Working@Duke April/May, 2012 Issue

WORKING@DUKEn NEWS YOU CAN USE n Volume 7, Issue 2 n April/May 2012

INSIDE

Moving Toward Carbon Neutral

How To Appeal A Parking Ticket

Career Tools: Professional Associations

Degree of DistinctionParticipation in Duke’s Employee Tuition Program has more than doubled in five years

2 � Working@Duke

Editor’sNote

LEANORA MINAI Contents

This month, our main feature is “Degree of Distinction,” which features employeeswho are using Duke’s Employee TuitionReimbursement Program for schooling.

The benefit pays up to $5,250 per year toward an academic degree at North Carolina schools.

You’ll learn about Jameca Dupree, wholanded a part-time job at Duke with a high schooldiploma but earned a bachelor’s degree using thetuition benefit. She is now a financial analyst whomay return to school again for an MBA.

“My theory is that where you go and whatyou do completely depends on you,” Dupree toldWorking@Duke. “Duke has so much to offer. I’m sograteful that I am here because it has allowed meto take control of my education, my career path.”

On page 11, you’ll find more news on continuallearning. “Career Tools,” the series with tips forprofessional development, introduces MichelleEvans, an administrative manager at Duke. Shehoned her public speaking by joining a professionalorganization.

“It gives you a comfortableness andconfidence in your own abilities,” Evans toldWorking@Duke.

On a personal note, I’m making my first short documentary film as a continuing educationcertificate student at Duke’s Center forDocumentary Studies. The 10-minute film exploreshow a group of Durham mothers cope with losingtheir sons to gun violence in the city.

As part of earning the certificate, I took video production and editing classes andconducted fieldwork, while working full-time. I’llscreen the film during the certificate graduation on May 18, along with other students. (If interested,you can learn more about the short film atleanoraminai.com).

While certificate programs are not eligibleunder Duke’s tuition reimbursement program, Imade the investment for my continual learning.Being a former newspaper reporter amid a digitalrevolution, I want to learn new skills.

When considering professional development,you may not need to earn another degree. Joininga professional organization or taking a class mayhelp you learn skills to advance your career.

If you take some time to read through thismonth’s issue, you’re bound to discover a resourceor inspiring anecdote to help in your professionalor personal growth.

10 � Got a Duke parking ticket? You may be able to appeal it

11 � Career Tools: Expand skills through professional associations

13 � Duke Farmers Market opens on April 27

15 � What is Sakai? Everything you need to know in this Q&A

Cover:Degree of Distinction Slightly more than 1,000 Dukeemployees currently combine full-time work with additionalschooling, a feat made possible inpart because of Duke’s EmployeeTuition Assistance Program.

Plan Ahead WithRetirement Consults All employees are eligible for one-on-one consultations at no chargewith Fidelity, TIAA-CREF, VALIC and Vanguard.

Moving Toward Carbon NeutralityAfter establishing its ClimateAction Plan, Duke’s carbonfootprint continues to shrink.Greenhouse gas emissions, which include energy use and on-campus transportation andcommuting, are down 11 percentfrom a 2007 baseline.

2011, 2009, 2008, 2007 Gold Medal,

Internal Periodical Staff Writing

2009, 2007 Bronze Medal, Print Internal

Audience Tabloids/Newsletters

This paper consists of 30%

recycled post-consumer fiber.

Please recycle after reading.

Keep On Learning

today.duke.edu/working � 3

Briefly

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Celebrating staff and faculty with ‘Duke Appreciation’ in May The annual celebration of Duke faculty and staff returns May 18 with “Music on the Quad.” The marquee event is one of several special activities in May to recognize more than 33,000

faculty and staff at Duke. During the month, local restaurants will offer discounts, and the DurhamBulls will host special Duke Family nights.

“It has been fun to be involved in the celebrations over the years,” said Alonzo Felder, an ITanalyst featured as a Duke Star when he celebrated 25 years of service at Duke. “It is a nice way for Duke to validate the hard work employees do and to say, ‘thanks.’ ”

Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for administration at Duke, offered his thanks and appreciationto Duke staff and faculty for their contributions.

“Every day, this massive and complex place called Duke runs smoothly because of the work ofthousands of employees who live out our principles,” he said. “It’s especially impressive to me that even during these financially challenging times,employees haven’t just hunkered down. Instead, they have found ways to preserve the legacy of Duke and prepare for an even brighter future. Thatreflects well on the character of our community.”

Colleagues can show appreciation for co-workers who make a difference by writing a note on the “Making A Difference” blog, or picking up a treatand free personalized bookmark at the Duke Farmers Market. (See page 13 for more information about the market).

For the full schedule and the “Making A Difference” blog, visit hr.duke.edu/appreciation.

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Duke hosts Financial Fitness Week May 21-24 This year, Duke staff and faculty can get financial tips either in person

or through several “Cyber Monday” webinars during Financial Fitness Week.On Monday, May 21, four “Cyber Monday” webinars will be offered

on topics ranging from a market overview to retirement income strategies. OnWednesday, May 23, employees can visit the Searle Center and Bryan Center toattend other seminars, including retirement planning strategies, building a betterbudget and everything you need to know about Duke’s life insurance plans.

All sessions are free. Participants will be entered in drawings to win one of several GPS devices.

More information on registration, other Duke locations and how to accessthe “Cyber Monday” webinars is at hr.duke.edu/financialfitness.

