Over the past week, I have visited communities from Mountain City to Newport and spoken with hundreds of students, employees, and community members who have shared harrowing stories of narrow escapes and horrific destruction. Many are still waiting to hear from loved ones who remain disconnected from communication due to the storm. Others are faced with the overwhelming task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. Everyone in this community has either been affected or knows someone who has.
My mother lives in Asheville, and my wife Donna's family is from Greeneville, two areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene. Like many of you, we have been trying to reach our loved ones and provide support to survivors throughout our region. On Tuesday, I was finally able to reach my mom, who, by the grace of God, is OK. The devastation I saw in Western North Carolina and along the way in Northeast Tennessee is beyond description and will undoubtedly require years of recovery efforts. Yet, it is amazing to see how quickly our communities have rallied to care for their neighbors in this time of crisis.
Over the past week, we have witnessed profound outpourings of love and demonstrations of resilience. I am incredibly proud to say that ETSU has played a significant role in that. Our students and staff mobilized immediately to support those in need, and your positive impact is already being felt in every corner of our region. So, amid all the urgency and grief we are all feeling, I would like to take a moment to step back and simply say "thank you." This email is filled with numerous examples of people across our campus coming together to support one another, and for every story of generosity and kindness we have shared, there are a hundred more.
Again, thank you. You are not only embodying the mission of this university but also exemplifying the type of compassionate humanity our world needs.
On Monday, we will resume all in-person and online classes in their usual formats. However, the impact of this storm will remain, and many on our campus will still be facing incredible challenges. So, while our operational schedule may be returning to normal, please remember that life for many in our region is anything but. Please continue to treat each other with grace, offering flexibility for those affected. As a reminder, students will be allowed to make up coursework missed due to the storm and its ongoing effects. Class instructors and employee supervisors are asked to provide maximum flexibility for anyone working to address personal or family challenges. For those who need additional time off or accommodations to be made, please reach out to your instructors or supervisors directly.
Students who need emergency assistance should contact the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@etsu.edu or call 423-439-5377. Employees who need help should contact our Office of Human Resources at hr@etsu.edu or call 423-439-4457.
As I have previously noted, the impact of this tragedy will be ongoing for months and even years. We are committed to supporting our students, faculty, staff, and the community for the long haul that is to come.
Please continue to take care of yourselves and one another. Godspeed, and go, Bucs.
Hurricane Helene Response
The ETSU Response page at etsu.edu/response will continue to serve as the hub for information related to the disaster caused by Hurricane Helene.
Open Enrollment for Benefits Closes Oct. 18
Annual Enrollment is your chance to choose your Partners for Health plan benefits or make changes in your selections that are effective the following Jan. 1. The period to review benefits for 2025 ends on Oct. 18, 2024. It is crucial to review your benefits and carefully consider your options during this time. Important changes to medical, dental, and vision benefits for 2025 can be seen here. As a reminder, this is a state-mandated deadline that cannot be extended. Employees impacted by Hurricane Helene and needing assistance or additional time to review benefits should contact HR at hr@etsu.edu or (423) 439-4457.
Buccaneer Student Crisis Fund
ETSU has activated the Buccaneer Student Crisis Fund (BSCF) to help ETSU students who are experiencing unexpected and extenuating circumstances due to Hurricane Helene. Students who receive these funds can use them to meet needs such as food and clothing; books or technology; travel costs for emergency situations; unexpected expenses such as car repairs; and rent, housing costs, and utility bills. Funding from the BSCF is open to all students currently enrolled in courses. To learn more about eligibility requirements and to apply for funding, visit the Bucs Help Bucs page.
ETSU Center for Teaching Excellence Offers Tips to Support Students
The ETSU Center for Teaching Excellence is sharing tips for educators to support their students as the region grapples with the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. "This is a time when we need to empathize with our students and trust that they are being honest with us about their current situation," said Dr. Alison Barton, Director of the center. "With this empathy and trust in their expressed needs, we need to be as flexible as we can with our students."
