3
ENROLL OR MAKECHANGES IN YOURHEALTH PLAN
Open Enrollment forhealth, dental andvision coveragebegins Oct. 2.
6
TALKING WITHHOF MILAM
Aconversation withDuke’s vice presidentfor Finance about payroll,the endowment andmore.
7
TAKE A BREAK
New Plaza opens,offering a campuscrossroads forstudents, facultyand staff onWest Campus.
NEWS YOU CAN USE :: Volume 1, Issue 6 :: September 2006
WORKING
@
DUKE
lightly more than three years ago,Michael Holt would not have been able to take three weekspaid leave after the birth ofhis son.Gwen Rogers would not have access to an annual$5,000 for tuition. And Shirley McCauley probably would not have hadthe opportunity to sit down with colleagues to discussrespect in the workplace. While each ofthese three employees have differentroles atDuke,they share a common bond – they’vebenefited from recommendations in the 2003 report onthe Women’s Initiative,a comprehensive set offindingsabout the climate for women at Duke.Developed byasteering committee chaired by former DukeUniversity President Nannerl O.Keohane,the study pointed Duke in new directions.Most of the recommendations that focused on employeebenefits,training,faculty recruitment and studentservices have been implemented,but the momentumcontinues under President Richard H.Brodhead,whobecame Duke’s ninth president in 2004.“Three yearsafter the Women’sInitiative report was made public,much has been accomplished atDuke,but the issues are ongoing and demand ourcontinuing attention and care,”Brodhead said.“I think there is an ongoing need to have dialogue with the presidentto address issues related to women at Duke.” This fall,the work ofthe Women’s Initiative will evolve as Brodheadconvenes and chairs an advisory group that will facilitate conversationsabout gender issues as theyrelate to women at Duke.This cross-sectionoffaculty,staff,students and alumnae will succeed the President’sCommission on the Status ofWomen,whichwas charged in 2003 withoverseeing and implementing recommendations in the initial report.“This has been an amazing,amazing experience,and many ofthegoals have been accomplished,but the work is ongoing,”said DonnaLisker,the Duke Women’s Center director who chaired the commissionand will serve on Brodhead’s advisory group.“On the faculty side,forexample,getting female professors is not done,but the key is there’s aplan to make it happen.”Formed in 2002,the Steering Committee for the Women’s Initiative -16 women and men - met together and in working groups for a year,assessing the situation for women,crunching data and interviewing allconstituencies at Duke.In its report,the committee cited work-life
S
This paper consistsof30% recycledpost-consumer fiber.Some of the leaders behind the Women’s Initiative include Donna Lisker, directorofthe Women’s Center, left; Nancy Allen, vice provost for Faculty Diversity andFaculty Development; Mindy Kornberg, former assistant vice president forHuman Resources; and Ann Brown, associate dean for Women in Medicineand Science at the School of Medicine.
balance,mentoring and professional development,gender and diversity and respect and communicationas critical areas for progress.Employees identified child care,parental leave,flexible work arrangements,mutual respect and equalopportunity for advancement in the workplace among their most pressing concerns.Beforethe report was published,the Women’sInitiative began to touch the lives ofboth womenand men with the announcement ofa $2-millionexpansion ofDuke’s on-site child care center,resulting in more slots for children ofemployees,faculty and graduate and professional students.Soonafter the report,Duke introduced a three week paidparental leavefor staff;guidelines for flexible work arrangements;the DukeChild CarePartnership for better access to 29 area childcare centers,and most recently,a $5,000 annual employee tuitionreimbursement for professional development.“This tuition benefit will give all employees a chance to complete theireducation or start it,”said Gwen Rogers,a staffassistant in Women’s Studies, who will use the benefit toward a bachelor’s degree at North CarolinaCentral University.“When you’re paying yourself,that’s a lot ofmoney.” What’s ahead for the Women’s Initiative?Brodhead said he and his leadership team will keep Duke focused onequity issues for all constituencies.“All ofus have work to do in keeping gender issues visible and moving toward our goal:a world offull equality and respect for all.”
