a lovely adventure to discover the area outside work,” she said, adding that it has reshaped her understanding of her role in the community.

While scattered thunderstorms rolled through the area, they fortunately steered clear of Saxapahaw and the group was treated to a lovely evening on the water. The event was facilitated by Evan Small, faculty member in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, who provided instructions for water safety and guidance on the river.

Haw River Canoe and Kayak aided getting boats in the water, after which the group was free to paddle upriver. Many in the group took the opportunity to paddle together, enjoying the gentle flow of the river. Others paddled along the shoreline, scouting wildlife and listening to bird calls. The group all made it safely back ashore as the sun sank below the trees, providing beautiful views of the sunset and gathering storm clouds in the distance.

In addition to creating ways for faculty and staff to connect in informal settings, one of the objectives of the Together@Elon events is to provide opportunities to try new things in a safe and supportive environment. For Maria Papapietro, Isabella Cannon Global Education Center, this was the first time kayaking and she had a great experience:

“Kayaking was a fun and meaningful way to engage with colleagues from all over campus,” she said. “I’m so grateful that Elon creates opportunities for us to build relationships beyond our usual circles—it really makes our community feel more connected and vibrant.”

About Together@Elon

At �þ���, we believe that social connections and a sense of belonging will help our exceptional faculty and staff thrive. Building a community that transforms mind, body, and spirit allows employees to support student success.

Together@Elon offers monthly opportunities for Elon employees to come together and enjoy shared experiences and connection. Events are announced quarterly. The include the 4th Friday in Burlington on July 25 (bring your family!) and Bingo Social on August 5 in McKinnon Hall.

Together@Elon is a collaboration between the Division of Inclusive Excellence, the Staff Advisory Council and HealthEU.

Monday, August 19

Opening Day
Location: Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center
Events start at 8:15 a.m.

Planning Week 2024 kicks off with Opening Day on Aug. 19, first with a community-wide reception on the Koury Athletic Center concourse followed by the presentation of Elon Medallions and named professorships and remarks from President Connie Book in Alumni Gym.

Since 2011, the Elon community has collected school supply items for the children in Alamance County, sponsored by the Student Government Association, Staff Advisory Council and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. Faculty and staff can bring supplies to the president’s address or drop them off from Aug. 16-26 at various locations around campus. More information about specific items and drop-off locations is available here.

Following the president’s address at 9:45 a.m., a variety of breakout sessions will be available for all members of the Elon community, including:

• HealthEU
• National �þ���
• Election Year Engagement
• Artificial Intelligence
• Mid-Point Review of Boldly Elon
• Mentoring Next Steps
• The Dynamic NCAA Environment and Setting a Strategic Course

All members of the Elon community are then invited to a picnic on the Lakeside Patio at noon. Members of �����Dz�’s schools and colleges will meet from 1:30 to 4 p.m. From 3:30 to 5 p.m., members of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences will welcome the new Dean Hilton Kelly on Medallion Plaza. President Book then invites new faculty and staff to a reception at The Inn at Elon at 5 p.m.��

Tuesday, August 20

Facilitating Conversations about Election 2024 in Class
Location: Oaks 212
1:30 to 3 p.m.

The session, led by new Faculty Fellow for Civic Engagement Dillan Bono-Lunn, will familiarize faculty with campus resources for civic engagement and offer tips for �þ��� during politically divisive times.�� The session will help faculty think through approaches to incorporating discussion of the��election, as well as strategies for responding in the moment when these issues arise.

Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
Location: Linder 102
2 to 3 p.m.

This session will provide an overview of artificial intelligence (AI) work at Elon. Presenters will introduce recent advancements in AI and discuss AI’s implications for higher education. The results of the second-year AI readiness survey will be shared. The roadmap for AI, the resources available across campus, and pilot AI programs available for use in �þ��� and daily work will be introduced. Participants will have time to discuss AI perceptions in small groups and will be invited to share their suggestions about how best to prepare the Elon community as we adjust to generative AI in education.

Wednesday, August 21

�þ��� Safety Discussions
Location: KOBC 101
1:30 to 3 p.m.

New to Planning Week this year will be a discussion on campus safety, open to Elon faculty and staff.

Elon’s Imagining the Digital Future Center: How it can work with you and for you
Location: Sankey 308
2 to 3 p.m.

