Working@Duke May, 2011 Issue

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CELEBRATING FACULTY & STAFF Duke Appreciation returns with events in May, including a band, ice cream and employee artwork during “Music on the Quad.”

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RECIPE FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS From May 23-27, Duke will bring financial experts to campus locations for free workshops and information booths.

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SUSTAINABLE DUKE Duke’s graduating students will be dressed in black caps and gowns this month, but they’ll be greener than ever.

NEWS YOU CAN USE :: Volume 6, Issue 4 :: May 2011

UNIVERSITY CLOSES $100 MILLION BUDGET GAP BUT FINANCIAL DILIGENCE IS VITAL IN YEARS AHEAD ability to take on new strategic opportunities will be limited without uring the record drought four years ago, the Duke community outside funding or rearranging the money we already have to spend worked together to cut water consumption by 50 percent. When the on other priorities.” drought ended, the good habits continued. Last year, water use was Living within the constraints of a smaller budget may prove still nearly 200 million gallons less than the year before the drought began. challenging based on the latest Duke officials are encouraging spending trends. During fiscal year faculty and staff to take a similar University Spending Trends 2009-10, university departments approach to spending as the collectively reduced spending by university emerges from the worst $150M more than $44 million compared economy since the Great 2008 (pre-DART) ($ Millions) to the previous fiscal year. But the Depression. 2009 trend has been going in the After nearly three years of $130M 2010 opposite direction for the last three austere measures and better than quarters compared to the same anticipated growth in investments, $110M periods in the previous year: Duke has closed the $100 million budget gap created by investment $90M • From April to June 2010, losses in the endowment in 2008. spending increased 9 percent, or With spending trends beginning to about $11.1 million. $70M inch back up, the question remains: • From July to September will the university be able to live 2010, spending jumped 14 percent, within its means going forward? $50M or $8.5 million. Jan-Mar Apr-June July-Sept Oct-Dec Executive Vice President Tallman Trask III said Duke has • From October to December Schools and departments have reduced spending by millions between 2008 and 2009, but the trend now returned to a more sustainable began 2010, spending increased 18 percent, to climb again during most of 2010 with three consecutive quarters of increases compared to budget through a combination of the same periods the previous year. or $10.2 million. expense reductions from the past “You can only go so long without buying certain things critical to several years and investment returns on the university’s endowment, supporting our ongoing operations,” said Tim Walsh, vice president for which increased 15.6 percent during calendar year 2010. Philanthropic Finance and chair of the analysis group for the Duke Administrative contributions also increased 15 percent to $346 million during the last Reform Team (DART). “While our spending is still 12 percent below fiscal year after dropping $85 million the previous year. what it was before the recession, we can’t take our foot off the brake Despite these improvements, Trask said financial diligence is vital completely yet.” going forward, especially since traditional methods used to generate Walsh said that further efficiencies and savings opportunities still capital through investments will not be available for the next two to exist in places such as computer purchasing. three years. “The new reality is we are operating with a budget that is about $60 >> See NEW NORMAL , PAGE 5 to $70 million less than what it was before the recession,” he said. “We have a lot of things we want to do, and those things cost money. Our

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Editor’s Note

Newsbriefs

LEANORA MINAI

A toast to professional development

Free fun at the Gardens

Leanora.Minai@duke.edu

Don’t let the name of the club fool you: Toastmasters is not just about making dinner toasts or formal speeches. The meetings teach skills in listening and leadership, as well as public speaking – all in a friendly atmosphere. Blessy Josephs, a financial analyst for Duke University Hospital, views the twice-a-month meetings as part of her professional development. “When I joined Duke Toastmasters, my supervisor and I included the training in my yearly personal development plan,” she said. “Toastmasters is a relaxing and supportive place to practice public speaking and giving feedback.” Duke hosts two Toastmasters clubs. The Duke Toastmasters Club meets from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at the Duke University Federal Credit Union at Erwin Square. The Blue Devil Toastmasters meet from noon to 1 p.m. on first and third Fridays at 705 Broad St. Staff and faculty can attend an initial meeting as a guest without paying a membership fee. To join, members pay a one-time enrollment fee of $20 and a recurring fee of $39 every six months. For more information, visit hr.duke.edu/toastmaster.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens’ free Family Fun Day on May 28 is going to be a bit fishy. One of the events is the Great Fish Release, where children can join in putting goldfish into the newly refurbished fish pool at the foot of the Terraces. Family Fun Day, which is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., includes a variety of nature-focused, hands-on activities, from building fairy houses to concocting gel slime, playing with bubbles, dissecting lima beans and seeing how plants can grow in gloves. Near the festival’s end, Paperhand Puppet Intervention – who will present a 1 p.m. show in the Doris Duke Center as part of the Arts in the Garden performance series – will join festival-goers in a participatory parade through the Gardens. No registration is necessary for Family Fun Day. To purchase tickets for the Paperhand performance, visit tickets.duke.edu or call (919) 684-4444. For more information, call (919) 668-1707 or visit gardens.duke.edu.

