May, 2009 Working@Duke by Working Duke

DUKE APPRECIATION The annual celebration and recognition of faculty and staff comes with a few new twists in May, as Duke faces budget challenges.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

FREE MOVIES Duke staff and faculty can check out movies for three days from Lilly Library’s video collection, which includes 25,000 titles.

Vo l u m e 4, I ss u e 4

SUSTAINABLE DUKE Duke is reducing food waste through campaigns that include composting, tracking uneaten food and eliminating food trays.

May 2009

A Smaller Duke

Job Openings Plummet by 44 Percent

DUKE IS CUTTING COSTS BY RE-EVALUATING HIRING NEW EMPLOYEES, AMONG OTHER MEASURES s North Carolina’s unemployment hovers at nearly 11 percent, the number of people looking for work at Duke has hit an all-time high: 10,367 people applied this January – a 52 percent increase over the same month last year. But applicants face increasingly long odds of landing a job at Duke. “We’re still conducting strategic hiring, but clearly not as much as before,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Duke Human Resources. “Realistically, since labor costs account for more than half of our budget, we are looking at having to become a smaller Duke in order to position ourselves for the future.” The drop in the value of Duke’s endowment, declines in philanthropic giving and uncertainty over federal funding has left a $125 million shortfall in the operating budget. As a result, the University is cutting costs and slimming down by re-evaluating hiring new employees, restricting pay increases, offering an early retirement incentive and creating a team of faculty and staff to aggressively look for ways to become more efficient. The team, known as the Duke Administrative Reform Team, or DART, is identifying opportunities to redesign major processes and services that span the institution in an effort to become more efficient, without weakening Duke’s academic mission. At the department and unit level, Duke is asking faculty and staff to be ever more frugal, find ways to consolidate jobs, eliminate expenses and creatively work through these tough times. “We believe taking these steps now will help close the deficit in the operating budget, while protecting the jobs of as many people at Duke as is possible,” Cavanaugh said.

Fe w e r P o s i t i o n s Filling jobs at Duke is now tougher – and requires more oversight. University departments and units have been asked to cull through their vacant staff positions and determine which ones they can eliminate. Under a new vacancy management policy, Executive Vice President Tallman Trask III, Provost Peter Lange, or one of their designees, must sign off before any University unit or department can recruit for a new staff position. Faculty hiring will continue, although at a slower rate. The result is a dramatic drop in the number of jobs for which Duke is hiring. Open and posted positions across the University plummeted 44 percent, from 1,394 in February 2008 to 786 this February. 2008 Gold Medal, Internal Periodical Staff Writing 2007 Bronze Medal, Print Internal Audience Tabloids/Newsletters

JOB OPENINGS AT DUKE DECLINE 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0

Jan 08

Jan 09

Feb 08

Feb 09

University departments are culling vacant staff positions and deciding which ones to eliminate. The result is a dramatic drop in the number of jobs for which Duke is hiring. Open and posted positions across the University dropped 44 percent, from 1,394 in February 2008 to 786 this February. Source: Duke Human Resources

“As departments continue to re-evaluate their labor costs, this number could get smaller,” said Denise Motley Johnston, director of recruitment. While other universities such as Princeton, Stanford and Johns Hopkins are in hiring freezes, Duke is not. Positions that remain open include clinical care jobs, positions financed by research grants or other external funding, including the federal economic stimulus package, and jobs considered critical to ongoing operations. Donna Crenshaw filled one of those positions in February. When her position as a pharmacogenetics consultant at GlaxoSmithKline was cut in December 2008, she immediately applied for a research scientist position at Duke’s recently established Deane Drug Discovery Institute. “I knew there was this exciting new venture at Duke and wanted to be involved,” she said. She was excited about applying her skills and knowledge to help faculty move potential therapeutics along the drug discovery pipeline. “It is a small operation, so I was very happy to be hired.” >> See A SMALLER DUKE, PAGE 5

This paper consists of 30% recycled post-consumer fiber. Please recycle after reading.

Editor’s Note LEANORA MINAI

Newsbriefs

Leanora.Minai@duke.edu

A $10 sports physical

bring exciting news. For the second straight year, Working@Duke is a finalist for grand prize in a national competition for best employee newsletter. The award is hosted by Ragan Communications, a leading resource for corporate and employee communications. Working@Duke won the grand prize in 2008 and will soon learn whether it will have the honor again, joining other organizations such as Southwest Airlines. This recognition echoes feedback received in the latest Working@Duke readership survey. In March, we distributed the survey by e-mail to 5,000 randomly selected faculty and staff. Nearly 600 responded with 89 percent telling us they enjoy reading it. Reader Edwina Newman was among the employees who provided a comment about the publication. “I find that it gives me often the first pointer on things going on at Duke that I have not yet heard about,” wrote Newman, senior program coordinator in the Academic Advising Center. “I like the fact that it is comprehensive by being inclusive of a very diverse cross section of the entire Duke community. It is a successful effort in bridging the entire Duke community.” Most survey respondents are pleased with the publication: 90 percent said they learn about new Duke-wide policies and employment related issues by reading Working@Duke; 88 percent say the publication helps them better understand the benefits available to them and their families; and 91 percent find it credible. Thanks for reading.