The Imagining the Digital Future Center is still new on campus and this session will explain its mission to do research and publish findings that are meant to be distributed widely and have notable public impact. The center hopes to work with faculty to create and publish research and have significant student involvement in the research process. Center Director Lee Rainie will use this session to solicit ideas about how the center can integrate well into campus activities.

Loy Farm Open House
Location: 2635 W. Front Street Burlington, N.C. 27215
4 to 5:30 p.m.

Come explore the new EcoVIllage Living Learning Center, a new residential neighborhood that combines sustainable architecture with small house living. ��The first phase of this neighborhood consists of six houses that provide unique sustainable design solutions for the twelve students that will be living in this neighborhood during the 2024-25 academic year.

An aerial view of EcoVillage at Loy Farm, a new living learning community that includes six two-bedroom houses that utilize sustainable design principles and sustainable materials.

An aerial view of EcoVillage at Loy Farm, a new living learning community that includes six two-bedroom houses that utilize sustainable design principles and sustainable materials.

An aerial view of EcoVillage at Loy Farm, a new living learning community that includes six two-bedroom houses that utilize sustainable design principles and sustainable materials.

Thursday, August 22

College Coffee – Employee Resource Groups
Location: Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain location: Koury Athletic Center concourse)
10:15 to 10:45 a.m.

Learn about the various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) on campus with the academic year’s first College Coffee, a weekly tradition at Elon. College Coffee continues throughout the year on Tuesday mornings from 9:40 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.

ERGs at College Coffee include:

• Advocates for Diversity and Accessibility
• Amazing Admins
• API (Asian and Pacific Islander)
• Black
• Cultivating Emerging Professionals
• Employees with Children
• Global Connections
• Hispanic/Latinx
• Jewish
• LGBTQIA
• Remote Employees (meeting virtually @ 8:30 a.m. PST / 11:30 a.m.EST)
• Supervisors of Student Employees
• Sustainability
• Thrive after 55
• Veterans

Friday, August 23

Move-In Day

�þ��� officially return to campus on Friday, August 23. More information about Move-In Day and New Student Orientation can be found here.

Saturday, August 24

New Student Convocation
Location: Under the Oaks (Rain location: Schar Center)
9 to 10:10 a.m.

New Student Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and welcomes the Class of 2028 and transfer students. Volunteers are needed to greet guests, assist with seating and answer general questions. You can sign up to volunteer by filling out this . The survey will close on August 16.

More Information

Name Tags

As the university starts a new academic year with some new faces, wearing name tags is important and encouraged.

Name tags for��new employees (hired since June 1) will be delivered to each office by Aug. 14. Please pick yours up from your department assistant. Employees who are unable to get to their offices prior to planning week may stop by the name tag table on Monday, Aug. 19, at the reception beginning at 8:15 a.m. in Alumni Gym. After Monday, the assistant in an employee’s area can help with name tags.

Current employees should wear the name tag they were most recently issued.

University Directory Photographs

All Elon faculty and staff members are encouraged to have their photo included in the university’s online directory. Please make plans to have a new or updated photograph taken. If you are new to Elon, if your photo is missing from the campus directory, or if your photo is more than three years old, please have a new photo taken by the Office of University Communications. No appointment is necessary, simply just drop in during a session that suits you. The portraits are taken from chest up on a gray backdrop in a photo studio.

The photo studio is located in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, close to West Haggard Avenue.��Please enter through the external doors in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym,��

• Tuesday, Aug. 20: 2 to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 22: 10 a.m. to noon

Once your photo is in the directory, you may download a high-resolution version for your own professional use. To do so, visit��www.elon.edu/directories. Log in at the bottom left, and the editing page will open. Beneath your photo, click the download link to download a high-resolution copy of your portrait to your computer.

Trainings for Active Violence

The �þ��� �þ��� Safety and Police Department is offering ongoing training to our campus community on Strategies for Active Violence Situations.

Officers of the department are trained to the model of Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE). The CRASE course is designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend strategy and was developed by ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training) in 2004. The course provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. Although �����Dz�’s officers train to this strategy, they also take the training one step further to teach concepts about prevention within our campus community.

Upon request, an officer will visit your specific office/location to perform an assessment and take photos of your workspace. Information and photos gathered from that assessment are then built into the presentation, so the training is personal and specific to your area.

To request an assessment and training, please reach out to Community Policing Sergeant Joel Thomas at 336-278-5555 or��jthomas39@elon.edu.

