Embedded Files
MARCH 2023
MARCH 2023
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Colleagues,
The days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter, and the buds on the trees are starting to bloom. The spring season brings a sense of renewal and enlightenment. I feel these sentiments as I walk across the buzzing quad and as we have officially begun our countdown to Commencement!
March was an extraordinarily busy month. I cannot express enough my sincere thanks and appreciation to the entire campus community for your participation in both preparing for and welcoming the NECHE team site visit.
Many of us have been involved with that process over the past 18 months but not all members of the community are really familiar with it. Here is a brief explanation. Elms College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). That accreditation is a sign of the quality of our programs. It also serves another critical function for the college: it allows us to participate in federally-funded programs like federal financial aid. Every ten years, institutions receive a visit from their accreditation agency to ensure that they continue to meet the standards for accreditation. A lot of work goes into preparing for that visit. It was a team effort, which paid off.
I would like to recognize Dr. Walter Breau, VP of Academic Affairs, for his leadership role in preparing the College for the re accreditation process. As many have often heard me say, “feedback is a gift.” We received some very helpful feedback from the visiting team. Some of it affirmed what we do well: our commitment to our mission, our dedication to serving our students, and our ongoing effort for an inclusive, transparent, just, and united campus community. Some of their observations reinforced the challenges of which we are well aware: the necessity to be even more meticulous and integrated in our planning efforts to attract and retain students in a tight and competitive enrollment environment. Though the comprehensive evaluation process is not completed, we can begin incorporating some of the lessons learned over the past months of self-introspection that culminated in the site visit. I know that we will continue to be guided in this effort by the spirit of unity that we all felt preparing for and going through the site visit.
On another note, I am pleased to share some very exciting news. Through a very generous gift of Francis and Marian Kirley (you may remember that Fran Kirley was the 2022 Commencement Speaker), Elms College will be naming the School of Continuing Education, the Sister Kathleen Kirley School of Continuing Education, after its founder. Sr. Kathleen established the continuing education program at Elms College, which has contributed to the growth and expansion of the College over the years. The dedication ceremony will take place on May 5, following the meeting of the Board of Trustees.
As we embark on the end of the Lenten season, it is fitting for us to take a moment of pause and reflection. First, we can feel satisfaction for the work and efforts we all contribute, united together, to advance the mission of the College. Second, we can renew our determination to ensure that Elms College educates the diverse group of students whom we serve today, as well as the generations of students whom our institution will support in the years to come.
Once again, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the unique and diverse talents each of us brings to the institution and to each other. I wish you all a joyful and happy Easter!
Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA
President
FUTURE ELMSNEWS
Submission pieces can be shared with the following department contacts:
Academic Affairs - Deb Methe
Admissions - Jenna Stolarik
Athletics - Sean Milbier
Finance - Katie Longley
HR - Cheryl Smith
Marketing - Megan Eischen
Student Affairs - Liz Newland
Institutional Advancement - Lynn Korza
The deadline for submissions is the third Friday of each month.
UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS
April 1 Spring Open House
April 7 Alumni Fish Fry
April 12 Honors Scholar Luncheon
April 14 Coffee Drop In Q & A
April 20 Hugh Crean Lecture
April 22 Dance Team Charity Concert
April 23 Honors Convocation
April 26 DNP Class of 2023 Scholarship Day
April 28 Experiential Learning Spring Showcase
April 28 Coffee Drop In Q & A
April 29 Accepted Students Day
Check the Master Calendar for exact locations of each event.
ROOM RESERVATION SYSTEM & PROCEDURES
If a room is listed on the Room Reservation Portal, it can be reserved through the Portal. If the room is not listed then it must be reserved by filling out the Campus Event Request form which is also located on Elms Connect. To access the form, click on Reserve a Room where you will find the link. The link to the Elms College Event Policy is located here also. Please take time to read this over. Before filling out the form and submitting it, please check the Master Calendar to see if the room you are requesting is available. If you need assistance with accessing the Master Calendar, please reach out to Laurie Fontaine. Please request your space and provide your table count and setup at least 2 weeks in advance. With several events being booked on campus, it is imperative everyone follows these procedures to ensure we are best serving our students and the campus community.
