If you see them on campus, please welcome them to Lawrence!
New Employees:
Andrea Thorsbakken – Executive Assistant to the President
Eric Vickers – Technology Specialist (IT)
Category: Human Resources
President’s Award of Excellence – Nominations Welcome
It is with great pleasure that I announce the 2021 President’s Award of Excellence to recognize staff members who continually go above and beyond for the betterment of Lawrence.
The President’s Award of Excellence (PAE) recognizes exemplary University staff members for their exceptional support and performance for their Department and the University. Nominations will be vetted by the PAE Committee and the President will select up to two individuals annually for this award.
Criteria:
The nominations will be carefully deliberated taking into consideration the following criteria:
- Innovation and Enhancement: Drives innovation, initiative and leadership in the workplace through creative ideas, which positively impact the University and/or the surrounding community.
- Support of Individuals: Demonstrates an above and beyond commitment to provide timely service and support to the students, staff or faculty.
- Stewardship of Campus Facilities & Resources: Demonstrates a high level of care and responsible management for the well-being of the University and its resources for the benefit of our students, staff, and faculty.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Cultivates trust, respect, and actively includes different perspectives while working in partnership with others to create an environment of comradery and collaboration.
- Fosters a Diverse & Welcoming Community: Individual is committed to fostering a community that embraces all members and provides equal access, opportunity, and outcome to cultivate inclusion and dialogue across differences.
Nominee Criteria:
- Nominees must be an active, regular full or part-time staff member with a minimum of one year of service. Cabinet members, faculty, student workers/students and staff with less than one year of service, casual, temporary, leased/contracted employees are not eligible for nomination.
- Nominees consistently demonstrate the criteria listed above
- Nominees demonstrate and maintain consistent job performance that exceeds expectations while displaying high levels of commitment, stewardship, and respect
On behalf of President Carter and the PAE Advisory Committee, we strongly encourage you to nominate a deserving colleague for the 2021 President’s Award of Excellence. You may nominate a staff member from your own department or another department.
Nominations will be accepted now through Thursday, January 13, 2022 and forms are available on the President’s Award of Excellence webpage. Nominations should describe how the employee encompasses the above-mentioned criteria. A persuasive nomination will consist of heartfelt examples that illustrate the merit of the candidate, along with real-life anecdotes. The nomination form can be submitted by one of the following methods:
Email: HumanResources@lawrence.edu
Interoffice Mail: Human Resources, Brokaw Hall
Web Form: President’s Award of Excellence
Thank you in advance for assisting us to identify and honor outstanding members of our Lawrence University staff!
New Employees/Promotions
If you see them on campus, please welcome them to Lawrence!
New Employees:
Elizandro Garcia Montoya – Lecturer of Music (Conservatory of Music)
Eric Mayes – Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion (Office of Diversity and Inclusion)
Lee Sterling – Administrative Coordinator in the Of f ice of
Spiritual & Religious Life
Jeff Simon – Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
Evan Wick – Assistant Baseball Coach
Jessica Quintana – Assistant Director of the Diversity and
Intercultural Center (Diversity and Intercultural Center).
Robyn Bowers – Dean of Admissions
Dr. Ashley Lewis – Associate Vice President for Enrollment
Patrick Ploen – Custodian
Lee White – London Centre Resident Director
Christina Powers – Senior Systems Analyst (IT)
Lauren Vanderlinden – Assistant Director of the Visual & Performing
Arts and Education and Non-Prof it Careers (Career Center)
Sasha Higgins – Teacher of Clarinet (LCMS)
Promotion:
Brittany Bell – Associate Dean for Diversity, Engagement and Student Leadership (Diversity and Intercultural Center)
Free Webinars and Monthly Live Talks Provided by ERC
Did you know our Employee Assistance Program, ERC, provides free webinars and live talks on various topics? Here is what’s coming up this month:
- Resiliency Today: Gratitude – December 2nd from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- This month’s talk will explore the science behind gratitude and how it can help to increase meaningful relationships in all areas of your life. The newest research empowers individuals to incorporate gratitude both at work and home and participants will learn tips to help them do that.
