WORKING@DUKE
2 4
NAVIGATING
CHALLENGING
DIALOGUES
Workshops by the
Office for Institutional
Equity offer
conversation tips.
N E WS YO U CA N U S E
New Duke Benefit Expands Professional Development Opportunities
wen Rogers has
accumulated
G thousands of
dollars in student
loans while working on a
business technology degree
at North Carolina Central
University.
A staff assistant in
Women’s Studies at Duke,
she’ll be the first in her
immediate family to earn
a four-year college degree.
“You have to give
something up to get some-
thing,” said Rogers, who is
42. “I’ve given up several
years of my life for this. I’ve
missed family gatherings,
movies with friends, going
out to dinner or going
shopping because I’ve had
to study or write a paper for
school. But today, without
an education, you are not
going to get very far.”
With a year and a half
Gwen Rogers, staff assistant in Duke Women’s Studies, will graduate from North Carolina Central University next
of classes left, Rogers hopes
December. She sits on NCCU’s campus next to a statue of NCCU founder James Edward Shepard.
to limit her future debt by tapping into
a new tuition assistance program for
Duke employees.
Beginning in January 2007, the new
Employee Tuition Assistance Program
will reimburse staff up to $5,000 per
year for tuition related to an employee’s
job or continued career growth at Duke.
The benefit can be used for up to two
classes per semester or quarter at any
higher education institution in North
Carolina that is accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools – not just Duke.
The new benefit program evolved
from the 2003 recommendations of
the Women’s Initiative, which called for
greater opportunities for professional
development. It is designed to provide
more employees with an opportunity for
professional development by offering
access to classes not offered at Duke
or courses at local community or state
colleges with lower tuition.
A pilot program was launched in November 2004 to assess interest
in a new benefit that provided tuition reimbursement for courses outside
Duke. The pilot results suggested broad interest in such a benefit. Under
5
A PIECE OF THE BUILDING A
AMERICAN DREAM STRONGER DURHAM
Duke partners with Tallman Trask III,
Executive Vice
local organizations
that offer affordable President,
discusses Duke’s
homeownership for
employees. role in helping
revitalize Durham.
:: Vo l u m e 1 , I s s u e 5 :: August 2 0 0 6
the current benefit, which
only covers courses at Duke,
fewer than 300 employees
received more than $1.6 mil-
lion for tuition expenses in
2004.
Clint Davidson, vice
president for Human Resources,
said the new program, which
consolidates the pilot and
current Educational Assistance
Program, is more than an
addition to Duke’s benefits
package; it helps support Duke’s
long-term staffing strategy.
“We want to invest in our
own people in ways that help
them grow and develop but
also prepare them to fill critical
staffing needs at Duke,” he
said. “This program can help
enhance job satisfaction
among staff, while expanding
the internal pool of talent
available for the future.”
Rogers, who has worked
at Duke for nearly 20 years,
believes her education will only
help her continued success at Duke. She
If someone is going to pay for your tuition, was at the front of the line for the pilot
“
program after her supervisor, Lillian
you’d be a fool not to take it.” Spiller, brought it to her attention. Spiller
—Gwen Rogers has supported Rogers’ education by
using flexible work arrangements to
enable her to leave early or come in late
for classes.
“I got an e-mail about a pilot program
DUKE EMPLOYEE TUITION
with limited funding,” Spiller said. “So,
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
• Provides tuition reimbursement up to $2,500 for two I told Gwen to call right now because I
classes per semester ($5,000 annual maximum)
didn’t know how much was available.”
• Classes must be related to job or continued career growth Duke provided $100,000 for the
at Duke
pilot, but because of its popularity, the
• Classes can be at any North Carolina school accredited available funds were committed in about
by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools –
three weeks. At the end of the pilot,
including Duke
more than 120 Duke employees received
• Must receive “C” or better for reimbursement
financial support for classes at Durham
• Two or more years of service required to be eligible Technical Community College, NCCU,
• More information is available at <www.hr.duke.edu/ UNC-Chapel Hill, and N.C. State,
benefits/education> or call (919) 684-5600 among others.
Rogers received $468 through the
pilot, and she was thrilled to learn that it
will return in January 2007. If approved, tuition for two of her classes each
semester – up to $2,500 – could be covered completely by Duke.
SEE BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK PAGE
This paper consists of 30% recycled
post-consumer fiber.
LOOKING Newsbriefs letters
to the Editor

@ DUKE
AHEAD Apply within – Duke unveils new job applicant system
I read with interest your article on (interview with)
Sam Wells in the June/July issue. You inadvertently
Duke introduced a new Web-based applicant tracking system in late

pointed to the main problem that has historically plagued

July to improve the process of posting, searching and applying for
jobs. Applicants will see three points of entry – an image of three
doorways – on the Jobs section on the Duke Human Resources the Duke campus, which some of the committee reports
are beginning to highlight but nobody names when they
Web site. Existing Duke employees, external candidates and nurses
AUGUST 23 : : Convocation
list the supposedly main issues (which you and others
have access to the same job listings. The new system also offers
for new undergraduate students
list as race, class, and gender). Those certainly were involved
improvements for hiring managers. They can post jobs within
(11 a.m.) and graduate and

in the lacrosse situation and other situations on campus,

30 minutes, read candidate resumes and track actions on applicants
professional students (4 p.m.)

