What’s Up Wednesday — Wednesday, April 1, 2020

What’s Up Wednesday – COVID-19 Edition 3

Wednesday, April 1 – Saturday, April 11

All of us at Valpo wish you and your family well as we continue to stay-at-home! This will not last forever, but riding the wave is difficult. If your family has had a change in financial situation in the last several weeks, please do get in touch with the Financial Aid Office (finaid@valpo.edu or your counselor directly). Sometimes this can change your federal or state aid eligibility, but you don’t know one way or the other unless you let them know.

It’s been great to see so many student orgs active again on your social media feeds! It helps life feel a little more normal. Keep it up!

What’s Up Wednesday

Wednesday, 4/1

Deadline:         Seniors planning to graduate in December 2020 apply for graduation – DataVU Apply for Graduation
All Day              Coolest Place in Valpo Bracket Challenge – Vote Online
All Day              Dance Marathon Social Media Challenge – Instagram
10 a.m.             Morning Prayer – online
2 p.m.               Snacks & Chat w/ OMP – Google hangout
3 p.m.               Civic Reflection Series: Reflections on American Poverty – Google hangout
10 p.m.             Celebrate! – see the Celebrate Facebook page

Thursday, 4/2

All Day              Coolest Place in Valpo Bracket Challenge – Vote Online
All Day              Dance Marathon Social Media Challenge – Instagram
10 a.m.             Morning Prayer – online
1 p.m.               5 Things You Can Do To Stay Productive & Manage Stress During Coronavirus – online

Friday, 4/3

All Day              Coolest Place in Valpo Bracket Challenge – Vote Online
All Day              Dance Marathon Social Media Challenge – Instagram
10 a.m.             Morning Prayer – online
12 p.m.             Fidelity’s Women’s Invest Summit – online
3:30 p.m.          Tradebe Environmental Services Firm Info Session – online
5 p.m.               Deadline: Submit Student Org Award Nominations – online
TBD                  Watch UPC’s Instagram feed for this week’s Friday Night Event

Saturday, 4/4

All Day Coolest Place in Valpo Bracket Challenge – Vote Online
12-4 p.m. Dance Marathon – ValpoDM Instagram

Sunday, 4/5

10 a.m.             Palm Sunday Worship – Meeting link at valpo.edu/chapel
10 a.m.             St. T’s Holy Week Livestream Mass: Palm Sunday – Facebook Live
8:45 p.m.          Communi-Tea – Meeting link at valpo.edu/chapel
9 p.m.               Candlelight Worship – Meeting link at valpo.edu/chapel

Monday, 4/6 Summer/Fall 2020 Class Registration Begins

10 a.m. Morning Prayer – online

Tuesday, 4/7

10 a.m. Morning Prayer – online
4 p.m. Washington D.C. Capital Teaching Certification and Prep Info Session – online

Wednesday, 4/8

Deadline:         Submit a Christ the Light video for Chapel’s Easter Vigil
10 a.m.             Morning Prayer – online
12-1 p.m.          Career Center’s Ask Us Anything Session – online
2 p.m.               Snacks & Chat w/ OMP – Google hangout
3 p.m.               Civic Reflection Series – Google hangout

Thursday, 4/9

10 a.m. Morning Prayer – online
7 p.m. St. T’s Holy Week Livestream Mass: Holy Thursday – Facebook Live

Friday, 4/10 No Classes Today (Good Friday Observance)

10 a.m.             Morning Prayer – online
10 a.m.             St. T’s Holy Week Livestream: Stations of the Cross – Facebook Live
7 p.m.               St. T’s Holy Week Livestream Mass: Good Friday – Facebook Live

Saturday, 4/11

10 a.m. Rush University M.S. in Medical Lab Science Info Session – online
7:30 p.m. St. T’s Holy Week Livestream Mass: Easter Vigil – Facebook Live

Other Things to Do/Ways to Connect While Apart

Install and start using Self Control, Stay Focused, or another app that allows you to block distracting apps/sites so you can actually focus on writing that paper or studying for that exam. Tell your friends about this great new app you found.
Weigh in on what online game tournament Rec Sports should host in April.
Go to a concert in your pajamas thanks to UPC’s live concert listing.
Get a workout in with Rec Sports.
Euchre? Hearts? Bridge? Play cards with friends via trickstercards.com
Follow harreunion for a weekly idea to stay active while physically distancing.
Share a video of you (your pets, your kids, your parents) dancing to prep for Dance Marathon this weekend. Tag ValpoDM with #ValpoDM #FTK to get reposted!
Follow International Program’s Instagram world tour celebrating our community members from other countries.
Join InterVarsity’s nightly 9:15 p.m. Bible study and prayer via Google hangout
Get inspired by Alpha Phi Omega’s favorite motivational quotes

