Only two weeks until DeSales University’s 3rd Annual Day of Giving. Wednesday, February 10, 2021, is our chance to deliver a love letter to the University, and show our true love and appreciation. Whether Centaur or Bulldog, every alum, student, parent, athlete, family, faculty, and staff member can celebrate. Every gift will impact and strengthen the future of our students.

Don’t want to wait until February 10, 2021? Make your Hearts on Fire gift today at desales.edu/heartsonfire.

How to Make a Gift

• Make a one-time gift online, or increase your impact by becoming a monthly donor.
• Employee payroll deduction is available! Reach out to Director of Annual Giving, Catherine Logan, at Catherine.Logan@desales.edu for more information.
• Want to wait until February 10? Stop by the Hearts on Fire table outside the University Conference Rooms on February 10 from 9AM to 4PM.

Challenges and Prizes

Social Media – From January 24 to February 10, social media posts during Hearts on Fire will receive one of the following items. (Must use #HeartsOnFireForDSU)

• Most Creative – Brand new Space Gray iPad (128GB)
• Best School Spirit – DeSales University blanket
• Silliest – DeSales University cooler backpack

Full-Time Employee Challenge – If 200 full-time DeSales University employees donate during Hearts on Fire, Father Greenfield will award the University with a day off on Friday, July 2, 2021.

Alumni Participation Challenge – The academic division on campus that receives the highest alumni participation percentage will be awarded $5,000.

For more challenges and contests, check out desales.edu/heartsonfire.

Questions? Catherine.Logan@desales.edu

The Trexler Library will be closed on Tuesday, January 26, and Thursday, January 28, due to HVAC Renovations. Please use the Library Home Page for access to online reference services and resources.

Questions? jim.molchany@desales.edu.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 15 million Americans work irregular schedules, including full-time evening shifts, night shifts, and rotating shifts (where workers alternate between working nights and days in a given week). These kinds of shifts have been associated with safety and health risks, and certain jobs (such as disaster response) are at higher risk.

This is because an irregular sleeping pattern disrupts your circadian rhythm. A circadian rhythm is a 24-hour, internal cycle that controls when you feel alert and when you feel sleepy. Disrupted circadian rhythms lead to worker fatigue. Fatigue can also be exacerbated by long work hours or insufficient rest during the workday.

Effects of Fatigue             

• Decreased ability to focus for extended periods of time
• Increased chance that you will not pay full attention to the task at hand, such as operating a machine or a vehicle
• Increased errors that could cause accidents or injuries
• Decreased ability to perform tasks effectively
• Decreased physical and mental health

Fighting Fatigue during the Day

• Adjust lighting or temperature (or request that they be adjusted) if either is impairing your alertness at work.
• Eat nutritious meals at regular times.
• Exercise regularly. However, do not exercise too close to bedtime.

Managing Your Workload             

• Moderate your workload as much as possible. If shifts are long, try to choose lighter tasks. If the work is intense, try to work shorter shifts.
• Schedule heavy or demanding work at times when you are more alert to decrease the risk of an accident.
• For demanding work, take frequent rest breaks every couple of hours.
• Get at least 10 consecutive hours per day of off-duty time so that you can get 7-8 hours of sleep. This is the recommended amount of sleep for adults.

Improving Sleep Quality

• Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
• Find a schedule that works for you. Some experimentation may be required, especially if you work a night shift.
• Circadian rhythms are affected by light, so make sure your room is sufficiently dark.
• Assure there will be no noise or distractions, or block out noise that will keep you awake.
• Regulate the temperature.
• Assess your bed’s comfort level and make improvements if needed.
• Do not eat large meals before bedtime. Especially avoid greasy foods and alcohol.
• Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evenings.
• Avoid using amphetamines or other stimulants, as well as sleeping pills, which can affect your performance the next day.
• Monitor any medications which may affect sleep or work abilities.

If you have sleeping problems or chronic fatigue that continues after implementing all of these strategies, consider seeking medical help.

Questions? Dennis.Rasley@desales.edu

During winter break, the Student Nurses’ Association became ‘Angels’ to the residents at the Cedarbrook nursing home in Allentown, PA. Our ACCESS class liaison, Jennifer Bush, delivered the gifts to the residents during her time off from school. The residents were extremely thankful for our gifts!

Want to learn more about the Student Nurses’ Association? Contact Allison Nicinski at an8524@desales.edu.

The Trexler Library will be closed on Tuesday, January 26, due to HVAC Renovations. Please use the Library Home Page for access to online reference services and resources.

Questions? jim.molchany@desales.edu.

MBA students are invited to attend the next Mini-DeSales MBA Bootcamp:  A Deep Dive into Research and Using APA –the right way!

Katie Manwiller, Trexler Library Evening Public Services/Assessment Librarian, will help you succeed on your research assignments by walking you through the research process, including navigating the library’s online resources, finding reliable sources, understanding plagiarism, and correctly using APA citations.

The session will be held via Zoom on Friday, January 22, from 12PM-1PM. It will be recorded if you are unable to attend live.

Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 946 0044 8889
Passcode: DSUMBA

Questions? Katelyn.Manwiller@desales.edu

Bro. Daniel P. Wisniewski, O.S.F.S., Ph.D., Provost

Congratulations to the traditional day students, lifelong learning students and accelerated nursing students for making the Fall 2020 Dean’s List.  To qualify for Dean’s List, a student must have a minimum 3.50 GPA on no fewer than 12 credit hours (excluding pass/fail and audited courses).  Our University patron, Saint Francis de Sales, had such a high regard for learning that he considered education to be the “eighth sacrament.”  With that same esteem, the president, administration, and faculty of the University congratulate these men and women on their outstanding achievement.

• Traditional Day Dean’s List Fall 2020
• Lifelong Learning Dean’s List Fall 2020
• Accelerated Nursing (Post Undergraduate) Dean’s List Fall 2020

Listen in as Dee offers insights about show business that she learned after graduating from college. Don’t miss her amazing story of how she got her roles in Wicked, and The Cher Show plus what she is doing now as a resilient artist.

Listen in at Captivate.fm, or where ever you listen to your podcasts.

Questions? Kathy.krause@desales.edu

Good Morning DeSales!  On this week’s episode of DeSales University Career Chat, listen as Brendan Graham ’19 and host Kylee Shivok discuss the benefits of a small school environment, the importance of developing transferrable skills, and most importantly- stepping out of your comfort zone! You’ll hear Brendan explain how he went from a math major to an Admissions Counselor and what he loves most about his job! 

Find this episode and more wherever you listen to your podcasts or listen on CareerChat.Captivate.fm.

Questions? Kathy.krause@desales.edu