| | Capital University transforms lives by empowering an inclusive community of learners through engaging academic, co-curricular, and professional experiences. | | |
Join Campus Activities Board (CAB) and Student Community Engagement (SCE) for the Annual Fall Exam Treats! Celebrate the end of the fall semester and prep for finals with Late-Night Breakfast, trivia, and more! Join for a chance to win prizes, raffle baskets, and for an entry into the grand raffle for a MacBook Air! Cap Cupboard donations are encouraged to receive additional raffle tickets but are not required to attend! Follow @cabatcapital on Instagram for more details!
Sunday, Dec. 7
9 p.m., Doors open at 8:30 p.m.
Main Dining Room
All faculty and staff are welcome to attend and celebrate the end of the semester and wish students well before the start of finals!
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Limited tickets remain for Seek and You Will, the 2025 Christmas Festival, showcasing Capital’s internationally renowned and award-winning Capital University choirs as they bring the glory of Christmas to life.
Thursday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., Mees Hall
Friday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., Mees Hall
Saturday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., Mees Hall
Sunday, Dec. 7, 3:30 p.m., Mees Hall
Faculty, students, and staff are eligible for one complimentary ticket using the promo code FEST25. Tickets, which are purchased electronically, are $35 for adults/$20 for seniors and can be purchased using a debit card, credit card, or PayPal.
Click here for more information.
| | Cookies, Carols, and Cocoa | | |
You are warmly invited to Cookies, Carols & Cocoa at the Capital University Alumni House and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, where we’ll welcome the holiday season together before the Christmas Festival concerts. Enjoy a reception of festive treats, a hot cocoa bar, and the joyful sound of carols while reconnecting with fellow members of the Capital community.
Friday, Dec. 5
5 to 7 p.m.
Capital University Alumni House
Saturday, December 6
5 to 7 p.m.
Capital University Alumni House
Sunday, Dec. 7
1 to 3 p.m.
Gloria Dei Worship Center, Trinity Lutheran Seminary
For more information, please reach out to us at alumni@capital.edu.
| | Graduation Regalia Available Now | | |
Graduation regalia is now available to purchase online here. You must have a cap, gown, and tassel to participate in the spring commencement ceremony. For regalia-related questions, please contact Cliff Fehr from Herff Jones at cfehrway@hotmail.com.
Reminder: Spring and summer 2026 graduation applications are still available on myCap. If you will finish your requirements at the end of the spring or summer terms, you must complete the application regardless of whether you plan to walk at the commencement ceremony. Summer graduates may walk in the spring commencement ceremony if you have no more than 6 credits to complete during the summer term.
If you have questions about whether you’re eligible for graduation, please reach out to your advisor or graduation@capital.edu ASAP.
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It’s not too late to make a difference in our community. Please consider donating new or gently used coats, hats, gloves, and jeans to help those in need. Capital’s partnership with The Open Shelter has lasted over a decade, and with your help, we can continue to make a meaningful impact. Drop your donation off at the Student and Community Engagement office in the Student Union between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Friday, Dec. 5. The winter wear drive for the Open Shelter will continue after the holidays as a community service initiative for the 35th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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A Legacy of Care That’s Transforming Social Work’s Future
When social work students walk into the office of Renda Ross, Ph.D., LISW-S, LLC, many arrive carrying more than concerns over course schedules or questions about licensure. They carry stories of uncertainty, of hope, of trauma, of ambition. And Ross, this year’s Outstanding Service to the National Association of Social Workers Ohio award winner, meets every one of them with the same presence: warm, steady, compassionate, and wholly invested in who they are becoming.
That grounding presence has defined her almost 30-year career as a clinician, professor, mentor, and leader. But long before she chaired Capital’s Social Work department or led the master’s program development, Ross was an undergraduate student discovering the power of human connection.
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SAVE THE DATE:
35th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Learning
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35th Annual MLK Day of Learning at Capital University
Monday, Jan. 19
Join the Capital community for a day of inspiration, reflection, and engagement as we honor Dr. King’s legacy. Classes are canceled until 4 p.m. to support full participation.
This year’s theme, Unfinished Business: The Ceilings We Break, highlights both our progress and the work ahead. We’re proud to welcome Judge Laurel Beatty Blunt as this year’s Gay S. Steele Keynote Speaker.
To be a volunteer, go to MLK Day of Learning.
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Minimum Wage Increase
The Ohio minimum wage will increase to $11.00 in 2026. All employees at minimum wage and student workers in positions using the standard Level 1 – 3 tiers will be adjusted accordingly. Effective January 1, 2026, the student worker standard wage levels will increase as follows:
Level 1 - $11.00 (previously $10.70)
Level 2 - $11.15 (previously $10.85)
Level 3 - $11.40 (previously $11.10)
Employees/student workers will see this change in their January 16, 2026, paychecks for the Dec. 29, 2025, to Jan. 11, 2026, pay period.
