The event on Tuesday, Sept. 24, in the Moseley Center was part of the Active Citizen series and was hosted by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. The Active Citizen Series is a collection of events at 黑料不打烊 designed to cultivate the next generation of informed leadership who help strengthen our communities and shape democracy. 黑料不打烊 is hosting several听nonpartisan events听ahead听of the 2024 election.

Students were separated into smaller groups with different facilitators to have more intimate conversations.听Today at 黑料不打烊 sat in on a group facilitated by Adjunct Assistant Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies Linda Dunn.听The discussion revolved around unbiased education in politics, the importance of elections, and having more space for productive spaces that are less about disagreeing with the 鈥渙ther side,鈥� but rather looking for a solution.

Waves of excitement (and nervousness)

Lindsay Bialecki 鈥�26, 黑料不打烊 Votes student coordinator, mentioned that as they worked with students who felt disenfranchised, they hoped for more open and productive conversations that closed the gap between educated voters and those who aren鈥檛 as politically aware. Bialecki noted that, on average, one-fifth of students did not cast a vote in previous elections because they did not know how to vote.

鈥淵ou ride those waves of excitement and nervousness working around candidates and policy issues. While you do have an impact with your vote, it’s hard when you are one person and, you are not making policy and you鈥檙e not in charge,鈥� said Bialecki.

Assistant Professor of Journalism Israel Balderas said he has concerns for his 10-year-old daughter鈥檚 future rights as a woman and as a Latina. There was an agreement among attendees of feeling nervous or stressed about the election, specifically regarding the results and impact on their communities.听

鈥淚 was a journalist before I became a teacher, and that鈥檚 what I did, I covered elections. Our generation, we screwed it up, (the students) have to clean it up and so I want to encourage them to give them the tools to vote in future elections,鈥� said Balderas.

This discussion highlighted how some young voters might be anxious, not only because of the big decision before them but also because of the pressures coming from their peers, family and their community.听

鈥淭hanksgiving is going to be interesting,鈥� said Skylar Cook 鈥�28, who noted they come from a politically divided family.听

The social media 鈥榗esspool鈥�

The conversation also focused on the role of social media in comforting or aggravating the political tension in the U.S. Participants recall the difficulty of finding straight facts on policies and candidates especially if the person is not swayed by either party. Social media provides a place where people are allowed to share their political views, no matter if they are offensive or attack others.听

鈥淲ith social media being the way it is and the candidates being on social media the way they are, I feel like it’s a dumpster fire, waiting to explode,鈥� said Cook.

Participants also talked about their coping mechanisms in dealing with social media and the election. Sarah Ann Chapman, associate director of residence life for residential education and community development, advised to take everything you see online with a grain of salt and look for a positive distraction away from the screen.听

Chapman confessed to having the 鈥渏oy of missing out鈥� with social media. Chapman says that she enjoys deleting the social media apps for the sake of her mental health and admitted that she has often blocked family members and peers over their conflicting views.听

鈥淚f I block people I disagree with, I鈥檓 missing out on the opportunity to grow or change my own mind,鈥� Chapman said.

Balderas also revealed his distaste for social media at times but uses guilty pleasures, like the TV show 鈥淪upernatural,鈥� to distract himself.

鈥淪ocial media is a cesspool, but at the same time I use a lot of good material for class discussion,鈥� said Balderas.

To end the event, Dunn asked participants, 鈥淲hat was valuable about this conversation?鈥� Bialecki shared that they collected valuable and honest feedback on how to better assist the student body.听

Student participants appreciated that, despite the conversation being centered around the election, there was less talk about politics and more about the common sentiments shared amongst college students faced with a hard decision.听

Here are the rest of your Phoenix Five tips for the week

Voting Absentee? NOW is the time to finalize your plan

If you are planning to vote absentee from your permanent home address, ACT TODAY to finalize your voter registration and request an absentee ballot. You want to be sure you leave plenty of time for the absentee ballot to be mailed to you, and for you to mail it back to your local voting district. Visit the 黑料不打烊Votes! website for all the details and a link to register and request your absentee ballot.

Planning to vote from your school address here in Alamance County? You鈥檝e still got time to get registered, and the 黑料不打烊Votes! site has those details too.