FACULTY DIVERSITY & INCLUSION SURVEY
In the interest of creating the best possible environment for all individuals within the campus community, the College’s Institutional Diversity Committee is inviting all full-time and part-time employees at Elms College to complete the Staff Diversity & Inclusion Climate Survey - Spring 2023. The survey will be open from March 20 to April 6. This survey is voluntary and anonymous. If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Smith at smithc911@elms.edu or Lauren Scibelli at scibellil@elms.edu. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the survey. Your input is appreciated and valued.
The link to the survey is here: https://baseline.campuslabs.com/ec/climatesurveystaffsp23
STUDENT AFFAIRS
Aladdin Dining Services
Dining services is looking for your feedback! Visit the following link to participate in the survey: Dining Services Survey
WHY TAKE THE SURVEY?
Your feedback helps us improve the overall campus dining experience.
The survey will take five to ten minutes to complete.
Responses are confidential.
It is open to all students, faculty, employees and administration.
Complete the survey for a chance to win great prizes.
THANK YOU!
CAMPUS MINISTRY
Rock Painting
Campus Ministry partnered with True Colors to sponsor their rock painting event, during which members of the LGBTQ+ club taught attendees about inclusive activism in honor of activist Marsha P. Johnson.
Mardi Gras
To celebrate Mardi Gras, Campus Ministry made pancakes in the CSS for members of the Elms Community! Also known as Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Pancake Day, this tradition celebrates the day before Ash Wednesday, when the Lenten season begins.
Lent in a Bag
In addition to distributing ashes for Ash Wednesday, Campus Ministry gave out "Lent in a Bag," which contained symbolic items meant to help guide users through the Lenten season.
My Faith Speaks
In celebration of Black History Month, Campus Ministry partnered with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion for My Faith Speaks. This prayer service included reflection and an open panel on the role faith plays in the lives of our students. The event included traditional Jamaican food from a local restaurant, Ziggy's Jerk Center!
Spring Break Mission Trips
Over spring break, students accompanied staff members to Mandeville, Jamaica and El Paso, Texas for an alternative spring break experience. On their mission trip to Jamaica, nursing and pre-med students worked with members of the Diocese of Mandeville and the St. John Bosco Vocational Training Center. Students worked alongside RNs in small clinics by doing basic assessments and dressing wounds, in addition to shadowing home visits. Participants also visited a nursing home, painted a church, visited Y.S. Falls, and even got to sit down for dinner with the Bishop of Mandeville, Bishop John Persaud. A special treat on their trip was spending time with Sr. Maureen Kervick, SSJ, former Elms College Dean of Students, former Director of Campus Ministry, and a 2022 recipient of an Elms College honorary degree. On their mission trip to Texas, students worked with members of the Encuentro Project. They made meals for migrants living in shelters, attended educational lessons from immigration lawyers and former migrants, visited the U.S.-Mexico border and met with border patrol, and hiked Mt. Cristo Rey. We are so proud of our mission trip students, their service to others, and their representation of Elms College!
Student Participants: Margaret Mathon, Reyna Bautista, Allie Carmon, Autumn Deblois, Megan Heath, Maddie McGinnis, Lena Legault-Ross, Casey Gagnon, Elizabeth Gourde, Malina Woodbury, Michelle Redenz, Isamar Perez
Chaperones: Claire Wright, Director of Student Engagement and Leadership; Cameron Pearson, Postbac Student; Eileen Kirk, Director of Campus Ministry; Nicole Fregeau, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry
St. Joseph’s Day
To celebrate St. Joseph’s Day and the 95th anniversary of Elms College, members of the Sisters of St. Joseph joined the college community for mass on March 15th. Then they accompanied Dr. Dumay to lunch to speak with current students, and some even participated in “Build A Blazer!” We want to extend a warm thank you to all the members of the SSJ for the work they have done and continue to do for Elms College!
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
IYou are invited!
Career Services will be hosting an online recruitment session with INROADS in the LIBS-2 room--the classroom on the second floor of the Library right by Career Services, on Tuesday, April 4, 12:15 p.m. INROADS help students get internships with major corporations that often lead to permanent jobs with high advancement potential. They also help students prepare to get the placement. Don't miss this opportunity. INROADS used to be on-campus a lot and really established our students in careers. For more information: https://inroads.org/internships-program/
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE … for a special Community Partners in Conversation event on Tuesday, April 4 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in the Library Theater. This event is open to the public and will feature 4 standout Latinx professionals who will share their career and life stories with our students and campus community. Please enthusiastically encourage (!) students and colleagues to attend this community educational event. Your support is greatly appreciated! Please contact Martha Barry-Plotkin barryplotkinm@elms.edu with questions.