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Duke to double on-site child care capacity

A second on-site child care center willopen at Duke later this year, more thandoubling the number of spaces for childrenof Duke faculty, staff and graduate students.

Two buildings on Hull Avenue nearCentral Campus will be renovated for thenew on-site child care center. The center will be managed by The Little School of Hillsboroughand operate as The Little School at Duke.

“The addition of The Little School at Duke will be a big step forward in meeting thedemand for high quality child care for our workforce,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for administration at Duke.

The new school is scheduled to open in early September with 170 spots for childrenbetween the ages of 3 months to 6 years. Duke’s current childcare center, the Duke Children’sCampus on Alexander Avenue, has capacity for 152 students. The tuition at both centers will bethe same.

Information about registration and enrollment will be available in May athr.duke.edu/childcare.

Through the Duke Child Care Partnership, parents who work at Duke University and DukeUniversity Health System have greater access to quality child care at area centers. The DukeChild Care Partnership works with 42, four-and five-star centers that provide priorityplacement to children of Duke families.

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“Working@Duke” recognized as best employee newsletter

Ragan Communications, the leadingresource and publisher of information aboutcorporate and employee communication, hasrecognized Duke among "the best of the best"for its employee communications.

Of more than 350 entries in Ragan's 2011 Employee Communications Awards, the“Working@Duke” section of Duke Today won Best Employee Newsletter in the electronicpublication category, and “Working@Duke” won Best Employee Newsletter in the printpublication category.

In addition, “Working@Duke” received an honorable mention for Most ImprovedPublication Design for a print publication. Duke’s Office of Communication Servicesproduces the print and electronic publications.

The Ragan award entries spanned thecorporate and not-for-profit world and includednames such as General Electric, ESPN, SouthwestAirlines, SAS, Quintiles and the Mayo Clinic.

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Deadline for reimbursement receipts April 15 The deadline for submitting Health Care and Dependent Care

Reimbursement Account receipts from last year is April 15, 2012. Facultyand staff must submit all receipts by April 15 for services provided fromJan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2011, to receive reimbursement. Receipts can bescanned and submitted online or through WageWorks’ EZ Receiptsmobile application. Learn more at hr.duke.edu/reimbursement.

4 � Working@Duke

Trenton Emmert positioned the plastic tube between themannequin’s lips to measure lung capacity and recitedpost-operative instructions.

“This is to get you breathing deeper,” said Emmert as a nursing instructor observed.

“To prevent what?” the instructor asked.There was a close guess, a brief pause and then Emmert

remembered and offered the correct answer: “To prevent post-operative pneumonia.”

A Duke anesthesia technician, Emmert practices patientsimulations like this as part of his nursing studies at North CarolinaCentral University. He’s one of slightly more than 1,000 Dukeemployees who currently combine full-time work with additionalschooling, a feat made possible in part because of Duke’s EmployeeTuition Assistance Program.

Last year, Duke reimbursed employees about $2.56 million fortuition expenses at a time when many institutions cut the benefit.According to the Society for Human Resource Management, U.S.

Trenton Emmert, a Duke employee and North Carolina Central University nursing student, measures lung capacity in a mannequin while instructor Angeline Baker observes.

Cover Story

Degree of Distinction Participation in Duke Employee Tuition Program more than doubles in five years

Employees In Duke’s Tuition Assistance Program

Source: Duke Human Resources

today.duke.edu/working � 5

businesses offering tuition assistance dropped from 68 percent in2007 to 58 percent in 2011. But at Duke, the program is growing.Participation has more than doubled in five years – from 432employees in 2007 to 1,006 in 2011.

“Tuition reimbursement and other professional developmentopportunities at Duke signal our desire to make Duke an institutionof learning not just for students, but for staff as well,” said KyleCavanaugh, vice president for administration at Duke. “Thisinvestment translates into a skilled workforce and more opportunityfor employees to advance within Duke as they expand their skills.”

The tuition benefit is available to staff and faculty who work atleast 30 hours each week and have at least two years of continuousservice. An eligible employee can receive as much as $5,250 per yearfor up to nine courses at North Carolina accredited schools. Thecourses must be approved as part of a professional developmentplan. Employees who use the benefit must commit to remaining at Duke for two years after receiving reimbursement.

Seizing educational opportunitiesJameca Dupree followed her husband and two young sons into

Frankie’s Fun Park in Raleigh and slid a laptop and two accountingbooks on the table. While her husband negotiated pizza toppingswith her sons, she powered up the laptop.

She studied before the pizza arrived and joined her family forone round of go-karts before returning to her books while the rest of the family played.

“Studying is important,” she said, “but so is family time.” In her 11 years at Duke, Dupree has artfully balanced home,

work and school as she seized educational opportunities to helpadvance her career from a part-time Duke food service employeewith a high school diploma to a full-time financial analyst with abachelor’s degree in business administration.

“I don’t know of any other place where I could have workedand achieved so much in such a short time,” she said.

Dupree began charting her path with Duke’s ProfessionalDevelopment Institute, known as PDI. In 2004, she graduated fromPDI’s Office Staff Development Program, where she learned Duke’sfinancial and record-keeping systems, business writing and otheradministrative skills.

Soon after she finished that 44-week program, Dupree movedinto a coordinator position in the Cardiac MRI department. Tenmonths later, she moved to a staff assistant position in PerkinsLibrary.