but behind most of the noticeable problem events, such

SEPTEMBER 12 : : Plastic
Surgery: Getting Out of Credit
Card Debt, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.,
Searle Center off Research Drive.
To register, e-mail agoetz@duke.edu
online. Resumes posted since January 2006 have been transferred
to the new system, but all applicants are encouraged to access the
system to update their information. as the lacrosse party and the date rape the following
month, is alcohol abuse. Why do you never name it in
the list of problems? Ask any alumni from the last thirty
Awards celebrate Duke values
years, and they will name it as the number one problem
Nominations for the 2006 Diversity and Teamwork Awards are

on campus. When one administrator sent around a note

or call (919) 684-6704 ext. 337. being accepted. The awards recognize employee achievement

saying that we would talk about the issues raised by the

SEPTEMBER 30 : : Duke
Gardens Fall Plant and Crafts
Festival, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
made in the spirit of Duke’s guiding principles of diversity and
teamwork. Winners of the Diversity Award receive $750 and an
engraved Orrefors crystal bowl. Winners of the Teamwork Award lacrosse “scandal” – race, gender, and class – he said that,
of course, we don’t know exactly what happened that night
receive a commemorative plaque and $1,000 to spend on a team

but we can talk about the issues in general. When I pointed

Doris Duke Center. activity. Recipients are honored at an awards luncheon at Duke

out that we do know that there was alcohol abuse that

Gardens by President Richard H. Brodhead, Provost Peter Lange

night (on all sides), his response was, oh yes, that’s right,
and Victor J. Dzau, chancellor for health affairs and president and CEO

I wish I had thought of that and I would have included it

of the Duke University Health System. The deadline for nomination
forms for the diversity award is Sept. 8; the Teamwork award, Sept. 22.
For nomination forms and more information, call (919) 684-9040 in the list. I don’t think anyone on campus, administra-
tors, faculty, or news information folks, takes it seriously
or visit <www.hr.duke.edu/recognition/teamwork.html> or

yet. And therefore it will never be dealt with seriously.

<www.hr.duke.edu/recognition/diversity.html>.

Correction Richard P. Heitzenrater

For more events, check the
university’s online calendar
at http://calendar.duke.edu
In the June/July edition, Tracy Futhey’s name was
misspelled in the “Talking With Tracy Futhey” column
on Page 5.
It is the policy of Working@Duke to get it right the first
time. When we make a mistake, let us know. We’ll correct the
record. Call (919) 681-4533.
Wm. K. Quick Professor of Church History
The Divinity School
Letters to the Editor must include your name and contact
information. E-mail letters to working@duke.edu or mail them
to Working@Duke Editor, HR Communications, Box 90496,
Durham, NC 27708. Fax letters to (919) 681-7926.

Navigating challenging dialogues at work

OFFICE FOR INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY HOSTS STRATEGY WORKSHOPS
TIPS FOR
MANAGING ant to talk with a co-worker about an offensive joke? Carlisle Harvard, director of International House
Is a supervisor’s behavior inappropriate? Do you since 1986, said the workshop title piqued her interest.
CHALLENGING
DIALOGUES W need to deliver an unfavorable performance review?
These are “challenging dialogues,” according to Polly
She thought the insight would assist her in work dialogues.
“Talking about difficult topics such as sexism, racism or
:: Be calm Weiss, director of diversity and equity programs for Duke’s religion can be difficult, particularly when people are from
Office for Institutional Equity. different cultures,” she said.
:: Be an active listener
“The stakes are high. There are differing opinions. And During the session, participants acted out dialogues
:: Seek understanding
emotions run high,” Weiss told participants in a recent Duke with a professional actor. In one, the actor played an
through information
faculty and staff workshop, Challenging Dialogues at Work: employee receiving a critical performance
:: Respect and value
Race, Sex, and Religion. “What do you do when the stakes are evaluation. In another, she was a super-
differences
high and people bring a lot of emotion to a conversation?” visor who did not take an employee’s
:: Be open to adapting
First, know the right time concern about a co-worker’s behavior
your position
to confront an issue, Weiss
seriously.
explained. If you feel angry, take
Megan Lynam, associate director of
a few minutes to cool off. When
you discuss the matter, center the marketing and admissions for the full-time
conversation on your personal MBA program, also attended the work-
Office for
needs to get your message shop. For the first time in her career,
across. The goal is dialogue and Lynam is responsible for providing
Megan Lynam
Institutional

resolution, she said. formal feedback to staff members.

