EMPLOYEES: Important Start-of-School-Year Events

August 9, 2021

Dear colleagues,

As we enter these final busy weeks before our new 2021–2022 school year begins, I want to make sure you know about a variety of important events that will help you, and all of us, better prepare for and be ready to welcome this new year.

I hope you can take part in as many of these events as possible. I’d also like to highlight two events that are of special significance and where attendance is expected—the State of the University address on Aug. 19 and an online Employee Town Hall on Aug. 26.

Thursday, August 19

2021 Faculty Institute: “Everyone is Called: Meeting Diverse Students’ Needs in Difficult Times”
Howard Performing Arts Center, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Staff are also invited to attend the 8:30 a.m. worship and the 9 a.m. plenary session, “Bringing Equity to Higher Education: A Lesson in Disruptive Innovation.” More information here.

State of the University Address and Honoring Excellence in Teaching
Howard Performing Arts Center, 3:45 p.m.
This event will also be available to view via livestream.

Friday, August 20

2021 Faculty Institute
Howard Performing Arts Center, 8 a.m.–12 noon
Staff are also invited to attend the 8:30 a.m. worship and the 9 a.m. plenary session, “Flourishing or Flailing? Recovering the Joy of Teaching in Difficult Times.” More information here.

Corn Roast Supper and Outdoor Vespers
Howard Performing Arts Center “backyard,” 6:30 p.m.
Spouses and children are invited. The speaker for vespers will be Ken Denslow, our new Lake Union Conference president. Please RSVP by August 13 here.

Sabbath, August 21

Fall Fellowship Employee Dedication
Pioneer Memorial Church, 11:45 a.m.
Speaker: Dwight K. Nelson, lead pastor, PMC

Fall Fellowship Picnic Lunch
Between Campus Center & Nethery Hall, 1:30 p.m.
Al fresco dining under the leafy shelter of the trees between Campus Center and Nethery Hall—please come for the delicious food and stay for fellowship with the great people in our Andrews community. Spouses and children are welcome. Please RSVP by August 13 here.

Sunday, August 22

First Stop (New Undergraduates)
Howard Performing Arts Center, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

New Undergraduate Students Convocation & Matriculation Ceremony
Pioneer Memorial Church, 5:15 p.m.        
New students and their families are invited to attend this Convocation service, which will end with a special Matriculation ceremony underneath the bridge of the Undergraduate Learning Center. I invite faculty and staff to come join me to help welcome our new students if you’re free that evening.

Wednesday, August 25

New Graduate Students Convocation
Howard Performing Arts Center, 4 p.m.

Thursday, August 26

Employee Town Hall
3:30 p.m. (Zoom)
Attendance at this town hall is expected.

Friday, August 27

New Students Vespers
Pioneer Memorial Church, 7:30 p.m.

Sabbath, August 28

PMC Welcome Reception for New Students
In front of Pioneer Memorial Church, 1 p.m.

Sunday, August 29

Returning Students Registration
Administration Building, 12–5 p.m.

Monday, August 30

First day of classes

Thursday, September 2

University Convocation
Pioneer Memorial Church, 10:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. classes canceled)

My prayers and thanks are with you as we prepare to welcome our students home for this new year ahead. I look forward to seeing you at some, or many, of these events over the next few weeks.

Also, please take a few minutes to walk across the campus during these important opening days and weeks to welcome students and each other with a smile and words of encouragement. 

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Andrea Luxton
President