The Elon community pulled together to support his efforts but also recognized the university’s leadership responsibility to “act locally” and helped alleviate some of the needs in Alamance County.�� That original drive benefitted both the children abroad and here at home.

The university is excited to continue its commitment to the local community and asks that students, faculty and staff consider donating needed supplies for Alamance Burlington School System (ABSS) students. Every year, the ABSS Student Support Services team (connected to the ) supports over 500 children and families experiencing homelessness, and the need continues to grow in our county.

How to Participate

�þ���, faculty and staff can participate in one of the following ways:

1. Bring your supplies to the President’s Address on Monday, Aug. 19, in Alumni Gym, the traditional “kick-off” to this drive.
2. Purchase and drop off supplies Aug.16-26 in one of the collection boxes on campus:
   • Moseley �þ��� Center (near Young Commons entrance)
   • Koury Center (concourse near Young Commons entrance)
   • Belk Library (front entrance near Young Commons)
   • Alamance building (in the rotunda near room 109)
   • Powell building (at front entrance)
   • Mooney building (student lounge area)
   • Lindner Hall (near room 104)
   • Koury Business Center (lobby)
   • Founders Hall (lobby near large stairs)
   • Schar Hall (in Snow Family Atrium)
   • Francis Center (main lobby)
   • Janice Ratliff building (in lobby)
   • Ellington Center (Faculty/Staff Health and Wellness)
   • Johnston Hall (near entrance)
   • �þ��� Shop (Elon Town Center)
   • �þ��� Safety and Police (Oaks)
   • �þ��� Technology Services building (near the entrance)
   • Business Services building (front entrance)
   • Facilities Management building (front office)
3. Purchase school supplies online and have them shipped to the Student Government Association (SGA) at 2979 �þ��� Box, 100 �þ��� Drive, Elon, NC 27244. Supplies must be delivered by Aug. 26.
4. Call the SGA office at (336) 278-7109, if you have donations and cannot locate a drop-off box, and an SGA leader will come to pick up the donation.
5. Law School faculty and staff members may contact Stacie Dooley, assistant dean of career and student development. A separate drive is being coordinated for the Greensboro area.

Items to Donate

While all school supplies are welcomed and appreciated, ABSS has shared that new backpacks/book bags and the list of supplies below are their greatest needs:

School Supplies

• New backpacks or book bags (best if they can span ages and levels)
• 3-ring binders (1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3-inch)
• Notebook paper (wide-ruled and college-ruled)
• Composition notebooks
• Pocket folders (with or without prongs)
• Colored pencils
• Crayons
• Washable markers
• Flash drives (4GB or greater)

Personal Care Items

• Shampoo
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Combs
• Brushes
• Body wash
• Deodorant
• Feminine hygiene products
• Hand sanitizer
• Gas cards
• Food cards
• Ziploc bags
• Tissues
• Student-sized masks

For additional questions, contact Jodean Schmiederer, advisor to the Student Government Association, at jschmiederer@elon.edu, or Kelly Harer, involvement chair for the Staff Advisory Council, at kharer@elon.edu.

What would you say if you were offered the opportunity to travel globally for three weeks, all expenses paid?

It’s an opportunity offered to Elon staff members through the Global Engagement Program, and this year, I was lucky enough to take advantage of it. My experience allowed me to connect with Elon students and faculty, explore historic sites around Europe and support the global experiences of those involved.

I became aware of this amazing program several years ago. Sponsored by the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center and coordinated by the Staff Advisory Council, the program provides staff members the opportunity to expand their global perspectives during Winter Term. All staff��members are eligible to apply after five years of employment at Elon. Those selected are assigned to a global engagement course and can study with the students during fall semester before traveling with the class during Winter Term in January.

My journey to being selected took time. I applied five times before my name was drawn, watching other lucky staff members be chosen, and then seeing the program put on hold during 2021 because of Covid travel restrictions. Then, luckily, I was picked to travel with a group of students and two faculty members to Germany and Austria for the “Lives of the Great Composers” course in January 2022.

I was excited to attend the weekly class sessions during the fall semester. It was an experience that allowed me to get to know the students and faculty members I would be traveling with and exposed me to their studies so I was prepared for our time abroad.

It became evident this year’s program would be different in many ways. Along with the ongoing pandemic, the Omicron variant was causing additional concerns. In the weeks leading up to our departure, there were several Zoom calls with participants, their parents, and representatives from the GEC. Understandably, parents were concerned and had abundant questions. Is it safe to travel? What happens if she tests positive before she leaves/while she’s there/before she heads home? Who will stay with him? How will he get to the next location/home?

