Select Page
Little Acts, Big Heart

Little Acts, Big Heart

by | Nov 25, 2020 | School Uniqueness, Uncategorized

Little Acts, Big Heart

I’ll admit, I was struck by how much I felt I needed Thanksgiving this year. Even though we will not be gathering together with our children and grandchildren, it still seems to be a much-needed pause at the beginning of so many holiday traditions.

It has been far too easy for me to slip into mood where I’m grumbling about all the bad things that have happened in 2020. But just recently, a UNL student called to ask about whether the chancellor was going to offer free coffee during finals week. Now that may seem insignificant to you, but for me it was a reminder that little things like a free cup of coffee can give students a sense of belonging and caring.  

Since that call, I discovered that all our campuses do a number of these caring acts. I have a photo of the free cookies that UNK provided, thanking students for “hanging in there.” UNO has planned a drive-through at Baxter Arena to pick up a free “De-Stress” goodie bag. And UNMC is looking at several thoughtful giveaways including free cider.

 

*Barbara’s thoughts as written by Kate based on weekly (fascinating) conversations.

So after learning about these actions on campus, I realized I was being less than creative. And that’s what got me thinking about Oreos.

Each year, our family makes Oreo turkeys out of the iconic cookie, M&Ms, and chocolate frosting. Some have themes and some are plainer, albeit still packed with sugary indulgence. A lot of the construction material doesn’t make it to the final product, but we have fun as we work, and when finished we proudly march (trot) our Oreo turkeys in a parade. 

It’s a cherished memory, a relatively little thing. Inspired by the creativity of Nebraska University, I am creating Build-Your-Own-Turkey kits to share with anyone who may need a bit of a pick-me-up from these little creatures. And for whoever has enough will-power for their Oreo turkeys to survive more than a minute (no judgement), we will parade them on Zoom at a time that works for all of us.

Sometimes I need to be reminded to appreciate the many big and small acts of kindness I see every day. During this pandemic – and hopefully beyond – we need to show even more care for one another. So whatever your tradition, whatever your cherished memory, I wish you all a very meaningful and safe Thanksgiving. 

Oh, and send me pictures of turkeys you make! 🙂 

about    blog     contact

Filling in the Gaps

Filling in the Gaps

by | Nov 20, 2020 | Education Budget, Regent Firsts

Filling in the Gaps

It is hard to think about the many consequences (both intentional and unintentional) that have occurred as a result of adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. I imagine we don’t even know the full scope of those consequences just yet as they relate to the University of Nebraska community.

For example, it took an incredible amount of work by so many people to convert in-person classes to online courses. That scale of coordinated effort in such a relatively short time is mind boggling. The health and well-being of our students has always been foremost in our priorities, yet as we are forced to adapt, sometimes things fall through the cracks. As we navigate these shifts, these unintended consequences often take some time to surface.

Students and their families have been very patient. 

But one thing we missed while on our way to creating multiple options for classes, was what to do about student fees. Fortunately, the students on our campuses brought this to our chancellor’s attention, and leaders at the UNO campus were asked to consider the types of fees that exist, who was impacted by them, and what solutions should be considered.

I am happy to tell you that this process worked beautifully. The proposals suggested by students were used to make corrective new guidelines for how much students will pay based on their unique mixture of online and in-person classes. Additionally, fees will not be charged this spring for use of campus recreation and campus counseling services. We think this makes sense.

Going forward, we hope that everyone in the University of Nebraska family feels empowered to help us catch anything that may unintentionally fall through the cracks, so we can make these necessary adaptations as painless as possible for everyone involved.

Thank you for your diligence.

If you or your student have questions or concerns, please contact Cathy Pettit at StudentAffairs@unomaha.edu

 

 

*Barbara’s thoughts as written by Kate based on weekly (fascinating) conversations.

 

about    blog     contact

Vote, Vote, Vote!

Vote, Vote, Vote!

by | Nov 2, 2020 | Regent Firsts

Vote, Vote, Vote!

If you watch television, use social media, the internet, or just generally exist in our modern society, you cannot miss the overwhelming number of political ads pouring out of the screen.

Sometimes by the time we’ve returned to our original program, we’ve already forgotten who the ads were promoting. But one thing we can’t forget is that this our chance to exercise our right as citizens to vote for who will lead us through the next few years. It is urgent and it is critical.

There are a number of ways we can exercise this right. I’m sure some of you have done mail-in voting or absentee ballots. The students at University of Nebraska have free access to TurboVote, which is an online tool created by students to assist students with information and resources. Of course, this close to the election, in-person voting is important. And of course, the pandemic has complicated that, too.

UNO and UNMC Chancellor Dr. Jeff Gold sent an email to the UNO community recently reminding us all to wear our masks if we are going to vote in person. In my daydreams, the act of voting would protect us from COVID-19. Maybe it can, in some way, if we elect people who will face this pandemic with wisdom, science, and expertise.

The increase in positive tests and hospitalizations that are as high as the early days of the pandemic clearly signal that we must take this seriously.

And when you do vote, however you vote, keep in mind that the students, staff and faculty of our community are working hard to stay healthy and safe. As a community we must offer them the same protection. WEAR YOUR MASKS, SOCIALLY DISTANCE, AND WASH YOUR HANDS. It’s the least we can do to help our future generations continue their education.

Another aspect of this election that’s been on my mind lately is the mental and emotional toll it is taking on our community. Whatever the outcome, emotions are going to be heightened. There is a lot at stake. So much of our future (both short term and long term) will be deeply affected by the results.

These emotions are just as powerful in our university community.

As a mental health practitioner, I know people experience stress and anxiety about the unknown. That’s why UNO has set up a Post-Election Processing Fair to give students, faculty and staff the opportunity to talk about where they find themselves. We encourage students to use the UNO Counseling and Psychological Services if needed. The Faculty-Employee Assistance Program is also there for faculty and staff who might find it helpful.

At the end of the day, we are all working to make Nebraska the best state to create good, caring citizens working together for a better future. So please, go vote.

 

*Barbara’s thoughts as written by Kate based on weekly (fascinating) conversations.

 

about    blog     contact