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FOOTBALL KICKOFF As part of Duke Appreciation, faculty and staff are invited to attend the Sept. 5 season opener. Complete football trivia now for prizes.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
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WANNA DJ? Faculty and staff comprise a quarter of the volunteer disc jockey staff at WXDU, Duke’s radio station.
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SUSTAINABLE DUKE The new addition to Duke Forest includes a stretch of New Hope Creek, a source of drinking water for Triangle residents.
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Illustration by Barbara Puccio, Blackwell Interactive
STAFF AND FACULTY ACROSS DUKE USE SOCIAL NETWORKS TO CONNECT AND CONVERSE hink of her as Duke’s official tweeter. we have to remember that all of this is taking place in the open. A little bit of caution goes a long way.” With more than 8,200 Facebook fans and 400 Twitter followers, Users 35 and older now comprise more than half the user population Andrea Fereshteh is the face behind Duke’s growing presence on two for both Facebook and Twitter, leading to an explosion of social networking social networks that are changing how staff and faculty work, interact and in the workplace. Usage is especially prevalent among share information. higher-ed employees, as universities scramble to keep Fereshteh, who administers the up with tech-savvy prospective recruits and young university’s Facebook fan page and Duke News Twitter account with colleagues in I feel alumni. Once seen as an idle pastime, social networks can Duke’s Office of News and Communications, like also enhance productivity and teambuilding in the sends status updates and 140-character I’m doing my workplace, experts say. Still, there’s a learning curve to “tweets” about the university’s latest news. managing the intermeshing of personal and When she covered Duke’s 2009 job better by professional lives online. commencement, one follower tweeted from utilizing these “Communicating and sharing personal China to thank her. new technologies information online has gone mainstream,” said Fred “Thanks for the commencement tweets,” the message read. “Loved reading them and and keeping up Stutzman, a researcher who studies social media in the School of Information and Library Science at the Oprah quotes from train en route to Beijing. with new ways of communicating.” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Social CONGRATS new Duke alumni.” — Andrea Fereshteh networks are opening up a whole new world of “There’s someone on the other side of the information that wasn’t available before because people Senior Writer world, and she felt like she was part of Office of News and Communications weren’t participating. That may lead to information Duke,” Fereshteh said. “That’s the whole overload, but it also may lead to smart connections.” point of why we’re doing this.” Duke employees are making those connections. Like Fereshteh, staff and faculty in Library and IT staff began using Twitter about two years ago as a departments across Duke – from the Nasher Museum and Center for virtual “in/out” board to cut down on e-mail but still keep colleagues Instructional Technology to the Alumni Association and Fuqua School of posted. With shrinking travel budgets in tough economic times, those Business – are using social networks to connect and converse in new ways, employees find Twitter increasingly useful to keep up with conferences and sharing information nuggets about everything from printer outages to the network with colleagues at other universities. latest research on citizen journalism. Shawn Miller, a consultant in Duke’s Center for Instructional Dozens of departments have joined online conversations on Facebook Technology, uses Twitter to follow and chat with leading researchers who and Twitter, and activity is on the rise, said Michael J. Schoenfeld, the study Web 2.0 technologies. university’s vice president for public affairs and government relations. “There’s a lot of information out there,” Miller said, “but with Twitter, “There is a huge value to being an active participant in social media: because the posts are so short, you don’t have to invest as much time to connect with professional networks, to find out quickly what’s keeping up with the latest academic research.” happening at other places, to put together ad-hoc groups or meetings,” Stephen Toback, a senior IT manager in Duke’s Office of Information Schoenfeld said. “The more we exchange and share information, the Technology, has found that casual, personal interaction on social networks better off we’ll be, as an institution and as individuals. At the same time, help deepen workplace relationships and improve teamwork.
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2009, 2008, 2007 Gold Medal, Internal Periodical Staff Writing 2009, 2007 Bronze Medal, Print Internal Audience Tabloids/Newsletters
>> See SOCIAL NETWORKS, PAGE 5
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Editor’s Note LEANORA MINAI
Newsbriefs
Leanora.Minai@duke.edu
Duke among “2009 Great Colleges to Work For”
Doctor appointments a click away
For the second year in a row, the Chronicle of Higher Education has named Duke University a “Great College to Work For.” In the Chronicle of Higher Education’s July issue, Duke was recognized for best practices and policies in 14 categories ranging from compensation and benefits to confidence in senior leadership and healthy faculty-administration relationships. Duke was also selected for the publication's “Honor Roll” as one of the top 10 institutions of its size. Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president of Human Resources, said the recognition reflects the diligence and dedication of Duke staff and faculty, and the University’s commitment to maintaining a top quality workforce. “We can all take pride in this recognition because it is the people who work here who make Duke the outstanding institution that it is today and such a rewarding place to invest your career,” he said. “Even in these challenging economic times, Duke recognizes the value of offering competitive benefits and opportunities for professional development and continuing education. Our goal is to retain and attract the best staff and faculty, which allows Duke to continue its mission as one of the world’s top academic, medical and research universities.” The announcement was featured in The Chronicle’s July issue, which included a profile on Duke’s professional development programs featuring Duke staff and faculty. Read the article at hr.duke.edu.
