DRURY Panther Parents

The Drury Panther Marching Band & Color Guard will perform in Park Central Square during the Downtown Springfield Association's Festival of Lights this Saturday..., November 21, from 6:45-7:15 p.m. The performance marks the end of the band's inaugural season. More information on the "reverse parade" can be found here: https://www.springfieldmo.org//downtown-springfield-christ

Thanksgiving is two weeks away and we are all looking forward to pausing for a moment of gratitude and planning for how to celebrate safely. Testing To ensure students, faculty and staff can get tested as close to potential holiday travel as possible, we are shifting next week’s community testing from Tuesday to Friday, November 20. If you would like to opt into testing at any time, students should email the Dean of Students’ office at [email protected], faculty should contact Dr.... Harville and staff should contact Marilyn Harris. Testing is cancelled for Tuesday, November 24. As a reminder, community testing is for asymptomatic individuals only. If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, please get tested through one of our healthcare partners, even if you think it is just allergies. You can contact the Panther Clinic at (417) 873-6300 or CoxHealth virtual visits to get referred for a test. Holiday travel If you plan to travel this Thanksgiving or over Christmas break, please remember to follow the same precautions elsewhere as you would here, even if they are not mandated. Wear your masks, wash your hands frequently and keep your distance from those outside your household. If your plans involve international travel, you must quarantine for 14 days after returning to the United States before returning to campus. Supporting the family of LeeRoy Rogers A GoFundMe has been set up to support LeeRoy Rogers’ family financially through their tragic loss. All donations will help them cover medical bills, house payments, utilities, groceries and mental health support. If you wish to contribute, you can do so at: www.gofundme.com/f/leeroy-rogers-family-fund. Higher Learning Commission (HLC) visit reminder As we shared last week, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is visiting campus for our reaccreditation review next week, November 16-17. Some of you may be asked to have discussions with our accreditation team about your experience at Drury. We ask that you take a look at our Mission, Vision and Values as a refresher on our goals as an institution with a singular mission and three visions for each of our academic divisions. As always, visit the Panther Plan webpage for COVID-19 information and reach out with any questions. Stay healthy, Panthers!

This week, we are shifting our focus from strictly COVID-19 related updates to provide information on a few additional important topics. Make a plan Thanksgiving is three weeks away and it’s important to start making a plan now. Plan ahead for questions such as how you will mask and socially distance if gathering indoors. There are many logistics to consider and a little planning now can make your holiday safer and more stress free.... You can opt into community testing both before and after the holiday if you would like. Please notify the Dean of Students’ office the week prior to when you would like to be tested to be added to the list. Election stress With the much anticipated elections this week, it’s a time for increased stress for many. It is important to practice self-care as much as you can. Tips for this include: Set boundaries around your media consumption. Take some breaks away from news and commentary when you can. Practice good communication skills. Engage in productive conversations and listen respectfully to individuals with similar and different views. Avoid unproductive or toxic conversations if you can. Connect with one another and with nature. Engage in something that brings you joy. Be productive. Get your mind off of the things that are causing stress by volunteering, cleaning your room, exercising or catching up on coursework. Support one another. Offer words of comfort or acts of kindness to those you know may be struggling right now. As always, professional counseling is also available for students through campus counseling services and for faculty and staff through our EAP. Higher Learning Commission (HLC) visit As you likely know, Drury is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC reviews Drury once every 10 years and our accreditation visit is coming up quickly on November 16-17. Accreditation is not only the foundation of our reputation, but it is also a requirement in order for students to receive federal financial aid and many other programs. A dedicated group of faculty and staff have been working diligently over the past 18 months to prepare for this visit and our reaccreditation. The HLC team typically asks to meet with students, faculty and staff while they are on campus. We do not have details on this year’s request for visits but some of you may be asked to meet with our accreditation team to discuss your Drury experience. Thank you in advance for your help in this important process. As always, visit the Panther Plan webpage for COVID-19 information and reach out with any questions. Stay healthy, Panthers!