Equity

“Shift the conversation from “The most valuable takeaway for me was understand-
a tug-of-war to a more authentic ing the difference between interests – the topics that are
Number of
Workshops
Presented discussion, away from labeling normally being bantered about in a conversation, and the
and value judgments and moral- needs – the below the surface, deeper concerns that are the
in 2005

izing, to what you need,” Weiss ones that actually need to be addressed,” Lynam said.
Polly Weiss, center, discusses

said. “For example, your need “Thinking through what the needs are for each party and
challenging dialogues.

might be for a comfortable work environment or respect in

7%
having the conversation at that level was an excellent
the workplace.” insight for me.”
The voluntary workshop in June was the second of its
28%

kind and drew 10 participants – all women – from various

65%
— By Leanora Minai

departments of the university and health system. The next

Editor, Working@Duke

workshop is Aug. 23. Weiss said the Office for Institutional

Equity created the new session after receiving inquiries
from Duke community members about how to talk about
m Diversity WANT MORE INFORMATION?
m 2
sensitive topics such as religion and sexuality.
Harassment Call (919) 684-8222 or visit OIE online at <www.duke.edu/web/equity>
to register for a workshop.
m Diversity Films

p Source: Office for Institutional Equity

Working@Duke report card
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t’s been five months since the inaugural issue of Working@Duke arrived in your Readership Survey
campus mailbox and hit news racks at Duke. We hope the stories contained in each
I issue have been useful, inspiring and informative.
Our goal at Working@Duke is to improve the flow of information and connect
Highlights
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participants read
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Meet Rekayi
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As we continually assess the publication, we asked readers last month to tell us

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connect the flow the commi see the bigger
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We want to know if you read Working@Duke and whether you find the publication
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useful and credible. We want to know your favorite stories and what information you
what
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As of mid-July, 123 people completed the survey. We’d like to share our report card.
among hourly paid staff
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NEWS

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2006

And 65 percent told us the publication is credible. Have a

“It has a lot of information packed into just a few pages of reading,” one reader wrote. “Keeps me story idea or
informed,” wrote another reader. “In-depth conversations with folks,” wrote another.
I t’s not just
It’s The
And when
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4, the
prepare
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assignm Ga., where
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about employees, new policies, health and fitness benefits and new construction at Duke.
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Some of you think we can do better. You’ve asked for more in-depth and more interesting articles.
Ken Blevins,
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NEWS NEWS

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publishing in March, my phone has rung only a few times with a caller suggesting a story or offering a comment.
:: Vo l u m lum
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“Truth-T
:: May
2006 uly 2
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S elling”

Recently, e-mails to the publication have picked up. Got a story idea or gripe? Call me at 681-4533 or write
amuel Wells,
20 for “A Dean of
Duke Chapel,
tance Conversation joined
painful times. of forming friendsh on Campus Culture other Duke commun
ips with ity panelist
people who in the Chapel.”
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was are different He reflected s on April
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particularly the impor-
take the Committee. Dean last during
measure year, also
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issues of culture and formed by of the Campus
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sexual assault.class and gender Culture
Working@Du
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that arose be H. Brodhea
ke sat down
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CONFRO
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to talk more were
During the controversy. about friendsh
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ONDS

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from accusa ed with issues TO LA hope to
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best resource it can be for you and your colleagues. We want to give you the news you can use.
but will
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far beyond ding this hits. and make behavior. It will examine The Academ race and class and much more the “white,
Practices.
gender so Now, if
said Tallmanthe behavior of situatio May 1. recomm review the the way Duke ic cinating don’t long as comple you put
a few lacrossen reach endations existing deals with things about regard them we include x than that. I’m that in
Duke UniversTrask, executi players,” for change judicial
system for for a very Durham as three
entirely gender in very happy
for our ity. “They ve vice preside to faculty.
Report That’s not
long time. is
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race and
we include
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m Investi

campus hold broade examine due by the way ena.

gation of
the race and tial
are part and our
city. Duke r implications involving administration’ it’s being class always African Americ One of the fas-
Duke Admin
of portrayed.
the people the same commu and Durham the team. s perform n Response. This part of an
the same middle class
istratio

who work nity. that the Specific ance in commi

university ally, the respon ttee will
here also The majority of convers
You have
Together, to lessons did committee ding to ation.
said Duke’s
we’ve invested call Durham the episode not respond as will address the allegations
How so? respons
over the much time home. quickly
e to Hurrica
years to can teach. as it should the perception Everyb
Now, we improve and energy down to ody’s instant respons
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we’ve made.” not to underm t some the values suggest improv e will be do someth disaster
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a rigorou over the t intellec ing useful. was to get
n.
mutual of persona ements s self-exa leak. It’s tually,
On April ine the progres respect
in l respons in the ways
Duke educate mina- respons not switchi if this is our whole Part of me had in a minibus and
5, Preside s due at the the face e of
five steps end of this of differen ibility, conside is that when generosity. The
ng off the respons misgivings head
(see sidebar nt Brodhead ce and disagre ration for others,s stu- water. e, that’s about this
the issues ) Duke announ m In
addition term and you’re uniting point of mentio Socially, I though just putting
raised will ced again in ement. Progres and ning your finger
Council.” to the above steps,
men’s lacrosse from the allegatiotake to address the fall. about an t it
s report issue that’s Katrina in relation was a wonderful
e-mail letter team. Below ns against This council Preside beyond
to the Duke are excerpts the incident;
advise the will scrutini nt Brodhead any of you, to the last six weeks
consider president ze Duke’s convened that’s where
from his a “Presid