“PDI helped get my career on track,” Dupree said. “But I knewI needed a college degree to move farther.”

She enrolled in North Carolina Wesleyan College in 2007 with her heart set on a bachelor’s degree in business administration.Over three years, Duke’s tuition benefit reimbursed her about$15,000 for the degree.

She recalls those years as a whirlwind of activity. Many days,she would rush home after work, review her sons’ homework, giveher husband a quick hug, then drive 20 minutes to the Morrisvillecampus for a three-hour class. On weekends, she sat in bleachers ather sons’ basketball games and studied accounting practices andorganizational behavior.

“It was tough, but my family understood how important it was to me,” she said.

While Dupree was in college, Ann Elsner, director ofadministrative services at Perkins Library, increasingly involvedDupree in budget discussions and assigned tasks such as budgettrend analysis. A few months after Dupree graduated in 2010,Elsner was able to promote Dupree to a financial analyst position at Perkins Library.

“I wouldn’t have been eligible for this last promotion withoutthe degree,” Dupree said. “But I’m not finished learning. I want togo on now and get my masters in business.”

>> continued on page 6

The tuition benefit is available to Duke staff andfaculty who work at least 30 hours each week andhave at least two years of continuous service.

An eligible employee can receive up to $5,250 peryear for up to nine courses at accredited NorthCarolina schools. The courses must be approved as part of a professional development plan.

Employees who use the benefit must commit toremain at Duke for two years after receivingreimbursement.

Duke’s Employee Tuition Reimbursement Program

Ann Elsner, left, director of administrative services at Perkins Library, with Jameca

Dupree at Dupree’s college commencement. Photo courtesy of Jameca Dupree.

6 � Working@Duke goonline Learn more about Duke’s employee tuition benefit at hr.duke.edu/tuition

Help finding her voiceThree years ago, Aliki Martin watched as her son anxiously

checked email each day, awaiting news of acceptance into college. She could empathize. She, too, had applied for college.A senior auditor for Duke’s School of Medicine, Martin joined

the second class of Duke’s new doctorate in nursing practice in2009. Her classes in evidence-based practice and applied statisticsstarted days after she dropped her son off at the Rochester Instituteof Technology.

“Immersing myself in school work helped me cope with havingan empty nest,” said Martin, who joined Duke 30 years ago as apediatric nurse.

She’s most recently been working on her capstone project: a pilot study to see if routinely screening breast and lung cancerpatients at Duke for clinical trials will increase the numbers ofwomen, minorities and underserved populations enrolled in clinicaltrials for new treatments.

Her studies have given her an appreciation for just what it takesto make subtle changes in healthcare practices that could have majorimpacts on outcomes and research. She expects to earn thedoctorate in August.

“This work has helped me find my voice as a patient advocate,”Martin said. “No matter where my career takes me next, that will behelpful, and I’m grateful to Duke for supporting this growth.”

Long days paying off Trenton Emmert, the anesthesia technician studying at NCCU,

settled into a favorite study nook in NCCU’s new NursingBuilding. He pulled out a three-inch thick surgical nursing textbookfrom his backpack and underlined phrases with a blue highlighter.

It had been a long day already. He arrived at school at 8 a.m., afew hours after finishing a 10-hour shift at Duke University Hospital.

“It’s a hard schedule, but it’s for a good purpose,” he said. “I’m excited about becoming a nurse.”

Emmert already has one bachelor’s degree that helped him get a job as a surgical technician at Durham Regional Hospital. But,

during his work therehelping position patientson operating tables andwheeling in trays ofequipment for sedatingpatients, he grewfascinated by the role of a nurse anesthetist.

“It was something I could easily imaginemyself doing, havingresponsibility for apatient throughout theoperation,” he said. “ButI needed that seconddegree.”

He investigatednursing school butdiscovered he wasineligible for most federalfinancial aid for a secondbachelor’s degree. Beforehis second anniversary atDuke, a co-worker toldhim about the tuitionbenefit. He enrolled atNCCU and transferredto weekend night shifts atDuke Hospital to maketime for day classes.

When he earns hisnursing degree next May,he hopes to gain direct experience at Duke for a few years then

return to school to gain accreditation as a nurse anesthetist.“Right now I have zero social life on the weekends, but thanks

to the tuition benefit and the flexibility of being able to transfer tonight shifts, I’m working toward the degree that I really want,”Emmert said. “I’m just really thankful to be working at aninstitution that makes this all possible.” �

BY MARSHA A. GREEN

Aliki Martin studies in the School of Nursing at Duke.

By the NumbersTuition Assistance

in 2011

$2.56 millionTuition paid by Duke

1,006Faculty and staff enrolled

45Institutions attended

39.3Average age of participants

8.27Average years of service

of participants

Trenton Emmert studies in nursing school at North Carolina Central University.

today.duke.edu/working � 7goonline For information about free one-on-one retirement consultations, visit hr.duke.edu/retirement

Surrounded by credit card receipts and bank statements, Irene Lofstrommeticulously entered her income,expenses and savings into a money

management program on her computer.She and her husband had been saving since

they started work at Duke 32 years ago, butone question kept nagging at her: Did theyhave enough money to retire comfortably?

For help, Lofstrom, administrativecoordinator in the Department ofNeurobiology, used a lesser-known resourceat Duke. She attended free retirementcounseling provided by Fidelity, one of fourinvestment companies that manage Duke’semployee retirement saving accounts.

