Emailed to Northwestern staff on April 18, 2022
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR | UPCOMING EVENTS | REMINDERS | CALL TO ACTION |PAST EVENTS | PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS
Dear Northwestern Staff:
I hope all is well with you and your families. Spring is upon us, even though the weather makes us feel differently. This spring once again is new as we transition to a post-pandemic way of life. Things are open, pandemic fatigue is real, and risks still exist. As you navigate the months ahead, I hope that you are able to find the right balance both professionally and personally. I also encourage you to honor individuals where they are in this process and continue to offer grace.
NUSAC’s Conversations with Senior Leaders was held in-person for the first time in two years. Senior leaders shared their perspectives and current plans on many critical topics, such as compensation and alternative work strategies. Many initiatives are underway and we look forward to the details being solidified. Moreover, we appreciate the real-life stories shared at the event, which reiterated the importance of senior leaders hearing directly from staff.
We encourage the community to save the date for NUSAC’s final event with President Schapiro, which will be held on Thursday, May 5th from 3-5pm at the Wilson Club (Welsh Ryan Arena). The event will provide NUSAC and staff the opportunity to show appreciation for President Schapiro and his tenure at Northwestern. Register for the event and/or sign the virtual guestbook here.
Finally, as always, NUSAC wants to hear from you. Please share your feedback at nusac@northwestern.edu or reach out to the Council members.
With Gratitude,
Joan Trimuel Williams
NUSAC Chair
Upcoming Events
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Thursday, May 5, 3-5pm, Thank you to President Schapiro Save the date! Please join us to show your appreciation for President Schapiro on May 5th, from 3-5pm, at the Wilson Club (Welsh Ryan Arena). More details to follow. President Morton Schapiro will conclude his tenure at Northwestern on Aug. 31, 2022. |
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CARE Events throughout April April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Center for Awareness, Response and Education (CARE) in Student Affairs has organized an annual campaign to help people understand the impact of and foster connection around sexual violence. Although it is important every month to remain involved and create space for those impacted by gender-based violence, April provides a time for us to pause and reflect on the importance of moving from awareness to action. |
Reminders
April is Financial Literacy Month
Did you know that April is Financial Literacy Month? Did you know that the Office of Financial Aid hosts a financial wellness program? Throughout the year, they host and co-host a number of events on important finance topics including credit, saving, budgeting and student loan repayment. Events are open to both students and staff. Be sure to check out the Financial Wellness website, particularly their Events Page, to learn more about their offerings! Human Resources also offers a number of financial well-being resources on their website.
Juneteenth Named Official University Holiday
On February 22, 2022 it was announced that Northwestern will recognize Juneteenth as an official University holiday beginning this year.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when some of the last enslaved African Americans in Texas learned that the Civil War had ended, putting into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued two and a half years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln.
June 19 falls on a Sunday this year, so the University will honor Juneteenth on Monday, June 20.
What is NUSAC?
NUSAC is proud to share our new one-page information sheet in hopes to demonstrate the work we do, the problems we aim to solve, and the impact we have had at Northwestern. We hope you’ll share this information with colleagues new and long-standing, which speaks to our three core pillars: Community Engagement, Workplace Concerns, and Professional Opportunities – and join us in collaboration and at events soon.
NU Cares
NU Cares is a financial fund established by NUSAC in 2010 to help support fellow colleagues experiencing financial hardship due to a medical or catastrophic event. Awards have helped with expenses such as groceries, rent/mortgage, utility, medical bills and more. Consider contributing to NU Cares by making a recurring monthly or one-time contribution to help support your fellow colleagues.
If you are experiencing a financial hardship, you may be eligible to apply for a grant.
Call to Action
Block Museum of Art Exhibit
Originating at Northwestern’s Block Museum of Art, A Site of Struggle explores how artists have engaged with the reality of anti-Black violence and its accompanying challenges of representation in the United States over a 100 + year period.
A Site of Struggle takes a new approach to looking at the intersection of race, violence, and art by investigating the varied strategies American artists have used to grapple with anti-Black violence, ranging from representation to abstraction and from literal to metaphorical. The exhibition focuses on works created between the 1890s and 2013—situating contemporary artistic practice within a longer history of American art and visual culture. It foregrounds African Americans as active shapers of visual culture and highlights how art has been used to protest, process, mourn, and memorialize anti-Black violence. For more information, please visit the Block Gallery’s website.
January 26-July 10, 2022 (Main Gallery)
Staff Recognition Opportunities
Being appreciated for who we are and recognized for what we do is an important part of feeling valued at work. Northwestern understands the vital roles that staff members play in its success. Human Resources’ recognition program has been expanded to offer more opportunities for staff to be appreciated for the important contributions they make. Learn more about new ways to recognize others here.
Help Make a Difference!
NUSAC wants to hear from you! Please share your thoughts and ideas to continue to make Northwestern a great place to work for its staff. You can email us at nusac@northwestern.edu.
Remember to check out the NUSAC Member Spotlight page to introduce the NUSAC team to the Northwestern community. April’s spotlight is NUSAC council member, Damien Trimuel.
Past Events
Conversations with Senior Leaders
On April 6, the Northwestern Staff Advisory Council (NUSAC) hosted Conversations with Senior Leaders on the Chicago Campus in the Thorne Auditorium in the Arthur Rubloff Building. Senior leaders Amanda Distel, Senior Associate Vice President for Finance & Treasurer; Luke Figora, Vice President for Operations; Lorraine Goffe, Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resource Officer; and Milan Mrksich, Vice President for Research each provided updates on their respective areas and answered questions submitted by staff, which included such topics as compensation, benefits, and remote/hybrid work. A summary of the event is available online as well as a video recording.