Opening week events for faculty & staff

Let’s open the fall semester! There are several important events that new and returning employees are expected to attend. If you have questions about expectations or scheduling conflicts, please contact your supervisor.

Attendance expectations:

  • New Faculty Reception: Open to all teaching and administrative faculty hired after Aug. 15, 2023
  • New Faculty Orientation: All teaching and administrative faculty hired after Aug. 15, 2023 are expected to attend all sessions of this orientation planned by Peng Yu, Earlham’s teaching and learning consultant.
  • New Employee Orientation: Teaching faculty, administrative faculty and hourly staff hired within the last six months are expected to attend this orientation.
  • All Employees Retreat: All faculty in the Academic Affairs Division are expected to attend; all other faculty and staff are invited and strongly encouraged to attend as your college responsibilities may allow.

Schedule of events

Sunday, Aug. 11: New Faculty Reception

Join us from 5-7 p.m. for the President’s Reception at the Cordial Cork (911 North E Street, Richmond, IN 47374).

Monday, Aug. 12: New Faculty Orientation Day 1

All events are in the Landrum Bolling Center (LBC) in the Richmond Room unless otherwise noted.

TimeEvent
8 – 8:40 a.m.Light breakfast
8:40 – 9:15 a.m.Intro of new faculty by new faculty by Peng Yu (Teaching & Learning Consultant)
9:15 – 9:45 a.m.Earlham’s Mission and Students by James Logan (Associate Academic Dean of Faculty)
9:45 – 10:30 a.m.The Epic Journey by Nate Eastman (Director of First-Year Success and Convener of the Honors Program)
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.Strategic and Diversity Initiatives by Gariot Louima (Senior AVP Strategic & Diversity Initiatives)
11:15 a.m. – NoonFaculty Expectations and Support (Provost & VP Academic Affairs)
Noon – 1:30 p.m.Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.Navigating the Earlham Curriculum by Corinne Deibel (Registrar) and Leanna Barlow (Associate Academic Dean of Students)
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.Break
2:45 – 4 p.m.Resource presentations:
• Academic Resources and Support by Amy Bryant, Karla Fribley, Julia Muse (Libraries)
• Heather Lerner and Ann-Eliza Lewis (Joseph Moore Museum)
• Jennifer James (Disability Services)
• Nate Eastman (First Year Programing and Honors)
• Shannon Barnes (Instructional Designer)
• Peng Yu (TLC), Leanna Barlow (Associate Academic Dean for Students)
• Phillip Bode (The Writing Center)
• Lilly Webster (Quantitative Reasoning Center)
4 – 4:30 p.m.Assessment and Accreditation by Rachael Reavis (Institutional Effectiveness)
4:30 – 4:40 p.m.Welcome by President Paul Sniegowski

Tuesday, Aug. 13 (morning): New Employee Orientation

All events are in the Landrum Bolling Center (LBC) in the Richmond Room unless otherwise noted.

TimeEvent
8 – 8:10 a.m.Introductions by Tracy Amyx, Human Resources Director
8:10 – 8:40 a.m.Human Resources presentation
8:40 – 8:45 a.m.Wellness/AWC by Cathryn Dickman, Senior Executive Director of Wellness Programs and Facilities
8:45 – 9 a.m. Accounting by Mandy Roell, Budget Director
9- 9:05 a.m.Marketing and Communications Resources by Brian Zimmerman, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications
9:05 – 9:25 a.m.Technology Services by Jason Blunk, Director of Technology Operations
9:25 – 9:30 a.m.Facilities by Jon Jumper, Director of Facilities
9:30 – 9:55 a.m.Joseph Moore Museum by Heather Lerner, Museum Director
9:55 – 10:15 a.m.Break
10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Library by Amy Bryant, Library Director, and Karla Fribley, Instructional Technologies Director
10:30 – 10:40 a.m.Athletics by Adam Hutchinson, Athletic Director
10:40 – 11 a.m.Title IX & Equal Opportunity by Tracy Amyx
11:05 – 11:20 a.m.Student Life by Bonita Washington-Lacey, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
11:20-11:35 a.m.Welcome and introductions by President Paul Sniegowski
11:35-11:55 a.m.Public Safety with Jason Elliott, Assistant Director of Public Safety
11:55 – NoonWrap up and open question session
Noon – 1 p.m.Lunch (Dining Hall)

Tuesday, Aug. 13 (afternoon): New Faculty Orientation Day 2

All events are in the Landrum Bolling Center (LBC) in the Richmond Room unless otherwise noted.