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s we work to enhance how news and information are delivered to you, we’re pleased to announce that Working@Duke is now an edition of the online publication, Duke Today. Duke Today has been redesigned into a larger site and now includes two editions, “News” for content about Duke’s vibrant academic and research community, and “Working@Duke,” your one-stop-shop for news and information about benefits, services, programs and the people who work here. As part of this change, we are taking the opportunity to redesign the print publication, which will be delivered six times a year instead of 10, beginning with next month’s issue. You can read more about these changes in the June issue. The Working@Duke edition of Duke Today offers you a new way to personalize news, and interact and contribute to conversations in the Duke community. You can customize topics and headlines you want to follow, and, among other features, add comments to a story, take a poll, submit an idea, upload a photo and engage through Facebook and Twitter. The Working@Duke edition of Duke Today is brought to you by the same editorial team that creates the printed Working@Duke. We’ll follow the same guideline: useful and enjoyable content that helps you gain a better understanding of the benefits, services and issues that affect your work and life. Although you’ll receive fewer issues of the printed version, please turn to the online edition for more content in real time. Stay informed. Start a conversation. Stay connected. Check the Working@Duke edition of Duke Today at today.duke.edu/working. In fact, go one step further: set it as your home page.

Duke box numbers key to mail delivery on campus Duke Postal Operations sorts tens of thousands of pieces of mail each day – all U.S. Postal Service mail coming to Duke and all interdepartmental mail within Duke. They cope with the enormous volume by sorting by box number, not by name. To ensure that your mail gets to you in a timely manner, check that your box number is correct in the Duke directory by logging on to Duke@Work [hr.duke.edu/selfservice]. Then ensure that you include the recipient’s box number when you address mail and insist that those sending you mail, whether through the USPS or through interdepartmental mail, use your box number in addition to your name. Even UPS and FedEx, which don’t take USPS box number, will accept “Duke,” “DUHS,” or “Med Ctr.” followed by a box number. Information on how to address mail at Duke is at postoffice.duke.edu (click on “Receiving and Sending Mail”).

Got an Android? Get DukeMobile DukeMobile, the suite of applications for sharing information about Duke with the most common mobile platforms, is now available on Android devices. The DukeMobile suite includes improved maps of the Duke campus, the Duke faculty, staff and student directory, library catalogue information, access to thousands of digital images from Duke Libraries’ collections, news feeds from Duke, and the ability to receive IT alerts and emergency DukeALERTs. To get DukeMobile on your Android device, visit the Android Market. To learn more about DukeMobile, visit oit.duke.edu/vvw/mobile.

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.

Be prepared in an international emergency n his first night in Korea for a conference, Duke professor Shai Ginsburg slipped in the hotel restroom and broke his right hip. For help arranging everything from emergency surgery in Korea to a flight home 10 days later, he turned to Duke’s travel assistance program, International SOS. “They sent an ER nurse from the U.S. to accompany me,” Ginsburg said. “I was truly happy there was someone there to take care of my medication and help me get through the airport. It’s more complicated than it seems.” All faculty, staff and students who travel overseas on Duke business are covered by International SOS through Duke. While arranging medical care is the mainstay of the service, International SOS is a central component of Duke’s overall emergency management efforts and assists with security emergencies, including evacuation from a country. During recent political unrest in Egypt and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, International SOS helped identify the whereabouts of Duke community members. In Egypt, the service arranged a charter flight to evacuate a graduate student, although it wasn’t used because she was able to find space on an earlier flight. “The value of having a program like SOS is it gives you peace of mind,” said Chris Boroski, director of Duke’s Corporate Risk Management. “If something bad happens – medical, natural disaster or a revolution – we have resources that can help manage circumstances so we can have the best outcome possible.” International SOS provides a 24/7 global network of experts and multilingual representatives who connect clients

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Register International Travel Duke students, faculty and staff traveling abroad on Duke business should register their travel and contact information prior to departure and carry their International SOS wallet membership card. To register travel, print the card or to learn more, visit j.mp/internationalsos online or contact Chris Boroski at (919) 684-6226 or chris.boroski@duke.edu.