All employees at Duke are eligible forone-on-one consultations with Fidelity, TIAA-CREF, VALIC and Vanguard, even if theydon’t participate in a retirement plan. Advisorswork with employees to create an investmentstrategy, offer suggestions on investments andmonitor investment choices. Sessions areprovided by phone, on campus or at theinvestment company.

“Saving regularly for retirement isimportant, but so is regularly checking tosee if you are on target or need to adjustyour strategy,” said Sylvester Hackney,

associate director of Duke Benefits, whorecommends making consultations anannual event.

Last October, Lofstrom met with aFidelity representative in the company’s officesat University Tower in Durham. She wantedreassurance that volatility of the marketswould not derail her retirement plans.

“I don’t know if I’m being conservativeor aggressive enough for my age,” saidLofstrom, 58.

Lofstrom learned that since most of her investment funds are in age-bracketedfunds, she is on target. Age-bracketed fundsautomatically readjust the ratio of stocksand bonds based on a client’s expectedretirement date so that the portfoliobecomes progressively more conservative as retirement approaches.

The Fidelity representative alsocalculated whether the combination ofSocial Security, Duke retirement plan andfamily assets would be enough to replace 75to 85 percent of her family’s current incomeafter retirement. She and the representativeconsidered scenarios based on how long sheand her husband will work and how muchmoney they might need each year inretirement.

“As it turns out, we can’t retire at 62like we wanted to,” Lofstrom said. “We arejust now recovering from the economicfallout, and that will delay retirement a bit.But at least now I know where we stand,and I don’t have to waste time worryingabout it.” �

BY MARSHA A. GREEN

Plan aheadwith freeretirementconsultations

Financial Fitness Week May 21-24

Are you headed toward your retirement dream or doyou need to recalculate the route? Through onlineand live webinars, Financial Fitness Week willhelp you chart a course. Participants will be enteredin drawings to win one of several GPS devices.Some online presentations include:

� Retirement Income Strategies

� Understanding And Achieving Your Long-term Goals

� Market Overview

For more information on Financial Fitness Week,visit hr.duke.edu/financialfitness.

Irene Lofstrom, left, and husband, Steve, visit the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. They enjoy gardening and hope

to do more of it in retirement.

Sustainable ukeY O U R S O U R C E F O R G R E E N N E W S A T D U K E

Built more than 80 yearsago, the steam plant on West Campus isundergoing a major

renovation that marks the endof coal at Duke.

Furnaces that once burnedcoal are being replaced with threegiant natural gas boilers thatprovide steam to sterilize surgicalhospital equipment, maintainproper humidity for art and labresearch and heat academic andmedical buildings across Duke.In addition to being sustainable,the retrofitted plant will saveDuke up to $400,000 a year in operational costs.

“Moving to cleaner fuels in the campus steam plants wasone of the big moves that Dukecould make as an institution tomeet our climate goals,” saidTavey Capps, Duke’s sustainability director.

As Duke works to complete the steam plant project, the campuscontinues its march toward carbon neutrality by 2024 – the maingoal when President Richard Brodhead signed the American Collegeand University Presidents Climate Commitment in 2007. Five yearsafter signing the pact, and three years after establishing Duke’sClimate Action Plan, the university’s carbon footprint is continuallyshrinking. Greenhouse gas emissions, which include energy use andon-campus transportation and commuting, are down 11 percentfrom a 2007 baseline, a decrease in carbon output equivalent to theemissions of about 6,113 cars over one year.

Among the reasons for the shift has been the adoption ofsustainable energy policies. According to an audit of Duke’sgreenhouse gas emissions in 2007, 78 percent of all of Duke’semissions came from energy consumption such as heating buildingsand powering computers. Last year, it was 72 percent, despite a largerfootprint with new offices and buildings like the Smith Warehouse.

The reason lies not only in theway Duke uses energy, butsupplies it as well.

Last April, the giant pile of black coal outside the WestCampus Steam Plantdisappeared, signaling Duke’sfinal step of reducing to zero theproduction of about 80 percentof its steam from burning coal. Itwas a move recommended by theClimate Action Plan that gotDuke off of coal for the first timesince the 1920s. In addition to acleaner-burning fuel at theplants, Duke is now uses a solar-thermal system on the roof of theBryan Center that providesabout 40 percent of thebuilding’s domestic hot water.

“Ultimately, utilizing thesesolar panels is going to displace

an amount of steam we use at the Bryan Center to heat water, whichmeans we'll be using less steam and burning less natural gas,” saidSteve Palumbo, energy manager for Facilities Management. “It's achain effect of sustainable practices.”

Duke Moving Toward Carbon NeutralityClimate Action Plan continues to push ‘green’ behaviors

8 � Working@Duke

Earth Day Celebration In April

April 20, noon to 5 p.m.

A festival, including a bike parade, music, food,games and more, will be held outside theLevine Science Research Center. Get the fulllist of events for April’s Earth Month atsustainability.duke.edu.

This is a rendering of what Duke’s West Campus Steam Plant will look like once completed.

today.duke.edu/working � 9

FOCUS ON ‘GREEN’ BUILDING

Duke initiatives like a temperature control policy, whichmaintains heating and cooling within certain temperatures, and thecampus’ extensive chilled water infrastructure, have helped lowerelectricity needs. These and other measures helped the universitydecrease its carbon output through purchased electricity by almost21,500 metric tons between 2007 and 2011, the amount of emissionsfrom annual electricity use of 2,681 American homes.