I was impressed and reassured by the calm, professional way the GEC staff handled these questions and concerns as they navigated uncharted territory. They anticipated issues and had plans in place wherever we went. While there were some sites that were closed due to Covid, most places were open. We quickly adapted to wearing our masks everywhere, the occasional Covid test, and showing our vaccination cards multiple times a day.

During our time in Europe, we were able to explore historic and powerful sites around Germany and Austria, as a large cohort, in smaller groups and individually. In Munich we toured the city, dined at a Hofbrauhaus, had an emotional (and very cold) visit to Dachau Concentration Camp and visited several museums. I took a side trip in the snow to Castle Neuschwanstein, the inspiration for Disney’s Cinderella’s castle.

My favorite location was Salzburg, Austria, where a wonderful tour guide spent a week showing the city to us, including a hike to and a tour of the Salzburg Fortress. We attended a chamber music concert at Schloss Mirabell where Mozart himself played, visited Mozart’s birthplace and enjoyed a Mozart dinner concert at a fancy restaurant. We visited Hellbrunn Palace and ventured underground through a salt mine! We traveled by bus to the lake town of Hallstatt which was breathtakingly beautiful.

Being the musical geek that I am, I booked my own Sound of Music tour. It turns out there were quite a few other geeks in our group who joined me. In Vienna we found more museums (Schubert and Beethoven), concerts, an opera and a ballet in the Vienna Opera House. A visit to the Composer’s Graveyard allowed us to see the final resting spots of many of the composers we had studied.

This program was one of the most meaningful and certainly memorable adventures of my life and I can’t adequately articulate how fortunate I feel to have been given this gift by Elon and the Staff Advisory Committee. As Grants Coordinator in the Office of Sponsored Programs, I don’t often get to interact with students. As a former teacher, this connection is something I greatly miss. I absolutely loved getting to know the 22 young people on this trip and am happy to say several have already reached out to me to let me know our connection will continue now that we are back on campus.

I was impressed and wowed by the dedication, patience, and endless effort exhibited by Elon lecturers Laurin Kier and Jinny Whitaker as leaders of our group. Their first concern was always the students and they worked tirelessly to make our trip educational, organized and fun. They included me in plans and made me truly feel a part of their team. I am proud to call them colleagues, and now, lifelong friends.

The opportunity Elon provides to staff members to participate in the Global Engagement Program is priceless and incredibly generous. I am grateful beyond measure and am forever changed.

I hope you have enjoyed, or are still enjoying, a restful and rejuvenating time with your loved ones during our winter break.

Members of the Healthy Elon committee, the Data Team, Human Resources, and others continue to work closely with health experts regarding the highly contagious Omicron variant and the ongoing threat of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

We are also in contact with our local health department regarding a news release from the CDC with updated quarantine guidance. We will provide updated information in the days ahead as we receive final details from the state and county.

I urge you to consider��the following��as we prepare for a healthy start in welcoming faculty, staff and students back to campus for Winter Term:

• As��announced by the��Healthy Elon Committee, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to get their boosters��and����as soon as possible.��We will offer��on-campus clinics��on��Jan. 5-7, but capacity will be limited. If possible,��get your booster��now��by��.����All students��are��required to receive a��booster vaccine��as soon as possible��and��no later than Jan. 31.
• The start of Winter Term provides a good chance for��everyone to take advantage of the free��on-campus testing opportunities. Asymptomatic testing resumed on Monday in McCoy Commons 207.��Please consider being tested��as we begin Winter Term and you return to work��(note that the testing center will be closed this Friday, Dec. 31, for the New Year’s holiday).
• Those who are currently unvaccinated will need to continue their required weekly testing and should get their first test either this week or the beginning of next week.
• �����Dz�’s masking policy��will continue to remain in place through the month of January.�� As a reminder, everyone on campus, including those who are vaccinated, should carry a mask with them at all times, are required to wear masks in all indoor public spaces, and are encouraged to wear a mask any time they feel ill, are in crowded outdoor spaces, if they feel the need for extra protection, etc.
• The month ahead will present challenges on campus and at home. Please remember to contact your supervisor and Human Resources either by phone at 336-278-5560 or email at HREmployeeCovid@elon.edu, if you or a member of your household is infected with COVID-19. For your reference, we will also continue to offer the policy for continuity of work and instruction.
• As a reminder, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is ready and available to assist you and your dependents with many work-life services (counseling, daycare and eldercare suggestions, legal services, etc.).