TimeEvent
2:20 – 2:30 p.m.Welcome (back!) by Peng Yu (Teaching & Learning Consultant)
2:30 – 3:45 p.m.Consensus and Governance by Jennifer Seely (Faculty Clerk) and Jensen Pennock (Instructor of Quaker Fellows)
3:45 – 4 p.m.What Happens Next/Q&A by Peng Yu (Teaching & Learning Consultant)

Wednesday, Aug. 14 – Thursday, Aug 15: All-Employees Retreat — The joy of being a student-ready college

To actively engage all College employees in strategies that mark Earlham as a student-ready teaching and learning community, this year’s retreat focus will include:

  • defining a student-ready college
  • identifying areas where student readiness is already apparent
  • identifying areas where our teaching and learning community acknowledges obstacles to student success and prioritizes interventions that increase our capacity for student readiness across the entire campus

Wednesday

TimeEvent
8 – 8:30 a.m.Gathering and light breakfast in Carpenter Hall Lobby
8:30 – 9:15 a.m.Welcome & Opening Stillness (James Logan, Associate Academic Dean for Faculty and Mimi Holland, Assistant Chaplain & Coordinator of Quaker Life & Religious Life) Goddard Auditorium
9:15 – 10 a.m.Introduction of President Paul Sniegowski and Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs Lori Schroeder by Jennifer Seely (Clerk of the Faculty). Opening Presidential Remarks – “Let’s get the conversation started.” (Paul Sniegowski)
10 – 10:15 a.m.Questions & Answers
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.Break
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
The Joy Of Being a Student-Ready College…and the Ongoing Strategies for Success (Brian LaDuca, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs)

Experience joy in collaboration with your colleagues as you work through a high energy, active learning practice of self-discernment with the focus on building your own sense of freedom regarding what student-success means to you as an educational leader.
11:15 – 11:30 a.m.Questions & Answers
11:30 a.m. – NoonCelebrating Our Colleagues: Announcement of tenure and promotion (Paul Sniegowski); Welcome back to those returning from sabbaticals and leaves (Lori Schroeder), and introduction of new faculty and staff (Chris Little, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Safety and Risk, and Lori Schroeder)
12:30 -1:45 p.m.Lunch in Runyan Dining Hall
2 – 2:50 p.m.Breakout session #1: Choice of fun, groovy and conversational things to do!
See session details further down the page.
3 – 3:50 p.m.Breakout session #2: Choice of fun, groovy and conversational things to do!
See session details further down the page.
4:30 – 6 p.m.Food, drinks & hanging out: All are invited to attend a social gathering hosted by President Paul Sniegowski
Venue: May-Crossen Student Commons (Runyan Center)

Thursday

TimeEvent
8:15 – 8:50 a.m.Gathering & light breakfast in the LBC Atrium & Richmond Room
9 – 11 a.m.Student Ready Strategies for All Employees (Brian LaDuca, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and others) in Landrum Bolling Center, Loose Lecture Hall

Our consultant partners, Student Ready Strategies, will share a complete update of their findings around Earlham’s embrace of student-success including leading a series of breakouts for faculty to add additional “ingredients” necessary towards making Earlham College the most successful student-centered liberal arts institution.
11 – 11:15 a.m.Break
11:15 – 11:30 a.m.Closing Retreat Remarks (President Paul Sniegowski)
Landrum Bolling Center, Loose Lecture Hall
NoonLunch in the Runyan Dining Hall
Post-retreat afternoon schedule
TimeEvent
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.Academic Advising: Updates and Workshop for All College Academic Advisors (This Session is Required for All Academic Advisors)
Leanna Barlow (Associate Academic Dean of Students) and Corinne Deibel (Earlham College Registrar). Landrum Bolling Center, Loose Lecture Hall

During this session, advisors will receive important academic updates, and
Ali Damholt, LCSW Director of Counseling Services, will lead a workshop on student mental health.
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.Meet and Greet the Provost/Sr. VP for Academic Affairs, Lori Schroeder,
for an informal time of chatting together and just hanging out. The Center for Visual & Performing Arts