Duke Sports Medicine is offering $10 sports physicals to middle-school and high-school athletes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 12. Bring your budding athlete to the Finch Yeager Building near Wallace Wade Stadium with a completed medical history form, including a parent/guardian signature. The student-athlete will not be seen without the signature and history. Forms are available for printing at www.dukesportsmedicine.org. Bring $10 cash. No checks or credit cards are accepted. For additional information, call (919) 681-1656.

Get financially fit with free advice this month Retirement seminars, credit workshops and investment webinars are among highlights of this year’s Financial Fitness activities May 18-21. Staff and faculty can tap into a variety of seminars, including workshops about managing retirement portfolios during market fluctuations and conducting annual investment reviews. “It’s important, especially during these challenging economic times, for staff and faculty to have the opportunity to speak with experts in various financial fields,” said Bill Phillips, Duke Human Resources benefits manager. “Financial Fitness is a valuable resource because it allows access to essential advice on issues ranging from maintaining good credit to planning for retirement.” As part of Financial Fitness, the Duke Federal Credit Union will offer seminars on subjects such as retirement, homebuying and reducing credit card debt. For a complete schedule, including locations and seat reservations, visit hr.duke.edu/financialfitness.

Is your child graduating from college this summer? Graduation is a time for celebrating and updating Duke Human Resources about dependents. Children who are full-time students are only covered under health, dental or vision benefits until the end of the month in which they graduate from college (or until age 19 if they’re not full-time students). Notify Duke Human Resources within 30 days of a student’s graduation to adjust benefits, which may result in a premium reduction, and to receive information about continuing a child’s coverage under federal COBRA regulations.

For children ages 19 to 26 heading to college in the fall, faculty and staff must provide Human Resources with proof of full-time student status, such as a letter of acceptance, for a dependent to be eligible for Duke benefits. Notifications of changes in dependent status may be made by e-mail at benefits@duke.edu or by calling (919) 684-5600.

Departments save with new furniture buying program A new procurement program offers Duke University & Health System departments deep discounts on office furniture – everything from chairs and desks to ergonomic keyboard trays and workstations. By using an online catalog available at www.procurement.duke.edu, Duke staff and faculty can order products from two manufacturers: Knoll, a designer of innovative modern furniture, and Haworth, known for organic designs. Customers can create shopping lists that serve as price quotes to attach to paper requisitions or SAP e-requisitions for approval by departments or schools. The new program ensures Duke receives the best price available and helps establish standards to create a consistent look, while also enhancing sustainability. For more information, e-mail maureen.selman@duke.edu.

DukeMobile extended to other wireless devices Users of BlackBerrys and other wireless handheld devices can take advantage of much of the functionality of the DukeMobile suite of apps introduced for iPhones and iPod touch in March. The applications allow users to check campus events calendars, check sports scores and schedules, browse the current semester course schedule and look up faculty, staff and students in the campus directory. These new applications are being developed specifically to meet the needs of an increasingly mobile campus. Users of iPhones and iPod Touch devices install DukeMobile by visiting the iTunes App Store. Users of other wireless devices point their browsers to m.duke.edu/new to access other university mobile web functionality, including picking up emergency alerts and information technology updates.

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.