Those savings will continue to add up given Duke’s focus ongreen building practices as part of its Climate Action Plan. The plancalls for getting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for all newconstruction or major renovations.

Duke currently has 22 LEED buildings, from the country’s firstcertified free-standing garage (Sands Parking Garage) to its first LEEDplatinum residence hall (Home Depot Smart Home).

“Our commitment to sustainability has been built from theground up through construction and renovation projects,” saidTallman Trask III, executive vice president. “We started building to higher and more sustainable industry standards before LEEDcertification was introduced in 2001. We saw LEED as anopportunity to formalize this process and track our progress. Today, we are among the leading universities in the country.”

CURBING TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS

While Duke has made consistent strides in energy use, the Climate Action Plan also points the direction for Duke’stransportation efforts.

Despite an increase of 13 percent in transportation-relatedemissions from 2007 to 2011, much of that is due to air travel. Thisbehavior can be hard to influence, if Duke faculty or staff travel onwork-related matters domestically and internationally. Capps,Duke’s sustainability director, said that even though emissions wereup, that doesn’t mean employees can’t make choices to cut downemissions that add up over time.

Capps noted that the increase in transportation-relatedemissions doesn’t include Duke’s latest efforts to curb emissions on campus and throughout the Triangle because the reports don’tinclude the 2012 fiscal year.

Late last year, Duke introduced two articulated, hybrid buses that use electric charge and low-sulfur diesel fuel. Parking andTransportation Services continues to promote sustainable transit,including providing the GoPass, a free public bus pass that allowsstudents and eligible employees to travel at no charge. More than6,500 passes have been distributed so far.

“Not only are you saving a lot of money in gas and insurance,but you’re saving Mother Earth because you create fewer emissionswhen you’re riding the bus with so many other people,” said MirtaMihovilovic, a senior scientist with the Department of Neurologywho rides the bus from Chapel Hill to Durham and back each daywith her GoPass.

Duke also partners with Durham to offer the fare-free Bull CityConnector as a sustainable public transit option for Duke communitymembers and Durham residents alike. It averages about 1,500 riderseach day and connects Duke with downtown Durham.

“Programs like GoPass benefit everyone who takes advantage of them,” said Brian Williams, Duke’s transportation demandcoordinator. “That's what's so special about what we have here at Duke.” �

BY BRYAN ROTH

goonline Learn more about the Climate Action Plan at sustainability.duke.edu

What does ‘carbon neutral’ mean?

Carbon neutrality means the university will be able to completely cancel out all its carbonemissions with reduction efforts, which includeconserving energy and improving transportationpractices, among many others.

Neutrality is reached by reducing emissions andthen offsetting leftover emissions by fundingactivities or projects that reduce, avoid or sequestergreenhouse gases.

The GoPass, a free public bus pass for Duke students and eligible employees, is among alternatives to help reduce emissions.

Duke Facilities Management installed 45 solar-thermal panels on the roof of theBryan Center to heat 40 percent of domestic hot water used in the building.

About 3,300 parking citations werewritten at Duke last December,and for about half of the students, employees or visitors

who got a ticket, it meant paying a finefrom $10 for infractions like improperlydisplaying a permit to $250 for parking in a handicap spot.

But for nearly 1,600 people, the fineswere waived, as part of Duke’s parkingticket appeal process.

By completing an appeal form orappearing in-person with the appealscommittee, Duke community members and visitors are able to plead their case –successfully or not.

“We know that everyone wants to park close to wherever they’re going, butunfortunately we just don’t have the spacesto accommodate everyone with the parkingthey’d prefer to have,” said Marian Brown,adjudications officer for Parking andTransportation Services and a member ofthe appeals committee.

Along with Brown, 11 other Duke staffmembers voluntarily serve on the appealscommittee, which meets once or twice aweek, depending on the number of citationappeals. Students can also serve on thegroup. During a meeting, the committeereviews up to 30 appeals – from improperlyparking in lots to failing to move vehicles

from lots before athletic events. Time is alsoreserved to allow for five minute, in-personappeals.

While all parking citations are eligibleto be appealed, Duke community membersshould consider context when appealing aticket. For example, if a vehicle was parkedin a fire lane, or in a handicap-accessiblespot, the driver is breaking state law; theticket will not be dismissed. In other cases,if a car is parked without a proper permit,but the driver has a legitimate reason such asa medical emergency, the appeal committeemay consider a dismissal.

“It’s important to think twice beforesubmitting an appeal because not everythingwill be a legitimate excuse,” said Brown, theadjudications officer.

Johnny Bell, a senior network analystwith the Office of Information Technology,has served on the appeals committeemember for about 20 years. He joined thegroup because he considered it a valuableway to help Duke’s parking efforts.

Bell suggested first consulting Duke’sparking policies at parking.duke.edu toensure an appeal is well founded. Herecommended providing pertinentinformation, like photos, in the appeal.

“A lot of times people will just appealby making comments but never give us away to verify what they say,” Bell said.

Although Parking and Transportationprovides information and support for theappeals committee, the committee’s votingmembers make decisions independently.Brown said the committee’s goal is to help educate and reinforce rules to keepcampus safe. �

BY BRYAN ROTH

10 � Working@Duke goonline For more information, visit parking.duke.edu

Employeesvolunteer to review parkingticket appeals

How To AppealOnly parking citation appealsreceived within 15 days of a

parking violation are reviewed.Appellants must complete

an appeal form atparking.duke.edu or fill out a form at the Parking and

Transportation Services officeat 2010 Campus Dr. An in-person appeal can bescheduled by calling (919)684-7275 immediatelyfollowing submission of

an online appeal.

