Multiple schools, programs appear in ‘U.S. News’ graduate rankings
UNC president will retire after 2005-06 session
Environmentalist, author Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to speak April 20
CCPS honors Carolina’s public-service leaders
Blair, Mesibov explain ombuds office to forum
Pope Foundation declines to fund studies program
Leveraging athletic success to promote academics
Student-athletes recognized for academic work
Carolina Leadership Academy celebration features address by NCAA President Brand
Championship fever
Human Resources news: Clerical skills program to return in
summer
Human Resources news: Carolina Wellness Matters: Bring spring to the office with an indoor plant
Human Resources news: Star Heels
Human Resources news: Save the date
Human Resources news: 2005 Chancellor’s Award call for nominations
Human Resources News: Nominations due on April 25 for facilitator award
Multiple schools, programs appear in ‘U.S. News’ graduate rankings
The University appears on numerous lists of newly ranked schools, programs and specialty areas produced by “U.S. News and World Report” magazine for its 2006 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”
“While achieving high rankings is not our primary goal and the system is far from perfect, rankings do represent some measure of perceived quality,” said Chancellor James Moeser. “In that regard, I am pleased that Carolina continues to show improvement in the evaluations of our graduate and professional programs.”
Following is a summary of Carolina’s newly ranked schools, programs and specialty areas that the magazine plans to post on its web site and/or use in the weekly magazine and guidebook:
School of Medicine
Overall:
Primary care, 2nd
Research, tied for 23rd
Specialty areas:
Rural medicine, tied for 5th
Family medicine, 6th
Women’s health, tied for 11th
AIDS, tied for 11th
Drug/alcohol abuse, tied for 17th
Internal medicine, tied for 18th
Pediatrics, tied for 20th
School of Pharmacy
Overall:
3rd (for Pharm.D. doctoral program)
Kenan-Flagler Business School
Overall:
Tied for 21st (for master of business administration degree programs)
Specialty areas:
Accounting, 9th
Production/Operations, 11th
Executive MBA Program, 11th
Marketing, tied for 12th
Supply chain/logistics, tied for 17th
Management, 18th
Entrepreneurship, tied for 21st
Internationa, ltied for 22nd
School of Law
Overall:
Tied for 27th
Specialty areas:
Listed among the top law schools for racial and ethnic diversity
School of Education
Overall:
Tied for 27th
Specialty areas:
Listed among the top education schools for teacher preparation
Special education, 16th
Elementary education, 20th
Administration/supervision, tied for 21st
Curriculum/instruction, 23rd
School of Public Health
Specialty areas:
Environmental/environmental health, 7th
(Note: listed under engineering schools by “U.S. News.” Carolina has no engineering school but is tied for 64th in new rankings of the nation’s engineering schools.)
College of Arts and Sciences
Overall:
Sociology, tied for 4th
History, tied for 13th
Political science, tied for 13th
English, tied for 19th
Psychology, tied for 22nd
Specialty programs:
Sociology of population, 4th
Social stratification, tied for 4th
African-American history, tied for 4th
African-American literature, 5th
Women’s history, tied for 5th
American politics, 9th
Social psychology, 9th
Developmental psychology, 10th
Modern U.S. history, 10th
U.S. colonial history, tied for 10th
Latin American history, tied for 11th
European history, 12th
Cultural history, tied for 12th
New rankings appear in the April 11 issue of “U.S. News and World Report” magazine and in the “America’s Best Graduate Schools” guidebook. Details are available www.usnews.com. “U.S. News” first ranked graduate programs in 1987 and has done so annually since 1990. Business, education, engineering, law and medicine are ranked annually. Other disciplines and specialties are ranked periodically.
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UNC president will retire after 2005-06 session
Molly Corbett Broad, president of the UNC system since 1997, announced on April 6 that she will retire at the end of the 2005-06 academic year, or sooner if a successor is found before then.
Broad |
She is the third president of the system. She also was the first woman and the only president who was not a native of North Carolina. As president, she oversaw the system’s 16 member institutions as well as the UNC Health Care System and the UNC Center for Public Television.
In 2000, Broad led efforts to promote a $3.1 billion higher education bond issue that an unleashed unprecedented building boom at the 16 UNC campuses and 59 community colleges. At the time, it was the largest higher education bond program in the country.
