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November 2007 A Monthly Update for Faculty and Staff @ Union Institute & University
@ the President’s Desk Creating a Culture of Giving
The decision last year by the university’s trustees to divest of property and buildings in both Cincinnati and Montpelier led me to think about what exactly makes up a college or university. Is it historical buildings, property, programs, or people? The easy answer is all of the above; however, if you spend some time reflecting on the question, the obvious answer is people. When I remember the good times that I spent on campuses completing undergraduate and graduate degrees, I do have nostalgia for a sense of place; however, the real memories, and those that are most powerful, are those that center around people—professors, professional colleagues, and fellow learners. The power of a university does not rest with its physical assets, although those are important. Rather it rests with the power of convening diverse populations governed by freedom of inquiry that frequently results in offering very different perspectives to issues of social significance. In the best of all worlds, a university provides a “hospitable space for disciplined reflection” as Craig Dykstra of the Lilly Endowment has said. In past issues of @UI&U, I have written of the many accomplishments of faculty, staff, learners, and administrators who courageously addressed academic challenges and developed new programs that meet the needs of our communities. Those programs were developed under considerably difficult circumstances; however, we never lost our determination to remain on the path of academic respectability, and we have been successful. It is now time for us to turn to the financial support of the university which will allow us to achieve the magnificent dream of a university that becomes, “the premier university serving adult learners.” Our past accomplishments demand no less than our very best. What we do today and what we give today will ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to participate in the life of a revitalized Union. Union Institute & University has been about providing different perspectives since its founding in 1964. Looking at our countless alumni who, having engaged in Union’s programs, have contributed greatly to the betterment of our society, you can begin to realize that when you support Union, you are supporting people, ideas, innovation, creativity, and service. Without a commitment to service and to others, all the education in the world tends to lose meaning. It is true that a university cannot exist isolated from the community in which it resides, and it must be responsive and supportive to those who live with us in defined spaces. Likewise, a university cannot exist without the support of those who have the privilege of working for the institution. Our new Mission, Vision, Values and Principles Statement recaptures the spirit of our past and directs our future. As we continue our journey, we must create “a culture of giving” that includes at its core, service – service to our learners, to one another, and to the communities in which we live, but also, financial support to provide the foundations for the programs and people we serve. Over the last six years, we have made tremendous strides in the levels of financial support for the university. In 2001, we raised about $49,000. In 2007, we raised approximately $354,000 from all of our constituents, but mostly from alumni and trustees. While the increase is noteworthy, we are not yet raising the amount of funds we need to move the university beyond our almost total dependence on tuition dollars. Working with the Board of Trustees, we have established an ambitious goal of raising $500,000 per year over the next five years as only one strategy for moving the institution toward financial stability. Achieving that goal will require that we concentrate on creating an environment where our stakeholders understand the value of supporting the university. For me, the difficult part of revitalizing Union has already been accomplished—the development of new, creative, innovative programs across all of our academic centers, achieving state licensure and accreditation for those programs, and reaching a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Education. Now, it is our opportunity to find the resources essential to move our vision to even higher levels. I am hard at work cultivating our alumni and others as part of our strategic plan to raise at least two percent of our annual budget. As we move ahead, we are beginning to approach foundations and corporations. One of the most potent factors in successful fundraising is to exhibit significant support from internal stakeholders. In our case, we are proud that 100 percent of the trustees have given to the university each year for the past five years. This speaks volumes to our funders, as will our ability to say that a significant percentage of our employees and faculty support us and contribute to the well-being and financial stability of the institution. Even a small contribution from each employee adds up and sends a message that, down to the individual, we care, we are committed, and we are invested in our collective future. When we believe in what we are doing and support one another, raising money becomes the easy part of the formula in furthering the reputation of