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with security and medical help, even routine health matters like finding a dentist and arranging payment – daunting tasks with a language barrier. “You generally can’t pull out your Duke Select card overseas and say, ‘here you go,’ ” Boroski said. Boroski cautioned that International SOS should not be confused with health insurance. While logistics arrangements or evacuation are covered expenses in emergencies, faculty, staff and students are still responsible for medical care costs. (For staff and faculty who travel often or live abroad, Duke Options health plan has a network of international hospitals). Boroski serves as the point of contact at Duke for international medical and security emergencies. He notifies International SOS when someone needs help; community members on Duke business can also contact the service directly. He stressed the importance of registering travel and contact information with Duke prior to departure. While undergraduates are required to register, it’s not mandatory for graduate students, faculty or staff. When something goes wrong abroad, Boroski first checks Duke’s online travel registry to see who from Duke is overseas. During incidents in Egypt, Libya and Japan, some Duke community members had not registered. “If I don’t know you’re there, I can’t help you,” Boroski said. Boroski reminds students, faculty and staff traveling abroad on Duke business to carry their International SOS wallet ID card, which has 24/7 telephone numbers. The membership card is available for printing using Duke NetID and password through j.mp/internationalsos. — By Leanora Minai Editor, Working@Duke


Duke Appreciation 2011 he annual celebration of Duke faculty and staff returns May 23 with a band, ice cream and employee artwork during “Music on the Quad.” The marquee event is one of several special activities in May to help recognize the more than 32,000 faculty and staff at Duke. Local restaurants are offering discounts; the Durham Bulls will host special Duke Family nights and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens has a Family Fun Day in store. In addition, there are ways colleagues can show appreciation for co-workers who make a difference – either by writing a note on the Duke Appreciation blog, or picking up a treat and free personalized bookmark at the Duke Farmers Market. Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Human Resources at Duke, said he continues to be impressed at the commitment of Duke faculty and staff. He noted the extra efforts during several severe weather events during the winter,

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as well as the response to international crises such as unrest in Egypt and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. “I’ve seen incredible efforts made to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff overseas when crises occur in other countries, and I know that there are thousands of other employees equally committed to bringing the values and mission of Duke University and Duke University Health System to life each day,” he said. “I thank each one of them for all they do toward building Duke’s excellent reputation near and far.”

Duke Stars

Each year, Duke pays special tribute to faculty and staff who are celebrating career milestones of 10 or more years at the “Night of Duke Stars,” an invitation-only event. More than 2,300 employees are celebrating milestones. Here’s what some Duke Stars say about Duke: “Students at Duke are always stimulating. They make it all worthwhile.” — William Chafe Alice Mary Baldwin Professor of History 40 years

“I haven’t traveled the world but through my job the world has come to me.”

Last year, more than 7,000 ice cream cones were given out during the Music, Art & Ice Cream on the Quad event.

— Pamela Ladd Sanford School of Public Policy 35 years

Above: Joy Parton, a staff specialist for the Hospital Auxiliary, gets an ice cream cone as part of Duke Appreciation events on the Quad.

“I’m proud of the talent, dedication, diversity and compassion of my colleagues and leaders.” — Dr. W. Kevin Broyles Duke University Affiliated Physicians 25 years

“Duke not only takes care of their patients but their employees as well.”

Sensory Expressions provided music for last year’s Music, Art & Ice Cream on the Quad for Duke Appreciation.

EVENTS Duke Family Nights, Durham Bulls Athletic Park

— Wanda McLurkin Duke Raleigh Cancer Center 25 years

Compliment a Colleague

“I have had numerous opportunities here that I would not have had elsewhere.”

May 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 & 19 Duke families with a valid DukeCard may buy discounted tickets to Durham Bulls games, first-come, first served. Call (919) 956-BULL.

MARKET-GRAMS, Duke Farmers Market May 6, 13, 20 & 27 Visit the market on Fridays in May and purchase a healthy snack for a colleague and personalize it with a free bookmark with sayings like “working at Duke with you is sweet.”

Music, Art & Ice Cream on the Quad Monday, May 23, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Bring lunch and join colleagues for employee art and poetry exhibits, ice cream and music by Saludos Compay, a local Latin music quartet. (Rain date: May 24)

Family Fun Day, Sarah P. Duke Gardens Sunday, May 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Garden-themed activities and a participatory parade led by the Paperhand Puppet Intervention.

— Christiane Nooney Clinical Laboratory 20 years

Post a compliment about a colleague on the “Making a Difference” Duke Appreciation blog and tell the Duke community how a co-worker makes a difference. Who’s been making a difference lately? Carl Hodges of Parking and Transportation got a mention for arranging last-minute van transportation for freshmen. Rob Dipatri, from OIT, arranged a lastminute digital video conference when a guest lecturer for a Sanford School class was stuck in Washington, D.C. due to bad weather. And Lynell Wiggins, at Perkins Library cheerfully kept the Library Administrative Office running smoothly when her supervisor was away due to a family illness.