- Financial Wellness: Overcoming Debt – December 8th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- This month’s talk will address the different types of debt and how participants can work towards living a debt free life.
- Parenting Your Teen: Sibling Rivalry/Relationships – December 9th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- Many parents suffer from sibling rivalry in their households. In this talk, participants will discuss how to reduce tension between siblings and even between parents. They will also examine which habits may encourage rivalry.
- Your Healthy Lifestyle: Stress Busters –December 13th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- In this month’s talk, participants will explore the newest research, learn what experts are saying about the impact of stress on the body and the newest techniques to manage stress.
- Parenting a Child with Special Needs/Disabilities: Positioning for the Future– December 14th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- This month’s talk is specifically designed to assist parents in advancing their capacities to further equip children with valuable life skills as they continue securing the strong foundation for their lives. Planning, preparing and pursuing life dreams alongside your children is a journey well worth investing in with long lasting benefits for all.
- Caregivers Network: Holiday Gift Guide – December 15th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- This month’s talk is the annual Caregiving Tech Guide. Participants will explore the latest gadgets, apps, and age-tech using AI, Voice First, VR and more to support your older loved ones and you on the caregiving journey.
- Succeed at Work: Understanding Personality Types– December 16th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- This month’s talk discusses different personality types and how they can impact behavior. Participants will learn to use type preference to enhance interpersonal communication.
- Strong Parents, Strong Families: Keeping Children Safe in an Uncertain World – December 22nd from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- This month’s talk offers parents and guardians information on keeping children safe from violence. The discussion will cover the prevalence of violence, talking to children about violence (e.g., media, war, terrorism, school violence, bullying, gangs, peer pressure, etc.), safety strategies and preventive skills, and recognizing reactions to violence.
Click here to register for any of the upcoming monthly talks. To login to their website and view more resources, use the following credentials:
- Username: ERC
- Password: ERC
Timesheet Deadlines for Thanksgiving Holiday
As a reminder, campus will be closed November 25th and November 26th. Payroll will continue to process paychecks for the November 26th payday. In order for payroll to process timely, please try to adhere to the below deadlines for timesheet submission and approval schedule.
Timesheet Deadlines
Monday Nov. 22nd – submit timesheet for approval to supervisor by 8 a.m.
Monday Nov. 22nd – supervisors approve timesheets by 10 a.m.
We understand to meet the needs of campus during campus closure, a small number of employees may be working (e.g., grounds, safety). Those who work during that time will be notified by their manager to establish their work schedules.
Have a great holiday!
Human Resources & Payroll Office
Open Enrollment Benefit Fair Prize Winners
Thank you to all for attending the Open Enrollment Fair yesterday. The prize winners were drawn and are listed below.
| Name | Prize |
| Jen Mielke, IT | Gift Basket |
| Jenny Ziegler, Development | Oral-B Rechargeable Toothbrush Twin Pack |
| Jody Fraleigh, Student Life | Oral-B Rechargeable Toothbrush |
| Gustavo Fares, Spanish Department | Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America & Binoculars |
If you were unable to attend the Open Enrollment Benefits Fair, forms can be found on the Open Enrollment webpage. Please contact Human Resources if you need any assistance.
Upcoming Retirement Plan Webinars
The WAICU Retirement Readiness Plan in partnership with Transamerica is pleased to offer a series of live webinars designed to help you take full advantage of everything the Retirement Readiness Plan has to offer. To register, please click on the title of the webinar and follow the on-screen prompts to register for the live webinar of your choice.
Get Ready to Retire
Date: November 17, 2021
Time: 12:00 PM CST
A review of five key areas to consider as retirement approaches: Lifestyle, Investments, Income, Healthcare, and Legacy.