Union across America and beyond. And remember that your gift reaps rewards, not only as a symbol of support to our mission and vision, but also in real dollars coming back in the form of grants and contributions. I am deeply appreciative of everything that each of you has given in the past, particularly through your service to our learners. But, as I review the past levels of giving by our staff, administrators, and faculty, I remain concerned with the level of participation in our annual fund drives. This leads me to encourage you to seriously consider giving a gift, no matter how small, to Union Institute & University this year in order that we may continue our journey toward academic excellence and financial security. We make it easy with a payroll deduction form and again, ask only for what you feel comfortable giving. Our goal is to increase the numbers of givers which will allow us to show the breadth of commitment and support by our own employees. Of course, I recognize that we have experienced salary and benefits reductions, but I am very pleased that we have been able to restore all of the salary reductions and a portion of the benefits reduction this past year, even under difficult circumstances. We have worked hard to keep health care costs under control in spite of some extraordinary challenges, and our plan to address issues of equity across the institution will be implemented as soon as we have the resources. This university has pulled itself up while under immense stress from multiple fronts through the determination and courage of its employees. It is difficult to ask for additional gifts from people who have already given so much; however, our journey is only half finished; and, I do not intend to rest until we have not only achieved academic excellence but also financial stability. That will be my primary focus and the focus of the Board of Trustees over the next five years. The journey begins with us today. I invite each of you to become a member of Union’s new “Culture of Giving.” If you have given in the past, THANK YOU for your confidence and support. If you have not yet given, I ask that you join me and others who believe in Union through a contribution to our annual fund drive. You’ll be getting your envelope soon. Please know that while we hope for the largest gift you can give, we want each of you to give at a level at which you feel comfortable. Remember that this year, we want to begin our journey to achieve100 percent giving from our faculty and staff. With your help, we can do it! Remember, through a contribution of any size, you are investing in your future and the collective future of Union! Thank you for all you do for Union, our learners, and each other each day! Warm regards, Roger H. Sublett
Focus on “EEE” : Engage, Enlighten, Empower We’re pleased to add a new feature to @UI&U – one that focuses how a staff member, faculty member, or administrator demonstrates the attributes of being engaged, enlightened, and empowered in service to our learners or to community. With the adoption of our new mission, vision, values, and principles statement, Union and its stakeholders have embarked on a newly defined journey, with a goal to create the most innovative, creative, flexible, interdisciplinary, and socially relevant programs to attract learners who seek to make a difference in their lives, communities, and the world. One of our goals is to embed this new vision and mission statement into the daily lives of our employees, our alumni, and our learners so that our actions reflect how we, as UI&U ambassadors, promote and support interdisciplinary and socially relevant programs, a scholar practitioner model, and new levels of creative and critical thinking. This new feature allows us to focus on how we, both individually and as an organization, implement the words in our guiding statements. Here’s how you can help promote these values: Remember that while we are dispersed throughout the nation, we represent a core set of values and principles that distinguish us from our competition and provide a unique and valuable alternative for adults. Incorporate the idea that our learners are intent on making a difference in the lives of others…see if you can be that difference in their lives and help support their dreams and goals. Through respect and understanding of those we serve and the goals they strive for, we can empower our learners and ourselves. Take a moment to review your skills, abilities, dedication, and perseverance, but more importantly, your belief in the fundamental value of this university that allowed us to defeat the challenges we faced so recently to become a new and more vibrant, service-oriented, purposeful institution, truly guided by the power of our mission, vision, principles, and values. Karen Lonero and the UI&U Commencement Team