Cost Saving Idea: Build a Culture of Safety he downturn in the economy has everyone looking for whole lot more receptive to the idea of being safe now, cost-saving ideas. One area that could be overlooked is especially because they’ve been asked to create a safe environment with their input.” the impact of safety in the workplace. Last year, DLAR employees made it their responsibility While Duke has dramatically cut workers’ to create a safer work environment by forming a safety compensation costs during committee comprised of more than a the last several years, claims dozen employees from multiple units due to workplace injuries By reducing injuries within the division. The result: DLAR still average about $4 slashed its rate of injuries that resulted in million a year. in the workplace, work restrictions or missed time by “The continued focus we spend less on workers’ about 60 percent in one year. by employees and compensation and have more Through open discussion, the departments on creating a department solved small problems such safety culture at Duke not funds available to support as adding non-slip mats and replacing only creates a better work other needs.” steel-toed boots that irritated feet. The environment, it also has — Joyce Williams department also installed bulk food bag the potential to Director, Workers’ Compensation lifters to avoid heavy lifting and bought contribute to the machines that clean cages. bottom line as well,” “It was important to get an outlook said Joyce Williams, from many different people,” said Robert Wicker, a safety director of workers’ compensation. “Most committee member and DLAR maintenance specialist. job injuries can be avoided by creating a “When everyone is thinking about problems from all these safe workplace through teamwork.” different directions, you get a 3-Dimensional solution For example, the Division of instead of a flat, 2-Dimensional one.” Laboratory Animal Resources, known as These improvements in safety help reduce workers’ DLAR, is actively working to increase compensation expenses, which are paid out through the the well-being of its faculty and staff by same funding source as other benefits such as health care making improvements such as changing how and retirement. employees lift bags of food or clean animal cages. These “By reducing injuries in the workplace,” Williams said, changes have led to fewer injuries and increased “we spend less on workers’ compensation and have more productivity. funds available to support other needs.” “Everyone is taking ownership in helping to keep our workplace safe because when employees make suggestions, — By Bryan Roth they know our safety committee will act on it,” said Peg Writer, Office of Communication Services Hogan, senior operations manager for DLAR. “People are a

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Learn more about safety in the workplace at www.safety.duke.edu

Duke Appreciation 2009 uke Appreciation, the annual celebration and recognition of faculty and staff, comes with a few new twists this month: Music on the Quad; family celebrations at Sarah P. Duke Gardens and Nasher Museum of Art; and a new blog, where employees can post a note about people they appreciate at Duke – and why. “The changes resulted from a need to think creatively about ways to show appreciation and provide opportunities to come together as a community, while balancing the University’s budgetary challenges,” said Monica Pallett, manager of Staff and Family Programs at Duke. Many traditional events such as the Duke Family Fun Run/Walk and Duke Family Night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park will continue this year. The Night Out at Local Restaurants, which includes special offers with four participating restaurants, has expanded to the entire month. Other changes reflect the need to be more cost efficient with limited resources. These changes include not distributing a small gift of appreciation to 31,000 faculty and staff, and replacing the Family Fun Day with an Employee Kick-Off Celebration during football season. Also this year, Lunch on the Quad will become Music on the Quad, where faculty and staff can enjoy ice cream, employee art and live music from local bands Carnavalito and Bobby Hinton’s Shades of Blue band. “We want to celebrate the many accomplishments of our faculty and staff this year, but we are mindful that a lavish party is not the best way to do that in this economic environment,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Human Resources. Cavanaugh said that one of the things people appreciate most is recognition from peers, so this year, Human Resources invites faculty and staff to post comments of appreciation about colleagues through the Duke Appreciation website, hr.duke.edu/appreciation. “We have much to be proud of this year,” said Cavanaugh, “and Duke Appreciation offers us an opportunity to join with our colleagues and families to celebrate being part of this wonderful community.”

Professor of Biology Mohamed Noor and his daughter, Megan, 9, have competed in the Family Fun Run for the past three years. “It is great fatherdaughter time,” Noor said.

Duke Stars

Each year, Duke pays special tribute to faculty and staff celebrating career service milestones at the Night of Duke Stars, an invitation-only event. More than 2,000 employees are celebrating milestones this year. Here’s a look at what some of Duke’s stars say about their years here.

“My children are still very proud to say their mom works at Duke.” — Ann Ward Hospital Operating Room 25 years

“Duke had always won a place in my heart as an area of success and fun and learning…It was the first and only place I applied.” — Greg Stotsenberg Duke Police 10 years

Tim Smith performs during Duke Appreciation last year.

“Being at Duke has really enhanced my knowledge in medicine as well as my personal growth.” — Wei Jiang Department of Medicine 20 years

A child enjoys face painting during a Duke Appreciation event.

“The administration realizes that people here do have hearts.” — Pamela Varnadoe Law School 30 years

EVENTS Saturday, May 16 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Duke Family Fun Run/Walk Events held at the field south of Washington Duke Inn entrance

“I’m from Brazil. When my brother came to visit, he knew Duke… and not necessarily because of the basketball team.”

Sunday, May 17 Noon to 4 p.m. Family Day at the Nasher Museum of Art Celebrate the latest exhibit with free live entertainment, hands-on projects and gallery hunts

Monday, May 18 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Music on the Quad, West Campus Quad Bring lunch and join colleagues for ice cream, art by employees and live music (Rain date: May 20)

Sunday, May 31 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Duke Gardens Anniversary Bring family to Sarah P. Duke Gardens for music, magic and a celebration of its 75 years of beauty

For other Duke Appreciation events, such as discounts for restaurants and Duke baseball and Durham Bulls tickets, visit

— Aby Conaway Health Technology Solutions 10 years

Give a Shout Out For Colleagues at Duke Duke faculty and staff are invited to give a shout out for colleagues on a new blog. Tell the Duke community whom you appreciate – and why – at hr.duke.edu/appreciation.