For other Duke Appreciation events, such as discounts at area restaurants, visit

Post your note at

hr.duke.edu/appreciation/2011

hr.duke.edu/makingadifference

“I love helping others achieve their dreams and goals.” — Izy L. Obi School of Nursing 15 years

“I have this sense of belonging to this great place that people come to from all over.” — Rebecca Padilla-Burgos Duke Hyperbaric Center 10 years

3 hr.duke.edu/appreciation/2011


What’s your recipe for financial success? GET THE INGREDIENTS AT FINANCIAL FITNESS WEEK MAY 23-27 From May 23-27, Duke will once again bring financial experts to Duke University and Duke University Health System locations during a week of workshops and information booths offered at no charge to faculty, staff and their family members. Workshop topics include fundamentals of investing, retirement planning, achieving long-term financial goals, building a strong credit history and more. Among information booths on May 25 at the Searle Center will be the U.S. Department of Treasury. A representative will assist employees in researching whether there are uncashed savings bonds or other unclaimed funds held by May 23 s es cc u S l a ci government in their the n a in F Library, West Campus Perkins r fo Recipe name. Workshops: 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. New this year is a Information booths: noon to 2 p.m. benefits workshop in May 25 Spanish: “Entendiendo kshops or w Searle Center, West Campus k ee W s yd es per Holro Mi Plan de Retiro de inancial Fitn nce plans (Cas Workshops: 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ra su in e A taste of F lif e about Duk Duke” (Understanding need to know Information booths: noon to 2 p.m. u yo ng hi yt n Ever y, My Retirement Plan at ncy) ns (Roger Gra ge io A at yd tu ro uc ol Fl H t of Marke rtfolio During ent Services) Duke). The workshop DWS Retirem Retirement Po ith ur w Yo t g en in em ag ag an C) M LI n Man p hi VA r, ns will help a growing number of Spanish speakers employed at Duke viso of Relatio or financial ad director, head Overcash, seni om (T understand how they can use Duke’s retirement plans to help prepare en om r, W r al adviso t Strategies fo rguson, financi Fe es n Retiremen am for a comfortable retirement. (J s ul Investor ighly Successf H of its “We want to remove as many barriers as possible in dialoguing ab H e n Five mended. For th m co ) re EF e ar CR Ans A with employees about this important benefit,” said Sylvester TI ss. servatio financialfitne workshops, re t hr.duke.edu/ ited for many si vi lim Hackney, assistant director of Benefits at Duke. , is at e se ac a sp e cause reserv ome people can throw together a delicious meal without a plan, but many take a step back and think it through, recipes in hand. The same strategy applies for planning for financial success. That’s why Peg Helminski attended a retirement planning seminar during last year’s Financial Fitness Week at Duke. “Life goes by so fast, and I don’t often step back and think about personal financial stuff,” said Helminski, a staff specialist for the Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life. “The seminar gave me good ideas of how to reinvest the money we still have after most of our savings evaporated during the market crash.”

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When & Where

t Duke a k e e W s s e n Financial Fit

Be and to and locations full schedule

— By Marsha A. Green Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

Learn more at hr.duke.edu/financialfitness

Center for LGBT Life challenges intolerance 90 minutes. “Outside of Duke T-shirts sold by the Duke bookstores, it’s the most popular T-shirt on campus and has also been spotted at the Today show, outside the White House, at the National Equality March and on CNN,” said Janie Long, director of the Center for LGBT Life. “They’ve become a very important symbol on the Duke campus for equality.”

What they can do for you: Many events sponsored by the Center for LGBT Life are open for faculty and staff. Activities include guest speakers and Ally Training, which teaches employees to support LGBT community members. The Center also hosts a listserv for employees. Number of employees: Three

Duke students distribute “Love=Love” T-shirts during the annual Coming Out Day activities outside the Bryan Center.

