For nearly two years, our campus community has been working toward a historic and joyous milestone: seeing the East Tennessee Marching Bucs perform on the national stage in the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Getting to New York was no easy endeavor. Once our band completed the rigorous and competitive selection process and received the news that they had been selected, we began the work of raising funds and coordinating travel for nearly 400 band and staff members. Recognizing that this also was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on our university community, we made it our goal to engage the entire ETSU family in celebrating the moment. We also sought to share our story throughout the state and across the country. Last week, we enjoyed the fruits of those efforts — and the experience was truly a dream come true.
Despite the cold, rainy weather, our Marching Bucs performed with the "pride, precision, and passion" that have become their hallmark. Their energy and artistry were evident to all, earning them the "Rollie Award," an award presented by Macy's to the group that most embodies the spirit of the parade!
Prior to the parade, director Dr. Joe Moore and several band members were featured on the national broadcast of NBC Nightly News in a story that highlighted the band's resilience and spirit in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. During the parade broadcast, the Bucs were featured not once but twice. In addition to NBC airing the band's flawless Herald Square performance in its entirety, the band received some extra airtime when Jimmy Fallon could not help but join in, dancing along with our rendition of "Jump in the Line." The band's story was also featured in dozens of media outlets across Tennessee and New York, and social media was abuzz. Following the parade, the band took a well-deserved nap (they awoke at 2 a.m. Thanksgiving morning for a 3 a.m. rehearsal in Herald Square!). They then celebrated at the largest Thanksgiving dinner I have ever attended with nearly 900 people, including the entire band as well as their families, friends, and supporters. Thousands more cheered them on from afar, offering a testament to the deep commitment and camaraderie of our university family.
I would like to thank everyone who made this dream possible and joined us in celebrating our ETSU pride. I will forever cherish the memories of this experience, and I know many others will, too.
You can view videos of the three songs the Marching Bucs performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at etsu.edu/parade.
Extended Holiday Break
In recognition of the diligent efforts of our faculty and staff, ETSU employees will be granted an additional administrative leave day on Monday, December 23, to extend the holiday break and university closure. Please be aware that this closure will affect different areas of campus in unique ways:
Faculty and staff who are required to work one or both days — such as university employees in the clinical environment — will have the opportunity to take this time off at a later date. This deferred leave must be taken by February 28, 2025.
On December 23, employees should mark an "L" on their timesheets for 7.5 hours. Employees unable to take this time off should record an "L" on their timesheet when the deferred leave is taken.
Should you have questions, please contact Human Resources at hr@etsu.edu.
ETSU Maintains Commitment to Salary Increases
This summer, ETSU increased the minimum salary for exempt employees to $43,888 to comply with new requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Although a federal judge struck down the new rule on November 15, ETSU will maintain the increased salary of $43,888 as part of our commitment to invest in salaries and wages at the institution overall. Employees who were reclassified to non-exempt in July will not have their exemption status changed as a result of this ruling. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (423) 439-4457 or hr@etsu.edu.
John King Named Interim VP of Advancement
Following the recent retirement of Ms. Pam Ritter, Mr. John King has accepted the role of Interim Vice President for University Advancement and Interim CEO of the ETSU Foundation, effective December 1. Mr. King is a native of Erwin and a two-time graduate of ETSU. He is also a former member of the ETSU men's basketball team. He joined the University Advancement team at ETSU in March 2017 after spending more than 11 years in senior-level fundraising and alumni relations at King University.
At ETSU, Mr. King has worked with the directors of development to assist in maximizing their efforts to secure major gifts and serves as a member of the University Advancement Leadership Team, as well as the development officer for the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. He has been a key contributor to the tremendous success the Foundation has experienced over the last few years, amassing the strongest fundraising total in our institution's history.
Please join me in extending congratulations and thanks to Mr. King for his leadership and service during this transitional time. We will undertake a national search for the permanent Vice President and CEO in the spring.
Dr. Jeff Snodgrass Named Dean of College of Health Sciences
Following an extensive national search, I am pleased to share that Dr. Jeffrey Snodgrass has been selected to serve as Dean of the ETSU College of Health Sciences. Dr. Snodgrass has served as ETSU's Interim Associate Dean for Academic and Clinical Affairs since 2022, overseeing curriculum and training environments for clinical training programs in the college. Before that, he served as Chair of Rehabilitative Health Sciences at ETSU from 2018-23 and Chair and Program Director for the Department of Occupational Therapy at Milligan University from 2006-18.
Dr. Snodgrass earned his Ph.D. in health sciences with a concentration in health care administration from Trident University International, his Master of Public Health in public health administration from the ETSU College of Public Health, and his Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy from Eastern Kentucky University. He has been a registered occupational therapist since 1996.
As Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the college, Dr. Snodgrass has overseen accreditation, institutional effectiveness, and curriculum development by the faculty in 21 clinical health sciences programs, 14 of which have specialized accreditation. He also has led the college's Clinical Affairs division, which includes services in audiology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and social work. Dr. Snodgrass is both an excellent teacher who serves to inspire and guide our students and an exemplary administrator who can ensure our work, particularly our clinics, makes a positive impact in our communities. Please join me in congratulating and supporting him as he steps into his new role.
Inclement Weather Procedures
As a reminder, in the event of delays or cancelations due to inclement weather, ETSU will send alerts via our emergency alert system, post updates on our website under the "advisories" section, and share information on our official social media channels. Given the region's mountainous terrain, weather conditions can vary greatly within a relatively small geographic range. As such, all students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to exercise discretion regarding whether or not it is safe to travel to campus. Instructors and supervisors are asked to provide flexibility when weather conditions prohibit safe travel. Please review the Campus Closing Due to Inclement Weather Policy for additional details.
New Procedure for Faculty and Staff Portraits
Effective December 1, photography services for employee portraits will be provided by Biomedical Creative (BMC) instead of the Office of University Marketing and Communications. Those wishing to have their portrait made may make the request via BMC's online system at bmccreative.org. New visitors to the site should follow the process to create an account and use their university-provided email address as prompted. The fee for employee headshots is $22 per portrait, which will be charged back to the department making the request.
ETSU National Alumni Association Hosts Arctic Adventures
The ETSU National Alumni Association invites alumni and friends to participate in the ETSU Alumni Arctic Adventures, a series of family-friendly seasonal events. Guests are encouraged to pre-register for all events to receive updates on possible weather cancellations and changes.
Alumni Skating Night: December 19
On Thursday, December 19, the ETSU Alumni Association will offer a free night of skating from 5-8 p.m. for ETSU alumni and friends at the synthetic ice-skating rink located on the ETSU Commons in partnership with Brightspeed. The evening will include a hot cocoa and popcorn bar in ETSU's D.P. Culp Student Center. Register to attend and to receive a limited-edition Arctic Adventures long-sleeve T-shirt at etsualumni.org/funskate.
The Alumni Arctic Adventures concludes with an afternoon movie at ETSU's Bud Frank Cinema in Gilbreath Hall on Sunday, February 2, at 2 p.m. Bring the family and wear your favorite winter pajamas for a free winter-themed movie and popcorn at the only art cinema in the area outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Register to attend and to receive a limited-edition Arctic Adventures long-sleeve T-shirt at etsualumni.org/frostymovie.
New Director of Center for Nursing Advancement Named
Dr. Jennifer Hitt has been named the new Executive Director of the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. Dr. Hitt currently serves as Nursing Program Director and Chair of Health Sciences at Christian Brothers University in Memphis. She is also President-elect of the Tennessee Nurses Association. The center is a hub for advancing nursing science, empowering nurses and nursing students, and nurturing healthy communities. It is a partnership between ETSU, Ballad Health and the State of Tennessee.
Dr. Hitt will begin her new role in January.
Annual Holiday Concert
The Department of Music's annual Holiday Concert is a beloved tradition and a stunningly beautiful event that I encourage everyone to experience. This year's concert, titled "For Auld Lang Syne," will feature more than 250 performers, including ETSU Chorale, BucsWorth Tenor Bass Choir, East Tennessee Belles Soprano Alto Choir, Greyscale Jazz Choir, ETSU Orchestra, ETSU Percussion Ensemble, and Faculty Brass Quintet, along with special guests Matthew Fisher on organ and Joanna Seiber on harp. Two performances are set for this Saturday, December 7, at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts.
Celebrate Commencement
Next Saturday, December 14, we will celebrate the accomplishments of our students and confer degrees during commencement ceremonies to be held at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the Ballad Health Athletic Center. I encourage our entire campus community to join us in celebrating this milestone in person or via livestream.
By tradition, the ETSU Commencement Ceremony is a formal, dignified event to honor the achievements of graduating students. To help preserve the decorum of the event, it is requested that guests and graduates exercise etiquette appropriate to the occasion. We ask that you please observe the following:
Be on time: Please plan to arrive on campus one hour before the ceremony starts. This will give you enough time to park and walk to the ceremony venue.
Cell phones should be turned off or operated in silent mode during the ceremony. Do not speak on a cell phone or carry on a conversation during the ceremony as this prevents others from hearing and enjoying the ceremony.
Be respectful: Commencement is both a joyous and solemn event. Please express your excitement in ways that will not prevent others from hearing the speaker, seeing the stage, and enjoying the ceremony.
Remain through the full ceremony: As a courtesy to all graduates and families, everyone is requested to remain until the conclusion of the ceremony.
This year, graduates will be presented with a commemorative "Buc Badge" following the ceremony, and the ceremony floor will remain open for an additional 30 minutes, allowing for photos with faculty, mentors, and friends. Additional details are available at etsu.edu/commencement.
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