Announcements

Applications to study abroad/away for the Spring 2026 semester are due September 15, 2025 (note: some programs have earlier deadlines and/or rolling admissions. Refer to program pages for exceptions). Interested students should review the information on the CGSE application portal for additional information. When students are ready to apply, they should go to the program brochure page of their chosen program on the application portal and select “apply now”.

You may begin making appointments on Friday, September 12.
Please visit https://dickinson.mywconline.com to create an account if you do not already have one.

Department chairs and area coordinators: Electronic submissions of updates for Spring 2026 academic offerings for the initial Course Request period are due at the Registrar's Office by noon, Monday, September 15, 2025.

Students, Faculty, and Staff,

The Dickinson Department of Compliance & Enterprise Risk Management is planning to conduct its annually-required fire drills in all residential buildings next week, the week of September 8th, 2025. These are performed to practice emergency response and to comply with national regulations for fire drills. The drills will be largely unannounced apart from this message. Please know that many considerations were made in selecting fire drill times including collaboration with the Dean’s Office, Access and Disability Services, and others.

Each fire drill will consist of several elements: the alarm activation, occupant evacuation, and congregation at your building’s designated outdoor emergency assembly area. Once occupants have been successfully evacuated, the college’s Safety & Emergency Management Specialist will review basic fire safety with the group before allowing reentry into the building. Each drill is anticipated to last less than ten minutes, largely dependent on the number of building occupants.

Please note the following:
• If you are unfamiliar with your building’s emergency assembly area, this information can be found on your building’s Quick Reference Guides, located throughout each building by fire alarm pull stations and exit doors. We ask that you review this information for each building you may visit.
• Take note of alternate exit routes in your building. Studies have shown that occupants often exit a building through the same door they entered. Knowing alternate exit routes greatly improves your response in the event of an evacuation.
• Members of the college’s Workplace Safety Committee will be assisting the Department of Compliance & Enterprise Risk Management and DPS with these drills. Those helping will have the responsibility to assist with the evacuation process. If you should require assistance during one of the drills, please locate one of these individuals for further assistance.
• For buildings without a central alarm system, a verbal announcement will be made via megaphone repeating the following: “This is fire drill, please evacuate the building” until the building has been fully evacuated.

Click here for more information on fire safety at Dickinson College.

Lauren Lasater
Director, Compliance and Risk Management

On September 11, 2001 al-Qaeda launched a series of coordinated terrorist attacks upon the United States, killing almost 3,000 people. In the immediate aftermath of the tragic events, the President proclaimed September 14, 2001 as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001. In 2009, President Barack Obama rededicated it as Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This observance has been proclaimed annually since 2002.

Thursday, in honor of these victims, “Taps” will be played while Dickinson ROTC Cadets lower the flag to half-mast. This will be followed by a moment of silence. The bell in Denny Hall will then toll three times, once for each attack. The President of the College will lay a wreath in memory of the victims while “Amazing Grace” is sung, and the ceremony will finish with a prayer.

Wednesday, September 24 | 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Allison Hall Community Room

We are happy to offer flu vaccinations to students and employees of the College.

Flu shot facts: Of course, the flu shot fights the flu. But what exactly is the flu? It’s a virus that can cause respiratory infection. It spreads quickly. And it can lead to pneumonia and other complications.

Registration is required. Sign up in Totara for your free flu vaccine today by clicking on the more information link below. If you do not receive a calendar invitation reminder via Teams or email, you are not registered.

Complete the online flu vaccine participation form or bring along a PDF copy to your scheduled appointment.

Vaccinations will not be available for spouses and/or dependents. Please schedule an appointment with their primary care provider or a pharmacy offering flu shots.

The LGBTQ+ Center is excited to announce weekly office hours to make it easier for students to connect, ask questions, and find support.

When: Wednesdays, 12:00–1:30 PM or by appointment when you email LGBTQ@dickinson.edu.
Where: Landis House - 101 S College St. Virtual appointments available.

Office hours are open to all students, whether you’d like to talk about resources, get support, or just stop by and say hello. The Director of the LGBTQ+ Center is also a confidential Title IX resource on campus.

All students are welcome. Your comfort matters most, and we look forward to connecting with you!

We are excited to invite you to sign up for our second round of focus groups for the Dickinson Core Values Project. At these focus groups, we will share initial findings from the first round of focus groups and the community-wide survey administered in spring 2025. If you are interested in participating in a focus group with other faculty and staff this fall, you may sign up here:

https://dickinson0-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/mckierna_dickinson_edu/EZJFXauh6GZDhmAcY-TbzF0BJHbe5c0-6VbYuD9BtF0r7g?e=h2XUjjQ.