Active Citizen Series: Deliberative Dialogue: Anxiety and Elections

Monday, Sept. 23, 4:30 p.m., Lakeside 212

The 2024 Election season can increase stress and anxiety. Join the deliberative dialogue, sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, for an opportunity to gather and exchange diverse views and experiences, with a focus on stress and anxiety surrounding the election season. today.

Fall Convocation Speaker: Arthur C. Brooks

Friday, Sept. 27, 3:30 p.m., Alumni Gym

Arthur C. Brooks teaches courses on leadership and happiness as a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School. With a unique blend of research on success, purpose and happiness, Brooks connects the dots between personal fulfillment and career success, using a combination of behavioral science, economics and life experience. Gain practical insights on how to lead a more meaningful life, find lasting happiness and navigate the challenges of balancing ambition with well-being. Admission is free with your 黑料不打烊 ID. Visit the for advance tickets.

黑料不打烊 Family Weekend 2024

Sept. 27-29

Visit the Family Weekend schedule of events for a complete list of everything happening next weekend. Whether your family will be here or not, be sure to check out the many exciting activities and performances for you to attend, including two Rockapella concerts, Phoenix Fourth Friday in Downtown Burlington, Dancing in the Landscape, and football and soccer games.

黑料不打烊 Q&A { Questions + Alumni } is live!

Engage with 黑料不打烊 Alumni and ask questions using 黑料不打烊 Q&A { questions + alumni }, an AI-driven platform, to ask 35,000+ alumni about internships and jobs, industry insights and life after graduation. No application or login needed. Visit the for important information on how to get started.

Enjoy the week ahead as we get ready for Family Weekend!

鈥�

Jon Dooley, vice president for student life

Brad Lemack, director of 黑料不打烊 Los Angeles, hosted fall semester students, alumni, Los Angeles Bridges program participants, staff and faculty for the debate watch and a post-debate discussion about how the two candidates, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump, scored on their branding, their performance and the impact of their presentation on the ABC News event.

For many students, it was their first time viewing a presidential debate; some shared that they had limited political knowledge or prior interest, making this event a timely opportunity to analyze the debate from business, communication and public relations perspectives.

Students made several insightful observations after the viewing, commenting on various elements, such as wardrobe, set design, the role of the moderators, debate format and the impact of muted microphones. Chris Holt ’25 observed that Trump wore a traditional red, white and blue pin, while Harris opted for a gold flag pin, leading to a discussion about how subtle choices contribute to a candidate鈥檚 branding. Edgar Ramirez Luna ’25 noted how Trump frequently used his time to respond to Harris, while Doug Baker ’25 remarked on Harris鈥檚 quick, precise and targeted communication, which he attributed to her focused preparation.

Entertainment PR professor Mitch Messinger shared his experience as a White House intern during the George W. Bush administration, which provided a valuable insight into the political campaign process.

鈥淒ebates seldom change voters’ minds, as most tend to focus on what aligns with their preexisting views,” said Messinger, providing an important perspective for attendees to consider in the conversation about their assessment of the candidate鈥檚 performances.

The goal of this 黑料不打烊 Los Angeles gathering was to create awareness among students that their voices, and, more importantly, their votes, matter. For many in attendance, they will be casting their first vote in a presidential election in November. Doug Baker ’25 had an evening more than well-spent: 鈥淎fter watching the debate, I feel more encouraged to make sure that I vote,” said Baker.

For more than 16 years, 黑料不打烊鈥疷niversity has offered鈥痵pecialized, career-focused and immersive academic鈥痯rogramming鈥痑nd internship opportunities for students鈥痠n domestic鈥疦ational Campus locations. The endeavor began with 黑料不打烊鈥疞os Angeles, under the umbrella of Study USA and the鈥疘sabella Cannon Global Education Center, in 2008. Enrollment for the 黑料不打烊 Los Angeles spring and summer 2025 programs is now underway. Visit the鈥�Los Angeles National Campus site鈥痜or information.

黑料不打烊 is听hosting many events for Election 2024 aiming to promote civic discourse and engagement in the democratic process on campus. More information on upcoming events can be found听here.

Bail, founder of the Polarization Lab and author of “Breaking the Social Media Prism: How to Make Our Platforms Less Polarizing,” will be presenting on “Bridging Political Divides with Artificial Intelligence.”