In September of 2004, Broad accepted a five-year term in the University’s School of Government that will begin after she retires.
Broad, who is 64, announced her decision to BOG President Brad Wilson in a letter dated April 6.
“Serving the people of North Carolina will always be the greatest privilege of my professional life and an honor beyond any I might have imagined,” Broad said in her retirement letter. “I thank you humbly, for this rare opportunity to lead the men and women who comprise the oldest — and finest — public University in America.”
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Environmentalist, author Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to speak April 20
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental attorney and author who is senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and president of the Waterkeeper Alliance, will give a lecture on campus on April 20.
The 7:30 p.m. lecture, “A Contract With Our Future,” is the 2005 Robert and Helen Siler Distinguished Lecture. The location will be the Cobb Theatre in the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History. A signing will follow the event.
Although the lecture is free to the public, a large turnout is expected and those wishing to attend are requested to make a reservation by calling 966-9922.
The 2005 Robert and Helen Siler Distinguished Lecture is co-sponsored by the Student Congress, Carolina Environmental Program, James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence and Campus Y.
Kennedy, recognized as a resolute defender of the environment, is best known for his success in helping, as chief prosecuting attorney, Hudson Riverkeeper Inc. restore the Hudson River. “Time” magazine included him in its “Heroes for the Planet” for this work on this issue. In addition, he helped negotiate the New York City watershed agreement, on behalf of environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers; this is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development.
In addition to his work with NRDC, the Waterkeeper Alliance and Riverkeeper, he is a clinical professor and supervising attorney at the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic at Pace University School of Law in New York.
Kennedy, a Harvard University graduate, studied at the London School of Economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. He also has a master’s degree in environmental law from Pace University. His books include “Crimes Against Nature” (2004) and “The Riverkeepers” (with John Cronin, 1997).
The Robert and Helen Siler Distinguished Lecture, administered by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of City and Regional Planning, was established by Bob and Helen Siler of Hilton Head Island, S.C. Bob Siler received his bachelor of arts degree in 1953 and his master of regional planning degree in 1955, both from UNC.
The lectureship is intended to build a bridge between the academic city and regional planning community and professionals in the field by bringing leading urban planning figures to campus as Siler Lecturers.
The Department of City and Regional Planning was founded in 1946 to demonstrate the practical application of social science methods to problems of government and the interdisciplinary union of social science, design and engineering. The department offers a doctorate in planning, a master of regional planning degree with five dual degree programs and several certificate programs, and an undergraduate minor in urban studies and planning.
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CCPS honors Carolina’s public-service leaders
The University’s mission can be compared to a three-legged stool of teaching, research public service.
Teaching and research most often grab the most attention. But that forgotten third leg can have the widest reach.
On April 1, the Carolina Center for Public Service (CCPS) held its sixth annual Public Service Awards luncheon to honor those students, faculty and staff who have gone the farthest to model the University’s culture and tradition of service.
Contributions ranged from building homes, assisting local and statewide organizations with health crises, and hosting workshops for community newspapers.
“The array of efforts represented in the pool of nominations and resulting winners is strong evidence of the breadth and geographic reach of Carolina’s response to addressing pressing community issues facing North Carolinians,” said Lynn Blanchard, center director.
One program that she singled out for praise was the Public Service Scholars Program, which now has more than 450 students representing three-fourths of the majors across campus. To date, students have reported more than 42,000 hours of service.
Blanchard said service can transcend volunteerism by influencing the way teaching and research are done. The Public Service Scholars Program stands as evidence of that possibility.
Among the winners was Gordon Whitaker, professor of public administration and government, who received the third annual Ned Brooks Award for Public Service. Named for Ned Brooks, a faculty member and administrator since 1972, the award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has built a sustained record of community service through individual efforts and the involvement and guidance of others.
Whitaker was recognized for his contributions spanning three decades of work. He directs the Public Intersection Project, which aims to strengthen working relationships between government and nonprofit organizations. He also helped pilot a program to strengthen the performance of children performing below grade level: Counties for Catalysts for Stronger Families.
Whitaker also was recognized for developing an innovative model of action teaching. His course on Public Leadership and Management involves teams of master’s of public administration students that work with government and nonprofit organizations on public service projects.
CCPS presented the Office of the Provost Public Service Awards, honoring student organizations for service to North Carolina, to Team Epi-Aid and Project OpenHand.