MichelleEvanshesitated atthe conference

room door. She wondered whether any of the confident looking women dressed inbusiness suits would want to talk with her, an administrator at Duke with two years ofexperience. Then the president of theBusiness and Professional Women chapterwalked up, shook her hand warmly and askedabout her career aspirations.

That was seven years ago.“It was the beginning of a wonderful

relationship, both with the president and theorganization,” said Evans, an administrativemanager for Duke's Research Integrity Office.

Evans is now the president of theRaleigh chapter of Business and ProfessionalWomen, a national organization that focuseson improving the lives of working womenthrough networking, education anddevelopment opportunities.

Over the years, her membership in theorganization has taught her tricks to calmnerves when at the podium presenting toprofessionals and steps for parliamentaryprocedure to ensure all issues are discussedduring a meeting before a vote.

“It is a nurturing environment where I can feel comfortable exploring new sidesof myself,” Evans said.

Some professional groups, like Businessand Professional Women, bring together

employees from different occupationsaround a common passion. Other

organizations, such as the American Societyof Landscape Architects, focus onprofessionals from specific industries. A common thread is organizations offeropportunities to learn new knowledge andskills and expand a professional network.

Meg Flournoy, associate director ofCareer Services at the Fuqua School ofBusiness, recommends following a passionwhen looking for professional organizationsto join. “Find an organization that energizesyou and brings meaning to you personally,”she said. “Then figure out how to bring thatenergy back to your job.”

For Evans, membership in Business andProfessional Women led to her becomingsecretary after a few months.

A few years later, Evans was asked toprovide administrative support to Duke’s

Conflict of Interest Committee, a group thatregularly uses parliamentary procedure.

“I never would have guessedparliamentary procedure was a skill I woulduse at Duke,” Evans said. “But I was glad thatI had learned it.”

She also honed public speaking skills andfound opportunities to speak to large groupswithin her professional organization. Whenher manager at Duke asked her to present tosenior faculty on the progress of a newinitiative, she accepted the assignment.

“That’s the beauty of learning skills inorganizations outside of work,” Evans said.“It gives me confidence in using them whenthe time is ripe at Duke.” �

“Career Tools” is a series of articles withtips and tools for professional development at Duke.

BY MARSHA A. GREEN

Professional groups offer opportunities to network, lead and learn

Find A Professional Organization� Search the web for professional associations related to a degree, training,association or keyword of interest.

� Check local chamber of commerce websites and city calendars to see whatprofessional organization meetings or conferences meet in town.

� Some professional groups that meet on Duke’s campus are Duke’s AdministrativeWomen’s Network, Toastmasters International Club and a variety of academicorganizations such as the Duke chapter of Women in Science and Education (WiSE).

today.duke.edu/working � 11goonline Got a “Career Tools” idea? Write [email protected]

Expand skills through professional organizations

Michelle Evans, right, speaks during a board meeting of North Carolina Women United. She representsBusiness and Professional Women on the board.

For nearly a year, Steve Hinkle haspeddled his way to the grocerystore, meetings and most important– to and from work.

Hinkle agreed last year to give up his200,000-mile, 1992 Toyota Corolla for acustom-made commuter bike from BlackSheep Bikes of Fort Collins, Colo. The swapwas part of the "Tour de Fat," a countrywidetraveling bike event that made its first stopin Durham. The catch: Hinkle pledged tonot drive a car, barring a serious emergency,for one year.

While some may not be as accepting ofthis drastic change in transportation, Hinkleembraced it, particularly time spent on hisbike on and around campus.

“I’ve really enjoyed it because I like thesense of contact I get with the grounds andspaces around Duke,” said Hinkle, achaplain with InterVarsity Graduate andFaculty Ministries. “It’s really easy to jumpon my bike and go from one point toanother because I don’t have to worry aboutparking like I would with a car.”

In the past two years, Duke has madestrides in enhancing campus for bike ridersand commuters. Among the improvementsare bike safety signs painted on roadways(called “sharrows”) and the creation of

online maps showing the locations for all140 bike racks and 2,220 bike “parkingspaces” on campus. The map also highlightsshowers that registered bike commuters canuse at Wilson and Brodie recreation centers.In addition, bikeduke.com launched,offering tips on riding a bike to and around Duke.

Last year, nearly 200 new Dukecommunity members registered as bike

commuters. Duke now has about 460 total;40 percent are faculty and staff.

“Practically every Duke road oncampus has bike infrastructure in the formof a bike lane, wide shoulder or sharrow,”said Brian Williams, Duke’s transportationdemand management coordinator. “We’vemade a concerted effort to make biking thecleanest and fastest way to travel carbon-freethroughout Duke.”

Hinkle, the chaplain and bikecommuter, said having access to showers has been a benefit, especially in Durham’ssummer heat. He also noted that Duke’s use of “sharrows” – nationally recognizedsymbols to alert drivers that cyclists aresharing the main traffic lane – may offer a long-lasting impact. The symbols arepainted at 25 campus locations, from theCampus Drive tunnel on East Campus tothe entrance of Science Drive across fromthe Washington Duke Inn.