We hope you will attend to share your thoughts (and some snacks)!

The September 2025 edition of our Workday monthly e-newsletter, your source for updates and insights about Dickinson’s transition to Workday is now available to view online!

Workday Project Update

As we move into September, the Workday project team continues to make steady progress toward our December go-live. End-to-end testing continues through September 12, and we’ve brought in key staff from departments across campus to help validate real world scenarios and ensure processes work smoothly. Next up is payroll parallel testing, where payroll will be run in both systems to validate results and build confidence before transition.

August was a milestone month for collaboration. We hosted Workday consultants on campus for a three-day “testing sprint,” working side-by-side to tackle complex scenarios, resolve issues in real time, and learn together. (See the picture below!) The energy and productivity from those sessions set a strong pace for the weeks ahead.

As part of our Change Management efforts, we launched the Change Agent Network (CAN), bringing together colleagues from across campus to help prepare the community for the transition. At the same time, the project team is developing job aids and training materials to guide faculty and staff step by step through everyday tasks in Workday. Together, these efforts form the foundation of our change strategy and will help ensure users feel confident on day one.

As the fall semester begins, we’re encouraged by the progress and grateful for the collaboration across campus. Together, we’re building a modern system that will support Dickinson well into the future.

Learn more about Workday, get previews of some features, and view the full e-newsletter for September 2025, by clicking the more information link below!

Monday, September 29 | noon - 1 p.m. | Webinar

Join Matthew Young, Fidelity Investments' Workplace Financial Consultant, for a virtual presentation. During this session, you’ll:

• Learn how Social Security fits your retirement paycheck
• Identify Social Security claiming strategies
• Learn how to create your retirement income plan

Register for this informative presentation by clicking on the more information link below.

Monday, September 15 | 9:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | HUB Side Room 204

Fidelity's investment representatives offer individual counseling for financial planning and retirement.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your Fidelity account, schedule an In-Person appointment with Matthew Young, Workplace Financial Consultant/Personal and Workplace Investing:
• Step 1 go to www.Fidelity.com/schedule or click on the more information link below
• Step 2 select Schedule a time to meet
• Step 3 at the top of the screen where it says Enter your employer name type Dickinson and WAIT for Dickinson to appear as a choice and then click on Dickinson (if you type Dickinson and hit Enter is may not work)
• Step 4 next under Select Appointment Type select either Virtual/phone/In Person once you have made your choice the dates will appear with available time slots.
• Step 5 click on the plus button on the day you want to schedule and you will see the available times
• Step 6 If you want to see future available date click on the Next Available button in the upper Right hand side of the screen to advance the dates

You can also, visit Fidelity.com to view the available investment options with Fidelity, or to explore the financial planning tools available through Fidelity online.

Tuesday, October 28 | 7 - 8:40 a.m. | HUB Side Rooms 204-205

Click on the more information link below to schedule your screening appointment online and complete the preregistration paperwork with UPMC.

Nurses and wellness educators from UPMC will be on-site at Dickinson College to offer biometric health and wellness screenings for our valued faculty and staff. This initiative is designed to help you better understand key health indicators, promote awareness and prevention, and empower you to make informed decisions about your well-being. It also provides a chance to detect minor health concerns before they develop into more serious issues.

If you've participated in previous biometric screenings, you may recall waiting for your results to appear on the UPMC patient portal. This time, results will be available on-site within minutes, offering a faster and more convenient experience.

This session is limited to the first 35 sign-ups. A breakfast certificate will be provided for the Dining Hall the morning of your screening.

Students interested in a biometric health and wellness screening should contact the Wellness Center to schedule their screening at studentwellness@dickinson.edu or by phone at ext.1663.

Thursday, September 18 | 10 – 11 a.m. | 4 – 5 p.m.

Suicide affects people from all walks of life, and awareness can save lives. Recognizing the warning signs and understanding how to support someone at risk can make a critical difference. When we feel prepared to talk about suicide openly and respond with care, we become a powerful source of help and hope.

Join Health Advocate for this free webinar to identify key risk factors and warning signs, and walk through the essential questions to ask, steps to take, and supportive resources to share.

To register, click the "More Information" link below.

Programs offered for 2025-2026 have begun, with fitness options available through the department of Athletics to allow the maximum possible wellness opportunities for the campus community. Classes can be found in EngageD via the Gateway by searching for keywords (cardio, Pilates, Zumba) or by selecting the Group Fitness category. Unless noted, classes will be held in the HUB Dance Studio. Be sure to RSVP for each session you plan to attend.