—By Leanora Minai Working@DukeEditor
See
PAGE 4
and
PAGE 5
for a look inside the Women’s Initiative
The Women’s Initiative
Much accomplishedafter three years, butwork continues underPresident Brodhead
2006 North Carolina State Fair tickets for sale
Advance tickets to the 2006 North Carolina State Fair are availablefor purchase at Duke from September 27 to September 29. Facultyand staff who present Duke identification will pay $5 for adults and$2 for children (ages 6 to 12), a $1 savings off the regular ticketprice for each group. A book of 24 ride coupons is available for $10,an $8 savings. Tickets will be sold from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at thefollowing locations: September 27, outside Duke Hospital Atriumcafeteria; September 28, the Medical Center Human Resourcesoffice, Room 1531A Duke South, Blue Zone; and September 29,Trent Hall outside the Staff and Family Programs office. Paymentmust be cash or check. For more on the fair, which is October 13 toOctober 22, visit www.ncstatefair.org.
Go wireless in Duke Gardens
Two wireless computing “hot spots” have been added to DukeGardens as part of an ongoing effort to upgrade and expandwireless service around campus. The wireless coverage “gives amore complete, robust system,” said James Nesbitt, who led thewireless expansion for Duke’s Office of Information Technology(OIT). Faculty, staff and others can work on laptops or PDAs on thesouth lawn adjacent to Chapel Drive, the goldfish pond and aroundthe Terrace Café. In the future, OIT will expand the wirelessnetwork in the Gardens with coverage in the woods adjacent toUndergraduate Admissions and around the Hanes Iris Garden.
Three Duke faculty receive White House honors
Three Duke faculty members have won the highest honor that theU.S. government bestows on young scientists and engineers. SilviaFerrari, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, JonathanMattingly, an associate professor of mathematics, and TannishthaReya, an assistant professor of pharmacology and cancer biology inthe medical school, received a Presidential Early Career Award forScientists and Engineers at a ceremony in July at the White House.According to the White House Office of Science and TechnologyPolicy, the awards recognize “the most promising researchers inthe nation within their fields.”
LOOKING
AHEAD
@
DUKE
SEPTEMBER 10
::
FamilyDay at the Nasher Museum of Art;noon to 4 p.m. Free to Dukestudents, faculty and staff.Exhibit information is at
www.nasher.duke.edu
.
SEPTEMBER 18
::
The Dukechapter of Phi Beta Kappa hostsanarmchair discussion on“Creativity and the ContemporaryUniversity.” President Richard H.Brodhead, Pratt School ofEngineering Dean Kristina M.Johnson, various professors andstudents take on questions suchas, “Where do you find it? Is itflourishing or imperiled? How doyou nurture it?” 7 p.m., GriffithFilm Theater in the lower level ofthe Bryan Center.
OCTOBER 1
::
Founders’ Dayat Duke.For more events, check theuniversity’s online calendarat http://calendar.duke.edu
News
briefs
Ifound Ms.Minai’s recent article on the new chilled water plant informative and interesting.I’d only addthat an additional benefit ofproviding chilled waterfrom a central location is relief,all over the campuses,from the noise generated by individual building chillers(whether on the ground or on the roof).Dewey Tull Lawson,Ph.D.Director,Center for Auditory Prosthesis ResearchResearch Triangle Institute Adjunct Professor,Department ofPhysics Adjunct Assistant Professor in Otolaryngology Duke University
Letters to the Editor must include name and contact information. E-mail letters to working@duke.edu or mail themtoWorking@Duke Editor, HR Communications, Box 90496, Durham, NC 27708. Fax letters to (919) 681-7926.