“I like seeing those because it’s onemore reminder to commuters that the roadis also intended to be used by bikes,” Hinklesaid. “There’s a cultural momentum gainingthat offers more and more support forpeople to bicycle at Duke.” �

BY BRYAN ROTH

BicycleCommuting PerksEmployees and graduate studentswho do not purchase a parkingpermit can register as bicyclecommuters. Registered bicyclecommuters are eligible for:

� Up to 12 daily passes for a preferred parking lot

� Up to 12 daily passes for a remote parking lot

� Use of showers at Wilson orBrodie recreation centers until9 a.m. Monday-Friday (DukeCardrequired)

Pedal Power MakingProgress At Duke

12 � Working@Duke

More commuters hop on bikes when coming to campus

goonline Learn how to become a bicycle commuter at parking.duke.edu/bikecommute

Steve Hinkle, chaplain with InterVarsityGraduate and Faculty Ministries, rides his biketo campus every day. He said a cultural shiftat Duke to improve biking infrastructure hashelped make bike commuting an easier option.

The Duke Farmers Market offers some of the freshest localproduce around, but this season, it’s going global.

Beginning with the first market April 27, the DukeFarmers Market will celebrate its 12th season with an

international theme of “Local Foods, Global Flavors.” As part ofthe effort, LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness programand sponsor of the market, will highlight a different country eachmonth of the market, which runs through Sept. 24.

Visitors can pick up free recipe cookbooks featuringinternational recipes from Duke faculty and staff.

“Being able to offer these local, fresh foods is great because weknow our shoppers can taste the difference between what they canget at a grocery store and what they find at the farmers market,”said Lauren Updyke, health education manager with LIVE FORLIFE. “By taking these recipes and using fresh ingredients from thefarmers market, it offers everyone the chance to try something newwhile eating healthy.”

The market, located between the Bryan Research and NanalineH. Duke buildings off Research Drive, features about a dozen localfarmers and vendors selling a variety of fresh produce, healthy bakedgoods and more. The Duke Campus Farm will join the market forthe first time this year. Students, faculty and staff can use cash andFLEX points to buy items from the Campus Farm table.

Updyke said this season’s global theme came about torecognize Duke’s diverse community. To open the first market,local cook Linda Watson will hold a cooking demonstrationfeaturing collards to celebrate Brazil. The “Local Foods, GlobalFlavors” recipe cookbook will also be available at no charge. Thecookbook will feature nine international recipes – one a monthfrom April to December.

Lucy McMorris, an administrative assistant with DukeHospital’s administrative systems and nursing payroll, submitted hera recipe for orzo salad, a dish with origins in the Mediterranean.She’s made the orzo salad recipe for about 15 years.

“I like to use tomatoes in my salad and everything tastes betterwith in-season tomatoes,” she said. “It’s easy to find good foodchoices at the market and the local farmers also give you good ideasfor things to prepare.”

In addition to farm-fresh produce and the new cookbook,employees can also buy special gifts at the market.

During “Duke Appreciation” in May, faculty and staff canpurchase produce through the “MARKET-GRAM” program. Vendorswill sell special arrangements of flowers, fruits, coffee beans and otherproducts as MARKET-GRAM specials priced from $3 to $12.

Employees who purchase an item can then pick up from theLIVE FOR LIFE table a free MARKET-GRAM bookmark gift tagwith messages like “You’re a peach.” �

BY BRYAN ROTH

Local goes global atDuke Farmers

Market

today.duke.edu/working � 13goonline For more information, visit hr.duke.edu/farmersmarket

I n te rna t i ona l cookbook k i cks o f f market on Apr i l 27

Want To Go?The Duke FarmersMarket runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. everyFriday from April 27to July 27 and everyother Friday fromAug. 10 to Sept. 24.

14 � Working@Duke goonline For more about Sakai, visit sakai.duke.edu

Tim Nichols enjoyed using Sakai last fall in his Public Policy 264 course, “NationalSecurity Decision Making.”

After attending a training session atDuke’s Center for Instructional Technology, he foundthe new online learning management system easy toupload all readings, assignments and other coursematerials. He found the interface easy to use, too.

“As a management tool, it was a big time saver,and I got a lot of positive comments from my

students,” said Nichols, an adjunct professor. “Theypicked it right up, and we didn’t have a single glitchthroughout the semester.”

Nichols is looking forward to using Sakai againin the coming academic year. For those new to thesystem, though, he recommends exploring it a bitbefore the start of the semester.

“It’s very intuitive, but it will take a little time to figure out some of the tricks for doing what youwant to do,” he said. �

What is Sakai?Sakai, an open-source collaboration and learning environment, is replacingBlackboard at Duke for course andorganizational site management.

What does Sakai offer?Like Blackboard, Sakai enables documentsharing, discussion boards, grading, blogs,wikis, email lists, group project spaces andonline testing. As an open-source platform,Sakai also provides increased flexibility tointegrate new and existing tools, as well assupport Duke’s growing number ofcollaborations.

What’s happening with Blackboard?After June 30, 2012, Duke users will not be able to access Blackboard or retrievematerials from any course or organizationsites created in Blackboard.

Who’s using Sakai?More than 10,000 faculty and students areusing Sakai in more than 800 courses thisspring. The group includes a variety ofschools and disciplines, with the highestconcentrations in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, School of Nursing and SanfordSchool of Public Policy.