Team Epi-Aid assists the N.C. Department of Public Health and local health departments with outbreak investigations and other short-term applied public health projects. Students from the schools of public health, medicine, pharmacy and nursing work in teams with health departments to gain practical public health experience. The student volunteers can be quickly mobilized to address health problems needing immediate response. For example, volunteers were dispatched to conduct rapid-needs assessments after hurricanes Isabel and Charley.
Project OpenHand assists people living with HIV and AIDS. The student organization serves meals to individuals with HIV and AIDS in Chatham, Orange and Alamance counties. Student volunteers cook and deliver the meals to clients. The organization operates with the help of a dietician, funding from county health departments and guidance from local organizations and is expanding.
OF SERVICE TO THE STATE Jock Lauterer (right), lecturer and director of the Carolina Community Media Project — and recipient of the Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award — shows the locations of his public service project on a state map to Bryan family members Robert E. Bryan Jr. (left) and Mary Bearse. |
The Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award, recognizing individual students and faculty for exemplary public service efforts, went to students Rebecca Sowder and Phillip Sherrill and faculty members Jock Lauterer and Lee Marcus.
Sowder, a senior in the School of Public Health’s Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, is co-chair for UNC Habitat for Humanity. Working with volunteers from the campus and community, Sowder coordinated the recent Blitz Build project, which built the exterior of a Habitat home in Chapel Hill in three days.
Sherrill, a senior majoring in exercise and sport science, is program director for the Hispanic Swimming and Safety Awareness Program (HSSAP). He created the program in response to the growing need for swimming skills and water safety in the Hispanic community. HSSAP provides free swimming lessons, as well as water safety instruction, to local Hispanic citizens.
Lauterer, a lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, created the Carolina Community Media Project, which reaches out to the state’s 181 community newspapers and includes a course to teach students about community newspapers. The program strengthens ties between the University and community newspapers through workshops such as the Community Journalism Roadshow and the Newspaper Academy.
Marcus, clinical director of Division TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children), created a support group for parents of adults with autism. The Parents of Adults Group provides a venue for parents, community service providers and advocacy groups to meet and discuss the needs of autistic adults. Initiatives such as the Autism Community Initiative, aimed at providing life-long housing for autistic adults, have evolved from this group.
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Blair, Mesibov explain ombuds office to forum
Wayne Blair and Laurie Mesibov came to the Employee Forum with a simple message: Their job is to listen to employees who come to them to talk through a problem.
And whatever is said will be held in confidence — unless and until the employee says otherwise.
The creation of the office was the top recommendation of the Chancellor’s Task Force for a Better Workplace report completed last year.
Chancellor James Moeser, who appeared at the Employee Forum in December to announce their hiring, introduced and welcomed them at the April meeting.
The office is set to open May 2 at 134 E. Franklin St., with the entrance off Porthole Alley. This space, which was formerly occupied by the Institute for African American Research, is being renovated. Some of the work to add soundproofing and cover interior windows is being done to ensure privacy and confidentiality.
Designed to supplement Carolina’s grievance procedures for employees, the office will play an advisory role in that formal process.
But Blair said an informal conversation with one of them would not put the University on formal notice.
“We will not do anything until we get permission,” Blair said.
Blair, who has served as the ombuds officer at Columbia University since 2002, will hold the full-time, non-faculty position as an EPA employee (exempt from the State Personnel Act). Mesibov, a longtime professor in the School of Government, will serve as the half-time faculty ombudsperson. She will continue working half time in her tenured faculty post.
Both of them will report to Moeser, but Blair and Mesibov stressed that their role as ombuds is to listen with not only with an open mind, but a position of neutrality.
Mesibov, who is a lawyer by vocation, said her role as ombuds is not to be an advocate the way a lawyer would be with a client. The problem may be what a supervisor is or is not doing. The problem may be what the employee is or is not doing. In either case, it will be up to Blair and Mesibov to help the employee understand the root causes of the problem.
But the responsibility for deciding what if anything should be done to address the problem will rest with the employee once he or she leaves the office.
The idea is for employees to establish a safe place for faculty and staff to bring disputes and broader problems people need help addressing, Mesibov said.
That means building relationships of trust — and a reputation for neutrality as well. “We won’t be the decision-makers,” Mesibov said. “Folks who come to us will be the decision-makers.”