“I like the type of work that I’m doing, which is working with plants.” — Jerome Smith Department of Biology 40 years

VOICES: Hear more from these Duke Stars at hr.duke.edu/ appreciation

hr.duke.edu/appreciation.

3 For everything Duke Appreciation 2009, visit hr.duke.edu/appreciation

Borrow free flicks at Lilly Library

By The Numbers 25,000 Films in Duke’s collection (DVDs, videocassettes, laser discs and 16mm film reels)

56,400 Total films borrowed in 2008

1,600 Films used in classes the 2008-09 year

577 Times “The Graduate” has been borrowed since 1985

1985 Year Duke began collecting films

30 Different languages in collection of foreign films

3 Days staff, faculty can keep films

ony Padmore used to spend $20 a month at video stores to rent Hollywood blockbusters, action flicks and comedies. But he’s saved hundreds of dollars in the past two years by borrowing movies from Duke University Libraries’ extensive video collection. Padmore visits Lilly Library on East Campus several times a week on his way home and uses a computer in the lobby to search for DVDs. Within minutes, he’s set for an evening of free entertainment. Since 2007, when he joined Duke, he’s borrowed about 200 films. “You can’t believe how many movies they have there,” said Padmore, 48, a utility worker with Housekeeping Operations. “Checking them out is very easy, convenient and saves a lot of money.” Duke staff and faculty can check out movies from Lilly Library’s video collection, which includes more than 25,000 DVDs, videocassettes, laserdiscs and 16mm films. Up to three videos can be borrowed at a time; they’re due back in three days. Recent releases include the 2009 feature film “Appaloosa” and Oscar winners such as “WALL-E” and “No Country for Old Men.” The collection also includes television series like “The Office” and “Sex and the City.” “Patrons are often surprised at the diversity of the video collection,” said Danette Pachtner, Duke’s film and video librarian. “We have tons of international films and many popular titles that people don’t necessarily expect in a university library setting.”

— By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

Rhonda Lee, a history professor, picks up a DVD on American history at Lilly Library.

HOW TO FIND FILMS Duke staff and faculty can check out videos and DVDs for free at Lilly Library on East Campus. When you go to pick up films, they’re not displayed on shelves for public viewing like a video store. To find your film, first log on to library.duke.edu In the search box, click “advanced search,” which takes you to the catalog database. Go to the “limit search” box, click “select the format” and scroll down until you see “videos and DVDs.” In the location box, select “Lilly Library.” You can search by keywords such as the film’s title or an actor’s name. If the film is available, jot down the call number and take it, along with your valid DukeCard, to the Lilly Library public service desk. Library staff will retrieve the video. Borrow up to three movies at a time and keep them for three days. There’s a $5 daily late charge per video.

Dropping pounds, clothing sizes PROGRAM HELPED EMPLOYEES LOSE 3,405 POUNDS IN 10 WEEKS Overall, this year’s program saw employees exercise for about 600 more hours and lose more than 1,000 pounds than last year. “We are all very excited that we had such great participation this year, with 350 more people than in 2008,” said Kelly Gehle, nutrition manager for LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program. “We hope that everyone will take what they learned and continue on to reach their health goals.” As part of the Eat Wise program, lifestyle makeovers were awarded to a department and two individual winners of an essay contest. Berberian and Victoria Grice, a staff assistant in the Duke Center for International Development, won the individual contest. The undergraduate Dean of Students Office wrote the winning group essay. Berberian and Grice received free visits to registered dietitians and fitness specialists every week and a free pair of sneakers. The Dean of Students Office went to free seminars on nutrition, fitness and managing stress. Like Berberian, Grice made significant lifestyle changes. Before Eat Wise began, the most exercise she got was walking to and from her car and office each day. Now she’s working out at the Wilson Recreation Center at least twice a week. She also joined LIVE FOR LIFE’s Learn about flexibility and exercising in summer heat Run/Walk Club and is eating fewer processed and during LIVE FOR LIFE workshops for Duke employees. high-calorie foods. “I just generally feel better because I don’t feel like May 5 I’m dragging myself around,” said Grice, who lost 10 Hip, Hip, Hooray: Yoga Workshop for the Hips pounds during the program. “I’m almost ready to buy a smaller size of jeans because mine don’t fit anymore.”

rom journaling food choices to bringing lunch to work, David Berberian has made small lifestyle changes to drop 14 pounds and feel healthier through one of Duke’s popular wellness programs, Eat Wise and Exercise. Instead of McDonald’s for lunch, Berberian packs healthy choices, including fruits and vegetables. And he pays more attention to portion sizes. “This feels like a lifestyle choice that will stick because it’s about choosing the right things to eat and do,” said Berberian, a scene shop coordinator with Event Management. “It’s more than just trying to lose weight.” Berberian is one of 1,460 Duke employees who took part in this year’s 10-week Eat Wise and Exercise program, which started Jan. 12 and ended March 20. Duke faculty and staff logged more than 15,450 hours of exercise and lost a combined 3,405 pounds.