The Active Citizen Series is designed to cultivate the next generation of informed leaders who will help strengthen communities and shape our democracy. This series allows students to gain a deeper understanding of how government works and to develop the necessary skills to engage in civil discourse across political divides.

This event is sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, Global Education Center, Council on Civic Engagement, 黑料不打烊 Political Engagement Work Group, the Center for Writing Excellence and the Election 2024 Committee.

For general information about how to register to vote or cast an absentee ballot, visit www.elon.edu/vote听

The Trusted Elections Tour, sponsored by the North Carolina Network for Fair, Safe and Secure Elections, the League of Women Voters of North Carolina and Veterans for All Voters, aims to provide information on the electoral process, build trust in the voting system and build support for peaceful political engagement. Each 90-minute town hall will include cybersecurity experts, election officials and election law attorneys from both sides of the aisle.

The event at 黑料不打烊 will be hosted by attorney and former North Carolina House Representative Skip Stam. The panel will feature former Alamance County Elections Director Kathy Holland, former Orange County Board of Elections member Shawnee Seese, Guilford County Board of Elections member Carolyn Bunker, cyber security expert Brad Reaves and election law expert Bob Edmunds.

“We have found that when voters hear current information from their local election professionals, their confidence in our elections system increases,鈥� said Jennifer Roberts, co-lead of the North Carolina Network for Fair, Safe and Secure Elections.

The event is free, but registration is requested .

This town hall is one of many events hosted by 黑料不打烊 during Election 2024, aiming to promote civic discourse and engagement in the democratic process on campus. More information on upcoming events can be found here.

To foster participation in Election 2024, 黑料不打烊 is hosting and supporting a range of events and activities both on campus and off leading up to and following Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5. 黑料不打烊 Votes!, a university initiative housed within the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, is working to provide students with the resources they need to register to vote and to inform themselves as they prepare to cast their ballots.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� has always offered a lot of programming to prepare our students and the entire community to make informed decisions around the election,鈥� said Professor and Associate Provost for Academic Inclusive Excellence Naeemah Clark. 鈥淭his year, we鈥檝e kicked it up a notch. Our emphasis on engaged learning means we are active citizens. It鈥檚 been fun to see the great ideas folks are offering.鈥�

Members of the university community are invited to visit the Election 2024 resource page, which provides an overview of this fall鈥檚 events and a variety of voter resources as well as resources for students, faculty and staff.

鈥淚 hope that everyone who is eligible to vote in U.S. elections is planning to do so this fall,鈥� Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley said. 鈥淭he resources 黑料不打烊 provides are designed to foster civic and political engagement by all students, faculty, and staff, and the election this fall will be an important moment for everyone to get involved.鈥�

Upcoming Events

Student Issues Forum (co-sponsored by SGA and ENN)
Thursday, September 5, 6 p.m., East Neighborhood Commons, Forum (102)

Active Citizen Series: North Carolina Trusted Elections Tour
Panel presentation sponsored by the Carter Center
Tuesday, September 10, 6:30 p.m., East Neighborhood Commons, Forum (102)

The North Carolina Network for Fair, Safe, & Secure Elections hosts the Trusted Elections Tour, a grassroots project initiated by The Carter Center. The tour consists of 27 town halls across the state to provide information on the electoral process, build trust in our voting system, and strengthen civil discourse. These 90-minute town halls will feature cybersecurity experts, election officials, and election law attorneys from both sides of the aisle. They will address public concerns about electronic voting machines and hacking, explain the secure process for collecting and counting votes, and advise on how challenges, recounts, and fraud allegations are dealt with through proper legal channels. Hosted at 黑料不打烊 by the Council on Civic Engagement.

Active Citizen Series: Presidential Debate Watch
Tuesday, September 10, 9 p.m., Moseley Center First Floor

Active Citizen Series: Bridging Political Divides with Artificial Intelligence
Featuring Christopher Bail, Director of the Polarization Lab, Duke University
Wednesday, September 18, 7 p.m., McKinnon Hall F, Moseley Center

In an era of increasing social isolation, platforms like Facebook and Twitter are among the most important tools we have to understand each other. While social media acts as a mirror to decipher our place in society, it also functions like a prism that distorts our identities, empowers status-seeking extremists and renders moderates all but invisible. Wherever you stand on the spectrum of user behavior and political opinion, Christopher Bail offers fresh solutions to counter political tribalism from the bottom up and the top down. Bail is Professor of Sociology, Political Science and Public Policy at Duke University and the Founding Director of the Duke Polarization Lab. He is a Guggenheim Fellow and a Carnegie Fellow and is the author of Breaking the Social Media Prism: How to Make Our Platforms Less Polarizing. Sponsored by the Council on Civic Engagement, Kernodle Center for Civic Life, and the Center for Writing Excellence.