Please contact Steve Szczepaniak (sszczepaniak@capital.edu) in Payroll with questions.
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Upcoming Faculty and Staff Holiday Schedule*
Winter Holiday Break: Saturday, Dec. 20, through Sunday, Jan. 4
*Departments that operate 24/7 will have alternate holiday schedules. Refer to management concerning arrangements.
2025 Holiday Season Payroll Schedule
Semi-monthly pay dates will be on Dec. 10 and Dec. 24
Bi-weekly pay dates will be on Dec. 5 and Dec. 19.
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Open Enrollment
Our annual employee benefits Open Enrollment period ended on Nov. 18. Human Resources recommends you print a copy of the bSwift benefits confirmation for your records.
If you have not completed your required dependent verifications or EOIs, please contact Ashley Huff with that documentation as soon as possible to ensure you have coverage beginning in 2026. As a reminder, you can still make changes to your TIAA Retirement Plan at any time during the year by visiting TIAA’s website.
New Medical Cards – For those who elected medical coverage for 2026, we are expecting new medical cards to be issued for EACH MEMBER during December. If you do not receive your new cards by Jan. 1, please email benefits@capital.edu.
HSA and FSA Cards – If you had accounts in 2025 and have them again in 2026, you will only receive new cards if your cards expire/expired. 2026 monies will load onto the cards you have been using.
For any other benefits help, reach out to benefits@capital.edu or Ashley Huff.
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Make Tax Season a Little Easier – Choose to Receive Your W-2 Electronically
It’s quick and simple! Just update your consent in myCAP (Employee > Tax Information > Change Preferences button) or contact Renee Bergman at rbergman@capital.edu to receive a consent form.
Why go electronic?
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Get it sooner – No more waiting for the mail! Your W-2 will be available in January, earlier than a paper copy
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Access anytime, anywhere – View and print your W-2s from any device with internet access
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Unlimited reprints – Need another copy? No problem.
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All your W-2s in one place – View past, current, and future forms with ease.
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Eco-friendly and cost-efficient – Save paper, save money, and streamline the process.
Please email rbergman@capital.edu if you need any assistance.
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Student-Supervisor End-of-Year Helpful Hints
The student timesheet deadlines are Dec. 15 and Dec. 29. Please remind your students before leaving for break to enter all hours worked in myCAP so they can be paid in a timely manner. Nobody will be in the office over break to process manual timesheets.
- You do NOT need to rehire students for SP26 if they are currently working for you in the fall semester. Their positions will carry over. If you have students who are no longer working, please send Steve your list of terminations (sszczepaniak@capital.edu) with their last work date.
- If you have new student workers starting in January, feel free to submit new hire requests at any time. Be sure to note the requested start date.
- To advertise SP26 jobs on the student job site, check the "Shown" box in the job description on the admin hire site.
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Taylor Cook, manager, Social Media
Mary Longsdorf, adjunct faculty, Music
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Facilities Management has scheduled a shredding event. Please enter a work ticket to Facilities, if you need assistance getting your shredding to the truck that day. Please share with others in your department/offices/building.
Tuesday, Dec. 16
9 to 11 a.m.
East side of Yochum Hall
| | Cap Central is faculty and staff's go-to platform for internal communications, collaboration, and resource access at Capital. Designed to simplify workflows and enhance connectivity, it supports seamless collaboration across our campuses, making it easier for employees to stay informed and work together efficiently. | | |
Faculty and Staff Holiday Party RSVP Reminder
Faculty and staff are reminded to RSVP by Friday, Dec. 5, if you would like to attend the annual holiday party. Click here to respond.
Friday, Dec. 12
5 to 7 p.m.
Main Dining Room, Harry C. Moores Student Union, Bexley Campus
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Signature Learning
Wednesday, Dec. 3
4 p.m.
Blackmore Library 110
Participate in the conversations about Signature Learning, Capital’s general education program. Agenda items for the semester include defining and operationalizing Signature Learning Pathways.
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The Last Draught
Faculty and Staff Social Event
Monday, Dec. 8
5 to 8 p.m.
Columbus Brewing Company
Hosted by the Office of the President, we invite you to join us for The Last Draught faculty and staff social at Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall. Enjoy light refreshments, and each employee will receive two complimentary drink tickets. No RSVP is required, this is an open, come-and-go event.
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Backstage Hollywood: The Photographs of Bob Willoughby and Technical Ecstasy in The Showcase Gallery
Jan. 19 to April 1
Schumacher Gallery
Venture backstage into the golden age of Hollywood in this exhibition that explores the photography of Bob Willoughby. Widely recognized as a pioneer of photography in the 20th century, Willoughby was the first outside photographer invited by studios to take photos on film sets.
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