Inside WFU – news for faculty and staff

Jackie Sheridan named director of the Wake Forest Scholars Program

August 6, 2020

Wake Forest welcomes Jackie Sheridan as the new director of the Wake Forest Scholars Program, which supports undergraduates and recent graduates applying for competitive scholarships and fellowships. Sheridan comes to Wake from Vanderbilt University, where she spent the past two years as the Associate Director of Post-Baccalaureate Opportunities. She has also been the Senior Program Manager for the Pickering Fellowship at the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, and she has an extensive background in interdisciplinary subjects in higher education. Sheridan has quickly settled into the directorship in the Scholars Office, which oversees hundreds of student scholars, and spoken with several scholars. “I’m already impressed with their ideas and initiative. It’s going to be exciting to see them and all of our students grow and learn at Wake Forest University, and then take those skills out into the world to make an even greater impact,” Sheridan said.

Read more about Sheridan on the Dean of the College website.

A message from President Hatch

August 5, 2020

Dear Wake Forest community,

Today, local law enforcement released video footage related to the death of John Neville, and our community is once again hurting as we grieve anew the loss of Mr. Neville, another Black man who died of injuries suffered while in law enforcement custody. Our hearts go out to the Neville family who, for the past eight months, has endured deep sadness and anguish as they have mourned their father and sought answers for justice. I express my condolences to the Neville family and our broader community.

As an institution, we understand that we have few answers or solutions to offer Mr. Neville’s family, but we also realize the importance of speaking out against the practices that led to Mr. Neville’s death and speaking up for the infinite dignity of Black lives, people of color and our indigenous neighbors.

To our students, staff, faculty, alumni, and those who care about Wake Forest University, let me be clear: I expect our police and security professionals to apply a community-policing approach to all of their interactions on our campus. Building upon a long-standing commitment to training on implicit bias and fair and impartial policing, Chief Regina Lawson has made me aware that the Wake Forest University Police Department had already planned two bias education refresher sessions with Dr. Bryant Marks of the National Training Institute on Race and Equity scheduled for the last week of August with every member of our police department and members of the Police Advisory Board.

With the fall semester a few weeks away, we must remain focused on the necessary work of confronting racism in our country. Though there is much to do in preparing for our educational mission, we must not let the pandemic distract us from the ongoing work of dismantling white supremacy in all its forms through peaceful and non-violent means.

With hope and resolve,

Nathan O. Hatch
President

TOMORROW: Imprints Cares Interest Zoom Meeting

August 5, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Last week we distributed a survey to measure faculty and staff interest to participate in an Imprints Cares E-Learning Enrichment Center for school-age children. We appreciate those who were able to respond and provide us with valuable feedback.

That survey indicated there was significant interest in an Imprints Cares facility near campus and they are working to secure a location.

In the interim, Imprints Cares has offered to host a Zoom meeting tomorrow, August 6 at 5:00 p.m. for Wake Forest faculty and staff to learn more about their e-learning enrichment centers. Interested parents and caregivers are asked to submit questions to this Imprints Cares Google Form prior to the meeting. The Zoom details are included in the email you received.

We understand that Imprints Cares may not meet the needs of all Wake Forest families and encourage colleagues to continue to visit the Women’s Center website for additional resources for parents and caregivers.

Sincerely,
WFU Human Resources & The Women’s Center

Important return to campus information for faculty and staff

August 5, 2020

This message was sent on behalf of Executive Vice President Hof Milam and Provost Rogan Kersh to faculty and staff.

Dear Colleagues,

Many thanks for your supportive engagement as we continue the phased return of faculty and staff to on-site work. The health of our campus community is dependent upon each of us acting for the good of the whole community.

Guided by the spirit of Pro Humanitate, we write to share important actions all faculty and staff need to take before the start of the fall semester. Colleagues who have continued to work on-site throughout the summer should also complete these steps as soon as possible. All of these can be found on the Our Way Forward website.

Return to Campus

Our Return to Campus Toolkit supports all aspects of the return to on-site work process. The development of this toolkit was a collaborative effort among colleagues across campus, with feedback provided by the Faculty Advisory Council and others. It will continue to evolve as additional information becomes available and feedback is incorporated.

Outlined below are the steps all faculty and staff should complete before the start of the fall semester:

1. If you haven’t already, please confirm with your manager or department head whether and when you should return to on-site work, or whether you should continue to work remotely.
2. Read the COVID-19 Policies and the COVID-19 Notice to understand actions Wake Forest is taking to minimize the transmission of the virus on university premises.
3. Complete the COVID-19 Education Module prior to your physical return to campus. All faculty and staff, whether working on-site or remotely, should complete the module no later than August 25.
4. Log onto Workday to complete the COVID-19 Prevention Policy Acknowledgment via a Workday Inbox Task prior to your physical return to campus or no later than August 25.
5. Register for SneezSafe and begin completing your daily wellness screening, whether working on-site or remotely.
6. Utilize the Faculty and Staff Clinic as needed by calling (743) 223-4217.

This semester will require striking a balance between fulfilling the academic and administrative needs of the University while also de-densifying campus. Colleagues who will continue to work remotely should not return to campus unless necessary. Faculty and staff may request one-time campus access prior to August 10 by completing the Campus Access Request Form. Those who are working remotely and need to access campus after August 10 should coordinate with their manager or department head.

Additionally, faculty and staff must practice individual protective measures while on campus. These measures include wearing a cloth face covering, maintaining six feet of distance from others, and washing hands often. Faculty and staff who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed to COVID-19 should not return to campus until cleared by the Faculty and Staff Clinic.

These policies and procedures are vital to affirm and support the university’s commitment to prioritize the health and safety of all Wake Forest community members, based on guidance from the CDC, OSHA, and other federal, state and local agencies.

Faculty and Staff Return to Campus Forum 

We anticipate colleagues may have additional questions and concerns about the return to campus process. We invite faculty and staff to attend a Return to Campus Forum at 9 a.m. this Wednesday, August 5. A Zoom Webinar link to access the forum will be sent out Tuesday. Faculty and staff can submit questions about the return to campus process to the designated Human Resources form.

As we enter a semester truly unlike any before, your commitment to sustaining the essence of Wake Forest is critical for our success. We appreciate your continued dedication to our institution.

Hof Milam
Executive Vice President

Rogan Kersh
Provost

WFDD bucks national trends

August 3, 2020

88.5 WFDD, the NPR-affiliate station licensed to Wake Forest University and serving 32 counties in the Piedmont and High Country of North Carolina, is reporting audience growth, despite pandemic-related interruptions to listening habits.

Shutdowns and changes to work structure due to the coronavirus pandemic have altered daily schedules for many people around the country, and these changes have influenced how people access and consume media. This effect has been particularly evident for radio.

“WFDD did experience a drop-off in audience in April, as shutdowns were rolling out and fear around the virus was surging, but we are pleased to report that listening has not only recovered, but has surpassed levels from a year ago,” said WFDD General Manager Tom Dollenmayer.

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