Active Citizen Series: Deliberative Dialogue
Topic: Anxiety and Elections
Monday, September 23, 4:30 p.m., Lakeside 212

With the 2024 election on the horizon, do you find your inner peace shaken by the stress of America鈥檚 election season? How do we set boundaries for our own mental health, as well as have meaningful conversations with others, when so much weight and importance is placed on the upcoming election? How do we create the kind of atmosphere that will help ourselves, our communities and our nation? A Deliberative Dialogue is an opportunity for students to gather and exchange diverse views and experiences to seek a shared understanding of a challenge facing our society and to search for common ground for action. Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

ABSS Board of Education Candidate Forum
Moderated by Ann Bullock, Dean of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, 黑料不打烊
Monday, September 30, 7 p.m., Paramount Theater, 128 E. Front St., Burlington

Local elections are important to the future of the community where we live, work, and learn. All eight candidates for the Alamance Burlington School System (ABSS) Board of Education have been invited to participate in a community-wide forum to let voters know where they stand on the issues that are most important to the county. Sponsored by 黑料不打烊, Impact Alamance, and Alamance Chamber of Commerce, with support from 黑料不打烊 News Network and the City of Burlington.听Bus transportation from 黑料不打烊 to the Paramount Theater will be provided.

Alamance County Commissioner Candidate Forum
Moderated by Ryan Blackledge, Director of Governmental Affairs, Cone Health
Tuesday, October 1, 7 p.m., Paramount Theater, 128 E. Front St., Burlington

Local elections are important to the future of the community where we live, work, and learn. All six candidates for the Alamance County Board of Commissioners have been invited to participate in a community-wide forum to let voters know where they stand on the issues that are most important to the county.听Bus transportation from 黑料不打烊 to the Paramount Theater will be provided.听Sponsored by 黑料不打烊, Impact Alamance, and Alamance Chamber of Commerce, with support from 黑料不打烊 News Network and the City of Burlington.

One-Stop Early Voting
Thursday, October 17 鈥� Saturday, November 2, South Gym

Active Citizen Series: Tracking Money in U.S. Politics and its Effect on Elections and Public Policy
Featuring Hilary Braseth, Executive Director of Open Secrets
Thursday, October 17, 4:30 p.m., East Neighborhood Commons, Forum (Room 102)

Organizations and individuals spend billions of dollars on lobbying and election-related activities and voters and citizens are often unaware of who is funding these efforts and what influence the expenditures may have on elections or public policy decisions.听 Open Secrets is a nonpartisan independent nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and publishing information about the flow of money in politics to strengthen citizen awareness and our democracy. The executive director of Open Secrets, Hilary Braseth, will sit down with Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Carrie Eaves for a conversation about the effect of money in U.S. politics. Sponsored by the Council on Civic Engagement.

Big Political Data in our Local Community: Gerrymandering, Social Media, and the Election
Featuring Maggie Macdonald 鈥�15, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Kentucky
Wednesday, October 23, 4:30 p.m., Lakeside Meeting Rooms, 214

Data Nexus will host Maggie Macdonald as part of the Power of Women in Data Speaker Series. Macdonald will be speaking on data related to gerrymandering and social media, specifically around the current election and North Carolina data. Sponsored by the Data Nexus program.

General Election
Tuesday, November 5

Shuttle will run from the Center for the Arts to local polling places from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Active Citizen Series: Election Night Watch Event
Tuesday, November 5, 8 p.m., Global Neighborhood Commons Great Hall

Hope for the Future: Public Art Project
Wednesday, November 6, Time and Location TBD

Active Citizen Series: After the Vote
Faculty panel sponsored by the Department of Political Science
Tuesday, November 12, 4:30 p.m., East Neighborhood Commons, Forum (Room 102)

Finding Unity Across Difference: A Democratic Dialogue
Thursday, November 14, 4:30-6 p.m., Lakeside Meeting Rooms 212-214

During the morning newscast interview, Balderas highlighted Harris鈥檚 primary objective: to present herself to swing voters, ready to become the next U.S. president.