Gentle Yoga: Mondays | noon - 1 p.m.
Pilates: Mondays & Wednesdays | 3:30 & 4:30 p.m.
Cardio Fusion: Tuesdays | noon - 1 p.m.
Zumba: Tuesdays & Fridays | 5 to 6 p.m.
Full Body Circuits: Wednesdays | noon - 1 p.m. | Kline Functional Fitness Center
Sports Yoga: Wednesdays | 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. | Memorial Hall, Old West
Camp Cardio: Wednesdays | noon to 1 p.m.
DEW Power Yoga: Fridays | noon - 1 p.m.

The deadline to submit a Fall 2025 INP (Internships for Credit) enrollment request has been extended to Monday, September 15. Students are to register for INP through Gateway. Please contact Matthew Pouss, Director of Internships, and INP staff at the intern@dickinson.edu, or (717) 245-1760 with any questions.

Make your mark on the Trout Gallery! Apply now to become a Trout Workshop collaborator. Art museums can and should be places that ignite curiosity, self-discovery, learning, socialization, and personal connectedness for everyone. Trout Workshop collaborators work with Trout staff to put these values into practice and provide input on all areas of Trout operations in bi-monthly workshops (Thursdays 12-1:15 PM). During workshop sessions, the group will create social media content, test and evaluate art activities, lesson plans, and exhibition tours, and offer personal reflections about connections between art museums and the world we live in. Trout Workshop collaborators also plan a spring social event, The Trout Gala, for Dickinson students. Collaborators get behind-the-scenes access, learn about museum operations, and make the Trout a better place, all while gaining valuable transferable skills. (Note: this program is new and is replacing the previous Trout Gallery Museum Ambassador program). Visit https://forms.office.com/r/sisUxwKDRw to apply.

Attention Employees: Support the Dickinson-United Way Fundraising Campaign and have a chance to win in a reserved parking spot near your office for one of the following months: September, October, November/December, January/February, March, April or May. Drawings for all months will be held Sept. 12 (winners will be notified after the drawing).

Tickets: $1 each / 6 for $5 / 20 for $10.

Locations to purchase:
• Waidner Admissions House
• President’s Office (Old West)
• Human Resources (55 N. West Street)
• Dining Services (HUB)
• Student Life Office (HUB)
• 50 Mooreland, Room 218
• Conference Office (5 N. Orange Street)

All proceeds go to the United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County.

Contact Linda Miller at x1323 or email millelin@dickinson.edu with questions.

Tuesday, September 30 | Kline Center Patio
Registration & Check-in: 5:30 p.m.
Walk Begins: 6:00 p.m.

Join members of Team Dickinson at the annual Heart Walk scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, on campus, kicking off at the Kline Center. Stretch your legs and get some fresh air on this fall evening with your family, friends, and colleagues in the Carlisle community.

Participating in this event is free. Walkers who decide to do a little FUNdraising will receive points towards an AHA reward in support the American Heart Association.

Click on the more information link to join Team Dickinson or to form your own team.

Friday, October 10, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. to noon
Opening ceremony at Allison Hall - 8 a.m.

Day of Caring is an opportunity for people to donate a morning to help local non-profit organizations complete needed work projects and to learn more about the needs of human service organizations in the greater Carlisle area.

The morning will start at 8 a.m. with a kickoff at Dickinson College’s Allison Hall located at 99 Mooreland Avenue, Carlisle. During this time, refreshments will be available and volunteers can meet with their groups. The morning of Day of Caring, volunteers will head straight to their volunteer project sites. Volunteer projects will run from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Lunch will be served from 12:15-1:15 p.m. at LeTort Park pavilion.

Let us know of your intent to participate. Jason Maddux – community impact director, United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County – will receive a list of volunteers and make the volunteer assignments. You can also sign up directly with United Way today for yourself, a group, or family.

Reminder of Community Service Benefit: All employees must first receive approval from their supervisors before registering for the event. All exempt and nonexempt employees will be allowed to volunteer for up to eight (8) hours of paid time from July 1 to June 30.

Are you looking to volunteer? Sign up at the link below. Please register for this program prior to Thursday, September 18.

For specific questions about the Day of Caring, please contact Jason Maddux:
Call 717-243-4805 or email Jason@uwcarlisle.org

Dickinson College Children's Center is hosting a Chicken BBQ fundraiser and Open House on Saturday, Oct. 4th 10:30am-2:30pm. Has it been a while since you've been to the Children's Center? Order a BBQ Chicken meal including half chicken, macaroni salad, applesauce, roll, and a drink for just $12. Plus pick up a few sweet treats. Then, take a walk through DCCC to see what's new! All chicken BBQ meals must be purchased in advance by Sept. 17th. Be sure to reach out to Cheri Truman at trumanc@dickinson.edu to find out how to get tickets. DCCC always appreciates the support of the Dickinson community in fundraising efforts.