Make healthcare appointments with Duke physicians. Check lab report results. And pay medical bills. All of this is available through HealthView, a patient information portal launched by Duke Medicine. It allows outpatients at Duke hospitals and clinics to receive general lab and radiology reports within seven days of the report being finalized. “Patients appreciate the transparency and efficiency that HealthView provides, and the physicians like the way HealthView empowers their patients to be more involved in managing their own health care,” said John Anderson, M.D., chief medical officer of Duke Primary Care. The portal, launched as a pilot project in 2007, is now available for all Duke Medicine patients. More than 100,000 patients are already signed up, and creating an account is easy. Enroll at healthview.dukehealth.org. Then give your e-mail address to your medical provider at your next appointment to activate the clinical information function.
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he cover story this month is a timely report about Duke’s use of social networking to share information and collaborate in the workplace. Dozens of departments use Facebook or Twitter as one more way to stay connected, raise awareness or promote what they offer. Add Working@Duke to the list. We’ve just launched a Facebook fan page for the publication. It provides a dynamic way to share useful information about Duke benefits and resources with faculty and staff, while providing more information in real-time: updates, extra photos, videos and discussion topics related to stories in the publication – or in the works. The fan page is for interaction. As an example, Working@Duke is developing a cover article about work/life balance, and we will use the page to solicit experiences and photos from employees. Is Facebook for you? According to a March report from Inside Facebook, the largest growth among new Facebook users is between ages 35-44, and the fastest growing demographic is women over 55. Dialogue and posts on the Working@Duke fan page are welcome and encouraged, but there’s fine print. Help protect the privacy of students, colleagues and patients by following Duke confidentiality guidelines. Don’t post or discuss proprietary or protected health information. Begin sharing and connecting now: become a fan of Working@Duke at hr.duke.edu/workingatduke.
Free financial workshops for staff, faculty In tough economic times, free financial advice can be priceless. Duke Credit Union offers a range of seminars at no charge for staff and faculty. Among the seminars in August are “Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft;” “Homebuying,” “Eating Healthy on a Budget” and “Understanding Retirement & Social Security.” All seminars are 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at various locations, including the credit union. To learn more and register, visit dukefcu.org and click “seminar sign-up” under Quick Links, send e-mail to scottie.dowdy@duke.edu or call (919) 660-9745.
Letters to the Editor must include name and contact information. E-mail letters to working@duke.edu or mail them to Working@Duke Editor, Box 90496, Durham, NC 27708. Fax letters to (919) 681-7926. Please keep length to no more than 200 words.
Fall Run/Walk Club starts this month Stay fit this fall with the Duke Run/Walk Club, which begins a new session Aug. 24. The 12-week program is designed for all fitness levels and includes several workshops, including “Powerful Yoga for Runners and Walkers” on Sept. 22. Staff and faculty can enroll at no cost through LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program. The club meets 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Beginning walkers and runners meet on East Campus and more experienced athletes gather on West Campus. Employees who can’t attend club meetings may sign up for the Independent Run/Walk Club to receive training information by e-mail. Participants may also report their weekly exercise sessions online. For more information or to sign up for the Fall Run/Walk Club, call (919) 684-3136 or visit hr.duke.edu/runwalk CORRECTION
The monthly meetings for Duke Toastmaster Club are 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday; and noon to 1 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Friday for the Blue Devil Toastmasters Club. The times and dates were incorrect in a June-July article.
Free admission to football opener, celebration uke football kicks off its second season under Coach David Cutcliffe Sept. 5, and faculty and staff are invited to celebrate the 2009 opener as part of Duke Appreciation. The festivities, sponsored by Duke Athletics and Human Resources, begin at 4 p.m. at K-ville Quad, where employees and family members can enjoy a buffet meal, games, music and the “Blue Devil Alley” football team march to Wallace Wade Stadium before the 7 p.m. game against University of Richmond. “The support we received from the Duke community last year was simply outstanding,” Cutcliffe said. “Our fans play a vital role in creating a great home game atmosphere for our team, and we want Duke employees to be a huge part of that experience.” Reserve free tickets to the game and celebration at goduke.com/employee or call (919) 681-8738. Tickets are limited to four per employee. As part of the football season spirit, Duke employees are invited to participate in a Duke football Duke Football Head Coach David Cutcliffe, left, celebrates trivia contest (see sidebar). Five a 2008 season-opening win over James Madison trivia participants will be University with linebacker Charles Robinson. randomly drawn to receive prizes, which include (clean) game-worn jerseys, and a mini football autographed by Cutcliffe. Entries must be received by Aug. 14. E-mail answers, along with name and phone number, to working@duke.edu, and label the entry “football trivia.” You can also send answers through campus mail to Working@Duke, Box 90496. Winners and answers will be posted on Duke Today [duke.edu/today] on Aug. 19.