I was asked to be the first “EEE” feature of the @UI&U newsletter. The more I thought about it, the more I knew that I could not be featured alone, because it isn’t just me who makes a difference to learners around commencement time, it’s an entire team of people that is instrumental in implementing timelines and guidelines for these yearly commencements. We all work together to emphasize the importance of commencement as the final culminating event and let the learners/graduates know that UI&U does care about them. There is no way I could do this job without the many people across the country and here in Cincinnati who play such important roles. Launching the California, Florida, and national commencement every year and bringing them all to a successful completion while insuring minimum glitches, and happy commencers, typically starts in January and does not end until late October. It is a mind-boggling juggle of zillions of details that constitute a four-hour commencement celebration, and has our graduates leaving UI&U on a happy note. All commencements follow nearly the same process: mail out the commencement packet, process the learners’ petition to commence forms , e-mail individual learners the approval to commence, and guide them for the next two months through the maze of regalia and announcement ordering, financial balance issues, final academic issues, travel and, accommodation details, guest lists, confirmation of name, project, and dissertation titles, and always throughout, reassurances. Tracking learners through the system to confirm their participation, creating and keeping a commencement database updated, tracking regalia orders, e-mailing the participants, and much, much more, is very time consuming—but very worthwhile. It is this attention to detail, the individual one-on-one with each and every commencer and potential commencer that brings us closer to our learners and makes a difference to each learner. It is well worth the effort to actually match a face to emails and phone calls, and to know that we have helped them prepare for commencement, meet their adoring families, watch them walk across the stage to thunderous applause, , and realize that these commencers appreciate our efforts. Below are just a few comments that were received from our 2007 graduates: “It’s people like you that make a place better to live & enjoy. You’ve really helped me when I didn’t know what to do!!” “Your kindness and thoughtfulness has made this graduation experience extra special. Thanks again!” “I want to thank you very much for being so helpful and kind to me. I will never forget your thoughtfulness.” Here in Cincinnati, it all starts with Karen Phillips and her magical queries of potential commencers. She practically reads my mind when I’m trying to explain the criteria for the initial mailings. From there, I start “badgering” deans and faculty to make sure we include all possible learners who qualify to commence. Once we have gathered all possible commencers, and the learners’ forms start arriving, the staff here at UI&U start walking the other way when they see me coming. Just kidding!!!!! I seek help for many learners who need to qualify to participate, and Dan Price, Nicole Mayes-Boyd, Carol Mueller, Genny Bryant, Shay McFarland, and Juanita Johnson are all there to support me and our learners. In Florida, Angela Byles is the key. Her “make it happen” attitude makes a difference to all of her learners, especially during the commencement process. Newcomer Pamela Baker’s assistance has also been invaluable. They help coordinate with Dean Bogat and Florida faculty and staff to ensure that any “potential” commencers not initially contacted are made aware of the details of commencement and the criteria to participate and also ensure that all timelines are carried out. This is no easy feat. My counterpart in California for the alternating commencement ceremonies in LA and Sacramento is Sandra Lee, my life raft. Her patience and calmness under stress is instrumental in bringing California’s regional commencement to fruition. She helps me liaise with Dr. Rocheleau, Beth Pastores-Palffy, Julinda Holmes, Zayda Rodriquez, Anna Hernandez, Erica Mosely, and faculty—again to coordinate a smooth commencement process. A million thanks to the team and to everyone I pester, as well as to all volunteers for this year’s commencement. Below are more comments from this year’s graduates, thanking us for helping them achieve this very important, culminating goal: commencement. These belong to each and every one of the dedicated staff who bring these events to life in service to our learners. “…excellent communication about the weekend and sending timely emails and making sure that everything ran as smoothly as it did…You did a super job of getting all the information to us and telling us in detail what needed to happen and when. Also Kathy Smith and the volunteers did a fine job of helping us on the day of graduation. It all seemed to run like clockwork.” “I was completely impressed with the UI&U staff….” “As always, Kathy Smith was extremely organized, helpful and pleasant. It was great to meet the Union staff who have been so helpful during my studies (i.e. Karen Lonero)” “Thank you for helping me celebrate the biggest event in my life!” “Thank you for all that you did to make the day run so smoothly and to make us feel so well cared for and honored.” “Thank you for all your hard work. You really made the entire process easier for out of state individuals.” NOTE: Do you know of a coworker or colleague at UI&U who really “makes a difference” in the lives of others, either at work or out in the community? Someone who does the little things with great skill everyday, someone who devotes time to a cause or to others without fanfare, someone who practices what President Sublett calls “leading from the heart?” Please send your words of kudos to @UI&U so we can shine a light on these not-so-random acts of kindness by our colleagues who make a difference @ the Heart of It.