St. Augustine CERC Presents the 4th Annual Rev. Hugh Crean Distinguished Lecture
Join us in-person and virtually for the 4th Annual Rev. Hugh Crean Distinguished Lecture in Catholic Thought presented by the Elms College St. Augustine Center for Ethics, Religion, and Culture. The lecture will take place on Thursday, April 20 at 4 p.m. in the College’s Alumnae Library Theater.
This year’s Distinguished Lecturer is Dr. Karin Oberg, Professor of Astronomy & Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Astronomy at Harvard University. The title of her remarks is: “The Astrochemical Case for the Existence of God.”
Dr. Oberg is a budding Catholic celebrity and public intellectual in the truest sense. She also happens to be the most cited living astronomer in the world. Her videos on the Catholic Origins of the Big Bang Theory, the Role of Faith in the Scientific Method, the Origins of Life on Earth, and the Possibility of Miracles According to Science will give you a small sense of what she will bring to our campus.
When - Thursday, April 20, 2023, 4:00-5:30 p.m. (EST - New York)
Location - Library Theater with Zoom option:
https://elms.zoom.us/j/98259574001 https://elms.zoom.us/j/98259574001
Honors Convocation
This year, Honors Convocation 2023 will be held online:
Save the Date
Class of 2023
Elms College Honors Convocation
Honoring Seniors
Sunday, April 23, 2023
1:30 – 3:30pm
Zoom link:
https://elms.zoom.us/j/94548830566
Spring Experiential Learning Showcase
The Office of Experiential Learning invites you to Save the Date for our institution wide event happening on Friday, April 28th, 2023 -- the Spring Experiential Learning Showcase. More details and information coming soon! Mark your calendars.
Spring Social
You are invited to attend the Elms College Spring Social on Friday, April 21st, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Munich Haus Backroom. There will be a server dedicated to the gathering for cocktails and food can be ordered from the regular menu.
Caroline Murray needs a headcount by April 14. If you are planning to attend, please email Caroline at murrayc@elms.edu. .
ATHLETICS
Men’s Volleyball is the final stretch of the regular season and making a strong push to qualify for the conference tournament.
Women’s Lacrosse is two games into their season under first year coach Lorin Field.
Softball and Baseball sent spring break competing down south.
Baseball spent the week in Fort Myers, FL and had one of its most successful weeks in program history going 7-3. The Blazers were powered by senior Austin Roy (Cromwell, CT) who earned GNAC Player of the Week honors.
Softball played its first games under new Head Coach Bre Marcyoniak in Myrtle Beach, SC. And are back in action on Wednesday 3/22 at Westfield State University.
Field Hockey, Women’s Soccer, Men’s Soccer, and Women’s Volleyball all start their non-traditional seasons on Monday the 3/20.
You can find all athletic team schedules at ecblazers.com and stay informed by following our athletic department Instagram @elmsblazers
NURSING LAB COMMITTEE DIAPER DRIVE ENDS APRIL 6!
The School of Nursing is once again honored to sponsor a community donation event during this season of Lent, a Diaper Drive. Your donation of one package of diapers can ease the burden on a family trying to meet the basic physical needs of their young child. A donation can be as small as getting together with a few friends or skipping a week of coffee to help fund a package of diapers.
Did you know that diapers could cost over $100 per child per month, reflecting 10% or more of some low-income families’ budgets? One in three American families report experiencing diaper needs. Infants can use up to twelve diapers a day, and toddlers up to eight diapers a day. Often families will wash and reuse disposable diapers, thus increasing the risk of urinary tract infections, exterior yeast infections, or extreme excoriation. Currently no federal programs will cover the cost of diapers or diaper supplies for families in need.
Diaper Banks collect, store and help distribute free diapers to families suffering from financial difficulty. They obtain diapers through local diaper drives, from in-kind donations by manufacturers and retailers, and by purchasing diapers directly with donated funds. Square One partners with Springfield Family Support Programs to provide “Baby Bottoms”, the Springfield areas’ diaper bank to those families in need. Your donation will go directly to the “Baby Bottoms” diaper bank at the end of this campaign.
Thank you for your support,
Nursing Skills Lab Committee Members
HUMAN RESOURCES
Farewell to Kathy Curry!
As many of you may know, after 20 years of service to Elms College, Kathy Curry, bursar, has moved on to a new venture. On behalf of the entire Finance and Administrative Offices, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Kathy for her dedication and loyalty to serving our students to ensure their success.