letters
to the Editor
Kicking the smoking habit
J
ohnnetta Mooresays thatifshe invested every dollar she spent on cigarettes,she would own a second house by now.“I smoked atleast a packadayfor 38 years,”said Moore,a student account analystin the Duke bursar’s office.“That’s almost $200,000.It all went up in smoke.”Moore,who kicked the habit two years ago with the help ofa Duke smoking cessationprogram,had tried to quit many times.But she would end up reaching for a pack ofDoralMenthol Lights. An event that triggered her quitting was witnessing a cousin’s decline and death fromlung cancer.Moore took a week’s vacation and smoked her last cigarette on Dec.28,2004. When she returned to work,Moore contacted Jason Horay,health education managerfor LIVE FOR LIFE,Duke’s employee wellness program.She told him she needed to beaccountable to someone to strengthen her resolve.Horay told her about the programoptions,including classes and counseling sessions.He also sent her a QuitSmart StopSmoking Kit with a 96-pageguide,relaxation and self-hypnosis tape and patented cigarettesubstitute with adjustable draw strength.She began checking in with Horay weekly.“Johnnetta chose the option that best fits her needs,and LIVE FOR LIFE supportedher everystepofthe way,”Horay said.“We encourage employees to take personalinitiative,as Johnnetta did,and to seek opportunities that make it easier to practiceprevention and take personal responsibility for their health.” When the urge to smoke took hold,she would walk around the East Campus wall. Without nicotine,Moore enjoyed the taste offresh fruit and vegetables,which led her tomakehealthy diet changes.Her once-high blood pressure dropped 20 points,matching thatofher 28-year-old son.Moorehas become a mentor to others.She was tapped by her parish nurse to assist with a cessation program at church. And the Durham County Health Department has invited her to be trained as a health advocate.“Prior to quitting smoking,I couldn’t walk halfa block without getting tired or getting out ofbreath,”said Moore,whohas worked at Duke since 1997.“Now,and two months after quitting,I have been able to walk several miles during my lunchhour and return to work feeling great.” When challenges arise,Moore said she confronts them,reminding herselfthat ifshe can quit a 38-year smoking habit,she can handle anything.Said Moore,“I want to be a voice that helps to get the message out that life is better without nicotine.”
—NancyE.OatesWorking@Duke Correspondent
EMPLOYEE CITES RESOLVE AND A DUKE WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR SUCCESS
2
BYTHE NUMBERS
413
Smokers who registeredfor programs or receivedinformation on cessation
57
QuitSmart Stop SmokingKits distributed
23
Participants whocompleted QuitSmartclasses
29
Smokers who reportedquitting
30
Number of mailings of“Stop Smoking PersonalAction Guide”
Source: LIVE FOR LIFE, July 1, 2005toJuly 17,2006HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Call LIVE FOR LIFE at (919) 684-3136 and select option 1, or read more about thesmoking cessation programs online at
hr.duke.edu/eohs/livelife/smoking.html
.
Iwant tobe a voicethat helpsto get the messageout that life is betterwithout nicotine.”
—Johnnetta Moore
“
Johnnetta Moore walks in downtown Durham.
Duke Farmers Market season closes September 29
The Duke Farmers Market will close for the season on September 29with a Harvest Festival. It will be your last pick of fresh fruit andvegetables for the season until next spring. Pick up pumpkins, gourds,apples and mums and treat yourself to roasted corn. There will bemusic,avariety of farmers and food from area restaurants. That day,employees can also sign up for the 2007 LIVE FOR LIFE MobileFarmers Market. Look for the Duke Farmers Market from11 a.m. to2p.m. in frontofthe Medical Center Bookstore alongthe walkway between Duke Hospital and the Duke Cinic.
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D
uke faculty and staffare not among employees across the country who facesignificant increases in health insurance costs.Duke’s premium increases for health insurance will be about one-third ofthenational average in 2007,said Lois Ann Green,director ofBenefits.Duke premiums will increase no more than $2.50 per month for individuals,and no more than $10 permonth for families next year.And,there are no increases for co-pays or deductibles forhealth,dental and vision insurance. This is the big news ofannual open enrollment for health benefits andreimbursement accounts.Faculty and staffcan make changes or enroll in health,dentaland vision benefits during open enrollment from Oct.2 to Oct.14.“We were able to keep the increase in cost low with no major plan design changesdue in largepart to positive outcomes we have seen from our preventive health efforts,”Green said.“We are able to offer employees comprehensive coverage at a lower costthan what is available in the market or at many local and regional employers.”Open enrollment season is an opportunity for faculty and staffto choose health,dental and vision plans that best meet their needs.Faculty and staffwho want taxsavings through a health care or dependent care reimbursement account must enrollseparately in these plans.They do not automatically renew each year.Next year,Duke Select premiums,which cover the majority ofDuke’s health plan participants,will increase $1.50 permonth for individuals;$9.50 per month for family coverage.The monthly premium increase is slightly higher for BlueCare and Duke Options,depending on coverage selected.For the second straight year,Duke Basic participants will nothave a premium increase.And co-pays for all prescription drugs will not go up in 2007. Also in 2007,an expanded provider network will be offered in Wake County for those enrolled in Duke Select andDuke Basic.This will include primary and specialty care physicians;obstetrics and most pediatric inpatient services will beprovided through Rex Healthcare.Duke also offers vision coverage and a choice oftwo dental plans.The nationwide vision plan provides coveragefor prescription lenses and frames,contact lenses (in lieu offrames) and an annual eye exam.There will be no premiumincrease for the vision care plan in 2007.The premium for the more comprehensive dental plan will rise $1.33 forindividuals;$4.04 for family coverage.The cost for the basic dental plan remains unchanged.“We want to continue to mitigate the increasing cost ofhealth care in the years to come,”Green said.“We all play animportant role in achieving this goal.By understanding our personal health conditions and taking steps to improve ourhealth and reduce risks,both our quality oflife and costs ofhealth care will benefit.”