@ the Water Cooler It’s Benefit Open Enrollment Time! All employees eligible for benefits should have received a packet in the mail explaining the benefit changes for this upcoming year, providing instructions for online enrollment, and outlining pricing and other initial information about the new Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) health plan. If you have not received this information, please call UI&U Human Resources so we can send you a packet. The following are a few changes for this year’s benefit process and package: Open Enrollment Goes Paperless The letter you received gave you instructions for accessing the Web site through the HR “Benefits” Web page: http://www.tui.edu/offices/hr/bene.asp . If you need help logging in or encounter other issues, or just have questions, you can call the HR open enrollment hotline at extension 1121 for assistance during regular office hours. You can also e-mail questions to us at HRfeedback@tui.edu, and we will answer them by the end of the next business day. Please make sure to leave your phone number or extension if you would prefer we respond by phone. All employees eligible for benefits must visit the Web site even if you do not choose to enroll. The site will ask you to update some basic information for the HR database and then give you the opportunity to either enroll in benefits or decline them. Enrollment does not continue from year to year, and you will need to re-enroll if you are enrolled in the program for the current year. The site will also have forms for updating your 403b voluntary deduction if you have one. Deductions for this benefit only will roll over from year to year, so you only need to fill out a new form if you wish to change your deduction. A New Medical Plan Has Been Added to Your Choices Dental Plan Changes to New Carrier with Lower Rates and Larger Network Since we are changing carriers, those employees with children undergoing orthodontic treatment will have a new lifetime maximum and consequently may have additional coverage available. A New and Improved Vision Plan at Less Cost Other Benefits Open Enrollment Presentations Cincinnati Miami Montpelier Sacramento Los Angeles So What Is A Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)? A Health Reimbursement Account is a type of health insurance plan that is referred to as consumer-driven or consumer-directed healthcare. With such a plan, the individuals covered are given more latitude in deciding how their healthcare dollars are utilized rather than an insurance company making that determination. That means that the user of the healthcare account determines what provider they will use for their care, usually by finding a lower cost or alternative provider that may not have been included in a traditional plan. Consumers are also eligible for discounts by using providers with whom the insurer has negotiated discounts. HRAs typically include an emphasis on wellness by covering care such as well-baby care, immunizations, mammograms, and annual physicals at 100% reimbursement. Some plans require that you use their network for this care, but this reimbursement does not count against the plan’s deductible, so this is truly healthcare at no out-of-pocket cost to you. The HRA works on a series of deductibles. The first band of deductibles is provided by the employer who deposits dollars in an account designated for reimbursement of eligible healthcare expenses. For our plans, there is $750 available for a single employee plan and $1500 for employee plus others plans, such as employee plus spouse, employee plus children, and family plans. If these dollars are not all used in one year, they can roll over to the following plan year up to a maximum ($2250 for a single plan, $4500 all others), thus increasing the dollars available in the next plan year. These dollars are for use for eligible expenses such as doctor visits, lab tests, hospital care, or prescription drugs. If this level of dollars is used up, the employee then becomes responsible for the next level of deductible which is $1750 for the single employee plan and $3500 for all other plans. This is the only out-of-pocket liability for the employee or their covered family members. All other care is covered either at the first deductible level or the third level health care plan. Once these two deductibles are met, the health plan becomes effective, and all care is covered at 100% provided the health plan’s network is used - just like an HMO. The HRA premiums are significantly lower than the PPO option and can save a family significant dollars in premiums that can offset the employee deductible level (Bridge). Employees opting for the HRA option from the PPO can lower their premiums from this year’s cost. Again, if you have any questions, please contact HR at HRfeedback@tui.edu or ext. 1121.
@ First Glance A hearty welcome to newly hired UI&U staff and faculty! Marlene Betit, B.A., Director of Budget and Finance, Vermont College of Fine Arts, 10/08/07 Elizabeth Schmidt, B.A., Administrative Assistant, Institutional Research, 10/03/07 Gregory Thompson, B.A., Director, Computer Services, 10/08/07 Elisabeth Yesko, B.A. Administration Assistant, Brattleboro Academic Center, 10/22/07
@ Close Up This month... UI&U Purchasing Department
The Purchasing Department provides a variety of services to staff in Cincinnati, Vermont, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Miami. Our small team’s responsibilities include negotiating price quotes with vendors for office supplies, office equipment and maintenance contracts. We also process approved purchase orders and invoices in preparation for payment by the Business Office and maintain office supply inventory. You may hear from us regarding PO approval, billing issues, the reconciliation of accounts, and other budget matters. Ruth Ridge Ruth joined UI&U in 1991 as a part-time financial aid clerk. She was hired as a full-time purchasing clerk, a newly formed position, in 1992. In 2001, Ruth was promoted to Director of Purchasing and is responsible for the overall management of the Purchasing Department. In her spare time, Ruth enjoys her nine grandchildren, cooking and baking, and—with a new house—had to learn to like gardening and now really enjoys it.