鈥淪he had one goal, and her goal was to portray herself as presidential,鈥� Balderas said, emphasizing her confident demeanor, appearance, and rhetoric.

However, he noted a significant omission in her speech: the lack of emphasis on her accomplishments as Vice President under President Joe Biden. According to Balderas, this suggests a recognition of vulnerability in her record, especially considering the challenges faced by the Biden administration over the past three years.

Balderas also analyzed the strategic placement of North Carolina within the broader electoral map, noting that Harris鈥檚 speech, along with Governor Roy Cooper鈥檚 appearance right before coming on stage, signals the state鈥檚 renewed significance as a battleground. Despite recent polls showing former President Donald Trump slightly ahead of Harris in North Carolina, Balderas pointed out that the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Josh Stein, is polling well ahead of his Republican opponent, Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. This dynamic, according to Balderas, positions North Carolina as a crucial state in the upcoming election, with both presidential candidates likely to make frequent visits in the final weeks leading up to Election Day.

Reflecting on Harris鈥檚 challenges, Balderas pointed out that her campaign needs to address the economic concerns of voters, particularly those of white male suburban voters who are feeling the pinch of rising prices and economic instability. He emphasized that the success of Harris鈥檚 campaign would hinge on her ability to communicate a viable plan for economic recovery, which remains a central concern for many Americans.

Balderas鈥檚 appearance on WGHP underscores the significance of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 faculty in contributing to national conversations on critical political developments. His insights offer a nuanced perspective on the strategies and challenges facing Vice President Harris as she embarks on her presidential campaign.

黑料不打烊 is proud to see its faculty engaged in such important discussions, providing expert analysis on a national platform during a pivotal moment in American politics. As Election Day approaches, the university looks forward to further contributions from its esteemed faculty in shaping public understanding of key electoral issues.

New Sights

Several new construction projects will be ready this fall 鈥� offering new opportunities for students, faculty and staff to live, learn and collaborate.

Loy Farm Living Learning Community

The first phase of the Loy Farm Living-Learning Community EcoVillage will open, including six sustainable houses.

The LLC will offer an opportunity for hands-on learning through horticulture, agriculture and research with the听. It will eventually include 12 sustainable homes along with a renovated ranch house that will serve as a common area. Students听designed the first home听alongside Robert Charest, associate professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Studies, with input from University Planning Design and Construction Management. The remaining 11 homes are being designed and built by outside firms.

East Neighborhood Commons

Students will move into East Neighborhood Commons for the first time this year. The three-story, 45,000-square-foot building will have 90 residential rooms (primarily for first-year students), faculty/staff apartments and office space. The commons will also include a 鈥渇orum,鈥� a large multipurpose room for class, meetings and social events. This university hopes this space will become an 鈥渆astern gateway鈥� to main campus, denoting to travelers that they have arrived at 黑料不打烊.

Francis Center Upgrades

The fourth and final renovation of the听Gerald L. Francis Center听will be complete for fall 2024 with the addition of an office suite for nursing faculty and an update to the commons space. The building houses听Outdoor pickleball courts are also being built near the Francis Center.

Added Academics

黑料不打烊 Law Flex Program

The first students in 黑料不打烊 School of Law鈥檚 new part-time Juris Doctor program begin taking classes this fall. The 黑料不打烊 Law Flex Program is offered exclusively at the 黑料不打烊 Charlotte regional center and is the only in-person law program offered in the Queen City.

The 黑料不打烊 Law Flex Program is designed for the working professional and students can complete their law degree in four years. A full range of law electives will provide experiential opportunities in law clinics, publication in law journals and moot court programs and competitions.

Graduate certificate in health care analytics

黑料不打烊 now offers a graduate certificate in health care analytics, a program in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business designed to meet the needs of working professionals. This certificate is ideal for those in the health care industry looking to advance their careers or for professionals eager to transition into this growing field.