Department: The Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life Years at Duke: While some variation of the center has been around since 1994, it moved to its current location in the West Union in 2004. Who they are: The Center for LGBT Life provides education, advocacy, mentoring, academic engagement and space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, questioning and straight-allied students, staff and faculty at Duke. Through its services, the Center encourages critical thinking about the intellectual, cultural and political ramifications of sexual and gender difference at Duke and beyond. It seeks to challenge bias and intolerance in order to promote affirmation and support a more hospitable campus climate. The Center also serves and supports Duke alumni and the larger community. What they’re known for: As part of the annual celebration of Coming Out Day, an event that encourages positive support for LGBT community members, the Center distributes free T-shirts with the slogan, “Love=Love.” Despite printing 1,500 shirts every year, they are regularly snatched up in less than

Hidden department fact: The Center for LGBT Life acts as the main campus organizer of the annual North Carolina Pride Parade and Festival hosted on Duke’s East Campus. Every year, thousands of people participate and watch the festival’s parade along Main Street. Significant achievement: “We now have hundreds of students who interact with us, as opposed to four students who interacted with us on a regular basis when I got here in 2006,” Long said. “I know we’re making a lot of positive changes in people’s lives.” Big goal: Long said she’d love to see a larger group of faculty and staff members become involved with the Center. “If we’re going to have the most supportive campus possible for the LGBT community,” she said, “it has to be driven by the faculty and staff who work here.” How they make a difference: Members of the Center staff hold various trainings across the university and health system to teach about LGBT issues. “We work to help everyone understand the variety of students, employees, and even patients at Duke,” Long said. Learn more about the Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life at studentaffairs.duke.edu/lgbt.

4 Got a suggestion for Inside Duke? Write working@duke.edu

— Interview by Bryan Roth, Writer, Office of Communication Services


New Normal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 DART introduced a new program in February 2010 to offer volume discounts on computers based on three levels of computer needs. The specifications of the three levels were determined by department and school IT professionals. The level 1 model was projected to meet the need for about 60 percent of Duke’s faculty and staff, with level 2 and level 3 computers designated for more advanced computing needs. The level 1 computer also cost considerably less than level 2, which costs significantly less than level 3. Based on the first half of the current fiscal year, only about 11 percent of 1,627 computers purchased through the program were for the level 1 model. Because the average cost of a level 1 computer is significantly less, the projected savings being lost annually is $1.2 million. “Some of the upticks in spending are disturbing,” Trask said. “We can’t give back all the savings we’ve taken out of the budget the last couple years.”

Doing More with Less While Duke avoided the type of mass layoffs other institutions faced, working down to a more sustainable budget did not happen without an impact on services. Trask said reductions in the last two years will require “somewhat different expectations about service levels in some areas.” The impact of doing more with less has created changes in service as vacant positions have been eliminated to help reduce overall expenses. Due to the number of staff members in Grounds who took the early retirement incentive, the maintenance of 626 acres of Duke’s campus is less frequent. Reduced staffing has also affected areas such as Duke’s central Human Resources office, where staffing ratios have gone from 189 employees to every one HR staff member to 312 employees to every one HR staff member, meaning fewer HR staff to respond to service needs and requests. Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Human Resources, said that while staffing has been reduced, demand for services has increased. For example, the number of faculty, staff and dependents covered by Duke’s health insurance plans increased by 2,000 this year to 59,000. “That translates directly to increases in support and customer service transactions,” he said. “We also have more regulatory demands with things like national health care reform and a larger employee population with the expansion of the Health System.” Human Resources, like many departments, has sought efficiencies to help balance the increasing demands with quality service. “We are using technology and self-service options such as the electronic timecard more and more,” Cavanaugh said. “We have to balance the personal interaction with customer service to be more efficient and effective. But, like many places, people are working harder.” Count Doris Jordan among them. She recently worked as a program coordinator at the Kenan Institute for Ethics, where she said she was “wearing more hats than the church lady in the amen corner.” I was After her job was converted to a ninewearing month appointment, more hats than the she transferred to a church lady in the staff assistant amen corner.” position with the Duke Environmental — Doris Jordan, Leadership Program Former program coordinator at in the Nicholas the Kenan Institute for Ethics School of the Environment. “I think the increased workload is felt particularly in support roles,” she said. “In my former role, I was basically working several jobs and working overtime. In addition to my program coordinator role, I did everything from paying bills to scheduling appointments, washing dishes, moving furniture and managing other administrative and financial responsibilities.” John Fay, an instructor at the Nicholas School of the Environment, said increases in enrollment have led to slightly larger class sizes and more work outside the classroom. “I used to co-teach a class with a colleague who picked up more advising, so I now teach the class solo,” he said. “I spend more time during the weekends preparing for lectures and making sure I have things set for classes during the week.” Provost Peter Lange said that while the last couple of years of contraction have created some strain, he is impressed with how faculty and staff have pulled together to address the challenge.

“I think we’ve done pretty well with morale,” he said. “But going through a few years of austerity can shorten people’s fuses about other things not directly associated with the austerity itself. And I can understand that. Thankfully, this year we can provide a pay increase to help recognize people, their hard work and the sacrifices they’ve made.”