Kris joined UI&U in 2000 as a temp in the Cincinnati Gantz Center. In 2001, shwas hired as an assistant in the Purchasing Department. Kris coordinates an extensive variety of purchasing processes. In her spare time, Kris enjoys sewing, crafting, needlework, and cooking.
@ Attention Los Angeles Center Discusses Learner Growth and Retention As part of an annual retreat, Los Angeles Academic Center faculty and staff gathered in Malibu, CA, at Gladstone’s Restaurant to discuss plans and goals for learner growth and retention. The group buckled down to find ways to increase efficiency of learner services and prepare for on-ground programs and tutorial growth. Los Angeles staff and faculty pose by the Malibu oceanfront Dr. Richard Sears and His Holiness the Dali Lama
Dr. Sears initially met the Dalai Lama in 1996 and briefly served as one of his personal bodyguards. Cohort Administration, Faculty, Learners Attend International Leadership Conference Recently, Cohort Ph.D. administrators Dr. Robin Selzer and Jonathan Eskridge, along with Cohort faculty and learners and accompanied by President Roger Sublett, attended the 2007 International Leadership Association (ILA) Conference in Vancouver. The ILA “promotes a deeper understanding of leadership knowledge and practices for the greater good of individuals and communities worldwide.” The organization values inclusion, intent, interconnection, international perspectives, and integrity. Robin reports back on what became a very successful marketing maneuver—and yet another point of high visibility for the program and its vision: “Basically, the ILA went great. Union had great visibility with the conference ad, brochure bag stuffer, exhibition table, faculty program sessions, and information session. Six prospective learners and two prospective faculty members attended the information session, not to mention Dr. Sublett, the ILA president, ILA Board members, Ph.D. faculty, learners, administration, and Ed.D. representatives. Jeffrey Shepard’s blog also highlights the conference experience from all of our perspectives. In summary, it was the right message in the right place. Thanks to all who made it possible.” Ohio Learning Network Offers Professional Development with Ease The following is a message from the OLN detailing their new professional development opportunities. With classes back in session and both students and teachers back into the swing of things, we know your time is precious. What better time than now to check out technopoli (www.technopoli.org)? Technopoli helps educators find professional development opportunities and keep up with ever-changing technology applications with ease. It’s a FREE online calendar of conferences, workshops, webinars, and other events that focus on utilizing technology in higher education. Technopoli saves you time and effort with our one-stop resource and allows educators to stay on top of the most current educational events. Check out the Website and view the calendar by month or search for events by region, all with user-friendly search tools and an easy to read format. Want even more convenience – don’t search at all! Sign up for our UPDATE service, and we’ll send the events to you. Tell us which topics you’re interested in, and technopoli will send a weekly update e-mail of any events that meet your search criteria. Even better, if you don’t want a weekly e-mail, technopoli is also RSS enabled, so you can still keep up-to-date and won’t have to miss any event.. Finding professional development events couldn’t be any easier! The Ohio Learning Network (www.oln.org), is an 81 member consortium promoting and supporting e-learning in the state of Ohio. OLN is a program of the Ohio Board of Regents and works with higher education, schools, policy makers, business and industry, government, and local communities using technology to expand educational opportunities for Ohioans. UI&U Communications Offers New University Style Guide Have you ever wondered why the word “learner” is not capitalized? Or when you should use a semi-colon? As a service to the university community, the UI&U Communication Department has developed a style guide to answer those questions and more. The university’s style guide is a resource for all UI&U departments and offices to use when creating Web content or print material, such as brochures, e-mails, or letters, to maintain a consistency in our external and internal communications. Answer all your questions about hyphens, or simply learn more about the university’s degree offerings. For its many purposes, we hope the style guide will allow us all to better communicate with both our current and prospective learners, as well as with each other. @UI&U Interview: Rick Zand Prepares for Trip to Iran
