A Monthly Newsletter Publication of NKU Student Affairs
Hello Norse Nation,
As you know, the divisions of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management will now share the same vice president. It is my pleasure to serve as Vice President for both of these critical areas. From the most recent Board of Regents meeting it is evident that our focus should be to continue to create a sense of belonging for our students and increase the institution’s enrollment funnel. We have accepted both of these challenges and our commitment is to do whatever is necessary to ensure that these goal are realized. The divisions of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management will have a new structure where three Assistant Vice Presidents will assist me in navigating the divisions. Dr. Arnie Slaughter will continue to serve as an AVP but in a slightly different role than in the past. Ms. Leah Stewart will continue to serve as the primary leader for the Admissions, Financial Assistance, and Registrar’s office. Finally, I have asked Ms. Sarah Aikman to serve in an interim Assistant Vice President role that will be defined at a later date. These changes will cultivate a more responsive and collaborative vision for NKU’s enrollment strategies. Additional modifications within both divisions ensuring operational efficiency will continue to be evaluated.
One such change will be to reimagine the NKU One Stop Center. This revised design will create a student services center that is parallel to the University’s First-Year Student Success Hub, which is set to re-open in January. We have appointed Mr. Travis Hall as the manager for the newly redesigned Norse One Stop Center, which will bring together the service components of Financial Assistance, Undergraduate Admissions, the Office of the Registrar, and Veteran certification. These offices will not just be co-located in the same area; the staff will be crossed-trained to assist any student who presents in the center. The goal is to create a proactive environment where staff assist in identifying potential issues, streamlining the intake of information needed across units, and removing tripwires in institutional systems.
As always, I am excited to work for an institution that puts the student experience first and truly values access and completion.
Thank you for your time and attention. Go Norse!
Dispatcher Julie Hellmann and Sergeant Jon Payne were brainstorming ways to help our students and came up with the idea to partner with the NKU Care Closet. With the seasons changing and our campus turning into a frigid wind tunnel, they wanted to help students stay warm and healthy. Thus, the idea of a winter clothes drive was born. In Julie's words, "I feel like we are more than a police department; we want to be a part of students' circle of trust. For that reason, we should help in any way that we can." University Police will be collecting items through the end of the semester. New and gently used coats, boots, hats, scarves, and gloves can be dropped off at the NKU Police station on campus. Your donations are greatly appreciated! Questions can be directed to carecloset@nku.edu.
In addition to the clothing drive, this is the fifth year that University Police has also sponsored a Thanksgiving food drive. The event started as "No Shave November" when officers could donate in exchange for the opportunity to grow facial hair, which was formerly prohibited for officers. As University Police facial hair policies have relaxed, they have moved to a partnership with Fuel NKU and Kroger. During this event, they try to fill a cruiser at Kroger with high-demand items. This year's event will run from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. (noon) on November 19, 2022.
STUDENTS are the focus at NKU’s Health Services office. Operating Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm and located in University Center 440, the Health Services healthcare team consists of a Nurse Practitioner, Rose Tempel, APRN, and two full-time registered nurses, Jeanine Horner, RN, and Michele Kay, RN. These nurses handle a variety of inquiries, including sore throat, impacted ear wax, upset stomach, cold and flu symptoms, or sexually transmitted illness (STI). Through cicada swarms, blizzards, the pandemic or a typical allergy season, the nurses are in your corner to assess, evaluate and treat your ailments. Health care and self-care as an adult can be stressful and but it does not have to be complicated. Thankfully, a phone call to (859) 572-5650 can be the first step to feeling better, obtaining appropriate care or answers to pertinent medical questions.
Prior to Covid-19, traditional walk-in office visits were provided. As a consequence of the pandemic, Health Services broadened services to include telehealth. However, appointments are NOW required for all office visits. These changes are a precautionary necessity to decrease potential exposure of individuals in the small waiting room, assist the screening process, and mitigate the spread of infections. Nurses can often speak confidentially to you on the day you call, to determine the need for an appointment, and answer questions and guide you on possible treatments. Health Services provides most Registered Nursing (RN) services free of charge.
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) office visit is a specialized level of care. Services include physical exams, women’s health exams, birth control consults, STI treatment, and prescription for acute illness, anxiety or depression. There is a fee for visits. NKU accepts most commercial insurance plans. They can be billed to your health insurance or you can elect to pay Health Services' low out-of-pocket fees, if you choose. Contact the office with any specific questions prior to an appointment to determine your coverage, responsibility, or required co-payment at the time of service.