Thank you for all your work this past semester and as we gear up for Winter Term and the Spring Semester.

Wishing you a wonderful and healthy new year,

Kelli��Shuman
Assoc. VP for HR/Chief Human Resources Officer

Please see below for a listing and nomination guidelines for each of the awards.�� The deadline for submission this year is March 31, 2021.

Staff Member of the Year Award, the Phoenix Awards, and the Blanche Garrison Memorial Award

Staff Member of the Year

Three Staff Member of the Year Awards are presented annually to university non-�þ��� staff – one for each of the following categories: Physical Plant, Professional Hourly Staff, and Administrative Staff.

Requirements:

• Nominees must be classified as full-time (work at least 30 hours per week)
• Need to have been in their position for at least one full year

Guidelines:

• Any university faculty member, staff member, or student may make a nomination
• Nominations can be made in any or all three of the categories represented
• Accurate and professional responses about your nominee’s qualifications are best to aid in the process for the Selection Committee
• Include any experiences with the nominee that you feel are relevant
• All nominations are kept confidential throughout the process

*Before submitting, please see the list of past winners attached to this email to assure that your nominee has not already received the Staff Member of the Year award. Also, please note that nominations have to be made for individual staff members, not for a group of staff members.

Please see the link for Staff Member of the Year nomination form:

Phoenix Staff Awards

Three Phoenix staff awards are also presented during Staff Appreciation Day. Please see the criteria for each award, along with the link for the nominations.

• Rising Phoenix Award: Presented to one new member of the Elon staff (less than five years of service) who has consistently displayed excellence in pursuit of the Elon Commitment with an engaged mind, inspired leadership, and global citizenship
  
• Phoenix Community Engagement Award: Presented to a member of the Elon staff who has demonstrated exemplary service to the university, local or global community through their engagement in volunteer organizations
  
• Phoenix Innovation Award: Presented to a member of the Elon staff who has displayed innovation by creating, designing, improving, or implementing a new idea or program that benefits the university or our community
  

Blanche Garrison Memorial Award

Established in memory of the late Blanche Garrison, an Elon Medallion awardee, who served the University with distinction as a housekeeper at Maynard House. This award was created through the generosity of President Emeritus Leo Lambert and Laurie Lambert.

Guidelines:

• Award will be presented to one member of the Elon hourly staff
• Staff Member has contributed significantly to shaping the student experience at �þ��� through their everyday commitments and actions to support and mentor Elon students

Please see the link for the Blanche Garrison Memorial Award nomination form:

The deadline for submitting nominees is March 31, 2021.

�����Dz�’s Staff Advisory Council has introduced the Staff Recognition Form, an online portal that allows members of the campus community to give words of praise, enter a shout-out, or send thanks and appreciation to a specific staff member at Elon. The council recognized the tremendous work staff had been doing, especially in the midst of a global pandemic, and wanted to draw positive attention to those going above and beyond.

“Staff Advisory Council wanted to create a simple and effective way for folks to recognize the amazing work staff contribute; the opportunity to lift each other up right now on a personal level is critical,”��said T.J. Bowie, past Staff Advisory Council chair and associate director of auxiliary services. “A simple submission saying, ‘I see your hard work and the value you provide to our community’ can have a massive lasting impact on someone, and in turn will have a positive impact on staff engagement with students, productivity and retention.”

Once submitted to the Staff Advisory Council, the form will be forwarded to the recognized staff member via email. The form can be submitted anonymously or include the name of the person submitting the recognition. There is no limit to the number of recognition forms that a person can submit.

Staff Advisory Council would like to recognize��ERP Application Developer/Trainer Julie White for spearheading the effort to establish the Staff Recognition Form, and��Assistant Director for Online Communications��Chris Spires for developing the form.

The Staff Advisory Council’s mission is to facilitate active and direct communication between staff employees and the President’s Office and to provide a forum for input and discussion of issues important to staff and the university. The council seeks to accomplish its mission by contributing to the university’s culture of community and recognition, participating in the shared governance of the university, reviewing and making recommendations on appropriate issues, and more.

Learn more about the council’s mission, as well as opportunities for staff to get involved on campus and in the community, on the Elon Staff Advisory Council website.