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Test your Duke football IQ, win prizes 1. Who was the first coach of Duke’s football team? 2. Duke played in the 1942 Rose Bowl in Durham instead of Pasadena, Calif., because of World War II. If it had not moved, how much would it have cost students to pay for the “Blue Devil Special” trip to California that included one ticket and a hotel room? 3. Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe has coached two Super Bowl MVPs in Peyton and Eli Manning. What’s the name of the third Manning brother Cutcliffe has not coached? 4. How many NFL Hall of Fame members played football at Duke? 5. How many football fans celebrated Duke football’s 2008 season opening 31-7 win over James Madison University with Coach Cutcliffe? 6. What was the original name of Wallace Wade Stadium before it opened in 1929? 7. How many years did Steve Spurrier coach at Duke? 8. In 1931, the Duke and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football teams combined to play a charity game. What was the name of this Duke-UNC team? 9. What is the largest crowd in Wallace Wade Stadium history? 10. What former Duke football player was named as the team’s Most Valuable Player twice and now works for Duke as an assistant coach?
Answers & Winners Aug. 19 at duke.edu/today
To reserve your tickets, visit goduke.com/employee or call (919) 681-8738.
Keeping the Gardens in Bloom elebrating its 75th year in 2009, Sarah P. Duke Gardens hosts more than 300,000 visitors annually. They come for tours, weddings – even a picnic among the flora and nature. But, it’s not Mother Nature doing the work to keep the gardens a top attraction in Durham. More than 20 full-time Duke employees and 300 volunteers work to keep the 55 acres blooming, beautiful and busy. “Besides the incredible beauty of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, one of the most attractive aspects of the gardens is the highly talented, professional staff that we have here,” said Bill LeFevre, executive director of Duke Gardens. “They’re the key to our success.”
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Jason Holmes is a jack-of-all-trades. A horticulturist at Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Holmes helps to water, mulch, label, log and maintain thousands of flowers from nursery to planting. He can also rattle off plenty of plant facts and figures. All this comes in handy when he helps to create the garden designs visitors see every day. Along with other Duke employees, Holmes spends time each winter sorting through magazines and websites, searching for the perfect plants to feature among 56 flower beds he cares for. Lucky for him, more rain in 2009 meant he could add orange, yellow, red or purple tropical plants to the drought-resistant ones from the last few years. New additions include a banana tree and Elephant Ear plants, which grow 3-feet long leaves. “It’s important to aim for an emotional response from how the plant arrangements look,” said Holmes, 28, who has worked at Duke since 2004. “Different colors and sizes are important for that.”
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When she was a child during summers in Oregon, Tamara Kilbane caught tadpoles by her grandfather’s dairy farm. But it was Jason Holmes more than the amphibians that lured her to water. “There’s just something that draws me to aquatic plants,” said Kilbane, 30, who joined Duke in 2005. “It’s hard to put into words, but they’re simply fascinating to me, especially all the different colors when the plants bloom and everything that goes on in the ponds with frogs and fish.” Kilbane, a horticulturist who specializes in aquatic plants, spends time at Duke where she did as a child – in a pond. At least once a week, she straps on waders and trudges through three ponds, fertilizing and pruning 100 aquatic plants. She also helps to coordinate the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society’s New Waterlily Contest, which Duke Gardens has hosted for several years. The society’s judges pick their winners but hundreds of visitors also vote in person and online for People’s Choice Awards. “I know I’m not the only one who gets mesmerized by water, but between the water and flowers, it just draws you in,” Kilbane said. “I love it.”
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Stefan Bloodworth believes that almost all factors that negatively affect the conservation of plants and nature are caused by people. So, he’s doing what he can to change that. “Most of us have a place that we used to associate as a ‘wild’ place that just isn’t around anymore, so most people can appreciate conservation efforts,” said Bloodworth, the curator of the H.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. “My role is to try to help people appreciate what we have and how we can keep it.” From leading tours to lecturing and writing a blog, Bloodworth helps educate the public on all matters “green.” All the flowers and plants featured in the Blomquist Garden are selected by Bloodworth to highlight conservation and balance between plants, animals and people, especially in the Endangered Species Garden. Bloodworth, who joined Duke in 2002, said a little bit of knowledge and research can go a long way for each visitor to Duke Gardens, which is why he wants each person to leave with an appreciation for the relationship between people and the world around them. “There’s a very close connection between all of us and nature,” said Bloodworth, 39. “If you affect one, it will affect the other.”