David Berberian, a scene shop coordinator with Event Management, lifts weights at the Wilson Recreation Center, where he exercised with the guidance of a trainer during the Eat Wise program.

Get Fit

May 19

Why We Sweat: Tips for Exercising in the Heat

— By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

For more information about workshops, visit hr.duke.edu/runwalk

A Smaller Duke CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Creative Cost-Cutting The push to reduce costs and improve efficiencies creates opportunities for departments to reconsider staffing models. Take Human Resources, where Jamie Stallings worked as a staff assistant in the vice president’s office. She was looking to expand her responsibilities. At the same time, two other units within Human Resources wanted to fill administrative positions left vacant by staff retirements. Human Resources combined the two vacant positions and hired Stallings as a staff assistant supporting both the communications unit and the Human Resources Information Center, said Bill We’re still conducting Marchese, director of the business office in Human Resources. When strategic hiring, but the department did not fill clearly not as much as before. Stallings’ original position, the Realistically, since labor costs net result was the elimination of two jobs. account for Cavanaugh said that with more than several other jobs eliminated half of our through retirement or turnover and a reduction in operating costs, budget, we “we are looking at a million dollars are looking less in expenses for the Human at having to Resources department in fiscal become a year 2009-10.” Human Resources is not smaller alone. Duke’s Academic Council, the Duke in order to position ourselves for the future.” faculty governance organization, passed a resolution in March — Kyle Cavanaugh calling for every dean to establish a Vice President faculty advisory committee “to Duke Human Resources assist in the process of making strategic choices relating to cost controls and reductions.” And in the School of Nursing, labor savings are coming from rethinking job responsibilities. When turnover in the school’s business office created a vacancy, the department redistributed work and added a few hours to a part-time position rather than rehire a full-time employee. “That allowed us to keep someone who was familiar with our unit, and eliminate about three-quarters of the cost of a full-time employee,” said David Bowersox, the school’s associate dean of finance and administration.

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Duke’s expenses during the 2008 fiscal year, the most recent year for which audited results are available, were $1.96 billion. Pay and benefits for faculty and staff comprised more than half of the annual budget.

information technology and related support; parking and transportation; and printing, publications and websites. The scope of the team’s charge, however, is well beyond these areas, spanning virtually every administrative function and process. “We have been taking input from across the university – from the call for ideas on the Duke Enduring a Troubled Economy website, to interviews and anecdotal information,” said Tim Walsh, Duke’s assistant vice president and controller. He chairs the team’s analysis subcommittee. “If the initial assessment indicates that there might be big savings, we look further.” Walsh said the analysis subcommittee will provide data to the administrative reform team before the fiscal year ends June 30. The team will decide which cost-savings projects move forward. The key to success is the collaborative nature of the endeavor, he said. “Ultimately, no one should be surprised by what they hear when we bring the data back to the team. We are working closely with each area to ensure that we are integrating as many perspectives as possible into the analysis process before presenting data.”

Collaborative Process Flood of Applications As schools and units work to reduce costs for labor, travel, equipment and services, the Duke Administrative Reform Team, chaired by Trask and Lange, continues to examine administrative processes to decrease costs. The team is taking a closer look at staffing levels and services that cross multiple departments, where Duke can eliminate duplication or change processes to operate the university more efficiently. Initial areas slated for review include audit and compliance; facilities and maintenance strategies;

Salary restrictions save $18 million One cost-saving measure that takes effect in July involves compensation. Only University faculty and staff who earn $50,000 or less will be eligible for a one-time, lump sum payment of $1,000 in July as part of the performance management cycle for the University. Roughly 6,000 employees, about half of the University’s workforce, will be eligible for the payment, assuming they meet performance standards. “The intent was to try to balance providing some level of relief for people who may be more dramatically impacted by the economy and doing so in a cost effective manner,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Duke Human Resources. The lump sum payment will cost the University approximately $6.7 million – about $18 million less than the salary increase program last year. The savings is part of the University’s cost-cutting measures to address a budgetary shortfall of $125 million over the next three years. Maurice Parker, a documentary delivery supervisor with Perkins Library, isn’t complaining. “With the way things are, we’re just lucky to have a job,” he said. “There’s lots of people who aren’t as lucky as us who’d want our jobs.”

