Archive for April, 2023

April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to bring attention to the negative impact of stress. Managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. TalkNow w/ TimelyCare through UCM is a great resource to help you navigate the stresses of life when you need it. Emotional Support:

• Unlimited 24/7, on-demand triage emotional health support, coaching services, and crisis management by behavioral and health professionals.

• Provides support for a variety of issues, including critical situations.

• Eliminates the possible days or weeks of wait time for you to get emotional support.

• Removes possible stigma of walking into clinic seeking mental health resources.

• If controlled substances are required, we add to treatment recommendations, which can then be prescribed by an on-site DEA registered provider if available on campus.

• Visits are $10 each if enrolled in the HDHP plan & $0 if enrolled in the PPO plan ** UCM does not have Psychiatry visits, Evaluations, and Controlled Substance Medication Management available at this time. Care Coordinators will assist patients in finding and making an appointment with campus-based or plan-based in-person Psychiatric needs.

If you are enrolled in ACU’s medical plan and want an easy way to earn your credit for receiving your biometric screening, please schedule an appointment for one of our on-site screenings.

Reminder: All employees and spouses enrolled in ACU’s medical plan for 2023 must complete a biometric screening & annual physical with their physician by 9/30/23 to avoid the wellness premium surcharge in 2024.

Onsite Screening Dates and Times:

ACU (Abilene) – Hunter Welcome Center Reeves Conference Room April 19th – 21st: 7:30-12:00pm

There are two ways to register for your appointment – through Mobile Health or the link provided in the attached flyer for eHealthScreenings.

REMEMBER: You must fast (no food) for 9 hours before your appointment. Please drink plenty of water. Black coffee is permitted. Continue to take any prescription medications. If you are diabetic, please consult your physician before fasting.

If you are not able to attend one of the onsite screenings, whether you are a remote employee or due to a schedule conflict, there is a form on the eHealth website to download for you to complete your screening with your physician. Follow the steps to schedule a screening to access the form.

To earn your 2024 Wellness Discount, employees and spouses enrolled in an ACU medical plan need to have an annual exam and biometric screening completed by September 30, 2023. Please contact humanresources@acu.edu with any questions.

ACU’s Dr. Gary McCaleb will be featured in the world premiere of a documentary about the evolution of the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL) and the Storybook Capital of America. McCaleb was one of the founders of the NCCIL, which exclusively exhibits original picture book art by award-winning artists. The NCCIL will present the documentary, produced by Rob Westman, in conjunction with the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council at the Historic Paramount Theatre on April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Pop-up artist Matthew Reinhart will also be leading workshops during the premiere weekend. Tickets available at nccil.org.

To the Abilene Campus Staff: It’s time to cast your ballot for the June 2023 – May 2025 staff senators! Each year, the ACU staff elects 10 new senators to represent them on the Staff Senate. Please review the candidates and cast up to 10 votes. You may only submit one ballot, so carefully review your submission. Voting will remain open through April 19.

Join us April 28-29 as we remember the late Dr. Bob Hunter, senior vice president emeritus of ACU and longtime former state representative, who died Feb. 11 at age 94. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. April 28 in the Hunter Welcome Center, and a memorial service will be there at 2 p.m. April 29. Hunter’s energetic life of service to the university is unparalleled, and we hope you’ll join us as we honor him and the impact he made on generations of Wildcats.

ACU faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends and their families are invited to join us at the Abilene Zoo on Tuesday, April 18, from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy an exclusive evening of community, fun and zoo attractions, including free access to the carousel, zoo train and giraffe-feeding station. Admission is free, but registration is required. RSVP online today!

Please join the ACU Bands at the Abilene Convention Center, Thursday April 20th at 7:30 p.m. for a special concert featuring ACU’s own Kristin Ward, performing John Mackey’s new clarinet concerto “Divine Mischief.” The composer is in residence at ACU that entire week, and the concert will feature his music and more. Admission is free!

ACU IT auction is this Saturday, April 15 in Hart Auditorium! The auction begins at 1 p.m., but doors open for bidder registration at 11 a.m. Follow our Facebook page for additional details. Come join us for the fun!

Pickleball for Parkinson’s is part pickleball tournament and part Parkinson’s wellness resource fair and silent auction, all to raise awareness about Parkinson’s and critical funds to create a healthy Parkinson’s community in Abilene. All are welcome to enjoy the resource fair, cheer on our players, donate, or even compete in the tournament. Join us Here!

“Our schedules are overwhelming. Even with the countless time-management resources available to us, our ability to find balance between work and life can feel fruitless. But when we look at the lifestyle of Jesus, we see an example of what it looks like to be efficient while finding balance. In this four-session series, bestselling author Jordan Raynor discusses seven principles, rooted in the example of Jesus, that will help us use the time we have in the best way.” Watch the trailer for this four-part series from RightNow Media. If you have not set up your free account with RightNow Media, email humanresources@acu.edu for access.