All-Employees Retreat Breakout Sessions — Fun, groovy and conversational things to do

Breakout Session #1 Options

EventLocation
Paddlepalooza: A float on the Middlefork Reservoir

Host: Kim Reid, Director of Outdoor Education

Please note:
• Van capacity limited to 11 participants (others may self-transport)
• Session spans both breakout sessions (2:00-3:50 pm)

Canoes, kayaks, paddle boats galore! Join us for fun under the sun as we paddle around the beautiful Middlefork Reservoir, located a quick 4-miles from campus. This event includes a brief 10-minute instructional course, followed by 60 minutes to explore the reservoir on the boat of your choice! Bring your water bottle, wear sunscreen and clothes you don’t mind getting wet (please note: swimming is not permitted in the reservoir), and prepare to enjoy a lovely afternoon on the water. Boats, paddles, and lifejackets provided. No prior experience needed. The concession stand will be open if you’d like to bring snack money. See you there!
Meet outside Public Safety building. Event will be at the Middlefork Reservoir. (weather permitting)
Hip Hop to Tik Tok

Host: Lydia Perkins & Stacie Perkins, Assistant Registrar

Please note:
• Limited to 30 participants

This class is where the rhythm of the streets send rhythm to your feet and we capture it on screen. It’s time to unleash your inner creativity, moves and hip-hop beats…So let’s Throw Down! This class is for All Levels!! Are you ready to have some fun? Lights, Camera, Action let’s make some Magic Happen!
Athletic & Wellness Center (Group Fitness Room)
Library Upcycling Workshop: Craft a Gift

Host: Earlham Librarians

Ever wonder what to do with old maps or books? Join us in Lilly Library for a workshop to craft with discarded library materials. Choose from one of several options, including making a gift bag, gift tags, or a paper ball. Supplies provided
Lilly Library (Main Floor)
Ceramics: A Haptic Experience

Host: Judy Wojcik, Associate Professor of Art, Ceramics

Please note:
• Limited to 16 participants

Working with clay is like learning a language. I like to think the hand, head and heart sync and art meets science in the studio. Over time, and with much practice, a mutual dialogue between the maker and the medium develops and one responds to the other with ease. EC’s Ceramics studio welcomes you to join a session of working with clay and learning about the studio. We welcome those with no experience and those with some or extensive experience. No experience necessary; those with experience please come!
Center for the Visual & Performing Arts (Ceramics Studio)
The State of Earlham’s Union: A Conversation on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Host: Womai Song, Assistant Professor of History and African & African American Studies

Since its founding in 1847, and despite their late admission to the institution’s table in the 20th century, Earlham College has benefitted immensely from the service of members of underrepresented communities at all levels of its management, academic, and administrative structures including staff, faculty, cabinet, and Board of Trustees. In the midst of enervating adversities, the distinguished contributions by these esteemed colleagues who have come from different minoritized constituencies from within and outside of the United States have been critical in not only enriching the Earlham experience for our students but in enhancing the institution’s stellar record as a leading teaching and learning community amongst United States’ institutions of higher learning in the 21st century. In preparation for another academic year and in the context of Quaker values; our diversity aspirations; some of the recent tendentious Supreme Court Decisions; and in the spirit of continuously striving toward a more just, equitable and inclusive community; we assemble with open minds for unreserved reflections on the historical and contemporary experiences of a very valuable coterie of Earlham’s union.
Landrum Bolling Center, Richmond Room
DrumUnity: Building Community with Drums

Host: Keith Cozart, Instructor of Music, Director of Percussion Program

Please note:
• Limited to 25-30 participants 

Since its inception in 1996, the Earlham Hand Drum Ensemble has aimed to bring people together in the spirit of wellness, movement, rhythm, and community. Employing the instrumentation of a West African djembe ensemble, participants explore and discover new ways of communicating through the voice of the drum. Celebrating the life of world renowned djembeföla (one who gives voice to the djembe) Mamady Keita, come drum in the spirit of joy and unity- “be together, be djembe.”
Center for the Visual & Performing Arts (Room 126)
Equestrian adventure: Get a tour & ride a horse!