— By Leanora Minai commu ways that on best respons real

Top: Duke

nity: held this Duke can practices es to the

Chapel

lacrosse
Divinity Dean Samuel

spring. promote in other

SEE TRUTH
team
ential students

university
Wells

these values.
CONTR national participat discusses -TELLIN
settings;
OVERSY chairman e in the
“Take Back the importan

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The Night” PAGE
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rally in friendship
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held a
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Bottom:
s; Middle:
Duke
This issue off-campu Malik Z.
is a Shabazz,
will resume combined June/Ju
s in May. the
publishi ly
ng in August. edition. Working
Enjoy the @Duke
summer
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Working@Duke Editor May This paper

post-cons
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June/J This paper

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e mployee spotlight
MEET DONNA BERGHOLZ, DUKE LIBRARIES SERIAL CATALOGER

hen Donna Bergholz began work at Duke in 1958,
W she didn’t expect to be here 48 years later. But she
has stayed past the time many employees retire.
“I’m still having fun,” she said. “The people I work
with are smart and good-humored and value what I do.”
Bergholz unravels mysteries and solves puzzles. She isn’t
a scientist or detective; she’s a librarian, a serials cataloger. She
is head of a group of library employees skilled in creating
coherent, descriptive records for the tens of thousands
of serials – journals, magazines, newspapers and ongoing
publications of learned societies – in the collections of
the Duke Libraries.
Earlier this year, Bergholz was honored by the
Libraries for her work. She received the Florence Blakely
Award, which is presented annually to a library employee
who is innovative, benefits the Duke community, effectively
promotes access to information and contributes to saving
time and/or money. The award is named for Florence
Blakely, a 38-year Duke librarian who received national
recognition for her outstanding service.
and her colleagues enter annually into
the Duke Libraries’ online catalog make
it possible for users to find out whether
or not the particular “Times” they are
looking for is owned by the Libraries.
“The Libraries’ resources are as good
as lost if we don’t do our work right,”
she said.
When Bergholz started at Duke,
the library had a card catalog. Bergholz
recalled typing entries on cards without
an easy way of correcting mistakes. She
has embraced the sophisticated online
bibliographic databases she now uses to
track information and generate records.
Duke’s current reclassification of its
collections from the Dewey Decimal
system to Library of Congress
classification has only become ▼
feasible in the current online environment. The
Duke presidents and university librarians have come

“
In nominating Bergholz for the award, a colleague
wrote, “We have a little saying in the Cataloging and gone during Bergholz’s tenure, and she has worked Libraries’
Department: No one is indispensable, but some people through two library building projects.
When she does retire, it will be to her home and
resources are as good
are irreplaceable. Donna is certainly irreplaceable. Through
multiple reorganizations, data migrations and physical moves, garden in Chapel Hill with her two cats. “I call them my as lost if we don’t do
she has maintained a fresh perspective and sense of humor.” ‘serial’ cats,’ ” she joked. “They don’t get along, so I can
only be with one of them at a time.”
our work right.”
One of the challenges of Bergholz’s work is distinguish-
ing publications with titles such as “the Times,” a common
—Donna Bergholz
— By Ilene Nelson
newspaper name. The 3,000 to 5,000 records Bergholz
Director of Communications
Duke University Libraries
3

p Students from Duke, North
Carolina Central University and
A Piece Of The
American Dream
’m ready,” a beaming Robin Gunn said as she surveyed the
gravel lot in Durham. “I am so ready.”
“I For the first time in her 41 years, and after several years of
sharing an apartment bedroom with her young son, Gunn will own
her piece of the American dream: a house.
“I’ve been searching for about two years, looking for a house
in my price range,” said Gunn, who works for Duke University
Health System as a phlebotomist, drawing blood from patients
who need liver or heart transplants.
Gunn’s three-bedroom, two-bath house will be built in the
coming months in the West End neighborhood near campus by
Habitat for Humanity of Durham, one of several affordable
homeownership organizations with which Duke partners. Her
monthly mortgage payment with zero interest will be cheaper than
her rent. And she’ll build equity.
As prices for homes and apartment rents increase, Duke, the
Self-Help Community Development Corporation, city of Durham,
Habitat for Humanity, Durham Community Land Trustees and the
Latino Community Credit Union are working together to provide
more affordable homes and mortgage assistance for low-to-moder-

ate income families.

Durham Technical Community

In June, Duke committed to depositing

College volunteer in April to
build a Habitat for Humanity

up to $5 million in the Latino Community

house in Durham. Robin Gunn, a Duke University Health System phlebotomist,

Credit Union over the next five years. The

stands on the lot in Durham where her first home will be built.

money will be dedicated for low-income consumer and mortgage lending in Durham County,
which is home to slightly more than half of Duke’s employees.
Affordable Increasing affordable housing opportunities near campus is one of the primary goals
of the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership, which Duke launched in 1996 to work
Homeowner Programs & with residents to improve the quality of life in 12 neighborhoods near campus.
Financial Assistance Duke employees who meet certain income guidelines may find homes they
thought they could not afford through Self-Help, Habitat and the Durham
Community Land Trustees. Homes built by these organizations typically range
in price from $70,000 to $115,000.
Self-Help Community Development Corporation, the Durham