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Stefan Bloodworth
3 VIDEO: See more of the Duke Gardens at youtube.com/WorkingAtDuke
Health claims costs on the rise ealth claims among Duke employees and family members are growing at a much higher rate than last year due to rising medical costs and increased use of health care services and prescription drugs. “Currently, we’re seeing an increase of somewhere between 9 to 13 percent from Health Claims Costs Rise this time last year,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president of Human Resources. $50 Prescription drug costs comprise a significant part of the increase with overall $45.5M $40 claims currently running 17 percent higher $40.5M than last year. “One way to help reduce $30 pharmacy costs is to use generic drugs when possible,” Cavanaugh said. “We’ve seen increased usage of generic drugs over $20 the years, but we still have room for improvement.” $10 Cavanaugh said these higher costs will result in some changes to Duke health $0 Jan–May Jan–May plans in 2010, but it is too early to 2008 2009 determine how premiums, co-pays and Health claims costs for people covered by out-of-pocket costs for 2010 plans will be Duke’s four health plans have increased more affected. than 12 percent during the first five months of “We are taking a comprehensive look 2009, compared to the same period last year. at our plans – negotiating with providers Source: Duke Human Resources and administrators and focusing on prevention strategies – to maintain their overall fiscal viability,” he said. “We do expect some level of plan design changes, but we are working to keep those to a minimum.” Duke has maintained below average increases for health insurance for many years. Consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers recently announced survey results from U.S. employers indicating medical costs for employers would increase by 9 percent in 2010. Cost in Millions
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“We’ve been successful the last several years at encouraging people to make better decisions about their health,” said Lois Ann Green, director of Duke Benefits. “People have taken advantage of programs such as Duke Prospective Health and LIVE FOR LIFE to improve their health and help keep our cost increases lower. We need to continue to be diligent in participating in these type of efforts if we are to mitigate future increases.” Green recommends three ways people can improve health while reducing costs: ◆ Practice preventive health: Regular exercise, better nutrition, and an annual check-up with a primary care physician can help prevent significant health problems. ◆ Use mail order for maintenance drugs: Fewer than 25 percent of Duke health plan members on maintenance drugs take advantage of cost savings through mail order. If 70 percent of plan members used mail order for a 90-day prescription, they would collectively save $1.4 million. ◆ Appropriate use of health care facilities: The co-pay for a visit to a primary care physician is typically $20 less than the co-pay for an urgent care visit. Yet many still visit urgent care for illnesses and injuries that can be seen at a primary care physician’s office. Before going to urgent care, call your primary care doctor first for a same-day appointment. The annual open enrollment for benefits is Oct. 19-27 when faculty and staff can make changes and selections for health, dental and vision benefits for 2010. — By Paul Grantham Assistant Vice President, Office of Communication Services
Financial certification enhances career growth uke University Financial Service’s new Financial Certification Program is a confidence booster. Launched in April and open to University and Health System employees, the free program offers two tracks: one for payroll representatives; the other for financial systems specialists. “Participants who complete the program prove they understand Duke’s various financial systems, and how to use available resources to make sound decisions,” said Gwen Hall-DiFabio, coordinator for Education and Training in Corporate Payroll Services. She is also one of the program’s architects. “Managers can have confidence that certified employees understand how to navigate Duke’s financial systems efficiently and correctly, which is good for departments and strengthens Duke’s internal processes.” The Certified Payroll Representative (CPRep) track is for staff with payroll responsibilities. The Certified Financial Systems Specialists (FSS) track is open to staff assistants, staff specialists, financial analysts, “or anyone who reconciles financial statements, monitors the status of a cost
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object, or posts expenses,” said Christeen Butler, curriculum leader for the Financial Systems Specialists track. Both tracks are accepting new students and offer comprehensive training in fundamental concepts surrounding successful financial oversight. Participants have two to six months to take several half-day courses, pass course quizzes and sit for a final, three-hour certification exam. Through October, employees with advanced financial experience at Duke can opt out of the classes and proceed straight to the Certification Exam. Supervisory support is required for participation in full certification, as well as the test-out option. The next phase of the program will incorporate a Financial Manager track and certification for Procurement and Accounts Payable. — By Marsha A. Green Writer, Office of Communication Services
WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM? “The financial systems specialist certification gives me a certain level of confidence that I know what I am talking about in many different aspects of my job.”