The Health Services staff understands the demands of college work and balancing life’s challenges, including finances. Cost for any test or procedure are reasonable and will be discussed prior to testing, as Health Services attempts to provide accessible and affordable health care to the college population. Tests that can be completed in the office include: Strep, Flu, Pregnancy, Mono, Urine dip test for urinary tract infection, Blood Glucose, HIV testing, and Covid-19 testing. Other lab specimens can be obtained in office and sent to community labs for diagnostics, with results typically in 24-48 hours. These may include Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and viral antibody titers. Nursing students and those in the School of Allied Health and College of Education have health requirements that can completed at Health Services, such as TB tests and urine drug screens. Additional services are available, including vaccinations, allergy injections (with order from an allergist) and administration of routine scheduled injectable medications. In these instances, the patient must bring the medications at the time of service. This seamlessly provides care while at school without having to travel home for care. In order to meet the needs of the campus community, alternative testing sites, vaccination clinics, and education outreach programs can be provided throughout the year.
Throughout the pandemic, HSCW staff collaborated with campus leaders, the Northern KY Health Department, and the KY Department of Public Health to stay up-to-date regarding the masking, isolation/quarantine and Covid-19 testing and vaccination guidelines, which continue to be ever-changing. The office of Health Services also collaborates with NKU’s Veteran’s Resource Station, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), University Housing, NKU Athletics, Study Abroad programs, and Research Grants and Contracts to facilitate programs with students, faculty, and staff. The Health Services nurses voluntarily engage in student outreach programs, participating in planned campus events and meetings, including class presentations, providing health promotion education, and encouraging positive health behaviors. Nurses complete on-going education and maintain specialty certifications and licensure requirements in order to provide the best possible care and ensure positive health outcomes.
Despite wearing masks covering their smiles, the Norse Nurses demonstrate their hallmark care and compassion. Health Services does not have diagnostic equipment, such as x-ray or EKG; therefore, nurses frequently coordinate care and treatment with local urgent care practices, walk-in orthopedic clinics, and hospitals which are in close proximity to NKU’s campus. Understanding the demands of college life, including the schedules and obstacles students often encounter, the nurses strive to provide communication, documentation, test results, recommendations, and referrals confidentially in a timely manner. Health education and illness prevention are paramount in establishing a solid foundation of health behaviors for a lifetime.
World AIDS Day is December 1 and is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease.
Health Services will be in the Student Union on December 1 with Free HIV testing (10:00a - 4:00p, SU Ballroom), a Keynote Speaker (12:00p - 1:30p, SU 104), and a Resource Table (11:00a - 2:00p, SU 2nd Floor). This event is offered in partnership with Health, Counseling, & Student Wellness; LGBTQA+ Student Initiatives; Norse Violence Prevention; the College of Health & Human Services, and a number of local and regional organizations who share the vision and mission of serving NKU students.
Don't Gamble with your Sexual Health
Adult relationships can be challenging. For a variety of reasons, when it comes to intimate relationships, individuals don’t often share all the details of their sexual history with their new partners. Prior to taking a physical relationship to the next level, consider STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) testing. Even if you do not currently have symptoms, STI’s may be present and transmitted to your partner. Undetected or untreated infections can lead to infertility in the future. Don’t gamble with your sexual health or the health of your partner.
NKU’s Health, Counseling & Student Wellness have testing options available including urine based Chlamydia and Gonorrhea tests, blood based Syphilis, and finger stick INSTI Rapid HIV test. Due to the nature of these tests, appointments are required. Students may utilized these services with a reasonable fee for labs at the time of service or billed through most commercial insurance providers. The INSTI Rapid HIV tests are free of charge in collaboration with the Northern Kentucky Health Department. NKU’s HCSW office is also a resource for condoms and period items upon request.
NKU’s Health, Counseling & Student Wellness staff can provide an honest and confidential discussion about your sexual history, behaviors, personal risks, testing recommendations and preventative measures for STI transmission. Don’t get your information from the internet or friends. Confidential appointments and convenient testing for NKU students, faculty and staff are available. If you are having any symptoms of concern or have been informed of a partner with a recent positive result, please contact the office for an appointment with the Nurse Practitioner or contact your primary care provider for evaluation and treatment options.
Don’t just ROLL THE DICE and take a chance with your health – Call Health, Counseling, & Student Wellness at (859) 572-5650 for an appointment.
The Office of African American Student Initiatives (AASI) at Northern Kentucky University will provide a holistic experience that welcomes diverse ideas and people. Specifically, we focus on providing an inclusive environment for all Black/African American students to feel welcomed, celebrated, and supported.