As Duke eliminates vacant jobs and redesigns services, competition for remaining jobs at Duke is more intense. According to Johnston, the director of recruitment, applicants are becoming more aggressive. They demand to see a recruiter. They call back repeatedly. Since many people apply for more than one job, the result is a flood of applications. For example, in Denise Motley Johnston January 2009, Duke Human Resources received Director of Recruitment 45,269 applications from the 10,367 people hoping to join Duke’s workforce. "Obviously Duke continues to be a very attractive place to work, and in these difficult economic times that means many more people are coming to us," said Johnston. "We not only continue to recruit the very best talent for Duke, we also strive to treat every applicant with the highest level of professionalism." Cavanaugh, who became vice president of Human Resource in February, said he appreciates the compassion shown – in recruiting and throughout Duke – during these difficult economic times. “At the end of the day, we are dealing with real people going through this, whether it is a manager already at Duke and striving to find ways to save money, or one of the many people applying to Duke because they see Duke as a great place to work,” he said. “It is an hour by hour challenge to balance budgetary decisions and compassion. I continue to be impressed by the fact that everyone I have met at Duke understands this.” — By Marsha A. Green Writer, Office of Communication Services

5 VOICES: Listen to Duke administrators discussing Duke’s budget challenges during the April 21 Primetime employee forum at itunes.duke.edu

Presidential awards T

he winners of the 2008 Presidential Award for outstanding service were honored by President Richard H. Brodhead in April. The awards, the most prestigious honor given Duke staff, recognize staff and faculty members for their distinctive contributions to Duke University & Health System over the year. Each recipient received a Presidential Medallion and check for $1,000. Also, 25 faculty and staff members were recognized as meritorious winners and received an award and $100.

Charles (Chip) Meade Jr.

Service/Maintenance Charles (Chip) Meade Jr. General Maintenance Mechanic Facilities Management “Chip is hardworking, dedicated and dependable,” said nominator Kenneth Bridges, Facilities supervisor. “This past year, he completed more than 887 service calls, 90 percent of which were finished within one day of the request. Chip is also responsible for Duke’s classrooms. He routinely inspects buildings to find and correct problems before they become an issue, so faculty can teach in a safe, comfortable environment and students can learn without maintenance interruptions.”

Deborah Ferettino

Arnetta S. Davis

Managerial Deborah Ferettino

Clerical/Office Support Arnetta S. Davis

Business Manager Romance Studies “Deborah is our team’s heart, soul and institutional memory,” said nominator Dr. Michèle Longino, chair, Department of Romance Studies. “She applies her knowledge of university policies, departmental rules and practices, as well as her own ideas, to each new situation. Deborah manages four different budgets, in both Euros and dollars, and handles visa requirements for our students and faculty, many of whom are from other countries. We would be lost without her.”

Staff Specialist Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI)/Faculty Support “Arnetta provides an outstanding first impression for Duke. She welcomes each visitor with dignity, respect, and friendliness,” said nominator Dr. Bob Harrington, professor of medicine, and director, DCRI. “She greets about 1,700 guests from around the world each year…Arnetta makes them feel comfortable while tracking down the information they need.”

VOICES: Listen to what the nominators say about the Presidential Award winners at hr.duke.edu/presidential

W. Paul Bumbalough

Marianne Hassan

Clinical/Professional W. Paul Bumbalough

Executive Leadership Marianne Hassan

Sr. International Student/Scholar Advisor Duke International Office, Fuqua School of Business

Associate Dean, New Initiatives Pratt School of Engineering

“When I think of the Presidential Award, I think of Paul Bumbalough,” said nominator Bertrand Guillotin, director of Fuqua’s International Center. “He is a world-class professional who consistently exceeds expectations. Paul provides the highest level of service with inspiring humility and steadfast reliability. Without Paul, Fuqua would not have been as successful in expanding our international student community. He is a strong representative of the Duke brand worldwide.”

“No one is more dedicated to nurturing our international programs and graduate students than Marianne Hassan,” said nominator Dr. April Brown, senior associate dean for research at Pratt. “After Abhijit Mahato’s tragic murder last year, Marianne took it upon herself to organize a memorial service, close his legal affairs in the U.S. and ensure the safe return of his personal effects to his family. Marianne’s sensitivity to our students’ needs is simply extraordinary.”

