President's Corner

[a forum for issues  relevant to managers in higher ed & for supportive interactions among our members]

Dear UMA Members:

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking to the 2004 graduates of UMDP and sharing this special moment with them.  Reflecting on this what I said, I think it applies to all of us and so I would like to share it with you here in the President’s Corner.

 

UMDP Talk: 2004-12-10

 

Opening Comments:

  • Thank you Rob & Verita for the kind & gracious introduction
  • I am Peter DeSaix, the current (2004/5) president of the University Managers Association
  • My congratulations to you all.  That we are here is indicative of your successfully completing a rather demanding program.  You have weathered both the demanding content and the significant demands on that most precious of commodities, your time.
  • When I finished this program in 1991, I felt that:
    1. Much of the curriculum seemed intuitive
    2. Some things I thought were easy were not
    3. I developed a professional network
    4. Now what am I going to do with this?

Perhaps you are having some of the same feelings.

  • Like so many programs, this one has sharpened your native skills and helped to connect you to the wonderful diversity we have on our campus.  This diversity is, in fact, one of our strengths and a source of Carolina’s excellence.

Segway:

  • So, where am I going?  You all have skills, insights, and understandings about managing.  You are poised to step into new roles in helping to manage Carolina’s Excellence.  This is, in fact, what the University Managers Association is about.  We are managing partners in Carolinas excellence.
  • The UMA was founded to provide a formal means of continuing the relationships/networks you’ve developed during the UMDP course.  These relationships are basis of the UMA.
  • Through the years our membership has acted to nurture Carolinas excellence.  We give consul, sometimes solicited, sometimes not.  We act.  A most visible, unsolicited action we’ve taken is the Employee Appreciation Fair.  This event was initiated, in 1990, by the UMA in recognition and appreciation of ALL university employees, faculty & staff. Through the years the fortunes of the event waxed and waned.  During the past couple of years, responsibility for the event has transferred from the UMA to Human Resources and is now institutionalized.  The early history of this event is posted on the UMA website, uma.unc.edu.
  • In addition to trying to nurture the campus, we especially try to nurture our managers.  We attempt to have monthly programs, both topical and timely, on issues pertinent to our campus and efforts.  These have included previews of coming University budgets, discussions of the Better Work Place Taskforce reports, the Banding initiative, changes in the FLSA, campus tours, book reviews, and dynamic guest speakers such as Anson Dorrance, UNC’s womens soccer coach.
  • Future programs will include Dan Reed, UNC’s Vice-Chancellor for Information Technology, on the state of IT at UNC; we’re working on getting Roy Williams to speak at some program; and UNC President Molly Broad has agreed to lead this years UMA Book Review, "Good To Great" by Jim Collins.
  • So, I encourage you to join the UMA; to extend your networks; to join us as managing partners in Carolina’s excellence; and to do all such good works as we can.  Membership forms are available at the UMA website.
  • Finally, and again, Congratulations to you all.

Hark the sound!

Peter DeSaix

2004-5 Board President

[Created: 05/05/05]