Blair said there may be instances where he or Mesibov could serve as “diplomats” between parties in dispute. There could be times when they can gather information to clarify whether a problem may be based on a misunderstanding of facts. Sometimes, Blair said, it can help just by listening and allowing people to vent.
“We can’t resolve every issue to everybody’s satisfaction,” Blair said. “But we can guarantee you that everybody who comes to our office will be treated with respect.”
In other matters, the forum passed a resolution to oppose a change from a bi-monthly to a monthly pay period. The action was approved even though there is no plan to change from the bi-monthly plan. The resolution said the conversion would pose a hardship on employees.
Roger Patterson, associate vice chancellor for finance, told forum members that some finance officers in academic units had experienced problems closing out grant money and suggested a conversion to a monthly pay system could help expedite that process.
Patterson said he agreed to explore the issue, but that he never decided the idea had enough merit to recommend to anybody that it be considered.
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Pope Foundation declines to fund studies program
The John William Pope Foundation of Raleigh has announced it will not fund a Western cultures program at the University, based on the proposal that was sent for its consideration in February.
In an April 6 letter to Bernadette Gray-Little, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Foundation President Art Pope cited a need for additional details about the program, such as an identification of existing courses in the curriculum that would be appropriate in the new program, an explanation of where critical needs exist in the current curriculum, and an indication of which faculty might be interested in teaching Western studies classes. He emphasized that the foundation had “no desire to be involved in any way” in faculty or administrative appointments. “However, for any academic program to succeed,” he wrote, “it must have the enthusiastic support and sponsorship of the faculty involved in the program.”
He invited the University to consider submitting another proposal on or before October 1.
Gray-Little, in a statement, said, “I would like to thank the many faculty and staff who contributed to the development of this excellent proposal, which would significantly enhance academic programs and opportunities for students and faculty across the College and the University.
“We're also grateful to the Pope Foundation for considering the proposal and for leaving the door open for further consideration. We will continue to seek support from private funders for these and other programs that reflect the academic priorities of the College."
Chancellor James Moeser released a statement that reinforced the University’s support for the proposal.
"We are disappointed with the foundation's decision because we continue to believe that the proposal has great merit,” Moeser said. “The Pope family has long ties to Carolina, and we respect their decision on this proposal. We're pleased that the opportunity exists for continued discussions. I still believe in the proposal."
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Leveraging athletic success to promote academics
The University seized the opportunity to capitalize on the Tar Heel’s Final Four appearance by placing this advertisement (at right) in “The Washington Post” to promote Carolina’s academic accomplishments. It would be impossible to measure the value of the positive exposure afforded to the University by two teams (men’s and women’s) playing in the Elite Eight, much less the national championship game. To make sure that exposure extended to academics at Carolina, the Division of University Advancement placed the “Post” ad, using non-state funds, to run the day after the national championship — win or lose. “We wanted the world to know that we’re just as proud of our champions in the classroom as those on the court,” stated the University’s main web site. “Go Heels!”
University Relations officials report an excellent response to the ad, which was also featured on the Carolina home page and in a special e-mail newsletter edition sent to alumni, parents of current students and friends of the University. Chancellor James Moeser also shared a copy with his fellow presidents and chancellors in the Association of American Universities.
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Student-athletes recognized for academic work
The Carolina men’s basketball team earned recognition from dozens of national publications last week for its performance on the basketball court.
What might not have been noticed by many, however, is the recognition the team received from publications such as “Time” for its performance in another area — academics.
NCAA president Myles Brand, who will visit the University on April 19 (see story below), unveiled in March new legislation aimed at forcing underperforming teams to clean up their act in the classroom. The standards, compiled into a statistic called Academic Progress Rate (APR), track the progress student-athletes make toward graduation each year.
“For the first time, the NCAA is holding teams and institutions accountable for the academic progress and success of their student-athletes,” Brand said in a news release.
If a team consistently falls below the minimum acceptable APR, it could lose scholarships as early as the 2008-09 school year. It also could be prohibited from participating in postseason play — and from collecting the revenue associated with it.
According to a story in the March 14 issue of “Time,” traditional basketball powerhouses such as Connecticut and Kentucky stand to face severe penalties if their athletes do not improve their academic performance.