In addition to collaborating with Habitat and the Land Trustees, Duke

Community Land Trustees and Habitat for Humanity of Durham offer
programs for low-to-moderate income buyers at low financing rates.
An application is required and credit and criminal histories are
evaluated. Here are some highlights.
Self-Help Community Development Corporation
u First-time home buyer or no home ownership in past three years
u House must be owner-occupied
u Income between $39,950 and $61,600, depending on family size
u Closing costs as low as $1,000
u Low interest loan packages ranging from zero to 2 percent interest
(919) 956-4675 or e-mail lavett.saddler@self-help.org
Durham Community Land Trustees
u First-time home buyers
u Residents buy the home and lease the land
u Homes priced below market value and energy efficient
u Income level for family of one is up to $39,950
u Low interest financing packages
(919) 490-0063 or visit www.dclt.org
Habitat for Humanity
u Priority to families living in substandard housing
u Annual income between $16,550 and $29,950 for family of one
u Homeowner performs 250 to 300 “sweat equity” hours building
houses/attending classes
u Zero percent interest on mortgage loan
u No down payment
(919) 682-0516 x102 or visit www.durhamhabitat.org
Latino Community Credit Union
u To be eligible for a mortgage loan, credit union membership is
required
u Join by paying $20 and opening an account with
a $10 minimum balance
(919) 530-8800 or visit www.latinoccu.org
has invested $4 million with Self-Help, allowing the non-profit organization to
continue its work to stabilize neighborhoods in the Duke-Durham Neighborhood
Partnership. That loan has assisted Self-Help in acquiring about 120 properties,
76 of which are in Walltown, a historic African-American neighborhood near
East Campus. Thirty of the Walltown homes belong to Duke employees and
graduate students.
Evan Covington Chavez, Self-Help’s residential development director, said
the Duke/Self-Help partnership is rare.
“It’s just not every day that you’re able to find the largest employer in town as
your financial partner, your community partner, like you have with Duke,” she said.
Homeownership opportunity is important in Durham, where 54 percent of
residents own homes, lower than state and national homeownerships rates,
according to the city of Durham.
In Walltown, where Duke employee Betty Foster resides, homeownership and
property values are on the rise.
An information accounting specialist for vendor registration in Duke’s
Accounts Payable department, Foster was driving around Walltown last year when
a Self-Help for-sale sign caught her attention. Foster, who has two adult twin
sons, was living with a friend at the time and didn’t think she could afford a new
home on her own. But she inquired anyway.
She moved in last March.
“It was brand new, built from the ground up,” said Foster, a 20-year Duke
employee. “You’ve got to pay to stay somewhere, so you might as well pay into
somewhere you’ll get some equity.”
Before she moved into her $109,000 house, she took a class through Self-Help
on managing money. She learned about home maintenance and saving for emergencies.
“The idea is to keep the house once you’ve got it,” said Foster, who is 56.
Like Foster, Gunn, the Duke phlebotomist, did not think she could afford
a new home. She lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her son and 62-year-old
mother. As she hunted for a house, Gunn found old homes within her $104,000
budget, but they needed work.
A friend told her about Habitat for Humanity of Durham. Gunn filled out
an application. The groundbreaking is this summer. She has put 45 hours of
“sweat equity” toward her Carroll Street home, installing windows and doors on
other Habitat houses on the street.
“I’ll have my own,” said Gunn, “finally.”
— By Leanora Minai
Editor, Working@Duke

4
Building A Did You Know?
:: Duke’s economic impact on the
city and county of Durham is

Stronger Community $3.2 billion

:: More than half of Duke’s
workforce (19,022 of 37,026)
lives in Durham County

ne of the things I’ve appreciated most about Durham since coming

:: Duke bought $263 million

O here 11 years ago is the preservation of its rich history. You see
in local goods and services in

unique character in the timber beams and brick facades of buildings

Durham County

restored as restaurants, offices and residences. Duke has played an important

:: Duke and its community provided

role in this revitalization. We partner with people who care about Durham
at least $57.2 million in donations

and who strive to retain its history and architectural splendor. By partnering
of various kinds

with the city and others, Duke has helped Durham stabilize neighborhoods
:: Duke’s record $510.6 million in

and revitalize its historic downtown.

research funding was responsible

I am proud of our commitment to enhance quality of life by helping

for creating more than 18,600

restore such landmarks as the American Tobacco Campus, the largest historic
jobs in the area

rehabilitation project in state history. In 2001, when redevelopment was

sputtering, Duke was a pioneer. We signed leases for 150,000 square feet
Source: Duke University Economic
Impact Report, Fiscal Year 2004-2005
of office space in the former cigarette factories. Our step helped draw
other anchor tenants
to American Tobacco
Campus: GlaxoSmithKline,
Tallman Trask III

McKinney-Silver and
Executive Vice President

Compuware. The renovation of the American Tobacco buildings

has brought life back to downtown.
Duke has also helped draw homeowners to neighborhoods
close to campus. In Walltown, we invested more than $4 million in
an affordable housing loan program. The percentage of homeowners
has risen dramatically. Thirty of the 76 renovated and new homes
are now owned by Duke employees and graduate students.
Closer to campus, Duke redeveloped tax-exempt property
in Trinity Heights and built 40 houses and town homes for faculty
and staff in 2002. The designs match surrounding houses, and the
development has won several awards, including one for historic
preservation. These new homes contribute at least $100,000 in
annual property tax revenue to the city.
Duke recently purchased a dozen rental houses in neighborhoods
near East Campus as part of our continuing effort to increase home
ownership. These houses in Trinity Park will be sold, restored and
Trinity Heights Homesites

preserved as owner-occupied residences.

