Five Things - This Week in Student Affairs - February 5th

Take a moment to see what’s going on this week in the Division of Student Affairs.

1. Sign up now to be a Giving Day Ambassador! Ambassadors are essential to the success of Giving Day (Wednesday, Mar. 5, 10 a.m. CST – Mar.. 6, 10 p.m. CST). As a official Giving Day Ambassador, you help create excitement about Missouri State Giving Day before and during the campaign. Ambassador training will be February 13th at 1:00pm. Email AlisonHarper@MissouriState.edu for the invite. https://givingday.missouristate.edu/giving-day/80755/signup

2. February Lunch and Learn – Join us for our Lunch and Learn on February 21st, 12 noon, in PSU 317. The topic is Heart Health. RSVP to Peggy Jones at peggyjones@missouristate.edu or Priscilla Childress at pchildress@missouristate.edu.

3. Annual Cookie Decorating Event! – Join the Division of Student Affairs on Wednesday, February 14th, 1-2pm, for our annual Cookie Decorating Event in PSU 317. Grab your friends and come decorate cookies while enjoying gabbing with co-workers and others from around the Division.

4. Presidential Search On-Campus Forums Set – The final three candidates for the next president of Missouri State University will take part in a series of open forums across the university system in February. The public will have multiple opportunities to meet Dr. John Jasinski, Dr. Roger Thompson and Dr. Richard Williams on both the Springfield and West Plains campuses. https://news.missouristate.edu/2024/01/26/missouri-state-sets-dates-for-presidential-finalist-forums/

Springfield Campus

All open forums will take place from 2:30-3:30 p.m., in Plaster Student Union Theater.

Candidates will be available on the following dates:

Williams on Thursday, Feb. 15
Jasinski on Tuesday, Feb. 27
Thompson on Thursday, Feb. 29

5. IAT Spotlight: The 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenges©: Challenging. Interactive. Action Oriented.

The 21-Day Equity Habit-Building Challenge was originally developed by Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., racial justice educator and author Debby Irving and Dr. Marguerite Penick-Parks. Their idea was to ask Challenge participants to dedicate themselves to one action related to racial equity daily for 21 days. The discipline and intentionality required to follow 21 days of carefully chosen activities was meant to encourage lasting practices that would further equity. Day after day, participants give themselves the time and space to be more mindful of power, privilege, oppression, and ultimately, social justice in their communities and networks. The science behind breaking bad habits and creating new habits surpasses 21 days. The intent is not to stop at one challenge, but to begin a new way of thinking, behaving, and believing. Take time to reflect, ask questions, and openly dialogue with others. Then jump back in to another 21 days of learning and acting toward an equitable, inclusive, and just future.

Choose one activity per day…to further your understanding of power, privilege, supremacy, oppression, and equity — read, listen, watch, explore, notice, connect, act, reflect, stay inspired. Tracking tool has two versions: pen & paper style and electronic (both attached). Challenge Tracking Tool Paper – https://blogs.missouristate.edu/studentaffairs/files/2024/02/21-Day-Challenge-Tracking-Tool-paper.pdf
Challenge Tracking Tool Electronic – https://blogs.missouristate.edu/studentaffairs/files/2024/02/21-Day-Challenge-Tracking-Tool-electronic.xlsx

21-Day Challenges available:

- - - Racial Equity Habit Building (multiple versions available including original & educator)
    - Juneteenth Freedom School
    - Better Listening
    - Racial Equity Indigenous
    - Youth, Faith, Race & Moore
    - Racial Equity – Protest & Rebellion
    - Activism Self-Care
    - Recovery Resources JUUST Living and More
    - Moore Than A Moment
    - Challenge delivered via Text or Email

6. Keep informed about Employee Wellness Programs and Human Resources Employee Benefits – Join the newsletter and blogs for up-to-date information.

Sign up for the Employee Wellness Newsletter.

7. Employee Assistance Program Info – An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free, confidential service to help you and your immediate family members with a wide range of problems. It’s available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. EAP is administered by: Mercy EAP and UNUM. You can find info about this program by visiting https://www.missouristate.edu/Human/employee-assistance-program.htm.

Resource of the Week: How Vulnerable are You to Stress? The following survey looks at your coping strategies and may identify areas you can improve upon. https://blogs.missouristate.edu/studentaffairs/files/2024/02/StressQuestionaire.pdf

8. Chocolate Lovers Event – A slight change in plans this year. Our Chocolate Lovers Event will not be on Valentine’s Day this year. Instead we will celebrate with lots of chocolate on Friday, March 8^th, in PSU Ballroom from 11-1. This is the Friday before Spring break begins. What a great way to kick it off! Stay tuned for more details!