Five teams in the recently completed NCAA Tournament, however, earned perfect scores of 1,000 in the first assessment — including Carolina.
“We have a record to be proud of,” said Chancellor James Moeser.
And of the 16 teams ranked highest for their on-court performance at the beginning of the tournament, according to the “Time” article, a higher percentage of Carolina players (67 percent) graduated than did players from any other school.
The Tar Heels’ success, Moeser said at the April 6 Employee Forum meeting, serves as a metaphor for the values of the University.
Those values, he said, include “a commitment to excellence” through “unselfish play, determination and strong character.”
But men’s basketball wasn’t the only Carolina team to earn a perfect score in the inaugural APR rankings. Seven other teams — women’s cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, rowing, men’s swimming, women’s swimming and volleyball — also received APR scores of 1,000 in the report.
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Carolina Leadership Academy celebration features keynote by NCAA President Brand
The University’s Carolina Leadership Academy — an initiative of the Department of Athletics — will celebrate its first anniversary April 19 with a keynote address by NCAA President Myles Brand.
Brand’s talk will be delivered at Koury Auditorium in the Kenan-Flagler Business School at 5 p.m. and is open to the public. A discussion will follow with a variety of panelists representing assorted perspectives. Among these will be Chancellor James Moeser, former UNC President Bill Friday and Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford. Dick Baddour, director of athletics, will moderate.
“We’re delighted to have President Brand here with us to discuss the challenges to and benefits of intercollegiate athletics,” Moeser said. “His presence here shines a light on an outstanding initiative to develop and nurture leadership in our student-athletes, and, too, on the need for similar opportunities elsewhere.”
Now in his third year as president of the NCAA, the governing body of collegiate sports, Brand has been a vocal proponent of innovations like the Carolina Leadership Academy. In his role as the leader of a body that includes more than 1,000 member schools, Brand has advocated educational reform and enrichment of the total collegiate experience for student-athletes. Before moving into his current position, he served as president of Indiana University and the University of Oregon for almost 14 years.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to be a part of this academy,” Brand said. “This is an excellent example of putting the value and values of college athletics to work in enhancing the leadership among those involved in college sports.”
Brand will join the anniversary celebration at the invitation of Moeser, Baddour and faculty representative Jack Evans, and he will speak about the challenges facing intercollegiate athletics as well as the positive contributions that athletic programs make to the University community.
The Carolina Leadership Academy is a comprehensive training program for student-athletes, coaches and athletic administrators. The program’s goal is to develop world-class leaders for a lifetime of success.
The first leadership development program of its kind in collegiate athletics, the Carolina Leadership Academy develops, challenges and supports student-athletes, coaches and staff in their continual quest to become world-class leaders in athletics, academics and life.
At Carolina, all first-year student-athletes participate in the CREED Program, a personal leadership program based on a dedication to embracing the culture of the University, respecting oneself and others, pursuing academic excellence, excelling athletically and developing the capacity to lead. For sophomores and juniors who choose to pursue additional leadership training, Carolina offers the Rising Stars Program. At the highest level of training, team captains and veterans are part of the Veterans Leaders Program, refining their leadership skills as established leaders of their teams.
“In its first year, the Carolina Leadership Academy has already made a major impact on our student-athletes,” Baddour said. “We’re seeing early benefits and getting great feedback from the students who have participated, and we look forward to the long-term effects that this program will have as our students graduate and take their leadership skills out into the world.”
Brand will meet with Carolina student-athletes, faculty, coaches and University administrators during his campus visit.
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Championshipfever
Carolina's thrilling 75-70 victory over top-ranked Illinois in St. Louis on April 4 clinched the school's fourth NCAA title — and its first since 1993 — and sent the University community into a frenzy.
Thousands of fans watched the Final Four at the Smith Center on Saturday and Monday, and a whopping 45,000 flooded Franklin Street late Monday night after Coach Roy Williams' Tar Heels clinched the national championship. Junior Sean May, who scored 26 points and snagged 10 rebounds in the final, was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
The victorious Tar Heels returned to the Smith Center on Tuesday afternoon and were greeted by 15,000 avid supporters who packed the building for the celebration. Each player spoke to the fans to thank them for their support throughout the season, and those in attendance also were treated to a 13-minute highlight reel from the final game.