Downtown Durham is also experiencing a renaissance,
thanks in part to Duke business school graduate Tom

“
We partner with people who care
Niemann and former Duke basketball players Christian about Durham and who strive to
Laettner and Brian Davis of Blue Devil Ventures. Several
years ago, they approached Duke with a dream. They
retain its history and architectural splendor.”
wanted to turn the dormant Liggett & Myers Tobacco — Tallman Trask III
buildings into lofts and offices. Duke was Executive Vice President
the first tenant to commit.
Now, Blue Devil Ventures plans to
expand West Village and restore another
nearly 1 million square feet of Liggett
buildings for more people to live, work
and enjoy downtown Durham. Again,
Duke signed the initial lease that will help
the landlord make this project feasible.
Over the years, Duke has made Lucky Strike landmarks

substantial economic investments in

at the American

Durham’s future. Our role in the city’s

Tobacco Campus

residential and commercial renaissance

fuels the tax base, attracts businesses and
jobs and contributes to a safer Durham.
I care about this city, which is home
for 51 percent of Duke’s employees,
including me. We cannot be the solution
to all problems, but many Duke initiatives
in recent years confirm our engagement
American Tobacco Campus

with the Bull City.

The work is not finished. We will continue to invest in Durham to strengthen neighborhoods, stimulate
economic development and enhance quality of life. Duke is a part of Durham, and Durham is part of Duke.
It has been that way since 1892 when Trinity College first made Durham its home.

Executive Vice President 5


Students at E.K. Powe Elementary
in Durham work on computers
donated by Duke.
Replacing your
computer?
Duke faculty, staff and
students can arrange for
free pick-up of computers
being replaced or removed
from service by calling
Procurement Services
at (919) 681-5900.
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
Call Duke Human Resources at
(919) 684-5600.
6 Senior Communications Strategist, Human Resources
New program puts Duke
computers in Durham classrooms
or 10-year-old Tabria Miles, Albert Einstein and
Leonardo da Vinci are more than just names in a history
F book. They are intelligent and fun – just like her and
her classmates at E.K. Powe Elementary in Durham.
“We did a slide show of them on the Internet,” said
Miles, a rising sixth-grader. “I gave
Albert Einstein a weird laugh, and da
Vinci was loud.”
The opportunity for Miles and
her classmates to develop a personal
connection with historical figures was
made possible through the new Duke
Computer Exchange Program, which
recycles Duke computers for use in
Durham schools and community
centers.
The program was developed by
Community Affairs and
Procurement Services to enable
Duke faculty, staff and students to
donate computers replaced by newer
machines. In addition to supporting
academic pursuits of students in the
community, the new process for collecting and distribut-
ing the machines supports and assures information secu-
rity and Duke’s environmental stewardship.
“We have stringent guidelines regarding the
confidentiality of patient information and other sensitive
data,” said Jane Pleasants, assistant vice president for
Procurement Services and Supply Chain Management.
“We assure the hard drives are completely wiped clean
before donating the computers.”
Change Your Address
hen Donna Sell got married last
August, she and her husband
W bought a new house to start their
lives together.
After years of commuting from Raleigh,
Sell, a communications assistant at the
Nicholas School of the Environment and
Earth Sciences, settled into a home in
Durham with her husband. Realizing she
needed to update her contact information,
Sell looked into how to change her
home address in the Duke system.
“I wanted to make sure that my
address was correct, so I would have
no delays in receiving any important
information or documents from
Duke,” Sell said.
After contacting Human Resources
for options, Sell provided her new address to the payroll
representative in her department who processed the
request.
Last year, 1,275 open enrollment packets for health
insurance were returned to Duke, highlighting the need to
keep addresses current.
Faculty and staff should notify Duke about any home
address changes to ensure they receive important mailings
such as W-2 tax forms and open enrollment materials for
health, dental and vision insurance. Employees who believe
their address may be incorrect should check with their
department payroll representatives or visit the
Online@Duke Web site.
David Stein, Education Partnership Coordinator
for Duke Community Affairs, said the 80 computers
that Duke donated last year is just a start.
“There are an estimated 3,000 outdated computers
in Durham County schools that need to be replaced,”
he said. “If everyone at Duke donates their computer
through this program, we can really make a difference.”
Under the new program, all departments that replace
or remove Duke computers from service must contact
Procurement Services to ensure that confidential information
is removed before the machines are donated or appropriately
destroyed.
“We found wide differences in how staff and students
disposed of computers at Duke,” Pleasants said, "so we
wanted to ensure that Duke information was being suffi-
ciently removed and hard drives cleaned before they were
either resold or given away.”
Treva Fitts, science specialist at E.K. Powe, said the
computers are like new. “They’re fast, and we can use
them for research, data processing, and to search the
Internet to get information quickly.”
Just like with the Einstein and da Vinci computer
project, the technology helped Miles and her classmates
connect with school work.
“We did a whooping crane project when the cranes
were migrating,’ Miles said. “We were tracking them on
the computer, and we talked about them and typed about
them. We wrote a story on the computer about if we
were whooping cranes.”
— By Dave Menzies
News & Information Manager,
Office of Information Technology
To change a home address or Duke mailing and
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESSES
physical address, visit the Online@Duke Web site at
<http://www.duke.edu/online>. Faculty and staff are also
encouraged to use this Web site to set personal privacy
preferences for e-mail and home address information for
the Duke printed directory. A NetID, the alphanumeric
identifier that authenticates users to systems and services
on the Duke computing network,
is required to change a directory
listing. All faculty and staff are
assigned NetIDs by the Office of
Information Technology (OIT). If
you are unsure of your NetID or
don’t have one, contact the OIT
Help Desk at (919) 684-2200.
A department payroll repre-
sentative may also submit a home
address change on behalf of a fac-
ulty or staff member using iForms, Donna Sell
a secure website that allows users to
view personnel data and process HR and payroll actions.
If a faculty or staff member is participating in Duke’s
health, dental or vision benefit plans, Human Resources
will update the home address with appropriate benefit
providers. To update a home address for any other benefit
program such as reimbursement accounts and the 403(b)
retirement plan, faculty and staff should notify the benefit
provider directly. Contact information for benefit
providers is on the Duke Human Resources Web site at
<www.hr.duke.edu/utilities/contacts/vendors.html>.
— By Jen Mathot
GladyouAsked Have a
other benefit Question?
accruals.”
“Is there a policy or a program that is