Out of Crisis Comes Opportunity While cutbacks have forced people to pick up additional responsibilities, they’ve also helped spur innovative changes. The Biology department, for example, no longer uses frogs in the physiology lab. The department now uses equipment and software to allow students to conduct physiological assessments on each other such as their heart rates after climbing stairs. “We made the change for several reasons, including ethical concerns, economics and student interest,” said Randy Smith, business manager for the Biology department. “Students are more interested in their own physiological responses than that of frogs.” Smith also cited a transition to centralized printing for a 60 percent cost savings for the department. The department adopted the ePrint system, allowing individuals to send files to a shared printer that only prints after a user swipes his or her DukeCard. “We found that we were wasting lots of toner and paper,” Smith said. “People would print out materials and leave them on the printer or find a mistake and then reprint the materials. Thousands of dollars in paper were being left on the printer each year.” To encourage more people to abandon individual desktop printers, the department agreed to fund the cost for toner and paper for the ePrint stations. “This may be one of the few instances where we are giving something away for free and still saving money,” Smith said.

Emerging from the Recession After nearly three years of budget reductions, both Trask and Lange said the university now needs to turn its attention to operating effectively and efficiently in the post-recession environment. “I think we’ve If you all learned a lot don’t need going through this,” to spend it, don’t. If Lange said. “We learned what you don’t spend it, happens when you we’ll likely spend it go down and how on you.” to manage that. — Tallman Trask III, Now, we have to Executive vice president learn how you start expanding again and do those things well.” That expansion has a different meaning than it did before the recession. “We’re still quite constrained on making long-term financial commitments,” Lange said. “Moving ahead, we have to have a little more forethought and self-restraint. Before you take on a new expense, before you decide to do an event, or before you run a new program, you need to be more cautious, more careful, think more about whether you can overlap with existing resources or staffing.” Two years ago when the recession first took hold, Trask said that the development of the budget for fiscal year 2011-12 would be the most challenging – the time when the university had to have the answers for the $100 million shortfall it faced. “So far that process is going better than I expected,” he said after completing budget meetings with administrative departments. “Most areas are coming in at the budget target and a few are coming in under budget.” But he cautioned that continued financial prudence would be needed in the years ahead. “If you don’t need to spend it, don’t,” Trask said. “If you don’t spend it, we’ll likely spend it on you.”

— By Paul Grantham Assistant Vice President Office of Communication Services

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Presidential awards T

he winners of the Presidential Award for 2010 for outstanding service were honored by Duke President Richard H. Brodhead in April. The award, among the most prestigious of honors given to Duke staff and faculty, recognizes distinctive contributions to Duke University and Duke University Health System over the year. Brodhead presented each recipient with a Presidential Award Medallion and a check for $1,000. In addition to the five Presidential Award winners, 18 faculty and staff members were recognized as Meritorious Award winners. Each received an award and $100. Visit hr.duke.edu/presidential for Meritorious Award winners.

Wesley Phillips

Service/Maintenance Wesley Phillips Special Projects Supervisor, Duke Lemur Center “In his two year tenure, he has saved the DLC and the university tens of thousands of dollars in long-term maintenance fees and contracts, and built unique projects such as mouse lemur habitats,” said nominator Greg Dye, operations manager of the Duke Lemur Center. “The effort and devotion of this humble man, given so generously to the DLC, helps to distinguish Duke from any place else.”

Tami Tuck

Tamara A. Overcash

Clerical/Office Support Tami Tuck Administrative Assistant, Children’s Environmental Health Initiative, Nicholas School of the Environment “Tami is organized, persistent, meticulous, levelheaded, creative, efficient, and a team player,” said nominator Marie Lynn Miranda, director of the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative. “She is truly motivated by the mission of the organization. [Her] many contributions make the CEHI and the university more highly functioning and more humane, which I find to be an extraordinary combination.”

Christine Adamczyk

Gerald L. Wilson

Managerial Tamara A. Overcash

Clinical/Professional Christine Adamczyk

Executive Leadership Gerald L. Wilson

Director, Prospect Research, Management and Analytics University Development

Project Director, Duke Center for Science Education Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology

Senior Associate Dean, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

“Tamara had a vision of what would improve and enhance the tools of fundraisers to bring in more dollars for Duke,” said nominator Kelly Vogel, briefings specialist and senior research analyst for principal gifts. “She crafted a professional team of forwardthinking, diverse individuals who believed in her vision and worked hard to carry it out. She keeps the team moving forward as only a topnotch coach could.”

“In the past year and a half, Chris has accomplished more than many employees might accomplish over five years,” said nominator Rochelle D. Schwartz-Bloom, director of the Duke Center for Science Education. “Her passion and energy for engaging the Duke community in science education outreach are remarkable.”