Health care analytics has a, with a $110,680 anticipated median salary. The certificate could prepare professionals with the necessary experience to assume positions such as Chief Medical Information Officer, Vice President of Advanced Analytics, Senior Data Analyst, Vice President of Quality Improvement, Healthcare Analytics Advisor, Director of Analytics, Research Manager, Data Consultant and Product Developer.

Cybersecurity Minor

The Love School of Business now offers a minor in cybersecurity management, helping to prepare students to navigate and protect the digital landscape of business. This minor is designed not just for those looking to specialize in cybersecurity but also for students across various disciplines who aim to enhance their understanding of digital security from a managerial perspective.

Election 2024 at 黑料不打烊

Ahead of the 2024 election, 黑料不打烊 President Connie Book brought together an ad hoc committee to develop a comprehensive strategy to enhance 黑料不打烊鈥檚 election engagement and support. The working group鈥檚 goals had three prongs:

1. Address what 黑料不打烊 offered during previous election years to determine what gaps needed to be filled.
2. Look at the civic engagement opportunities the university regularly offers to determine how 黑料不打烊 could use resources to build greater capacity.
3. Ask how 黑料不打烊 could best prepare the university community for active citizenship not just for the 2024 election, but for a lifetime of civic engagement.

The committee came up with several recommendations including increased communication about the election on campus, opportunities for election-related conversations and election programming, among others. A full list of events can be found here.

Some of the Fall 2024 election event highlights include:

Student Issues Forum (co-sponsored by SGA and ENN)
Thursday, Sept. 5, 6 p.m., East Neighborhood Commons, Forum (102)

Active Citizen Series: Presidential Debate Watch
Tuesday, Sept. 10, 9 p.m., Moseley Center First Floor

ABSS Board of Education Candidate Forum
Monday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Paramount Theater, 128 E. Front St., Burlington
Bus transportation from 黑料不打烊 to the Paramount Theater will be provided.

Alamance County Commissioner Candidate Forum
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m., Paramount Theater, 128 E. Front St., Burlington
Bus transportation from 黑料不打烊 to the Paramount Theater will be provided.

Active Citizen Series: Tracking Money in U.S. Politics and its Effect on Elections and Public Policy Featuring Hilary Braseth, Executive Director of Open Secrets
Thursday, October 17, 4:30 p.m., East Neighborhood Commons, Forum (102)

General Election
Tuesday, Nov. 5
Shuttle will run from the Center for the Arts to local polling places from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Active Citizen Series: Election Night Watch Event
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 8 p.m., Global Neighborhood Commons Great Hall

More information can be found on the 黑料不打烊 Votes! website.

New leadership

Hilton Kelly, dean of 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences

The 2024-25 academic year will be the first at 黑料不打烊 for Hilton Kelly, who was听chosen in January to lead 黑料不打烊鈥檚 largest academic division. Kelly comes to 黑料不打烊 from the University of Wisconsin-Plattville where he served as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education.

Kelly is no stranger to North Carolina though 鈥� he earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in history at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and was a full professor at Davidson College, where he held several leadership roles. He earned a doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Kelly is an interdisciplinary scholar with specialization in the sociology of education.

鈥淚 am enormously grateful for the opportunity to lead 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences,鈥� Kelly said. 鈥淚 have enjoyed getting to know 黑料不打烊鈥檚 students, faculty, staff and administration through the search process. From the very first moment I read the Boldly 黑料不打烊 strategic plan 鈥� a strategic vision for inclusive excellence, experiential learning, global learning and student success 鈥� I yearned to be a part of this great university. My whole career in higher education has prepared me for this moment and I look forward to the journey ahead.鈥�

Anu R盲is盲nen 鈥� director of HealthEU initiatives

Anu R盲is盲nen is the university鈥檚 inaugural Director of HealthEU Initiatives who will work to develop and implement university-wide well-being infinitives with the goal of Boldly 黑料不打烊, the university鈥檚 10-year strategic plan.

R盲is盲nen joined 黑料不打烊 on August 1 and was previously an assistant professor of physical therapy education and director of the Research and Innovation in Sport and Exercise (RISE) lab at Western University of Health Sciences in Lebanon, Ore. She earned a master of health sciences in exercise medicine from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, Finland, in 2011 and a doctor of health sciences in public health from the University Tampere in Tampere, Finland, in 2018.