We are going to miss her immensely, but wish her all the best on her new journey!
Katie Longley
VP, Finance & Administration
Elms College Employment Opportunities as of March 17, 2023
Applications are now being accepted for the positions listed below. Anyone interested in making a formal application should go to the Employment page on the Elms College website for a detailed job description and how to apply: www.elms.edu/employment
Welcome to new employees:
Rebecca Eckstein – Interim VP of Enrollment,
Management & Marketing (2/27/23)
Best wishes to departing employees:
Julie Horowitz – Program Coordinator at BCC (2/20/23)
Kathleen Curry – Bursar (3/21/23)
ELMS IN THE NEWS:
February 18, 2023: iObserve.org published a story that Elms is hosting a day-long symposium on addiction, titled "Addiction in Post-COVID World: A Pastoral Response."
February 19, 2023: Masslive.com published a story announcing that Elms College is hosting the 6th Annual Black Experience Summit on Feb. 24. NOTE: a subscription is needed to see the article.
February 19, 2023: Masslive.com published a feature article on the Cynthia A. Lyons Center for Equity in Urban Education in the special "Outlook 2023" section.
February 21, 2023: Mass Appeal on wwlp.com interviewed Sr. Carol Allan and Jennifer Shoaff regarding the Black Experience Summit that Elms College is hosting on February 24.
February 22, 2023 : Masslive.com published an article that Elms College has received its largest single donation in its history. The $1.5 million donation from Michele and Donald D'Amour will fund the Haiti Nursing Continuing Education program and create the D'Amour Center for Faculty Teaching Excellence.
February 23, 2023: wwlp.com aired a story that Elms College has received its largest single donation in its history. The $1.5 million donation from Michele and Donald D'Amour will fund the Haiti Nursing Continuing Education program and create the D'Amour Center for Faculty Teaching Excellence.
February 23, 2023: iObserve.org published an article that Elms College has received its largest single donation in its history. The $1.5 million donation from Michele and Donald D'Amour will fund the Haiti Nursing Continuing Education program and create the D'Amour Center for Faculty Teaching Excellence.
February 24, 2023: wwlp.com aired a story that Elms College is hosting the 6th Annual Black Experience Summit.
March 6, 2023: The Irish Independent, a daily newspaper in Ireland, published an article featuring Emer Maguire and her experiences teaching Irish at Elms.
March 8, 2023: iObserve.org published a story that Sr. Mary McGlone will deliver the Sr. Mary Mary Dooley Lecture on March 15. Her remarks are titled, "Charism on the Move."
March 11, 2023: wwlp.com aired a story that Elms College partnered with the Diocese of Springfield to host a symposium on the concerns related to addiction throughout the region.
March 12, 2023: iObserve.org published a story that Elms College partnered with the Diocese of Springfield to host a symposium on the concerns related to addiction throughout the region.
March 12, 2023: Real to Reel, a TV program produced by the Diocese of Springfield, aired a story that Elms College recently hosted the 6th Annual Black Experience Summit. Sr. Besty Sullivan, Elms President Harry Dumay, and Shannen Dee Williams, the opening keynote speaker, were interviewed for the story.
March 13, 2023: wwlp.com aired a story showing senior nursing students participating in a mass casualty simulation exercise in the School of Nursing's Simulation Lab. A nursing student was interviewed in the story.
March 13, 2023: westernmassnews.com aired a story showing senior nursing students participating in a mass casualty simulation exercise in the School of Nursing's Simulation Lab. A nursing student and simulation lab staff, Terry Kinsley and Megan Pont, were interviewed in the story.
March 13, 2023: spectrum1news.com aired a story showing senior nursing students participating in a mass casualty simulation exercise in the School of Nursing's Simulation Lab. A nursing student and simulation lab staff, Terry Kinsley and Megan Pont, were interviewed in the story.
March 15, 2023: The Harlem Valley News published a story that an Elms student in upstate New York made the fall 2022 Dean's List.
March 16, 2023: Mass Appeal on wwlp.com interviewed Professors Laura McNeil and Damien Murray regarding the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland and how it changed the country's future.
March 13, 2023: The Chicopee Register published a story showing senior nursing students participating in a mass casualty simulation exercise in the School of Nursing's Simulation Lab. A nursing student and sim lab staff, Terry Kinsley and Megan Pont, were interviewed in the story.
Page updated
Report abuse