“Academic Deans uphold the academic standards of the College,” said nominator Lee Baker, dean of academic affairs for Trinity. “Dean Wilson sets the tone for a culture of equity, fairness, deliberation, cooperation and innovation among the Deans by providing real leadership by example. The way he adjudicates complex and compelling academic problems is both sensitive and fair.”

Free DukeWell classes focus on healthy lifestyles wenty-seven Duke employees and community members sat in a circle, gazing at their hands as they slowly brought them together, then apart. “Pay attention to the sensations you feel,” said Dr. Jeff Brantley, the class facilitator. “Don’t worry if your mind wanders; just bring it gently back to the sensations of your hands.” Silence settled over the room as participants gently moved their hands back and forth. “How did that feel?” Brantley asked. "Relaxing,” a participant replied. The exercise was part of a free 90-minute seminar, Managing Job Stress, offered to Duke faculty and staff through DukeWell, Duke’s faculty and staff health initiative that focuses on managing health risks, in collaboration with Duke Integrative Medicine. Duke is offering the year-long series of seminars to give participants practical advice and tools for improving their health. The seminars are facilitated by health practitioners at Duke Integrative Medicine and cover wellness-related issues such as stress reduction, weight management and healthy lifestyles. “Duke has a commitment to advancing a culture of health,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Duke Human Resources. “It makes great sense for us to work in partnership with our faculty and staff to offer opportunities to improve and maintain their health.” Brantley, the interim director of Duke Integrative Medicine and founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program, said that the hand exercise in the

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Upcoming DukeWell Seminars • May 12, Stress Relief Right Under Your Nose • June 16, Creating Even More Positivity In Your Life • July 7, Cooking for Two Workshops are 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Duke Integrative Medicine building on the Center for Living Campus on Erwin Road. Call (919) 416-3853 to register.

stress management class is a simple example of mindfulness – paying attention to bodily sensations in a nonjudgmental way to bring the mind back to the present moment. “Often the mind is so agitated when we are stressed that it takes a strong physical sensation to distract it,” he said. “A practice such as this won't make the stressors disappear, but it can help us stop our minds from churning and help us disentangle from habits of reactivity.” Karen Whitney, a grants and contracts assistant in the Division of Rheumatology, attended the session and was so taken with the practical information she learned during the seminar that she brought it back to her administrative staff meeting the following day. “Some people laughed when I explained the idea of mindfulness, saying they were too busy to take time to do exercises like this,” Whitney said. “But I invited people to stay after the meeting for five minutes to do a short mindfulness exercise paying attention to the breath. Three people stayed, and after we finished, we looked around and agreed that everybody looked less stressed.” — By Marsha A. Green Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

6 Learn how to improve your health and well being at dukewell.org


Sustainable uke YO U R

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Green Gowns Students wear gowns made from recycled plastic bottles

From Plastic Bottle to Graduation Gown

Above, recycled plastic bottles are turned into yarn in a three-step process. At right, the sustainable gown ends up looking like any other graduation garb despite its recycled origins.

uke’s graduating students will be dressed in black caps and gowns this month, but they’ll be greener than ever. The change isn’t in color, but rather the substance of the graduation garb. On May 15, students will wear apparel made of material produced from recycled plastic bottles. About 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students are expected to receive diplomas; this means as many as 100,000 plastic bottles could wind up on students rather than in a landfill. “Everyone on campus, it seems, wants to do what they can to be more environmentally responsible,” said Jim Wilkerson, the director of Duke University Stores who led the effort for making the change to sustainable caps and gowns. “This choice is representative of what the university is doing as a whole, so it was an easy decision.” Purchased through Oak Hall Cap and Gown of Salem, Va., the academic regalia will be made of fabric spun from molten plastic pellets. Each cap and gown is made of about 20 used plastic bottles. The caps and gowns were also shipped in boxes made of recycled cardboard and in storage bags made from recycled plastic. Wilkerson said the new caps and gowns cost about $2 to $3 more than ones made from other materials, like polyester. Of that extra few dollars, Oak Hall contributes 25 cents for each gown sold to Duke’s Students Taking an Active Role in Sustainability (STARS) committee, which provides funding to sustainability related projects at Duke. “These gowns will help our graduates literally ‘walk the walk’ for sustainability and, hopefully, encourage them to think about ways they can address environmental issues in their lives beyond Duke,” said Tavey McDaniel Capps, director of Sustainable Duke. The move to sell “green” caps and gowns isn’t the only sustainable aspect of Duke Stores. In addition to selling

Step 1 Recycled plastic bottles are processed to remove impurities such as labels and caps.