Click here to see a Flash slideshow of photos of the local celebration taken by News Services photographers.
For more information on the game, visit www.tarheelblue.com.
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Clerical skills program to return in summer
After a four-year hiatus, the Basic Clerical Skills program has returned to the University community. For about a decade beginning in the early 1990s, the program offered an opportunity for UNC employees with little or no clerical training to gain the skills necessary to advance to office positions in a variety of locations across campus. Unfortunately, the program was cancelled in 2001 as a result of statewide budget cuts.
Recognizing the value of a program that has assisted dozens of University employees in improving their job skills and employment opportunities, the Chancellor’s Task Force for a Better Workplace made reinstating the program a priority. As part of Carolina’s commitment to lifelong learning for all University employees, the Basic Clerical Skills program will begin again in the summer of 2005.
The Basic Clerical Skills program focuses on career development for employees who have minimal or no training in an office environment and would like to gain basic clerical skills. The goal of the program is to teach the necessary skills for an office support staff position within the University while allowing employees to continue full-time work in their current positions. Successful completion of the program will be viewed as equivalent to one year of experience as an Office/Processing Assistant III by hiring departments. The Basic Clerical Skills program is open to all University employees in pay grades 50-54.
The program consists of many classes covering everything from basic business grammar to interviewing skills to computer fundamentals. Classes will be taught by local community colleges and various specialists across campus. While some community college courses may require participants to pay a tuition fee of approximately $50, these fees are eligible for reimbursement by the University’s Educational Assistance Program after successful completion of each course.
Participants will have access to the Cheek-Clark computer lab and other campus computer labs to complete their coursework. Participants may also apply for the University’s laptop computer loan program to obtain a computer for home use. For more information about this program, please contact Katherine Graves at 843-4900 or kcgraves@email.unc.edu. (Computer loans are available to any employee at pay grade 61 or less.)
Prospective participants must also have a high school diploma or a GED. GED classes and tutoring programs are available through a University-run program, the Orange County Literacy Council, and local community colleges for interested employees who need to fulfill this requirement.
Applicants must write an essay outlining their personal and professional goals and what they hope to gain from the program. They must also obtain supervisor support for their participation in the program.
Applications are currently available online at the Training & Development web site and at various locations on campus. Hard copies can be picked up at Training & Development, located at 104 Airport Drive, or can be mailed to interested parties. Please contact Felecia Perry at 962-9681 or Sarah Miller at 962-2550 to request an application. All applications must be received by April 25, 2005.
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Bring spring to the office with an indoor plant
For office workers, one way to bring the beauty of spring to your work area is with an indoor plant. Indoor plants are not only beautiful and inspiring (assuming that they are maintained in good health), but they also provide physical benefits to the surrounding environment.
Specifically, one of the most important benefits that indoor plants provide is their ability to efficiently filter air pollutants. Plants are able to clean indoor pollutants from common items such as carpets, plastics or furniture by absorbing toxins into their leaves, eventually transmitting the toxins to their roots, where they are transformed into a food source for the plant. Experts recommend that all office workers have a plant in their work spaces.
Of course, as with any group space, it’s important to talk with coworkers and supervisors about the appropriateness of any plant before bringing it in to the office. If a particular plant emits allergens and pollen, it can cause problems for people with respiratory difficulties.
Some good plants to start with include:
Janet Craig Dracaena — This plant works well in rooms that have been recently carpeted or contain new furniture.
Spider plant — This plant is a trailing perennial that is an effective filter for carbon monoxide. It is an easy-to-grow favorite of indoor plant enthusiasts.
English Ivy — This plant is a hanging perennial that is especially effective for rooms that have been freshly painted or carpeted and in rooms that contain plastic equipment, such as computers, printers, fax machines or ink.
Once you have decided that you would like an indoor plant and cleared it with your coworkers and supervisor, be sure to check the lighting. The most important key to a plant’s indoor survival (in addition to proper watering) is correct lighting. There are many plants that work well in low-light environments, and also plants that can grow in the fluorescent lighting of windowless work spaces. Just be sure to select an appropriate plant for the type and level of lighting available.
Finally, if you bring a plant in the work environment, it is essential to give it proper care. Keeping a dying plant around is unhealthy to both the body and the spirit. Instead, start fresh with a new plant and enjoy its many benefits.