What is the primary goal and driving force for the Fellowship of Reconciliation? Here’s their mission statement: “FOR seeks to replace violence, war, racism, and economic injustice with nonviolence, peace, and justice. We are an interfaith organization committed to active nonviolence as a transforming way of life and as a means of radical change. We educate, train, build coalitions, and engage in nonviolent and compassionate actions locally, nationally, and globally.” They have been around since 1915, promoting peace, equal rights and diplomacy. They played a major role in forming the ACLU and worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. on civil rights issues. Currently, they conduct advocacy trainings and send peace delegations to many critical areas, like Bosnia, Israel/Palestine, and Latin America. This will be their fifth delegation going to Iran. The delegation is made up mostly of US citizens (with one English woman), many who have done peace work in the past. We have among us a seminary student from Chicago, a graphic designer from Seattle, a mother of three from Albany, and a doctor from New Mexico. There are 15 of us in all, including two group leaders. How did you become involved with the F of R? I found out about them serendipitously. The director for their Iran segment, Leila Zandfishes16 What do you hope to gain from this trip, both globally and individually? Individually, I hope to gain some knowledge of grassroots diplomacy and a deeper understanding of Iranian culture and politics. Globally, I hope to share some of my understanding about Iran with others, and find opportunities to carry this out. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about Iran and the Iranian people. I also think there is almost no understanding of the context—how contemporary events in Iran were shaped by the U.S. and Great Britain, for example. I don’t have any illusions that this trip will change public opinion or policy, but perhaps it will raise questions for people about the direction we are headed. How does this trip tie into the trip to Iran that you made in 2004? It ties in on a personal level because Iran is a very special place for me. I love the people and culture and care what happens to it. Another place I visited in 2004 was south Lebanon. I went nearly to the Israeli border, visited my grandfather’s grave in Bent Jbeil (the Hezbollah capitol), and spoke with many wonderful people there who are struggling to live a normal existence. They had children and restaurants and auto shops. They invited me into their homes. Their children played on the same streets my father did when he was growing up. Two years later, their towns were blown to rubble, the people scattered or killed. I pray that doesn’t happen in Iran. I hope the people there can avoid the fate of the Lebanese, and currently of the citizens in Iraq. Your daily work deals with providing people with the education they deserve here at UI&U—and your work with the Fellowship seems to involve a necessary education to bring about solidarity. How does education inform relationships such as the one between the US and Iran? Education plays a huge role in this effort. This whole trip is about educating ourselves, and in turn, hopefully educating others. What I do for a living is attempt to bring people in to discover themselves and their world through education and realize the ideas we promote in our mission and values statement. It’s a very passionate thing, because you are promoting an agent of change in people’s lives. Developing critical thinking skills allows us to interpret the world, explore the context of a given issue, and informs us of what questions we should be asking. This trip to Iran is in a sense an extension of that same mission. It’s about promoting those things that matter to us as an institution in a very real and tangible way, with the belief that the individual efforts of ordinary people can make a small contribution to a greater social good.
@ Our Best The Cincinnati Center celebrates Halloween in style!
Front L to R: Michelle Fletcher, Melissa Evans, Carol Mueller, Deb Eamoe, Kriste Grubbs, Janet Day, Nicole Nusbaum
CORRECTION: In the October issues of @UI&U, doctoral graduate Suzi Mandel is featured in a commencement photo; she is on the left-hand side of the photo.
@ Your Service for submissions reply to @UI&U |
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Straight talk and timely information from President Roger Sublett
On October 27, Doctor of Psychology faculty member Richard Sears, PsyD, attended a private luncheon with the Dalai Lama and John and Elaine Mellencamp in Bloomington, Indiana. Michael Fitzpatrick treated the attendees to a beautiful cello solo during the event. The Dalai Lama also gave a short speech after the lunch, discussing the importance of collaboration and dialogue between Western science and Eastern practitioners. He challenged Arjia Rinpoche and the members of the Tibetan and Mongolian Cultural Center in Bloomington to produce some products of this type of collaboration before his next visit, scheduled for 2009.
On December 1, Director of Admissions Rick Zand will travel to Iran as part of a 14-day civilian diplomacy delegation organized by the international peace group, Fellowship of Reconciliation. @UI&U caught up with him a few weeks before his flight to learn more about his trip, his hopes, and how this all ties in to a greater cause: education.
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