2021 Open Enrollment Deadline & Increase to Health Care FSA Maximum and Rollover
The deadline to submit any open enrollment changes, additions, or drops to Human Resources is Monday, November 15, 2021 at 4:00 pm.
If you do not want to make changes to your current benefit elections, you do not need to submit open enrollment forms, with the exception of flexible spending. The flexible spending enrollment form must be completed if you want to participate in health care and/or dependent care flexible spending in the 2022 plan year/calendar year.
New Flexible Spending Limit
On November 10, 2021 the IRS released the 2022 health care flexible spending limit. The limit for 2022 has increased by $100 to $2,850 annually. Additionally, the maximum rollover amount increased $20 to $570 for funds at the end of the plan year 2022. No changes were made to dependent care flexible spending. Lawrence recognizes this updated amount and will accept amendments to previously submitted Open Enrollment flexible spending forms. If you would like to amend your previously submitted election, please contact your Human Resources Representative or the general Human Resources mailbox at HumanResources@lawrence.edu.
All Open Enrollment materials can be found on the Human Resources website: Open Enrollment. If you have any questions please contact your human resources representative
Town Hall Meeting – University Finances
On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 2:00 pm Vice President of Finance and Administration Mary Alma Noonan will be holding a Town Hall to provide an overview of the 2020-2021 budget and financial position of the University. All are welcome to attend and participate in the Q&A session at the conclusion of the presentation.
Please click this link to join the Town Hall:
Meeting ID: 949 0862 8626
Passcode: 854103
Free Webinars and Monthly Live Talks Provided by ERC
Did you know our Employee Assistance Program, ERC, provides free webinars and live talks on various topics? Here is what’s coming up this month:
- Resiliency Today: Bounce Back Stronger – November 4th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- Learn tips and techniques to use daily to become more resilient no matter what life throws at you. Participants will leave feeling empowered with the knowledge of what steps to take to become more resilient.
- Parenting a Child with Special Needs/Disabilities: Effectively Communicating – October 9th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- This month’s talk will offer insights, tips, and tools for building and maintaining successful conversations to improve the results of communication in any relationship or setting you may find yourself.
- Financial Wellness: Mind Over Money – October 10th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- This month’s talk will help participants understand why they spend, why they save and what money means to each person. The “neuroscience of money” is explored and participants will learn how to leverage money value systems to reach financial goals.
- Parenting Your Teen: Parent/Teen Relationships– October 11th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- Adolescence is a time when peer relationships intensify, teacher and work relationships grow in significance and parental relationships are routinely challenged. This month’s talk will define teen relationships, review best strategies and discuss conflict resolution techniques to share with your teen
- Your Healthy Lifestyle: Stick with It –October 15th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- What dreams/goals do you harbor that seem out of reach? In this month’s talk, participants will learn tips and insight about making those dreams a reality. You will do this through the use of plans, anticipation, saying “yes”, identifying obstacles and their accompanying myths, determining techniques for starting and exploring motivators, flexibility, and how to keep going.
- Caregivers Network: Caregiver Relief Plan – October 17th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- Studies show that depression and anxiety have increased, especially among younger generations. This month’s talk provides insights into how to build resiliency and positivity even when challenged by caregiving.
- Succeed at Work: Be Positive – October 18th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- Today scientists understand how attitude can impact behavior, experiences and relationships. In this month’s talk, participants will discuss their ability to benefit from the power of positive thinking by making changes in their thought processes and perspectives.
- Strong Parents, Strong Families: Teaching Kids about Money– October 24th from 12:00 – 1:00pm
- Surveys repeatedly show that most teenagers do not understand basic financial concepts. This month’s talk will cover how to teach children about money by looking at money values and how people communicate about money. Participants will discuss parental attitudes about allowances and working, how to set goals, and create spending and saving strategies with children.
Click here to register for any of the upcoming monthly talks. To login to their website and view more resources, use the following credentials:
- Username: ERC
- Password: ERC