Host: Dayna Cocca, Equestrian Management Instructor

Please note:
Van capacity limited to 11 participants
Will be required to sign a waiver to participate

Have you ever had wondered what your students do at the barn all day? Have you ever wanted to join the barn co-op yourself and get riding lessons? Join us at the Earlham Equestrian Center to learn more about the program, learn about horses, and get a brief riding lesson.
Meet in the parking lot outside Barrett/Bundy

Breakout Session #2 Options

EventLocation
Beneath the Scenes: A Stroll Through Subterranean Earlham        

Host: Jason Elliot, Assistant Director of Public Safety                    
Please note:
• Limited to 20 participants
• This tour will include walking, stairs, stooping, and close spaces.
                                                                
Join a guided tour of some of those unseen spaces that keep the college running, those spaces that live in the lore of the college, passed down from class to class, a taste of the places that students (and Public Safety) talk about. The department of Public Safety will guide you safely through these spaces.
Meet Outside Public Safety
Taste of Japan: Making Miso Soup

Host: Maya Kaneda, Japanese Language Fellow

Please note:
• Limited to 12 participants

Join the Japanese Cooking Club for a tasting of real Japanese Miso Soup. We will make several different kinds of Miso Soup and you can discover your favorite type of miso!
Please note that Miso Soup contains soybeans and fish stock.
Meet in the Athletics and Wellness Center kitchen (second floor observation room)
The Life and History of the Earlham Cemetery: A Tour-Confirmed

Host: Tom Hamm, Professor of History, Quaker Scholar in Residence

One of the benefits of being at Earlham is that you can have an office with a view of a cemetery! The college and the cemetery have been neighbors since 1861, and a legal agreement guarantees that the staff and students of Earlham College have the right to “stroll” through the cemetery grounds. On this stroll through the oldest sections of Earlham Cemetery, we’ll talk a bit about the cemetery’s history, look at the development of tombstone and funerary art, and tell some stories about some of the people laid to rest here.
Meet at front entrance to Lilly Library (weather permitting)
Let’s Dance!

Host: O’Jeanique Washington, Director of the Center for Social Justice

Please note:
• Limited to 15 participants

Have you always wanted to learn how to line dance? Do you love to Cha Cha slide? Is the Bikers Shuffle your thing? This session is sure to be full of fun and laughter whether you are a “professional” or have “two left feet” there will be something for you!
Athletic & Wellness Center (Group Fitness Room)
Museum Adventures & Consults: Spear Throwing, Snakeskin Jewelry Making, Gift Shop Discount, Program Scheduling and Moore!

Host: Heather Lerner, Director of the Joseph Moore Museum and Associate Professor of Biology; Ann-Eliza Lewis, Collections Manager and convener of Museum Studies; Mateo Quinonez, Education Manager

Throw a spear like it’s the Ice Age, make your own snakeskin jewelry, and experience a personalized planetarium show! Get on the museum calendar by consulting with museum faculty to schedule a class visit, public event, or specimen. Not sure what the options are for your college classes? Consult with JMM faculty to learn how the museum can support your teaching and engage students. Get a 10% discount in the quirky, updated gift shop full of new merch (discount only available during this event)!
Joseph Moore Museum
International Students

Host: Candice Quinones, Director of International Student and Scholar Services

Inform yourself about the current demographic make-up of our international student body and learn more about their needs, challenges, and ways that you can help improve the Earlham experience for our international students. The population of international students at Earlham is on the rise, and there is a significant influx of new international students this year who will bring with them a wealth of experiences, varied educational backgrounds, and many different perspectives that enrich the Earlham community. However, they also face unique struggles due to a variety of factors, such as their visa status, adjusting to cultural and academic expectations, adjusting to life in a different country, and financial constraints, among others. At times, the campus experience has been less than equitable and inclusive for them, but working together, we can help make the Earlham community feel like home. This session is recommended for individuals from all areas of campus: faculty, administrative faculty, and staff.
LBC 201
Javanese Gamelan Workshop

Host: Marc Benamou, Professor of Music

Please note:
• Limited to 18 participants

Marc Benamou will teach participants to play an easy piece from the traditional repertoire. No previous musical experience is necessary. Participants will be asked to remove their shoes and to sit on the floor (please let Marc know ahead of time if you would like to join but require physical accommodations). Our gamelan is a large set of instruments from Surakarta in central Java, mostly consisting of tuned, bronze percussion (metallophones, gongs, gong chimes).
CVPA 132 (northwest corner of the building)