President’s Corner

Greetings from the 1998-99 UMA board of directors (Fran Allegri, Sharon Bowers, Trevaughn Brown, Leslie Cornell, Ann Dodd, Hilda Durham, Ann Edwards, Sharon Grayden, Lindsay Reeves, and Steve Weiss).  We are pleased to announce the start of a new UMA initiative that is tentatively called UMA AnswerNet.  Numerous people have noted that it would be helpful to create additional products, networks, and information sources to find out how to get things done on campus.  It is sometimes difficult to find the best person to call to find out how things “really” work at Carolina.  At the same time, people have noted that there are many UMA members who have strong expertise in the best ways to get things done here.  The UMA AnswerNet will attempt to bring together the UMA “experts” with the rest of the university community to help expand our collective knowledge about the best ways to get things done.

Several UMA volunteers are working together to plan the new UMA AnswerNet.  Fran Allegri, Gwen Burston, Eddie Capel, Phyllis Daugherty, Ann Dodd, Linwood Futrelle, Sharon Grayden, Lily Keyes, Lydia Lewis, Yan Li, Phill Lyons, and Phyllis Petree have been involved to date.  We are currently planning focus groups that will be held later this month with several people that are relatively new to campus and serve as University Administrative Managers or in similar positions.  These focus groups will help to identify the best formats and topics to include in the UMA AnswerNet.

How will we know when we’ve succeeded?  The AnswerNet planning group has identified the ideal state as follows:
· People know who to call for what
· There is a repository of “slick” methods (best practices)
· There is a larger informal peer network with expanded relationships
· University transactions are done correctly (no re-work)
· UMA is seen as the peer network to join to find out how to succeed at UNC-CH
· There are multiple products/networks/information sources to find out how to get things done

If you would like to get involved in the planning and/or implementation of the UMA AnswerNet, please call me at 962.4735 or send email to Ann_Dodd@unc.edu.  I look forward to hearing from you!

-Ann Dodd, UMA President
 

Volunteer for a Good Cause!

The UMA is looking for volunteers for the l999 Employee Appreciation Fair.  Join your colleagues in  volunteering - it's work, but lots of fun!  Your thanks is a T-shirt and the appreciation of all who attend.

Join us for the 10th annual Fair - May 21, 1999.  If you have questions please call or email Ann Edwards (962.6559, edwards@unc.med.edu) or Trevaughn Brown (962.9001, tbrown3@email.unc.edu).

Membership Committee News

The Membership Committee has recently changed chairmanship.  Leslie Cornell (Social Medicine) has replaced James Mergner (Facility Services) and begun the activities for the 1999 membership drive.  Committee members are Louise Grace (Contracts & Grants), Helen Gumm (Contracts & Grants), Connie McPherson (Public Safety), Nora Robbins (Human Relations), and Tim Sanford (Institutional Research).
Activities planned include contacting all UMDP graduates who have missed the opportunity to join and identifying other university managers and administrators we feel would enjoy the interaction within the membership.  Any member with suggestions and/or a desire to serve on this important committee is asked to contact Leslie Cornell at Leslie_Cornell@med.unc.edu.

Membership Growing
There is still time to keep your UMA membership up-to-date!  Annual membership fees are due each January.  For the small amount of $15, you become an active member of UMA, eligible to attend all meetings and UMDP updates.  And it’s easy!  The membership form is on the web site (www.unc.edu/staff/univmgr) and you only need to indicate if it’s a new or renewing membership.  Please take a moment to do this, even if you have not changed roles, to allow us to double check the information in our database.  Then you only need to send your check to the UMA at CB# 3223.  Current active membership stands at 116.  Help us continue to strengthen our ranks by updating your membership today!

Calling All UMDP Graduates
We are currently attempting to build a database of all graduates of the University Management Development Program.  If you completed UMDP in 1984, 1985, 1986 or 1987 and have a list of your fellow graduates, please contact Leslie Cornell at Leslie_Cornell@med.unc.edu or 962.1136.

Leslie Cornell, Chair
Membership Committee

DONT MISS THE LAST PROGRAM OF THE SEMESTER!

The annual meeting will feature Jim Ramsey, vice chancellor for finance and administration, on Monday, April 19, 1999 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.  Vice Chancellor Ramsey will talk about the challenges facing the University.  The meeting will be held in room 2000 of the McColl Building (Kenan Flagler Business School).  Refreshments will be available.

Please RSVP to Trevaughn Brown, program chair, at tbrown3@email.unc.edu.

