Between featuring senior mug nights, chicken turnovers, fundraiser kickoffs and trivia and karaoke nights, going to the Levee is a hallmark of the Fairfield experience. What many students might not realize is that the campus bar and eatery is also a hotspot for faculty.
On Friday, March 22, about a dozen faculty and staff members gathered at the Levee to kick off this month’s Faculty/Staff Happy Hour. Usually about 20 to 50 people attend the happy hour events, which are held one Friday out of the month said Tara Rupp, associate director of conference and event management.
“We’re here as an office,” said attendee Colleen McGinn, associate director of alumni relations. She said that often, different offices within Fairfield plan on attending as a group.
Though the Levee is still open to students during the faculty happy hour, which runs until 6:30 p.m., typically only faculty and staff attend, Rupp said.
The event is not promoted to students and the only non-faculty members in attendance on Friday were two students who happened to be playing pool as the event started.
The happy hours started last year, with Rupp being responsible for coordinating the events since January. She works with Professor Manyul Im to determine appropriate dates and Im promotes the happy hours among the faculty by personal email.
“Tyler McClain and I began this monthly event a year ago when we realized at the president’s holiday gathering how much fun it was to get together with both faculty and staff together in a social setting,” said Im. “I’m a firm believer that knowing – and liking – who you work with helps in work collaborations, both routine ones and special projects.”
“The goal is simply to provide a chance for faculty and staff to connect socially once a month,” said Rupp. “We often order food from Angelo’s to share.”
“I like the idea, but maybe not on a Friday,” said McGinn, who was attending happy hour for the second time. She said that she often opts out because she already has other plans. The event might be better attended if held on another day rather than Friday, said Nicole Lynch, interactive web designer, who also has attended twice.
Lynch also said that she does not think enough is done to promote the event, but the intention is good. She continued that the event provides an opportunity to mingle and relax with colleagues.
“We’re hoping it will become a real tradition for faculty and staff,” Im said.
Leave a Reply