WJHL
ETSU Student Leaders Helping Peers, Community
ETSU student leaders Hunter Turgeon, Trent White, and Skylar Brackett discussed student-led efforts to support storm survivors on WJHL News Channel 11.
Real-World Impact
Bucs Stuff the Bus Expands to Aid Flood-Affected Schools
ETSU's "Bucs Stuff the Bus" school supply drive has been expanded to include schools affected by the catastrophic flooding.
Help Fight Misinformation
The aftermath of a natural disaster is already chaotic, but misinformation can make it even more dangerous, putting lives at risk and complicating emergency response efforts. ETSU staff and faculty are offering tips for fighting the spread of misinformation in our communities.
Bucs Go Beyond
Two-Day Blood Drive with Marsh Regional Blood Center Sets Record
ETSU and Marsh Regional Blood Center hosted a two-day blood drive at the D.P. Culp Student Center, setting a record with 674 donors in response to Hurricane Helene. Each donation has the potential to save up to three lives, with all blood collected staying within Southern Appalachia. Thank you to everyone who stood in line for hours to donate!
Go Beyond the Classroom
ETSU Health Sciences Students Pitch In for Disaster Relief
When ETSU students Katherin Brewer and Brooklyn Maupin – seniors in the College of Health Sciences Dental Hygiene program – saw their community needed help following Hurricane Helene's devastating impact on the region, they jumped into action.
Real-World Impact
Letters of Love
Sometimes, a little love can go a long way toward healing, something that social work major Shaina Thompson knows very well. President of the Letters of Love initiative at ETSU, Thompson and her team of six officers set up outside of the D.P. Culp Student Center dining hall on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. The organization welcomed students, faculty, staff, and community members to write letters to first responders and anyone affected by Hurricane Helene in the region. The ETSU family did not hold back: In those two days, Letters of Love gathered more than 1,100 notes to deliver.
ETSU and Chattanooga Unite for Hurricane Relief Efforts
Although we may be fierce rivals on the field, ETSU and UT Chattanooga are coming together during tomorrow's game to support survivors of Hurricane Helene.
ETSU Hosting Disaster Relief Information Sessions for Volunteers
ETSU is hosting information sessions for university students, employees, and community members to help equip volunteers with the skills and knowledge they need to support recovery efforts across the region effectively. More than 400 ETSU employees and students attended sessions this week. More sessions are being scheduled for next week and will now be open to community members.
ETSU and Sodexo Donate Meals, Funds
ETSU's Food Service provider, Sodexo, donated more than 800 meals to relief workers and storm survivors earlier this week. In addition to providing donations from Sodexo and the university, Sodexo has activated the Swipe Out Hunger program, which allows students to donate unused meal swipes to those in need. Sodexo is also collecting donations for the Buccaneer Student Crisis Fund at all concession stands during tomorrow's home football game.
Hurricane Helene Response: Ways to Give
Individuals wishing to provide monetary support to those in the campus community affected by Hurricane Helene are asked to donate to the Bucs Rebuild Together Fund, which supports the Buccaneer Student Crisis Fund, the Employee Assistance Fund, and Bucky's Food Pantry. Bucky's Food Pantry is also accepting donations of nonperishable food items, hygiene products, and other essentials.
ETSU Elevates Highlights Ideas to Uplift the Region
The annual ETSU Elevates Pitch Competition will take on new significance this year, offering both a platform for innovative ideas to uplift the region and an opportunity for the community to come together in support of recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. The pitch competition will take place on Monday, Oct. 7, at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the competition begins at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Students who attend will receive a special-edition Buc Badge. Supplies of Buc Badges are limited.
2nd Annual Founders Week
ETSU will observe its second annual Founders Week, Oct. 7-12, with daily events that underscore the university's ongoing commitment to improving the quality of life for the people of the region and beyond. A full schedule of events is available at etsu.edu/founders.
Photo of the Week
ETSU students and employees have collected thousands of supply items to support survivors of Hurricane Helene.
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#BucsGoBeyond
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From My Notepads is a twice-monthly newsletter published by the office of ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland. The newsletter's title is a reference to the legal notepads Dr. Noland constantly carries to jot down thoughts, ideas, and notes.
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