Communications Committee News

We have two accomplishments to announce this quarter!  The first is the publication of the "new and revised" University Managers Association Brochure.  It looks great; with pictures and color being added. Many thanks go to Frances Hess for all of her time and hard work devoted to this project.

The second item is the "Top of Lenoir Friday".  We had tried, on a few occasions, to have a social hour at Top of the Hill on Friday afternoons with very little turnout.  We have now met twice at the Top of Lenoir and had a very good turnout.  Mark your calendars and plan to meet with your UMA friends the first Friday of each month, 11:45 - 1:00 PM.  We have a great time and the food is good (only $6.75 for all you can eat). Hope to see you there soon.

Sharon Bowers, Chair
Communications Committe

Training Committee News

The UMA Training Committee was pleased to present the 1999 UMDP Update held Friday, March 12, at the Friday Center.  The 1999 Update, “Managing Up, Communicating Up” was presented by two popular UMDP faculty members from the Kenan-Flagler Business School, Ben Rosen, Hanes Professor of Management and Heidi Schultz, Assistant Professor of Business Communication.

More than 100 university managers and UMDP grads enjoyed the 1999 program.  The presenters offered a unique spin on workplace interactions and practical tips to enhance work and communication dynamics with the boss.  Rosen’s presentation, “Managing Up!” encouraged participants to think about how to create a partnership with the boss.  Schultz focused on “Communicating Up!” and offered strategies for effective written and oral communication. Both topics were designed to strengthen interactions and outcomes in the workplace.

Kudos go to the entire Training Committee for their efforts in planning the 1999 Update.  Special thanks to committee members Karen Henry (speaker arrangements), Ray Dubose (program-day site management) and Reba Sullivan (program registrations).

Sharon K. Grayden, Chair
Training Committee

Training Opportunities

Below is a list of opportunities through the Office of Training and Development.

Course Titles & Numbers
Interaction Management:  SP 0100
Supervisory Resources:  SP 0300
Dealing with Tough Issues:  SP 1300
Managing Your Student Personnel:  SP 1400
Positive Negotiation:  Coming to Agreement Without Going to War:  SP 0700
University Management Development Program (UMDP)

The following are offered by Quality Development through the Training & Development Department.

Course Titles & Numbers
Service Planning and Design:  QI 0200
Team Training Series Course:  QI 0400
Achieving Excellence in Customer Service:  SI 1604
Facilitation Skills Training:  QI 0300

If interested in any of the above classes, please contact Training and Development at 962.2550 or FAX 962.6010.

Offered through the Office of State Personnel (OSP):

Course Titles
Alcohol and Drug Testing Supervisory Training
American with Disabilities Act
Discipline & Dismissal Procedures
Dispute Resolution Process Training
Drug Free Workplace & State EAP Supervisory Training
Equal Employment Opportunity Institute, Level I
Grievance Committee Training
Interaction Management
Looking for the Right Person
Performance Management
Public Manager Program
Safety Basics for Managers
Sexual Harrassment Training
Skilled Services Supervision
State EAP & Drug free Workplace
Supervision for Managers & Professionals
Introduction to Supervision

For more information on programs through the Office of State Personnel, you may contact the UNC Training and Development Office or visit the OSP web page at http://www.state.nc.us/OS/trancata/managers.htm.

Member Notes

Nadine Kinsey has been promoted to University Administrative Manager II in the Department of History.

Sarah Thompson reports, “I have been doubly blessed as a grandmother of twin girls, born January 28, 1999. Leah Suzanne Thompson weighed 4 lb. 4 oz. and Lindsay Clay Thompson weighed 4 lb. 10 oz.  Morris and I now have a total of five grandchildren age 5 and under.  We need a van.”

Wayne T. Kuncl and his wife became first time grandparents on Sunday, February 28.  Congratulations to Dr. Kuncl’s son Tom and daughter-in-law Kimberly.
 

If you change email addresses or work places, please let Linwood Futrelle know so that he can update the UMA listserv. You can reach him by email at linwood_futrelle@unc.edu or by phone at 962.5265.

Linwood Futrelle, UMA List Administrator

Tip of the Day

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.  Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

George Bernard Shaw

NewsSurge is produced by the University Managers Association’s Communications Committee.  If you have any news that you would like to share through NewsSurge, please send information to UMANews@unc.edu.

Communications Committee Chair
Sharon Bowers

NewsSurge Editor
Michael Phillips

Communications Committee Members
Robert Dermody, Frances Hess, Nadine Kinsey,  and Michael Phillips