Flexible work
designed for a full-time employee who

arrangements offer
wants to go back to school to get or

another option
finish a degree and still be able to keep

for continued
their job with Duke? Some degrees

employment while
require class hours during work. Is there

pursuing a degree,
anything a full-time employee can do to
Each month, Working@Duke
Hackney said. “A
maintain their position and still obtain a degree?”
selects a question about work-
We talked with Sylvester Hackney, associate director flexible or abbrevi-
of Benefits, to find out about maintaining employment ated work schedule
ing at Duke. We’ll research and

while getting a degree. He said there are benefits such as is another option print the answer. Send us your
the new Employee Tuition Assistance Program to help you may want to
staff pay for continued education, but those benefits discuss with your
questions by email at

don’t specifically address whether staff can attend classes manager,” he said. working@duke.edu; by fax at
during work hours. “Supervisors manage the work schedules “If business needs (919) 681-7926 or by campus
for their units to ensure sufficient coverage to deliver the allow, your manager
Sylvester Hackney

services that support Duke’s daily operations, so discussions may be willing to

mail at Working@Duke,

about options for taking classes during work hours must work with you to adjust your work schedule so that you Box 90496, 705 Broad St.,
begin with them,” Hackney said. “They can help determine are able to continue working while pursuing a degree. The
if a flexible work arrangement or a personal leave of absence ability to offer flexible work schedules varies from depart-
Durham,NC27708

might be possible to help support your education.”
Hackney said that staff can take a personal leave of
absence for education with approval from their supervisor
for up to one year. “Personal leaves of absence are
typically unpaid leaves,” he said. “And while a personal
leave does not include a job guarantee, if a department
has to hire someone to take your place during your
absence, when you return you can be referred for available
positions at Duke and still keep your continuous service
date at Duke, which has implications for retirement and
ment to department depending on the nature of the
work.”
You can find details about personal leaves of
absence under the “Time Away from Duke” section
of the Human Resources Policy Manual at
<www.hr.duke.edu/policies>. Details about flexible work
options are on the HR Web site at
<www.hr.duke.edu/flexwork>. Call Staff & Labor
Relations at (919) 684-2808 for more information.
.

Reduce environmental impacts

through “green” purchases
DUKE NAMED TOP SUSTAINABILITY STAR FOR ITS GUIDELINES

emanufactured inkjet and toner cartridges. Duke Health Raleigh Hospital, makes pur-
chasing decisions every day that affect the
R Recycled paper and folders. Soy-based printing inks.
When considering what office products to
buy, Duke wants departments to think green – as in,
university’s bottom line – both finan-
cially and environmentally. “We buy
remanufactured toners because it saves
environmentally friendly.
money, and it’s good for the environment,” she
“There are a lot of good options available, especially
said.
for high volume items like paper and toner,” said Vanessa
Duke and Corporate Express have since arranged
Hamer, green purchasing specialist with Duke Procurement
for remanufactured toners to be automatically supplied
Services. “Duke has made some decisions that clearly
to Duke employees when toner is ordered. By purchasing
u

support buying green across the board.” remanufactured toner, Duke reduces the annual use of
Source: University Business