Elon Physical Plant staff use their talents every day to make sure the university runs smoothly, but once a month they use their expertise to step out into the community and make a difference off campus.

About a half dozen Physical Plant carpenters, painters and key specialists spent a recent January morning constructing a home for a local family in need with . Their efforts are part of a continuing initiative that launched in early 2020. Once a month – every third Thursday – a small team of Physical Plant staff works together to build a home in Apple Tree Village, an affordable housing community in Burlington, North Carolina.

Over the past year, the team has worked on a number of houses in Apple Tree Village, which includes more than 10 Habitat homes. The volunteering opportunities allow staff, sometimes working alongside the families who will live in the homes, to bond while using their skills for a good cause. In their most recent visit, Physical Plant volunteers spent a cold morning installing siding on one of the homes, which they have helped build from the ground up.

“It’s really rewarding because when you come out here when it first starts, there’s nothing but grass and gravel, then you get the foundation poured and every time we come back, there’s a new piece to the puzzle, and you realize that this is somewhere that someone is going to live,” said Director of Building Trades Tim Dengler. “It builds that character of that home, and then it goes from just a structure to a place that they’re going to call home forever.”

Dengler organized the monthly Physical Plant project with the help of Assistant Director of the Kernodle Center Sarah Williams and Associate Executive Director of Habitat Cathy Lamb in January 2020. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Physical Plant staff have been the only group to regularly volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Alamance County over the past year, often working under the direction of Habitat construction manager James Hunter, who welcomes the help.

“This same crew from Elon has come several times, and they actually helped us set the trusses and get the roof dried in all in one day,” Hunter said. “They’re awesome. I don’t know what we’d do without Elon.”

The partnership between Elon and Habitat for Humanity has spanned across decades. The Elon Habitat for Humanity campus chapter formed during the 1988-89 academic year, becoming one of the earliest chapters to be charted by the national organization. The chapter, which was a first step toward what would later become Elon Volunteers!, strives to raise awareness of housing insecurity and work toward providing affordable housing in Alamance County. Since the chapter’s inception, volunteers have completed more than two dozen homes in Alamance County. It’s a partnership Lamb is happy to see continue, despite the struggles of the past year.

“Early in 2020 we were excited to have Elon Physical Plant commit to serve with us on a monthly basis, never dreaming that they would become our only regular volunteer group due to the pandemic,” Lamb said. “They have literally kept our houses going with their monthly teams to give our Core Crew a boost. These folks are a joy to have on the job site and their familiarity with construction is an added bonus. We are most grateful to �þ��� for encouraging and facilitating service by faculty and staff in addition to students.”

Elon and Habitat for Humanity strengthened their partnership in 2020 by adding a new volunteer opportunity for Elon employees. The Elon Volunteer Program has been expanded to include Habitat for Humanity as an additional partner with which staff and faculty can use volunteer hours.

“The Physical Plant’s Habitat for Humanity monthly build days are great opportunities for our skilled staff to offer a helping hand to others in our community who are striving to improve their lives,” said Assistant Vice President of Physical Plant Tom Flood. “We are thankful that the university provides these volunteer hours for our staff so they can do this work and support our diversity, equity and inclusion goals.”

For Dengler, the chance to work with fellow Physical Plant staff to make a real difference in Alamance County leaves him looking forward to returning to the job site every month.

“It’s really important that we show that we aren’t just based on campus,” Dengler said. “We’re willing to bring the community into our community and show that we’re willing to give back and use our talents to help lift up the rest of the community.”

Because we were not able to celebrate in our��normal setting of Staff Appreciation Day, we would be remiss in not acknowledging the hours and efforts everyone has continued to put forth to make �þ��� the place that we all love.��Staff��will be receiving additional information about the future plans to recognize staff over the summer.

Given that,��we would like to specifically recognize the demanding work and effort of all our fellow staff members and��are��requesting��your help.

Please use��the�� to give words of praise, enter a shout-out, or send your thanks and appreciation to a specific staff member at �þ���.

Staff Advisory Council members will forward your entries to that individual via email in the coming weeks. You may submit an entry anonymously or include your name. Please use the��link as many times as you��would like, to recognize people’s efforts across campus!

Thank you for your help!
Doug Purnell,��Staff Advisory Council Chair
Kelli Shuman,��Assoc. VP for HR/Chief Human Resources Officer