Inside WFU – news for faculty and staff

Wake Forest joins other schools in support of international students

December 6, 2019

Wake Forest has joined more than 110 colleges and universities in filing an amicus brief in support of international students, Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT.

Amicus briefs are legal documents filed by non-litigants with a strong interest in the subject matter. The briefs advise the court of relevant, additional information or arguments that the court might wish to consider.

This case involves a legal challenge to the OPT program. OPT represents valuable experiential learning for international students and scholars, allowing them to obtain practical training that complements and expands on their academic studies.

The University joined this “friend of the court” brief to demonstrate an unwavering support for international students and OPT. International students, scholars and alumni contribute their talent, drive and diversity of perspectives to campuses nationwide.

You can read about the litigation (Washington Alliance of Technology Workers Union vs. U.S. Department of Homeland Security) and download the brief on the NAFASA professional resources website.

The International Students and Scholars division of Global Programs & Studies (116 Reynolda Hall) serves all international students and scholars participating in programs with Wake Forest University. Visit global.wfu.edu or call 336-758-5938 for help with questions or concerns.

Administrators announce upcoming departure of Tanya Jachimiak, search for successor

December 6, 2019

The following announcement by Vice President Penny Rue and Associate Provost Kami Chavis was e-mailed earlier to Campus Life staff and some others at Wake Forest:

Dear colleagues,

It is with both a celebratory spirit and sadness that we announce that Tanya Jachimiak will assume the role of Associate Vice President for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance at Michigan State University. Tanya’s last day at Wake Forest will be January 23, 2020. In this significant new role, Tanya will oversee MSU’s Office for Institutional Equity and the Office for Prevention, Outreach and Education. We are thrilled for this amazing opportunity for our colleague.

Tanya joined Wake Forest five years ago as our inaugural tull-time Title IX Coordinator for the Reynolda Campus, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and Bowman Gray School for Medical Education, later also assuming responsibility for Section 504 compliance. She has been in the forefront in the charge of fostering a campus community that strives to prevent unlawful gender discrimination and sexual misconduct in all their forms. Tanya has led our campus’s compassionate response to, and support of, those affected by sexual misconduct, while being dedicated to the equitable treatment of persons accused of wrongdoing. Among her contributions to our community, Tanya co-chaired the campus Culture of Respect initiative, a strategic planning process grounded in a comprehensive, evidenced-based, ongoing self-assessment regarding the prevention of sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct on the Wake Forest campus. Additionally, she chaired the Bias Incident Response Team and was a co-chair of the President’s Committee on the Intersection of Expression, Bias, and Code of Conduct.

Tanya has done her work with integrity, enthusiasm, and optimism. She has earned the trust of people throughout campus through her dedication, commitment, and fair-mindedness. She has played an extremely critical role at our university throughout her tenure here and consistently provided thoughtful insights and has navigated complex issues with skill and professionalism.

While Tanya’s departure is a loss for our community, this transition does not affect our university’s ongoing commitment to preventing sexual assault, inter-personal violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. Offices from across our campus will continue their work collaboratively to both prevent and respond to the needs of our community as it relates to these issues. A comprehensive search for a new Director of the Title IX Office/Section 504 Coordinator/Title IX Coordinator will begin early in the spring semester of 2020 and an interim will be named in January prior to Tanya’s departure.

We will follow up soon with information regarding opportunities to celebrate Tanya and all the amazing work she has accomplished here.

Sincerely,

Kami Chavis
Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives

Dr. Penny Rue
Vice President for Campus Life

University uses several methods to announce weather-related closings, delays

December 6, 2019

Students, faculty and staff at Wake Forest will be informed of any weather-related campus closings and delays this winter by numerous means.

Wake Forest Communications and External Relations will do the following:

• Send a voice message and a text message to all cell phones registered to receive Wake Alert emergency messages. This includes students, faculty and staff who have registered their phones. To register a cell phone, visit Wake Ready.
• Post an announcement on the Wake Alert website.
• Place a banner on top of the University home page (and many other University web pages) that links to the Wake Alert site.
• Distribute an e-mail to students, faculty and staff.
• Post to @WakeAlert Twitter and Facebook (Wake Alert).
• Post on the Inside WFU website.
• Provide information to four area television stations: WXII, WGHP, WFMY and Spectrum News 14.

Reynolda House's store offering discounts to Wake Forest faculty, staff

December 5, 2019

Reynolda House’s gift store will be offering 18 percent discounts on De. 6 and 10 to Wake Forest faculty and staff.

The museum store will be open Dec. 6 until 8 p.m. and until 7 p.m. on Dec. 10.  The museum opens at 9:30 a.m. on those days.

Information about Reynolda House is available here.

HELPS offering Therapeutic Lifestyle Change program

December 5, 2019

The following is a guest post from HELPS (Healthy Exercise and Lifestyle Programs):

HELPS at Wake Forest is now offering the Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) Program.

The TLC program is a three-month long medically directed, professionally supervised Therapeutic Lifestyle Change program that is free to all faculty and staff of the university and designed to develop a healthy and active lifestyle utilizing exercise and education programs.

What will I receive?

• Individualized assessments, therapies and follow-up. Entry physical activity levels are evaluated with an exercise stress test and physical function measures. This information is used to determine and define the amount of physical activity you need to foster a healthy and active lifestyle.
• Entry dietary intake is assessed through online food records. Specific calorie, nutrient and food group changes are identified.
• Supervised exercise sessions at our conveniently located monitored exercise facility. Located close to campus next to BB&T Field in the Health & Exercise Science Clinical Research Center.
• Weekly small group sessions held in the Worrell Professional Center. These group sessions meet weekly in Worrell, Room 1162 on Mondays from 12 to 1 p.m. starting in February 2020 and will last for three months. These sessions will teach behavioral strategies for
  the management of physical activity and diet. Cognitive  teaching is combined with psychological approaches to take the participant beyond the limits of “willpower.” Personal journals are used as a basis for program development, strategy monitoring
  and evaluation.

Please contact Nikoleté if you are interested in filling out an application. Space
is limited and will be given on a first come first serve basis, so inquire today! Phone: 336-758-5853; fax: 336-758-1996; email: delokm15@nullwfu.edu