“Any time you can learn things that will help you better do your job and better educate your colleagues, it makes your life easier. I found that the payroll representative program Shawn MacDuff, Arts & Sciences Financial Analyst, FFS helped me do my job much more efficiently.”
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Mickey Johnson, Patient Resource Management Organization Payroll Representative, CPRep
“I only do payroll duties a few hours a week. Being introduced to so many people, and being able to collect a wealth of reference materials was very, very beneficial.” Lara Mekeel, Department of Immunology Grants Manager, CPRep
Learn more about financial programs at www.finsvc.duke.edu/fcp/
Social Networks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 He bonded with one colleague over Facebook comments about “American Idol” and enjoys co-workers’ online responses when he posts photos he’s taken of Duke Chapel and other scenic campus spots. “Facebook allows you to see other facets of people’s lives, and that level of understanding adds an extra dimension and strengthens relationships,” Toback said. “We build professional walls around us, but we’re all just people.” Social networks also are changing the way we work. Thanks to Facebook, Duke professor Cathy Davidson relies less on e-mail and rarely uses the phone. Davidson is co-founder of the virtual humanities consortium known as HASTAC (Humanities, Arts, Science, Technology Advanced Collaboratory). She converses with colleagues around the country on Facebook. An author and blogger who taught a course last spring, “Your Brain on the Internet,” Davidson said many of her best ideas come from social networks. “When I’m blocked, I’ll turn to Facebook,” Davidson, said. “It’s a friendly and productive space.” At the Nasher Museum of Art, marketing and communications manager Wendy Livingston uses Twitter and Facebook to promote events like the Picasso exhibit opening Aug. 20. “My activity on social networks is increasing as local arts coverage is decreasing,” Livingston said. “Twitter is a quick, succinct way to direct traffic to my YouTube videos and blog.” While some may dispute the value of Facebook and Twitter, social networks are here to stay. Users are learning to adapt in a new context of sharing that blurs traditional boundaries between personal and professional. “We all draw the boundaries of privacy in different ways,” said Davidson, the HASTAC co-founder. “Social media forces you to examine what those boundaries are and implement them in an overt way.” Just as college students learned to use Facebook privacy … with settings and set Twitter, “friends-only” because the posts profiles, older users will teach each other are so short, you the intricacies of don’t have to invest social media as much time etiquette, said Stutzman, the UNC keeping up with the researcher. Some latest academic research.” employees won’t — Shawn Miller “friend” supervisors Duke’s Center for Instructional Technology on Facebook. Others may experiment with multiple online identities. And everyone will likely learn to be more careful, he said. “If you have 300 friends, including bosses and co-workers, you’ll think twice about what you put out there because it will be interpreted in so many ways,” Stutzman said. The stakes are even higher since anything posted online is searchable on the Web, said Cynthia Varkey, a Web designer for the Digital Projects Department in Perkins Library. “If you don’t want everyone in the world to know it, don’t put it out there.” Varkey said. It’s an ongoing learning process for individuals, businesses and institutions like Duke. Duke officials remind employees to protect employee and patient privacy by abiding by Duke's Confidentiality Agreement and by not posting or discussing sensitive or protected health information on Duke-sponsored or personal social networking sites. “As an academic institution, we want to promote dialogue and foster the exchange of ideas,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Duke Human Resources. “Tools like Facebook and Twitter certainly help facilitate that. But as with any technology, we want to be sure that its use in the workplace is consistent with the goals of the institution.” Fereshteh, whose following grows daily on the university’s Facebook fan page and Duke News Twitter account, has seen how a strong Dukeoriented social network builds community. When her office organized a memorial celebration to honor the late John Hope Franklin, she first promoted the event on Facebook with an invitation to 3,000 members of a separate Facebook group. Within a few hours, she received more than 50 RSVPs. “We’re still figuring out the best way to use this technology,” Fereshteh said. “But I feel like I’m doing my job better by utilizing these new technologies and keeping up with new ways of communicating.”
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— By Cara Bonnett Managing Editor, News & Information, Office of Information Technology
Social Networking 101 Facebook.com Get started: Users set up a profile that includes personal interests and affiliations, and then grant access to particular “friends.” Users post photos, video and links and communicate through status updates, comments and private messages. Tips: • Adjust privacy settings to match level of comfort, and review often. •Be cautious about sharing personal information such as address or telephone number. •Beware of phishing, where scammers “fish” for account information.