Preventive Maintenance Shop Keeping Duke running 24/7 Department: Preventive Maintenance Shop, Facilities Management Year formed at Duke: Since 2001 Who they are: The shop helps keep Duke running 24/7 by cleaning, lubricating, testing and repairing mechanical and electrical equipment in about 170 campus buildings. Staff repair light fixtures, tighten pipe fittings, monitor water treatment systems and replace filters in heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, among other jobs. The Preventive Maintenance Shop takes care of regularly scheduled maintenance. It’s not to be confused with the Facilities work control center, which handles requests for emergency repairs and unscheduled service to equipment and buildings. What they’re known for: The shop helps reduce emergency repairs and extends the useful life of equipment such as water pumps, power generators and air systems through planned maintenance. Each year, the staff works on more than 15,000 pieces of equipment, tests 46,000 emergency exit lights and replaces more than 25,000 heating and air-conditioning unit filters. What they can do for you: Keep your building in top shape. “We frequently work around other people’s schedules so their daily routines won’t be interrupted,” said Mark Browning, the shop’s supervisor who has worked 25 years in FMD. “When we’re working in classrooms and labs, we often do the maintenance at night and on weekends because it reduces interruptions.” Joel Woods, a heating, ventilating and air conditioning technician with Facilities Management’s Preventive Maintenance Shop, adjusts an HVAC unit in the Duke Free Electron Laboratory.

Number of employees: Fourteen who typically work 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some weekends and evenings. The shop also receives support from other Facilities staff such as licensed plumbers and electricians. Hidden department fact: Black widow spiders, snakes and squirrels are the most common “trouble makers” that create challenges for the shop’s staff. One unlucky squirrel on campus managed to crawl into a mechanical room, but his journey was cut short by a fan belt. “It didn’t do any major damage to the fan, but it was definitely not a lucky day for the squirrel,” Browning said. Significant achievement: Over the years, the shop has implemented many improvements that helped Duke save money and energy. For instance, the shop’s staff suggested a switch several years ago from bulky box filters to smaller bag filters for heating and air systems, located on many campus building roofs. The previous box filters cost $60,000 a year for large buildings and required two weeks of labor to replace. In comparison, the new bag filters cost $20,000 annually and require only one week to install. “That has cut down immensely on time and waste,” Browning said. Big goal: Continually enhance and improve reliability and safety of all equipment to further enhance Duke’s infrastructure, energy efficiency, and air and water quality.

How they make a difference: Without preventive maintenance, Duke’s water, electrical and heating systems would not be as reliable or efficient. Interview by Missy Baxter, senior writer, Office of Communication Services

Sustainable uke YO U R

S O U R C E

F O R

G R E E N

N E W S

D U K E

Taking a bite out of food waste ast year, Duke diners tossed away tons of uneaten food and scraps. The good news is, most of this food waste went to an off-site compost facility for gardening soil to benefit the environment. Still, Duke is working to further reduce food waste through campaigns that include tracking uneaten food, eliminating food trays in some eateries and exploring providing biodegradable, recyclable or reusable to-go containers in two of the largest campus dining establishments. “We want everyone to understand the importance of mindful consumption,” said Nate Peterson, director of operations for Bon Appétit Management Company, which operates the Marketplace on East Campus and Great Hall on West, Duke’s largest eateries. “We want people to realize they should only take the amount they will eat.” Duke earned an “A” for food and recycling in the College Sustainability Report Card issued last September by the Sustainable Endowments Institute. The report noted that Duke conducted an inventory of the dining facilities’ environmental impact to help guide and implement best practices. One practice Duke is using to reduce food waste is by tracking it through awareness campaigns. Bon Appétit launched “Taste Don’t Waste” at the Marketplace on East Campus in February. For five weeks, staff weighed daily food waste and recorded it on posters. During that time, about 30,000 pounds of food was composted, instead of landing in a landfill. The campaign hit home with diners: food waste at the Marketplace dropped about 35 percent from a daily average of 1,182 pounds the first week of the campaign to 761 pounds the final week. “I think the large reduction was because seeing the amounts of waste written on the posters made people more aware of their impact,” said Barbara Stokes, assistant director of Duke Dining Services. “Even if they had only left a little bit on their plate, they realized how quickly that added up.” In another effort to reduce waste and conserve water, the Marketplace on East Campus gave trays the heave last August. Stokes said less food is being wasted because diners carry plates, not trays. Students in a Food & Energy class at the Nicholas School for the Environment are researching whether the trayless program can be expanded to the Great Hall on West Campus. The class is also investigating whether Duke should create an on-campus compost site and offer biodegradable or reusable to-go containers in the Great Hall and Marketplace, where plastic recyclable containers are currently provided.

Roderick Johnson, a Dining Services employee in the Marketplace on East Campus, scrapes uneaten food into a composting collection area in the dishwashing room.