Ideas from a previous week…

Take a virtual dance class with Maksim & Val from Dancing With The Stars.
Volunteer virtually.
Connect with a virtual fitness trainer/class via Planet Fitness’ YouTube channel or Peloton’s 90-day free trial.
Color a picture virtually.
Organize a Google hangout for your friends just to hangout virtually.
Organize a Google hangout study group.
Call/Facetime at least one person every day.
Go for a walk and say hi to all good dogs (while staying distanced from their people).
Join a faith community that is worshipping virtually.
Set up a virtual game night with others (https://www.androidcentral.com/best-social-games-party).
Throw a Netflix Party via the Chrome Netflix Party extension.

Career Prep

Mission and Ministry Hiring Many Positions – The Chapel of the Resurrection, Church Relations, and Institute for Leadership and Service are hiring a variety of student employment positions. The deadline to apply for all positions is 11:55 p.m. on April 15. See the positions descriptions and apply on Handshake – Jobs – On Campus. The jobs are all for next school year unless otherwise noted.

Employers Are Still Hiring – The Career Center is getting contacted daily regarding positions employers are trying to fill. Career Center staff are here for you virtually. Email, call, or upload to Handshake when you need assistance (career.center@valpo.edu; 219.464.5005; https://valpo.joinhandshake.com/login). Follow valpocareers on Instagram for updates.

Other Career Tools Available Online – The Career Center also offers you access to these tools anytime:
Ascend – Free service for students to find jobs and internships in Indiana
Big Interview – Complete online mock interviews
Candid Career – Watch career profile videos to explore industries & occupations
Cover Letter Guide
Focus 2 – If you need assistance figuring out what your major or career could be, log-on to Focus 2 today! The access code to register is govalpo.
Handshake – Apply for jobs and internships, upload your resume and cover letter for review, and access career resources
My Visa Jobs – Country-specific career and employment resources
Resume Guide
ValpoConnect (powered by Wisr) – Career networking site for Valpo alumni and students

General Announcements

Don’t Forget: Course Withdrawal and S/U Grading Deadline Extended – Your professors voted to extend the deadline to withdraw from a class or switch to S/U grading until 5 p.m. on April 21. This means you can still make schedule or grading changes until that time. S/U grading means that your final grade appears on your transcript as “S” for satisfactory or “U” for unsatisfactory. In order to earn an “S,” you need to be earning a C- or better in the class at the end of finals. S/U grades do not calculate into your GPA so they cannot help or harm it. If you think adjusting your schedule or switching grading options might help you this semester, please do get in touch with your academic advisor to talk through the process and what is best for you.

Buy DM Swag, All Proceeds FTK – Dance Marathon has set up an online store for anyone to purchase Dance Marathon gear all for the kids! Fanny packs, scrunchies, hats, and t-shirts are available while supplies last. Shop online here. Gear will be shipped to you. All proceeds go to this year’s Dance Marathon fundraising for the kids at Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Submit a Video for Chapel Easter Vigil – While we will not be having our usual Saturday evening Easter Vigil on April 11, we’re putting together a Facebook livestream to mark the Easter Vigil and we’d like you to be a part of it. Record a video of you or someone with you lighting a candle while saying “Christ our light.” You don’t need to be on camera yourself if you don’t want to. We’re just looking for the candle, the light and the words “Christ our light.” Email the video to prayer@valpo.edu by Wednesday, April 8.

I.T. Now Using Remote Access – If you need I.T. help, add the Chrome Remote Desktop app to your device, generate a code and let I.T. know. This lets them see your screen and temporarily take control, allowing them to give you better, quicker technical support. You see everything they are doing while they can see firsthand what you are seeing. If you need help, submit an iTicket at helpdesk.valpo.edu or email helpdesk@valpo.edu. Follow itatvalpo for on-going tips.

Make-A-Wish For a Local Critically Ill Child – Every year, Chi Omega women’s fraternity hosts a philanthropy event to fund fully fund a wish for a child with a critical illness. This year’s child, Celia, is 5 years old and wishes to go to Disney so she can meet her favorite princess, Princess Belle. Every dollar raised goes to fund Celia’s wish. If you want to donate to this cause, head to Chi Omega’s Make-A-Wish page.

Valpo Early Entry Grad Programs – Did you know Valpo has several early entry grad programs that allow you to complete both your undergrad and grad degrees in just 5 years? That saves time and money! Check out the programs and process online here.