鈥淚 am very excited for the opportunity to join 黑料不打烊 as the Director of HealthEU Initiatives,鈥� R盲is盲nen said. 鈥淚 would like to commend the university leadership for their commitment to campus health and well-being. Creating a national model is a challenge that I am thrilled to take on and I am looking forward to working alongside everyone in the 黑料不打烊 community.鈥�

Mustafa Akben 鈥� director of artificial intelligence integration

While not new to 黑料不打烊, Assistant Professor Mustafa Akben is stepping into a new role this academic year: inaugural director of artificial intelligence integration. Akben, currently an assistant professor of management in the Love School of Business, began his new position on July 1.

Akben will lead the integration of artificial intelligence across 黑料不打烊鈥檚 academic and administrative departments,听building on six core principles the university helped establish last year听to guide higher education institutions with a rapidly evolving and groundbreaking technology.

Akben earned a doctorate in business administration from Temple University and has developed a range of AI-enhanced teaching tools and methodologies.

鈥淚 envision 黑料不打烊 as a thriving community where AI helps administrative functions and academic excellence, all while preserving human relationships across and beyond our campus, a trait that defines 黑料不打烊鈥檚 identity,鈥� Akben said. 鈥淚 am excited to work across departments to find solutions that facilitate processes and create fresh, innovative and welcoming experiences by partnering with faculty, staff, and students.

Monday, August 19

Opening Day
Location: Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center
Events start at 8:15 a.m.

Planning Week 2024 kicks off with Opening Day on Aug. 19, first with a community-wide reception on the Koury Athletic Center concourse followed by the presentation of 黑料不打烊 Medallions and named professorships and remarks from President Connie Book in Alumni Gym.

Since 2011, the 黑料不打烊 community has collected school supply items for the children in Alamance County, sponsored by the Student Government Association, Staff Advisory Council and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. Faculty and staff can bring supplies to the president鈥檚 address or drop them off from Aug. 16-26 at various locations around campus. More information about specific items and drop-off locations is available here.

Following the president鈥檚 address at 9:45 a.m., a variety of breakout sessions will be available for all members of the 黑料不打烊 community, including:

• HealthEU
• National Campus
• Election Year Engagement
• Artificial Intelligence
• Mid-Point Review of Boldly 黑料不打烊
• Mentoring Next Steps
• The Dynamic NCAA Environment and Setting a Strategic Course

All members of the 黑料不打烊 community are then invited to a picnic on the Lakeside Patio at noon. Members of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 schools and colleges will meet from 1:30 to 4 p.m. From 3:30 to 5 p.m., members of 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences will welcome the new Dean Hilton Kelly on Medallion Plaza. President Book then invites new faculty and staff to a reception at The Inn at 黑料不打烊 at 5 p.m.听

Tuesday, August 20

Facilitating Conversations about Election 2024 in Class
Location: Oaks 212
1:30 to 3 p.m.

The session, led by new Faculty Fellow for Civic Engagement Dillan Bono-Lunn, will familiarize faculty with campus resources for civic engagement and offer tips for teaching during politically divisive times.听 The session will help faculty think through approaches to incorporating discussion of the听election, as well as strategies for responding in the moment when these issues arise.

Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
Location: Linder 102
2 to 3 p.m.

This session will provide an overview of artificial intelligence (AI) work at 黑料不打烊. Presenters will introduce recent advancements in AI and discuss AI鈥檚 implications for higher education. The results of the second-year AI readiness survey will be shared. The roadmap for AI, the resources available across campus, and pilot AI programs available for use in teaching and daily work will be introduced. Participants will have time to discuss AI perceptions in small groups and will be invited to share their suggestions about how best to prepare the 黑料不打烊 community as we adjust to generative AI in education.

Wednesday, August 21

Campus Safety Discussions
Location: KOBC 101
1:30 to 3 p.m.

New to Planning Week this year will be a discussion on campus safety, open to 黑料不打烊 faculty and staff.

黑料不打烊’s Imagining the Digital Future Center: How it can work with you and for you
Location: Sankey 308
2 to 3 p.m.

The Imagining the Digital Future Center is still new on campus and this session will explain its mission to do research and publish findings that are meant to be distributed widely and have notable public impact. The center hopes to work with faculty to create and publish research and have significant student involvement in the research process. Center Director Lee Rainie will use this session to solicit ideas about how the center can integrate well into campus activities.