Information for this column was gathered from the article “Secret Power of Plants” by Michael Downey. For a complete copy of the article, or to suggest topics for future installments of Carolina Wellness Matters, please contact Holly Tiemann, Training & Development, at 962-9682 or holly_tiemann@unc.edu.
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Star Heels
Michelle Hill
Kenan-Flagler Business School
Michelle Hill, financial manager at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, was recently honored with a Star Heels award. Hill is known at the School as a dedicated member of the team who always goes above and beyond. Her nomination materials state, “One definition of service is ‘an act of assistance or benefit to another.’ Michelle not only acts in assisting us each and every day, but does so with the utmost professionalism, respect and a consistent positive attitude.”
Hill’s focus within the Financial Services department at KFBS is Executive Education, International Programs and Career Services Divisions. She began as an Accounting Clerk and has worked her way up to Financial Manager in just under five years at the University. She is undoubtedly enjoying her role.
“The people I work with make this a fun job,” she said. “I’ve developed relationships with everyone at the School, which makes it easier to provide a high level of customer service.”
Hill began her finance career with positions in banking, and found it to be a good fit. “I like the problem-solving aspect (of my job),” she said. She enjoys working with both faculty and staff, as well as the opportunity to have contacts with other University departments. “The people that I work with in other departments make it easy to provide my colleagues with the answers. They are great to work with,” she added.
Congratulations to Michelle Hill, and thanks for the excellent job that she does every day at Kenan-Flagler.
The following employees were also recently honored with Star Heels awards:
Law Library
Jennifer Canders
Orthodontics
Kimberly Brown
Operative Dentistry
Wendy Chambers
Dental Faculty Practice
Monica Petcovic
English
Susan Irons
Kenan-Flagler Business School
Sherry Wallace
Kimberly Scales
Kara Sullivan
Russell Davis
Angela Dickerson
The June 1 Star Heels deadline is coming soon. More details to follow.
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Save the Date
The 17th Annual Carolina Blood Drive will be held at the Smith Center on June 7 from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Mark your calendar now to be a part of this important annual event.
Donors and volunteers will be able to make appointments beginning in early May. See the April 27 “Gazette” for more information (and this year’s exciting new logo).
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2005 Chancellor’s Award call for nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence.
In 1991, the University established the Chancellor’s Award Program, which celebrates meritorious or distinguished accomplishments made by University employees. The five nominees chosen as the 2005 Chancellor’s Award recipients will be honored at a recognition luncheon and each will receive a monetary award of $1000 and a special leave award of 24 hours.
The awards are based on meritorious or distinguished accomplishments that are “clearly above and beyond that which would be expected from dedicated employees who are fully and competently discharging all of the duties and satisfying all of the requirements of their jobs” while a University employee. The awards categories are: outstanding State
Government service, innovation(s), public service, safety/heroism, human relations and other achievements.
Any permanent employee may recommend a University employee (including retired and deceased employees) for the Chancellor’s Award.
Nomination deadline is Friday, April 29, 2005. Return completed nomination forms to Employee Services, CB# 1045.
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Nominations due on April 25 for facilitator award
The Office of Human Resources is currently accepting nominations for the HR Facilitator of the Year Award.
Human Resources facilitators perform crucial functions in every University department. Facilitators process permanent, temporary and student employee personnel actions; handle leave, benefits or payroll matters for their department; serve as the primary liaison between the Office of Human Resources and employees; and supervise work groups that perform these functions. They are integral in ensuring that HR policies and procedures are followed in departments and that HR services are known and available to department employees.
The Office of Human Resources acknowledges the significance of these employees’ duties and has established the HR Facilitator of the Year program to show its appreciation for their service. The Communications Department of the Office of Human Resources is accepting nominations for the HR Facilitator of the Year Award through April 25. The Office of Human Resources will host a reception in June to honor the Facilitator of the Year and all other nominees.
The HR Facilitator of the Year is a dependable and trustworthy team player with excellent communication skills and an overall positive attitude. This person is skillful and knowledgeable, flexible and responsive to employee needs, and resourceful in providing accurate answers to questions.
To nominate an HR Facilitator you think matches this description, complete the form available at the “Announcements” section of the Office of Human Resources website at hr.unc.edu. For more information, contact Kathy Bryant at 962-0266 or kathy_bryant@unc.edu.