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Step 2 Bottles are then chopped into fragments called “flakes.”

eco-friendly office and school supplies, recycling paper and plastic materials and saving and reusing boxes and packing supplies, Duke Stores also has helped the university make some big changes: g

During the state’s worst drought in 2007, Duke Stores’ administrators took the lead in purchasing 189 highefficiency laundry machines for residence halls that save almost 3 million gallons of water per year compared to normal washers and also cut energy costs by about $75,000.

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The textbook buy-back program has purchased about 51,000 books in the last four buy-back sessions, diverting about 13,000 tons of books from landfills.

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The Terrace Shop in the Doris Duke Center collects rainwater to water plants at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

Step 3 Flakes are then melted and solidified into uniform pellets called “chips.”

Step 4 Chips are melted again and extruded into a continuous filament yarn.

Step 5 The yarn is woven, dyed and finished into a gown.

“In this era of environmental stewardship, all these things just feel like the right thing to do,” said Tom Craig, merchandise manager for Duke Stores. “Natural resources won’t be around forever, so we want to be committed to reducing and reusing materials to make sure we’re helping Duke be as green as possible.” — By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

7 Find out about Duke Stores’ other sustainable actions at

dukestores.duke.edu/about/sustainability.php


WORKING@ DUKE

HOW TO REACH US Editor: Leanora Minai

dialogue@Duke

(919) 681-4533 leanora.minai@duke.edu Assistant Vice President:

“What is it at Duke that makes you feel appreciated?”

Paul S. Grantham (919) 681-4534 paul.grantham@duke.edu Graphic Design & Layout: Paul Figuerado Photography: Bryan Roth and

I feel appreciated when I receive compliments from my coworkers. It’s nice when my supervisor tells me I’ve done a job particularly well or when one of my clients – the faculty and staff of the Friedl Business Center – tell me that they’re thankful.”

Susan Ryman Business manager, Friedl Business Center 21 years at Duke

Marsha Green of the Office of Communication Services and Duke University Photography.

Working@Duke is published monthly by Duke’s Office of Communication Services. We invite your feedback and suggestions for future story topics. Please write us at

When I think about Duke, I think about the nice people I work with and the mutual appreciation with students in class. I also appreciate that Duke takes care of health expenses through my insurance and has helped to pay for my children’s college tuition.”

Lewis Blake Associate professor of the practice, Department of Mathematics 28 years at Duke

Write

working@duke.edu or

working@duke.edu

Working@Duke, Box 90496, 705 Broad St., Durham, NC 27708 Call us at (919) 684-4345. Send faxes to (919) 681-7926.

The students and staff at the Freeman Center make me feel special. Since it’s a small building, and we don’t serve thousands of people like the Great Hall or Marketplace, I get a lot of one-on-one interaction with everyone. When they come in, sometimes they’ll call me Aunt Saundra. It’s nice to be seen like a mom or aunt.”

Saundra Bullock Food service coordinator, Duke Dining Services 24 years at Duke — By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

View the full list of PERQS discounts at

hr.duke.edu/discounts

Got a story idea? or Call

681-4533

Join the Facebook fan page for Working@Duke at facebook.com/workingatduke

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

Save on flowers, gifts for Mother’s Day

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hinking of giving flowers for Mother’s Day? You’re in good company.

Mother’s Day, which is May 8, is one of the largest U.S. consumer spending holidays. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent more than $14 billion buying gifts for mothers last May, including $1.9 billion on flowers. To help Duke faculty and staff save on pampering mothers with flowers or other gifts, here are six discounts available through PERQS, Duke’s employee discount program. Baskets and buds: Save 15 percent on flowers and gift baskets when ordering online or by phone at 1-800-Flowers.com. Check the PERQS website for discount code (NetID required). Free Raleigh delivery: Order flowers through Fallons Creative Flowers in Raleigh and receive free delivery in Raleigh. Call (919) 828-4134 or (919) 836-8123. Love garden: Send a prepackaged “love garden” – flower seeds, soil and pot – and get

D U K E T O D AY

a 10 percent discount from Lilyputts Gift Baskets. Mom just needs to add water, place the pot in the sun and then watch the flowers grow. Check the PERQS website for discount code (NetID required). (714) 345-6276. Garden fresh: Forest Hills Florist, a familyowned florist shop in Garner, offers a 10 percent discount on any new purchase. (919) 772-6234. Carnations to cookies: Save 20 percent on plants, flowers and gourmet cookies at From You Flowers. Check the PERQS website for the discount code (NetID required). (800) 838-8853. International flower power: Send flowers, plants and gifts across the street or around the world through ProFlowers. Get 15 percent off any purchase from proflowers.com. Check the PERQS website for the discount code (NetID required) or call (800) 210-2279 and mention Duke. — By Marsha A. Green Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

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


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