Loy Farm Open House
Location: 2635 W. Front Street Burlington, N.C. 27215
4 to 5:30 p.m.

Come explore the new EcoVIllage Living Learning Center, a new residential neighborhood that combines sustainable architecture with small house living. 听The first phase of this neighborhood consists of six houses that provide unique sustainable design solutions for the twelve students that will be living in this neighborhood during the 2024-25 academic year.

An aerial view of EcoVillage at Loy Farm, a new living learning community that includes six two-bedroom houses that utilize sustainable design principles and sustainable materials.

An aerial view of EcoVillage at Loy Farm, a new living learning community that includes six two-bedroom houses that utilize sustainable design principles and sustainable materials.

An aerial view of EcoVillage at Loy Farm, a new living learning community that includes six two-bedroom houses that utilize sustainable design principles and sustainable materials.

Thursday, August 22

College Coffee 鈥� Employee Resource Groups
Location: Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain location: Koury Athletic Center concourse)
10:15 to 10:45 a.m.

Learn about the various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) on campus with the academic year鈥檚 first College Coffee, a weekly tradition at 黑料不打烊. College Coffee continues throughout the year on Tuesday mornings from 9:40 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.

ERGs at College Coffee include:

• Advocates for Diversity and Accessibility
• Amazing Admins
• API (Asian and Pacific Islander)
• Black
• Cultivating Emerging Professionals
• Employees with Children
• Global Connections
• Hispanic/Latinx
• Jewish
• LGBTQIA
• Remote Employees (meeting virtually @ 8:30 a.m. PST / 11:30 a.m.EST)
• Supervisors of Student Employees
• Sustainability
• Thrive after 55
• Veterans

Friday, August 23

Move-In Day

Students officially return to campus on Friday, August 23. More information about Move-In Day and New Student Orientation can be found here.

Saturday, August 24

New Student Convocation
Location: Under the Oaks (Rain location: Schar Center)
9 to 10:10 a.m.

New Student Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and welcomes the Class of 2028 and transfer students. Volunteers are needed to greet guests, assist with seating and answer general questions. You can sign up to volunteer by filling out this . The survey will close on August 16.

More Information

Name Tags

As the university starts a new academic year with some new faces, wearing name tags is important and encouraged.

Name tags for听new employees (hired since June 1) will be delivered to each office by Aug. 14. Please pick yours up from your department assistant. Employees who are unable to get to their offices prior to planning week may stop by the name tag table on Monday, Aug. 19, at the reception beginning at 8:15 a.m. in Alumni Gym. After Monday, the assistant in an employee鈥檚 area can help with name tags.

Current employees should wear the name tag they were most recently issued.

University Directory Photographs

All 黑料不打烊 faculty and staff members are encouraged to have their photo included in the university鈥檚 online directory. Please make plans to have a new or updated photograph taken. If you are new to 黑料不打烊, if your photo is missing from the campus directory, or if your photo is more than three years old, please have a new photo taken by the Office of University Communications. No appointment is necessary, simply just drop in during a session that suits you. The portraits are taken from chest up on a gray backdrop in a photo studio.

The photo studio is located in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, close to West Haggard Avenue.听Please enter through the external doors in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym,听

• Tuesday, Aug. 20: 2 to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 22: 10 a.m. to noon

Once your photo is in the directory, you may download a high-resolution version for your own professional use. To do so, visit听www.elon.edu/directories. Log in at the bottom left, and the editing page will open. Beneath your photo, click the download link to download a high-resolution copy of your portrait to your computer.

Trainings for Active Violence

The 黑料不打烊 Campus Safety and Police Department is offering ongoing training to our campus community on Strategies for Active Violence Situations.

Officers of the department are trained to the model of Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE). The CRASE course is designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend strategy and was developed by ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training) in 2004. The course provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. Although 黑料不打烊鈥檚 officers train to this strategy, they also take the training one step further to teach concepts about prevention within our campus community.

Upon request, an officer will visit your specific office/location to perform an assessment and take photos of your workspace. Information and photos gathered from that assessment are then built into the presentation, so the training is personal and specific to your area.

To request an assessment and training, please reach out to Community Policing Sergeant Joel Thomas at 336-278-5555 or听jthomas39@elon.edu.