“Food production is a great contributor to climate change, so this allows the students to learn research methods and help make an important contribution,” said Charlotte Clark, the Nicholas professor teaching the course. Duke senior Marissa Galizia, who is in the class, said the research is enlightening. For instance, the team working to find the best to-go containers discovered some composting facilities don’t accept certain biodegradable containers. “Along with the environmental impact, we also have to consider economic and social factors,” Galizia said. “People always think that going green is easy, but there are a lot of variables.”

Duke’s two largest eateries, the Marketplace and Great Hall, use posters to educate diners during the “Taste Don’t Waste” campaign to reduce food waste.

— By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

Stay informed about sustainablility at duke.edu/sustainability

WORKING@ DUKE

dialogue@Duke

HOW TO REACH US Editor: Leanora Minai (919) 681-4533 leanora.minai@duke.edu

“Whom do you appreciate at Duke – and why?

Assistant Vice President:

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I appreciate my supervisor, Sgt. Worth Shelton. When I first started here, he took me under his wing and guided me. He had faith and trust in me right away and supported me.”

Paul S. Grantham (919) 681-4534 paul.grantham@duke.edu

Drayton Smith Officer, Duke Police 8 months at Duke

Graphic Design & Layout: Paul Figuerado Photography: Bryan Roth, Office of Communication Services; and Duke University Photography.

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I appreciate the computer staff and data librarian here at the Sanford Institute. Not only are most of them my friends, but they’re very good at what they do. Anne Fletcher, the data librarian, keeps me sane when I need to vent.”

Working@Duke is published monthly by Duke’s Office of Communication Services. We invite your

Khuwailah Beyah Executive assistant and program coordinator, Public Policy Studies 8 years at Duke

feedback and suggestions for future story topics. Please write us at working@duke.edu or

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Working@Duke, Box 90496,

I work by the football field, so I’d say the coaches and sports teams. They’re nice people. They always say hello and ask how my day is going.”

705 Broad St., Durham, NC 27708 Call us at (919) 684-4345. Send faxes to (919) 681-7926.

Ricardo Valdovinos-Robles Utility worker, Housekeeping 1 year at Duke

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681-4533

PERQS

By The Numbers 76 Years ADF in existence

E M P LOY E E D I S CO U N TS

32 Years ADF in Durham

31 Years since pop star Madonna attended the ADF school on a scholarship

600 + Number of World Premieres performed by ADF

5 Number of World Premieres during the 2009 Festival

For details about performances and the Duke discount, visit

americandance festival.org. Use promotion code: 367569.

Dance at a discount

s a child, Sarah Woodard spent a lot of time dancing. “I took tap and ballet,” she said. “It was great exercise, and I adored it.” Now, Woodard enjoys dance each summer through the American Dance Festival at Duke. A perennial fan, she is thrilled that Duke offers reduced-price tickets through PERQS, the faculty and staff discount program. “We usually get a season ticket, where we can save 30 percent, but for people who only want to go to a few performances, the discount is great,” said Woodard, an administrative coordinator for Duke Medicine’s chief human resources officer. Duke employees can save 20 percent off the regular price of individual tickets, which go on sale online May 11. The 2009 season begins June 11 and runs through July 26 with performances at the Reynolds Industries Theater on Duke’s West Campus and at the Durham Performing Arts Center. The 2009 program offers Woodard and others a diverse menu of dances and dancers to experience. “This will be an exciting season that will explore the

D U K E T O D AY

boundaries that do – or do not – exist between ballet and modern dance,” said David B. Byrd, director of marketing and communications for ADF. The 2009 festival, Where Ballet & Modern Meet, will bring back festival favorites such as Pilobolus and Emanuel Gat Dance. Shen Wei, whose work was featured in the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies, will also present a World Premiere.

Shen Wei Dance Arts will present a world premiere at the American Dance Festival. Shen Wei’s choreography was featured in the Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremonies. Photo by Lois Greenfield.

Festival activities also include free events, including site-specific performances at the Durham Performing Arts Center and the Golden Belt, a historic textile mill in Durham that has been renovated into artsfriendly studios, restaurants and offices. The ADF will also offer a Community Day at the Nasher Museum of Art, backstage tours of rehearsals and ADF School classes, panel discussions and pre-performance talks at evening shows. Margaret Brill, who works in the International and Area Studies department of Perkins Library, purchases a season ticket for herself but often uses the PERQS discount to

buy tickets for family and friends. She loves ADF not only for the exhilarating performances, but because the festival livens up Durham. “You have all these incredible dancers from around the world performing, and they are also part of the community,” she said. “You see them at Whole Foods. You get to interact with them during the question and answer sessions after the performances. They work with the community. It’s like having the world come to Durham.” — By Marsha A. Green Writer, Office of Communication Services

For daily news and information, visit duke.edu/today