Win Prizes Through UPC Helping Hand Challenge – UPC is starting a multi-week virtual challenge called the Helping Hand Challenge. Post according to the challenge each week and tag @ValpoUPC for a chance to win Valpo swag sent to your house. Week 1 Challenge = post yourself doing an act of kindness. Follow ValpoUPC for future challenges.

Student Senate Budgeting & Elections – Student org leaders should see the note Student Senate posted on their instagram feed regarding the student org budgeting process. Budgeting questions should go to Finance Chair Jesse Hershberger (senate.finance@valpo.edu). Student Senate will hold a virtual election for Student Body President and Vice President but will save all other senate elections until August. Watch your email for more information from senate. Election questions should go to Elections Chair Eric Maruyama (eric.maruyama@valpo.edu). All other senate-related questions should go to student.senate@valpo.edu.

Room Selection for 2020-21 – Residential Life will be holding room selection April 17-23 via DataVU Housing Self-Service. Appointments will be emailed April 16. Housing pick is done in order of credits completed, similar to class registration. Those who have more credits will have an earlier selection date/time.

Summer/Fall class registration begins April 6 – If you find yourself with more downtime than usual, spend more time than usual looking for interesting class options on DataVU – Students Menu – Search for Sections. Maybe you’ll discover your new favorite class! If you’re a faculty member who wants to advertise your class, let me know and I’ll put it in What’s Up Wednesday next week! For students who started at Valpo this spring, see more details about class registration in the next several announcements.

How Class Registration Works – Everyone who isn’t eligible to graduate should now have an earliest registration date/time listed at DataVU – Students Menu – Student Restrictions. That’s the first moment you can register for classes IF you have cleared your restrictions listed on that page by then. If you don’t have your restrictions cleared by your earliest date/time, then you wait to register until after you get your restrictions cleared. You’ll register on DataVU – Students Menu – Register/Drop/Add/Wait Lists. The video showing you how to register is online here.

What If You Have Registration Restrictions? – Everyone has at least one registration restriction every term: academic advising. You must be in contact with your academic advisor(s) every semester before being cleared to register. If your advisor hasn’t already reached out to you via email, you can find their contact info on Starfish or DataVU – Students Menu – My Profile. Get in touch with them to go over your schedule plans. Do have classes in mind that you need or want when you meet with your advisor. If you’ve met with your advisor but the restriction is still listed, give your advisor a gentle reminder to clear your restriction.

Other Common Registration Restrictions and What To Do

Student Account Balance – Your balance must be below $1,000 to register for Fall semester ($0 to register for summer). If you’re not sure how you’ll pay down a balance, now is the time to talk with a financial aid counselor to see if you have aid options available you aren’t currently using. You can do this by emailing finaid@valpo.edu to set up a virtual/phone appointment or contacting your counselor directly (their info is on your DataVU – Students Menu – Financial Aid Self-Service).

Student Accounts Payment Form – Log into your admission portal, complete, and submit the Payment Agreement Form.

Final Transcript – Admission needs your final high school or college transcript from the last school you attended. Contact that school to have it sent. Most schools have an online request form. Google for that to see if you can have it sent electronically. If not, call your last school (High School Office or collegiate Registrar’s Office).

Health Form – The university has decided to postpone this hold until this summer so that no one needs to take up doctors’ office time during this busy moment. If you were missing an immunization or did not have your health form completed before now, you will need to complete it this summer to avoid a restriction.

Parking Fine – Pay your parking fines; see info in the email(s) from parking regarding how to do so. Contact parking@valpo.edu or call 219.464.5131 with questions.

Writing Center Online Appointments – The Writing Center is available for online appointments through mywconline’s online appointment form. More details are online here.

Areas That Have Adjusted Hours

Library

In keeping with Governor Holcomb’s stay at home order, the Christopher Center library’s building is currently closed. Access to online resources is always available via our website and you can contact your friendly neighborhood subject-librarian with your questions.
https://library.valpo.edu/
https://libguides.valpo.edu/covid19
https://library.valpo.edu/liaison.html
Updated information will be posted online including when the CCLIR will reopen.
Book drops: Chapel side of the building, near the door
ASB side of the building: up the concrete steps, near the door
Please be safe and take precautions to keep yourself healthy!

Harre Union – Closed except for meal and mail pick-up for those who needed to stay on campus.

IT HelpDesk – Working Remotely
Place a ticket at helpdesk.valpo.edu or email helpdesk@valpo.edu for help. Stay tuned to itatvalpo for updates.

All other campus buildings are closed until the Indiana stay-at-home order is lifted. Campus shuttle service is also suspended until then. Faculty and staff are working remotely and available to you virtually via email, google hangouts, etc. We love to hear from you so don’t hesitate to get in contact!