From Blackboard to Sakai:What you need to know

Tim Nichols

What do I need to do?All facultymembers shouldcheck Sakai formigratedBlackboardcontent anddownload otherBlackboardcontent they wantto save before June30, 2012.Blackboard“organization”site ownersshould compare content migrated into their new Sakai “project sites” to content currentlyin Blackboard and copy or archive any additional content they want to save.

How can staff use Sakai?Any Duke staff member can create a project site in Sakai, which can be used for a variety ofpurposes, such as collaboration for small working groups or teams, storage and file sharingspace or event planning.

How can I get help?The Center for Instructional Technology is offering workshops and training opportunitiesto help instructors and staff prepare for the change. Faculty and staff have a range ofsupport options, including online help documentation, scheduled seminars and one-on-one consultation. �

BY CARA BONNETT

Elise Mueller with the Center for Instructional Technology works on the new Sakailearning management system with library employee Michael Daul.

today.duke.edu/working � 15goonline For a full list of PERQS discounts, visit hr.duke.edu/discounts

employee discountsPERQS

Mark Kitchens’ spring-cleaning is easy.

He hires People’sPride, a service that

provides a 20 percent discount to staffand faculty.

“I wanted my house to be cleanedeffectively, but I wasn’t finding the timeto do so,” said Kitchens, advisor of theDuke Karate Club and supervisor forTechnical Services within the UniversityCenter for Advising and Events.

People’s Pride offers Duke facultyand staff a discount on its signaturedeep-cleaning service, a two-day effortthat includes cleaning sinks, showers,mirrors, ceiling fans, baseboards, outletcovers, windows, microwaves and theoven. People’s Pride is one of severalcompanies currently offering cleaning-related discounts through PERQS, theDuke employee discount program.

The need for a spring-cleaningbecame clear to Kitchens when he sawairborne dust in the sunlight in hisliving room. As he gathered his workpapers and his karate gear and headedout the door that day, he wonderedwhether he would get the house cleanbefore his allergies kicked in. Later thatday, he received an email from thePERQS subscription list advertising thePeople’s Pride discount.

“I got on the phone immediatelyand started asking about costs andavailability,” said Kitchens, who livesalone.

Kitchens setup an appointmentwith VincentFrance, owner ofPeople’s Pride, fora deep cleaning ofhis north Durhamhome on a Tuesdaymorning whenKitchens was offwork.

France arrivedat 9 a.m., took histub of sponges andcleaning solutionsinto the kitchenand got to work.He wiped down counters, scrubbed themicrowave and cleaned grime from thesink. He polished the range top,scraping away food residue in crevicesand corners.

Before he turned his attention tothe next room, France asked Kitchensto take a look at his work to ensure hedidn’t miss anything. Kitchens said hewas impressed.

“I’ve had previous services wherethey bring in four people who zoom all over your house and you are neverreally sure what they have done,”Kitchens said. “Vincent really wants to do the job right.”

For France, the reactions of hisclients are the best reward for a job well done. “I just love helping peoplerecapture their house and make it intoa home again,” he said. �

BY MARSHA A. GREEN

A deepdiscount ondeep cleaningEmployee discount at cleaning service offers savings

People’s Pride(919) 931-5834peoplesprideservices.com

Vincent France, owner of People’s Pride, offers a

discount to Duke employees on cleaning services.

Here, he cleans the home of Mark Kitchens.

Photo by Mark Kitchens.

WORKING@DUKE

HOW TO REACH US

Editor: Leanora Minai(919) [email protected]

Assistant Vice President: Paul S. Grantham (919) [email protected]

Graphic Design & Layout: Paul Figuerado(919) [email protected]

Senior Writer: Marsha A. Green(919) [email protected]

Writer/Videographer: Bryan Roth(919) [email protected]

Photography: Duke University Photographyand Marsha Green and BryanRoth of CommunicationServices.

Working@Duke is publishedevery other month by Duke’sOffice of CommunicationServices. We invite yourfeedback and story ideas.

Send email [email protected] call (919) 684-4345.

Don’t forget to visit the“Working@Duke” sectiondaily on Duke Today:today.duke.edu/working

For daily news and information, visit

today.duke.edu/working

I’ve been reading a book by Duke’s Darla Deardorff on interculturalcompetency because I want to keep up my knowledge and awareness of

working with people from around the world. I also read the “International Educator”monthly magazine, and I’m involved with groups and conferences because it’s awonderful way to network, learn more and improve my public speaking. I’ve takenclasses with Learning and Organization Development for improving feedback andcommunication skills.”

Lisa GiragosianAssociate director, International House15 years at Duke

“

“How do you keep your job-relatedskills sharp?”

I’ll finish my bachelor’s in business management through the Universityof Phoenix’s Raleigh campus in April. I also stay up-to-date with

certifications and look at publications to find out what’s out there to benefit mycareer. My next goal is to earn human resources certifications through Duke’sContinuing Studies.”

Craig GorhamEmployment representative, Duke Temporary Services4 years at Duke

dialogue@Duke

“

The world of conservation, research, and animal management is ever-changing. I tend to keep up on scientific journals, and I’m a member

of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, American Association of Zoo Keepers,Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the National Association forInterpretation. Each of these organizations has online forums where colleagueswithin the community converse about relevant topics.”

Niki BarnettManager of education programs and interim development officer, Duke Lemur Center4 years at Duke

“

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