Twitter.com Get started: Users publish tweets – 140-character messages – from a computer or mobile device. To build a network, follow others you know on Twitter or professionals in your field. Search engines such as Twitter’s search.twitter.com allow you to search by keyword or topic. Terms: • Tweet: a Twitter message, limited to 140 characters • RT: reTweet, to forward someone’s message to your network • DM: a direct message, a private tweet to a follower, sent using the @ symbol •Hashtag: the # symbol is used to designate the topic or theme of a message, which makes messages easier to search (for example, “follow commencement tweets using #dukegrad09”)
Do’s and Don’ts Are you considering social networking? Follow the same general policies as in the rest of your professional life at Duke. Think before you post. There’s no such thing as a “private” social media site. Search engines can turn up your posts years later. Don’t post something today that may haunt you later. Be respectful. If readers see your affiliation with Duke, they may read your words as representing the university, even if you provide a disclaimer saying your views are your own. As a general rule, be respectful and don’t post anything you would be uncomfortable saying in a public setting – or in front of your boss. Be transparent about your role at Duke. If you participate in or maintain a social media site on behalf of the university, clearly state your role and goals. Strive for accuracy, correcting errors quickly and visibly. If you have questions about whether it is appropriate to write about certain material, ask your supervisor first. Maintain confidentiality. Do not post confidential, proprietary or protected health information about students, employees, patients or other members of the Duke community. Use good ethical judgment; follow federal guidelines and university policies such as the Duke Confidentiality Agreement. Protect your identity. Don’t provide personal information about yourself or others that scam artists and identity thieves might steal. This includes telephone numbers, mailing addresses and e-mail addresses. Respect university time and property. As stated in Duke’s “Computing and Networking: Acceptable Use” policy, university computers and work time are to be used for university-related business. It’s appropriate to post at work if your comments are directly related to accomplishing work goals, but maintain your personal site on your own time using non-Duke computers.
5 VIDEO: See how Twitter works at youtube.com/WorkingAtDuke
On-Air talent: Duke employees share WXDU airwaves ack Edinger always wanted to be a radio announcer but never had time in college to try it out. Now, thanks to Duke, he’s fulfilled that dream. Edinger, a graphic designer with the Department of Art, Art History and Visual Studies, is one of about a dozen Duke faculty and staff who step behind a microphone and broadcast to an audience of thousands from Duke’s radio station, WXDU. Unlike most college radio stations, WXDU encourages participation not just from students, but from everyone in the Duke community. “This is something I always had in the back of my mind as something I wanted to do,” said Edinger, 35. “Because of open policy, I knew I could take advantage of it and that I’d enjoy doing it.” Edinger creates and schedules public service announcements as public service director for the station and hosts a show on alternating Tuesday evenings. Overall, faculty and staff comprise about a quarter of WXDU’s staff of 60 volunteer DJs. WXDU was originally founded as WCDC in 1947 by three Duke students. It became WXDU in 1983 when it was approved for an FM
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Jack Edinger, a graphic designer with the Department of Art, Art History and Visual Studies, broadcasts from the WXDU studio on Duke's East Campus.
frequency at 88.7. The station now plays a variety of music throughout the day – from rock to bluegrass to hip hop – all of which Edinger said makes the job more fun because of the eclectic nature of the station’s music choices. To join the WXDU staff, Duke community members can receive training at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters and during the summer. To get on-air, new DJs complete six weeks of training that include practice runs of what they would do during a show: play music from CDs and talk during music breaks. Faculty and staff can also volunteer with WXDU’s community affairs committee or join the music selection staff. Stephen Conrad, 31, a clerk with Duke University Stores, has been a member of the WXDU staff for more than seven years. He hosts a regular shift of eclectic rock on Thursday nights, a special garage rock show on Sunday nights and helps to select music the station plays as comusic director for the station. He said the fact that anyone from Duke can get on-air, help pick music or promote the station only makes it better and strengthens the relationship with Durham. “I feel more of a part of the Duke community because of WXDU,” Conrad said. “If I just worked here, I wouldn’t feel as part of the campus, but I feel more close to Duke by working with WXDU.” — By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services
Tune in to WXDU at 88.7 FM or by visiting the station’s website at wxdu.org. Learn more about getting involved at WXDU by sending e-mail to training@wxdu.org.
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hey resemble Monopoly money, but LIVE FOR LIFE dollars buy a range of exercise gadgets and services – everything from a pedometer or iPod to chair massage minutes. Francis Sun, a veterinarian in Duke’s LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program, Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, earned his first 250 LIVE FOR LIFE gives the dollars to faculty and staff who participate in dollars by attending a HealthCheck. Duke’s wellness initiatives such as the Run/Walk club, HealthCheck screenings and smoking cessation seminars. Francis Sun, a veterinarian in Duke’s Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, earned his first 250 dollars by attending a LIVE FOR LIFE HealthCheck. He had his 1. EARN dollars by participating in LIVE height, weight and blood cholesterol FOR LIFE programs measured and completed a survey about eating and exercise habits. 2. CLAIM dollars by tracking exercise or “I love the idea that I can reward myself wellness activities online or through for doing what I ought to be doing anyway,” logs provided by LIVE FOR LIFE. Sun said. He now earns about 10 LIVE FOR LIFE dollars each week by 3. SPEND on merchandise at the LIVE FOR participating in the Run/Walk club, and LIFE store in the lower level of Duke another 1 dollar each time he completes a South (Red Zone) or donate dollars to 10 minute exercise program through the selfhelp young patients. paced, Take Ten: Energize Your Work Day. Sun tracks exercise sessions on a LIVE FOR LIFE downloadable form and mails it in every few months. When the colorful cash returns through campus mail, he stashes it in an envelope on his bulletin board until he’s ready to shop.