—By Jen Mathot Senior Communications Strategist,Human Resources
Duke’s health premium increaseone-third national average
INAUGURAL EVENT DRAWS CURIOUS ONLOOKERS AND CHEERS
SIGN UP FOR HEALTH, DENTAL, VISION INSURANCE OCT. 2 TO OCT. 14
Lois Ann Green
Duke Postal employeessaddle up for a driving rodeo
W
earing brown suede chaps,straw cowboy hat and runner’s racing number 464 on hisshirt,Duke Postal Operations Clerk David Snotherly climbed into the van.“That’s the spirit,Dave!”shouted Lamont Pearley,a Duke Postal Operations mail sorter.Snotherly,one ofeight drivers in the inaugural Duke Postal Drivers Rodeo,hit thegas.He turned the wheel ofthe van right,then left,then right,snaking in and out oftheline ofseven orange cones. Then he did it again,in reverse,brushing a cone or two on his return,adding time to his finish.“Cut it hard! Cut it hard!”said Rocky Taylor,Duke Postal Operations manager. When Taylor checked his watch,Snotherly had completed the driving accuracy coursein 2 minutes,21 seconds.“Not bad,”said Snotherly,a 16-year Duke employee.“At least I stayed on my horsey.” The competition,held in mid-August in the parking lots ofDuke Publications off Kangaroo Drive and the Duke Postal Warehouse on Hillsborough Road,tested driving accuracy,parallel parking and dock loading and unloading.Duke Postal drivers competedin three heats in eachofthe van and “Big Truck”divisions and had the added pressureofnot knocking a cone with a fresh egg atop.It was a time to burn steam before the start ofthe academic year when the amount ofmail and packagesfor processing increases.Duke Postal Operations delivers mail and packages to students and virtually every university and health system department at Duke.It processes nearly 12 million piecesofmail annually. At the end ofthe rodeo,the proclaimed champ in both the van and big truck competitions was Postal Clerk John DeLargy,who wore black gloves and a fierce look ofdetermination as he maneuvered the van and 50 feet long diesel box truck.DeLargy’s total time for the three heats in each division was 3 minutes,1 second.He carried home a trophy and two gift certificates to Texas Roadhouse.
—By LeanoraMinai Editor,Working@Duke
How To Get MoreInformation
Open enrollmentpackets with detailsabout Duke’s health,dental and vision plansand how to make changesorsign up for a plan willbe mailed to employees inmid-September.Informationsessions aboutreimbursementaccounts and health,dental and vision coverageare September 25 throughOctober 13. Find a sessionon the Duke HumanResources Web site at
www.hr.duke.edu
.Representatives fromthe Duke Open EnrollmentService Center areavailable from 8 a.m. to8p.m. Monday throughFriday from September 27through October 13; and8a.m. to 5 p.m. October 7and October 14. Call(877) 371-9963.
Duke PostalOperations
By The Numbers
11.8 million
Total mail processed
41,605
Student parcels
1.2 million
Inter-Department mail
1.5 million
Magazines and journals
3.9million
First-Classletters
46
Staff members
(Mail volume totals for 2004-2005)
John DeLargy, a Duke Postal clerk,adjusts a side mirror on a postal vanbefore competition.David Snotherly, Duke Postal clerk, weavesavan through cones. He came to the rodeodressed in a cowboy hat and chaps.
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Working@Duke - September, 2006
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