We provide a safe space of holistic support with four focal points:
ADVOCATE (Cultural Awareness)
BUILD (Community Building)
SERVE (Civic Engagement)
SUCCEED (Academic Success)
NKU R.O.C.K.S.
NKU R.O.C.K.S. (Responsibility, Opportunity, Community, Knowledge, and Success) is African American Student Initiatives' signature program, designed to ease the academic, personal, and social transition from high school to college through the Summer Institute and year-long program. To learn more about this program, please visit the NKU R.O.C.K.S. webpage.
Monday Matters AASI Newsletter
Join our weekly newsletter by reaching out to AASI to get added to the mailing list. You can see archived previous editions here.
Upcoming Events
Nov 21: Roundtable - Perceptions of Prevention (with Norse Violence Prevention)
Nov 30: Roundtable - Consent & Community (with Norse Violence Prevention)
Dec 2: A Special Free Your Mind Fridays in collaboration with the Black Faculty & Staff Association
Dec 7: It Takes a Village - Study Tables
Dec 8: Kwanzaa Celebration (with the History Department and Black Studies)
Dec 16: Annual Fall Sherehe - Black Graduate Celebration
Leadership Northern Kentucky uses the community as a classroom to develop leaders who will effectively serve the region. The programs are designed to help a diverse group of potential, emerging, and existing community leaders acquire an understanding of the strengths and challenges of the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area, and the skills necessary to motivate and engage others in collaborative efforts to address them. The curriculum for each session changes based on the needs of the region for that specific topic.
This year, NKU Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Dr. Eddie Howard, Jr., served as a panelist and content expert regarding postsecondary education, helping participants to understand the critical role postsecondary education plays in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area.
The new financial aid model will launch fall 2023 and will allow NKU to award first-time students both domestic and international institutional aid to recognize academic talent and impact college affordability, while also being fiscally responsible by reducing the financial strain on the University's budget. The model will focus on simplifying the scholarship award process and amounts, realigning scholarship eligibility and renewal criteria, and enhancing the budget planning process.
As a result of the simplified and streamlined alert submission process of Help A Norse, University Connect and Persist (UCAP) has seen an increase over last year of approximately 20% in the number of alerts by faculty and staff in an effort to provide guidance and support to struggling students. The number of students who are actually connecting with UCAP or other resources on campus as a result of their efforts has increased from 40.3% to 64.3%. UCAP has also seen an increase in the number of students participating in the UCAP Textbook at Steely Library Program. This fall 221 students have borrowed 331 books, which is an increase of 85 students and 53 textbooks from Fall 2021.
New Staff
UCAP is excited to welcome Caitlin Drouillard Alrichs to our team! Caitlin has a long history with NKU. While earning her MA in English at NKU, Caitlin worked as a graduate assistant in UCAP and Housing. Over the past 10 years, Caitlin has also worked with students at Bellarmine University (Residence Life) and at Thomas More University (Accelerated Programs). Caitlin returned to NKU six years ago to serve as a Hall Director for Housing. Most recently, Caitlin served NKU students as an advisor in the College of Health and Human Services. We look forward to working more closely with Caitlin in her new role with UCAP.
UCAP and Gown
The UCAP and Gown program will be offered again this fall to provide access to graduation gowns and stoles for those who wish to participate in Commencement this December. UCAP continues to partner with Special Events and Alumni Programs to offer graduates the ability to borrow a commencement gown FREE of charge. While students need to purchase their own cap and tassel, they save money on the cost of the gown and stole and their feedback about the program is positive. Information about this program is being shared with Fuel NKU, Care Closet, Parents Attending College, the Center for Student Inclusiveness, TRiO Student Support Services, Advising, and to UCAP's population of Diversity Scholarship recipients. This past May, twenty-eight students who are primarily first-generation, URM, and/or parents attending college participated, met with UCAP staff to complete the agreement, and ask any questions that had related to their NKU experience.
Thanksgiving Hours
The Student Union and University Center will have limited hours during the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Tuesday, Nov 22: SU and UC close at 9:00p
Wednesday, Nov 23: SU and UC closed
Thursday, Nov 24: SU and UC closed
Friday, Nov 25: SU and UC closed
Saturday, Nov 26: SU and UC closed
Sunday, Nov 27: SU and UC open 5:00p-11:00p
New Gender Neutral Restroom
A new gender neutral restroom has opened in the Student Union. It is located on the third floor of the building, just down the hall from the SGA offices.