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Employees like Sun can trade in exercise dollars for merchandise at the LIVE FOR LIFE store at the Duke Employee Wellness office in the Red Zone of Duke South. Prices range from 20 LIVE FOR LIFE dollars for a jump rope to 500 for an iPod shuffle. “I once saved up for the iPod shuffle,” Sun said. “But usually I just spend 70 or so to get a T-shirt or some exercise equipment.” Teresa Williams, an administrative assistant at Duke Urgent Care, earns the dollars by completing a HealthCheck online each year. She had been saving for a gym bag when she learned the dollars could also be donated to the Duke Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant unit so young patients could earn prizes for exercising. “As soon as I heard about it, I donated the 740 dollars I had accumulated,” Williams said. “I have grandkids and could just imagine how much fun the children on the ward would have shopping with the dollars.” Julie Joyner, LIVE FOR LIFE manager, said donating dollars to the pediatric unit is an extra incentive for many employees to exercise. “The LIVE FOR LIFE dollars program was set up to be a fun way to reward people for taking action on their health,” Joyner said. “If they choose to donate the dollars, they can also help others take steps toward health.” — By Marsha A. Green Writer, Office of Communication Services
6 Learn more about Duke wellness programs, and browse LIVE FOR LIFE merchandise at
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aquatic species, including rare mussels. The creek is dotted with historically significant mill sites and interesting geographical features. The surrounding hardwood forest contains unique ecosystems and trees that are more than 200 years old “It will allow research on topics ranging from water quality and wildlife habitats to North Carolina history,” Edeburn said. “We’re planning to keep it in its natural condition, so I doubt there will be any recreational trails or active forest management in this new part of the forest.” Along with studying rare flora and fauna, researchers using the new tract will focus on crucial environmental topics. Water samples from New Hope Creek will be tested to determine the impact of drought conditions, pollution and other factors on water quality, aquatic habitats and plant physiology. Like most of Duke Forest, the new tract will be dedicated to academic and research purposes for at least 50 years. In addition, 23.5 acres of the tract along the creek will be permanently protected from development by a conservation easement. Duke and the Triangle Land Conservancy will work together to The newly acquired 41 acres in Duke Forest borders New Hope Creek, which is home to many fish species ensure that terms of the conservation and regionally rare plant, insect, amphibian and aquatic species, including rare mussels. easement along the creek are upheld. hirping birds, croaking “Protecting this portion frogs and cascading Since this of New Hope Creek is crucial water created a soothing to maintaining the area’s water water symphony as Judd Edeburn quality and forming a wildlife eventually winds up hiked along a wildflower-lined corridor between Erwin Road trail beside New Hope Creek in our faucets, it’s and N.C. 86,” said Robert in the Duke Forest. important to Healy, professor emeritus at Like a proud father, Duke’s Nicholas School of the protect the creek Edeburn smiled as he admired Environment. He serves as an important new addition to from encroaching chair of the New Hope Creek the forest: a 41-acre tract on development and Corridor Advisory Mt. Sinai Road in Orange Committee. pollution.” County. The tract includes a The 41-acre tract is already stretch of New Hope Creek, a — Judd Edeburn proving to be a valuable source of drinking water for Duke Forest resource manager academic tool. A group of Triangle residents. Nicholas School of the “Since this water Environment graduate students eventually winds up in our compiled a report with plant inventories, which will be used faucets, it’s important to protect the creek from as a baseline reference for future monitoring. encroaching development and pollution,” said Edeburn, Katherine Wright, an easement steward with the land who has served as Duke Forest’s resource manager for conservancy, said the conservation easement will protect 31 years. “Plus, the New Hope Creek corridor contains the property in perpetuity despite rapid development significant environmental, ecological, geographical and underway in the area. To oversee the conservation historical assets.” easement, Wright said, the land conservancy plans to use Along with preserving natural resources and protecting state grant money when it becomes available. water quality, the Duke Forest expansion provides new “The New Hope Creek corridor is a valuable natural research and education opportunities for Duke students, resource,” said Wright, who received a master’s degree from other school groups and visitors from around the world. Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment in 2007. Duke acquired the property in October 2008 by “Triangle Land Conservancy is excited to be partnering collaborating with the Triangle Land Conservancy, a with Duke to help preserve this area for future regional land trust. generations.” Located in Duke Forest’s Korstian Division, the new
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Duke Forest expansion protects drinking water
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tract borders New Hope Creek, home to about 100 fish species and regionally rare plant, insect, amphibian and
— By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services
Stay informed about sustainablility at duke.edu/sustainability
DUKE FOREST BY THE NUMBERS 4,696 Acres when formed in 1931
7,091 Current acres
78 Years of research
$3.4 million Total research funding
55 Current research projects
SAVE THE DATE Duke Forest’s Annual Gathering will be at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at the New Hope Improvement Association, 4012 Whitfield Road in Chapel Hill. To register or signup for the Duke Forest listserv, call (919) 613-8013 or visit www.dukeforest.duke.edu
VIDEO: See the newly acquired acres of Duke Forest at
youtube.com/ WorkingAtDuke
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WORKING@ DUKE
dialogue@Duke
HOW TO REACH US Editor: Leanora Minai
“What social media network are you a member of, and how do you use it to stay connected or share information?”