In June, Duke was named a top sustainability star
among universities by University Business magazine. Duke’s
leadership on green purchasing was cited as a key accom-
plishment.
Duke adopted a comprehensive set of campus Green
Purchasing Guidelines in 2004 and asked purchasers to
consider the impact of products on the environment and
2,300 gallons of raw petroleum to make new cartridges,
Hamer said.
Green purchasing has led to other sustainability policies.
For example, all appliances purchased at Duke must now
be Energy Star compliant. Hamer has also begun an
EarthSmart Lab initiative to reduce resource use and overall
toxicity of laboratory supplies.
Duke has

“
people’s health. The guidelines commit Duke to choosing “Environmental stewardship protects our air, water, made some
more environmentally friendly products and services when and natural resources, so it also protects our health and well- decisions
quality and cost are equal or superior. being,” Hamer said. “Our success shows that people at Duke
Duke and Corporate Express, the university’s preferred really embrace stewardship through responsible buying.”
that clearly support
office supply vendor, have been working together to provide buying green across
departments with environmentally friendly products. More
— By Tavey McDaniel
the board.”
than 3,000 items in the Corporate Express catalog are
Outreach and Communication Coordinator,
Duke Sustainability — Vanessa Hamer
labeled environmentally preferable, and “green” items are Green Purchasing Specialist,
on Duke’s “best value” lists on Eway, the Corporate Duke Procurement Services
Express online ordering system. WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT GREEN PURCHASING?
Carol Sorochinski, a materials resource supervisor at 7
<http://www.procurement.duke.edu> or call Duke Procurement Services
at (919) 681-5900.
WORKING@ DUKE

HOW TO REACH US
Editor: Leanora Minai
(919) 681-4533
dialogue@Duke
leanora.minai@duke.edu What makes you proud to tell people you work
Director: Paul S. Grantham
at Duke?
(919) 681-4534

It’s a builder of good will. It’s a builder of character. It’s the faculty, the staff, the
paul.grantham@duke.edu

people who are a part of Duke and are strong representatives. Duke provides a lot

“
Graphic Design & Layout:
Paul Figuerado of opportunities. You can move forward and better yourself as a person working here.”

Photography: Jon Gardiner, Les Todd Jack Chance

Parking & Transportation
and Megan Morr of Duke University
6 years with Duke
Photography; Ronald Usery of
Duke Creative Services.

The people. I like working at the Fuqua School of Business. The people are really nice
Support Staff: Mary Carey

here. I enjoy coming to work.”

“
and William Blackburn.

Working@Duke is published monthly Kevin Grant

by Duke’s Office of Communication University Housekeeping
Services. We welcome your Three months at Duke
feedback and suggestions for
future story topics.

The doctor whom I work for is such an excellent physician, and the people I work
Please write us at

with are dedicated and hard-working, and we all work as a team. It’s like a family.”

“
working@duke.edu or
Working@Duke, Box 90496,
705 Broad St., Durham, NC 27708
Rose Horton
Call us at (919) 684-4345.
Patient Service Associate, Dermatologic Surgery
Send faxes to (919) 681-7926. 13 years at Duke

— By Eddy Landreth
Working@Duke Correspondent

BACK TO SCHOOL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Thank you, God,” Rogers said. “I will only have a year left, but it
will be a big help.”
The road to a college degree has not been straight or smooth for
Rogers. But challenge has seldom stopped Rogers, who once learned
12th grade math in the fourth grade just because a teacher said she couldn’t.
She married two years out of high school and left the now defunct
Rutledge College in Durham to follow the path of her husband’s career
in the U.S. Army. After her divorce, she moved back to Durham and began
working at Duke. Rogers began taking classes at Durham Tech in the Gwen Rogers, staff assistant in Duke Women’s Studies, talks with Brenda Parker, academic adviser at

early 1990s, but a program change limited her ability to receive financial
North Carolina Central University in Durham, as Rogers drops and adds classes for the fall semester.

aid, so she transferred to NCCU. The credits she earned at Durham Tech
Rogers participated in a pilot program for Duke’s new tuition reimbursement benefit.

did not transfer, so she started over once again.

Next December, when Rogers graduates, no one will be prouder than her mother,
Stretching the Professional Development Dollar
Mattie Harris, a research technician in Duke’s Cancer Center Isolation Facility.
“If they have to wheel me in a wheelchair, I’ll be there,” said Harris, who is 60.
140
124
“I really admire her. Sometimes she’s up at 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning studying
120

when she has exams. She really works hard to get what she wants.” 100
Rogers said her financial and personal investments for a degree are worth it, but
she believes the new benefit will help many more employees pursue their aspirations
80

for education and career development at Duke. 60

“I think this benefit offers a lot of advantages, so people are not stuck in my
situation,” Rogers said. “It gives people a greater chance to succeed. If someone is
40
17
going to pay for your tuition, you’d be a fool not to take it. This will open doors for
20

a lot of employees. I know a lot of people who want to go back to school – single 0
moms and single dads – but they just don’t have the means. This benefit will help.”
— By Paul Grantham
Office of Communication Services
Participants per $100,000
m Existing Benefit m Pilot Program
The results of the pilot program, which covered classes taken outside Duke,
indicated that many more employees would take advantage of an education
benefit that provided support for more than just classes at Duke. The existing
benefit only covers classes at Duke.

Source: Human Resources Benefits

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