APB hosted over 300 students and staff at the 2022 APB Fall Carnival, which provided NKU students, faculty/staff, and the community with a free, fun-filled Carnival experience and included traditional carnival food and games. Students appreciated and welcomed this experience with open arms. One commuter student shared, "I went home after class and drove all the way back because I couldn't miss this!" A residential student commented, "I've never been able to attend an actual carnival, and I didn't think college would allow me to." The APB carnival is slated to become an annual event for the NKU Community.
NKU's Veteran Resource Station (VRS) is making news in the Tri-state with their Green Zone Brigade training, and has recently been featured in three separate news programs and publications. The Green Zone Brigade training provides faculty and staff attendees with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the military, veteran, and dependent experience, as well as develops tools to better champion student success for the military-connected population. NKU currently has 116 faculty and staff certified and the VRS continues to offer monthly trainings and information sessions as requested.
Featured News Stories
Channel 9 News - HOMEFRONT
Green Zone Brigade is NKU's effort to help military-affiliated students succeed
Spectrum News 1
NKU program helping vets make transition
LINK NKY
NKU training program helps staff transition students from military to civilian life
Norse Leadership Society's annual Fall Retreat was held November 5-6. NLS members Hannah Szefi and Grace Coleman spent the last year planning this retreat, to much success. The theme for this year was "Riding the Wave." Many of the presentations focused on how nautical/aquatic life can be related to helping your own mental health, growing as a person, and becoming a better leader. This retreat helped grow and create many friendships!
Holiday Hours
Campus Rec is closed on Thanksgiving Day. Please see the Thanksgiving week and Winter Break hours on our website and social media.
Family Programs
Ugly Sweater Family Skate Night: Roll in with your fam for our ugly sweater family skate night on December 7, 2022.
Open Rec and Family Fitness Bootcamp: December 28, 2022.
Intramural Sports
Sign up online today!
Madden Tournament: Are you the Joe Burrow of NKU? Come find out on December 6 during the Madden 23 tournament - Register at campusrec.nku.edu by December 1.
Dodgeball Tournament: Come watch your fellow students compete in a dodgeball tournament on November 17 at the main gym.
Exam Jam - Fall Finals De-stress
Do Finals stress you out? Don't worry, we got you covered. We will have tons of events and fun activities to keep you from stressing about it, and we will have big giveaways at the end. More details will be posted on our social media soon.
Welcome our new team members
Cheryl Lemenager
Business Services Coordinator
Mauvivi Amosu
Outdoor Rec Graduate Assistant
Kaviya Rughupathy
Marketing Graduate Assistant
On December 6 at 7:00p, NKU will host NKU Alumni and Comedian Josh Sneed for a night of fun and laughter right before exam week. Admission to the program is free! Josh has been featured on Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, and with Dave Chappelle, Jim Gaffigan, and Daniel Tosh as their opening act.
Be Involved, Be Rewarded: The Victor E. Coins is a rewards program that positively rewards students for being involved on campus. Students earn coins by going to events that can be cashed in for an array of big-ticket prizes and opportunities. Stay up-to-date with the Victor E. Coins program by visiting the Victor E. Coins point page.
Greek month concluded with the first ever Greek games. The Fraternity and Sorority Life community had a month filled with social, educational, and philanthropic events. The winners of Greek month are:
Theta Phi Alpha
Delta Gamma
Theta Chi
Congratulations to these chapters!
Student Employee of the Month
Emmy Dehner is a senior Psychology major from Brookville, IN. She is a second year RA with University Housing who currently serves our residents in the New Residence Hall community. When Emmy isn't being a fantastic RA and student, she can be found working as a ride operator for Orion at Kings Island.
Emmy was nominated based on the strong sense of community she has built with her residents where she encourages them to be engaged and create lasting friendships. She has been said to always be available to her residents in their time of need but will also hold them accountable when necessary. Emmy says, "Working for housing over the last two years has opened so many doors for me, has made me a well-rounded person, and has allowed me to gain so many friends and mentors around campus.
On October 31, 2022, the Leadership Mentors, Residence Hall Association, and Friends of Dorothy joined together to put on a Halloween party for NKU students. The event was held in Callahan Hall with treats and a DJ in the lobby, and a haunted house in the basement. The haunted house was such a hit that it stayed open an extra half hour to allow more students to go through. Over three hundred students attended, making this event a huge success!
End of Newsletter
This newsletter was created by David Berland on behalf of NKU Student Affairs. Please direct questions, comments, or updates to berlandd1@nku.edu.
Northern Kentucky University
832 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Phone: (859) 572-6447
Fax: (859) 572-1310