(919) 681-4533 leanora.minai@duke.edu Assistant Vice President:
“
I use Facebook. It tends to help me connect to family and friends. On Twitter, I have two personas: my work persona and my more personal account to let me tell jokes and connect with family and friends. Twitter for work is incredibly valuable for me because I find so much data that is outside the institution that I can bring back into Duke. It’s become even more of a search function for me than Google has.”
Paul S. Grantham (919) 681-4534 paul.grantham@duke.edu Graphic Design & Layout:
Blyth Morrell Manager, Office of Information Technology’s Web Services 9 years at Duke
Paul Figuerado Photography: Bryan Roth, Office of Communication Services; and Duke University Photography.
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I’m on MySpace, since it’s such a big network. Just about my whole family is on there. I have a lot of family out-of-state and with MySpace and Facebook, I can see what they’re doing in their day-to-day lives. I can share pictures and what I’m doing with them. MySpace and Facebook are really just to keep in contact with family and friends.”
Working@Duke is published monthly by Duke’s Office of Communication Services. We invite your feedback and suggestions for future story topics.
David Malone Utility worker, Housekeeping 5 years at Duke
Please write us at working@duke.edu or
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Working@Duke, Box 90496,
I think Facebook is great. I use Facebook because it’s helped me connect with high school friends. One of my good friends recently found me. It’s also good to stay in touch with family. I’ve got sons in Georgia, Texas and Washington, and it’s easy to go back and forth with each other. I also use a webcam with my two granddaughters. We use it to talk on a weekly basis.”
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Karen Goddard Corporate risk specialist, Corporate Risk Management 3 years at Duke
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— By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services
681-4533
PERQS E M P LOY E E D I S CO U N TS
Where’s BJ’s Wholesale Club? BJ’s Wholesale Club has four warehouses in the Triangle area: 1 8811 Brier Creek Parkway,
Wholesale savings through BJ’s employee discount
Raleigh
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savings on household items. “I love buying the personal care items. It’s amazing how much you can save on small things like shampoos and razors,” Jane Hickman said.
They’ve been members at the White Oak store in Garner since 2003, and happily take advantage of the Duke employee PERQS discount of $10 off the $45 membership each year. “It’s so convenient,” said Jane Hickman, who works in the Project Office at the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI). “We often stop by after work on our way home to Johnston County.”
And sometimes the Hickmans get savings on much bigger items. Earlier this summer, Jane rented a car for a vacation trip. By using her BJ’s membership, she was able to save more than $50.
ane and Bob Hickman are repeat customers at BJ’s Wholesale Club.
2 6301 Triangle Plantation Dr., Raleigh
3 2370 Walnut St., Cary 4 255 Shenstone Blvd., Garner
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Her husband, Bob Hickman, a safety coordinator for DCRI Facility Services, describes himself as “a tag-a-long” for most trips to the cavernous warehouse, but he is a fan of BJ’s gas prices.
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“That’s more than the price of the yearly membership,” she said. Duke faculty and staff can buy or renew membership at BJ’s at the $45 Inner Circle level or the $80 BJ’s Rewards level. For both levels, using the Duke PERQS discount saves $10 off the annual membership fee and extends the membership from 12 to 15 months. BJ’s memberships can be used at any BJ’s store. — By Marsha A. Green Writer, Office of Communication Services
“They typically run a few cents per gallon less than everyone else in the neighborhood,” he said. The Hickmans buy a range of products from BJ’s – from Cheerios to dress shirts. They particularly appreciate the
D U K E T O D AY
Find more PERQS discounts at
hr.duke.edu/discounts
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