Working@duke - December, 2008 / January, 2009

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COMMEMORATING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. A civil rights leader will be part of the January program honoring King.

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WALL STREET FALLOUT? Duke’s executive vice president discusses the University’s financial position and impact from the financial crisis.

SUSTAINABLE DUKE With a hurting economy and erratic gas prices, Duke community members are turning to the scooter to get around.

NEWS YOU CAN USE :: Volume 3, Issue 10 : : December 2008/January 2009

Time On Their Side

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Nancy Gump, right, an administrative assistant in Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, received donated time from faculty and staff, so she could care for her husband, Donald, who was diagnosed with colon cancer.

KIEL PROGRAM ALLOWS FACULTY AND STAFF TO DONATE TIME OFF TO COLLEAGUES IN NEED he news for Nancy Gump came as a shock. According to doctors, her husband, Donald, only had days or weeks left to live after being diagnosed with colon cancer. Gump, an administrative assistant in the Fuqua School of Business, needed time with her husband, but she only had a week’s worth of vacation left. That’s when her co-workers stepped in to help. After all her vacation and sick days were gone, Gump relied on Duke’s voluntary Kiel Memorial Vacation/PTO Donation Program to provide her with time off from late June to September of this year. The Kiel program allows Duke faculty and staff to make donations of accrued vacation time or paid time off to fellow employees in time of need. “It’s the benefit of peace of mind,” said Gump, who has worked at Duke five years and has been married to Donald for nearly 30. “It lets you know that you’re loved by your fellow co-workers and that you’re part of a family. I’m so fortunate that I’m at Duke to be able to have that.” During 86 days, Gump benefited from the Kiel donations, so she could care for Donald, who continues to beat the odds and is receiving care at home. She used the time to take care of household chores with some help from Donald, but she was also in charge of paying bills and balancing the couple’s checkbook. Gump said the biggest portion of her time away from work was helping Donald with everyday activities he couldn’t manage on his own – from getting out of chairs to walking to the restroom and helping with daily hygiene. In 2007 alone, Duke employees donated nearly 29,000 hours to fellow co-workers through the Kiel program. In addition to giving vacation or paid time off to a specific person, Duke faculty and staff can also contribute to a general pool. Donated

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hours can only be used by faculty and staff if they or their dependents face serious illness or injury. The Kiel program was introduced in 1999 to honor Susan Kiel, a former Duke nurse who died in 1996. The program was the brainchild of three Duke nurses, Jennifer Kell and two others, all of whom were friends with Kiel and knew her work in the general medicine and pediatric wards at Duke Hospital.

In the 40 years that I’ve been working, I never had that opportunity with other places where fellow employees could help you by donating their time. They didn’t have to do it, but they did and that says a lot about the people at Duke.” — Nancy Gump Administrative Assistant Fuqua School of Business

Kiel worked at Duke for less than two years and didn’t have much time off when she became ill. “We wanted to promote that helpfulness and sprit of community that can come when something bad happens to somebody and you don’t know what to do,” said Kell, who left Duke in 2006. “If you donate eight hours of PTO time, that would be huge to someone and you know you were supporting somebody else.” When the Kiel program launched, there were already more than 1,000 hours worth of donations

2008 Gold Medal, Internal Periodical Staff Writing 2007 Bronze Medal, Print Internal Audience Tabloids/Newsletters

Donate Time The voluntary Kiel program allows faculty and staff to donate vacation or paid time off to co-workers who have exhausted time off because of catastrophic illness or injury to themselves or an eligible family member.

Who’s eligible? Faculty and staff of Duke University and Health System, or eligible family members, must be diagnosed with a medical event that requires the employee to be out of work for at least four weeks.

Who can donate? Eligible faculty and staff can contribute accrued vacation or paid time off in four-hour increments to a specific person, or general pool.

How? To receive or donate time, complete a form online at hr.duke.edu/policies/ time_away/kiel_program

>> See TIME ON THEIR SIDE, BACK PAGE

This paper consists of 30% recycled post-consumer fiber. Please recycle after reading.

Editor’s Note

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iwatha Godley wore a party dress for the first time in 15 years when she went to see Sex and the City this summer with her girlfriends. “It felt wonderful,” she said. Tiwatha has reason to be proud. A nursing care assistant and health unit coordinator at Duke, she lost 100 pounds using the university’s health and wellness resources and her own will and determination. On Page 3, you will read about Tiwatha’s weight loss journey and find a link to an online video about her story, an inspiration to anyone struggling to lose weight and get fit. “It was hard,” Tiwatha told me. She has a message for Duke employees with New Year’s resolutions to lose weight: “It was mind boggling hard, but if I can do it, you can do it.” She dropped to 190 pounds from 290 by setting “smart goals” for diet and fitness. Don’t think in terms of long-term, she said. Set a target to lose one pound a week. “When you accomplish that, you can move to the next week,” she said. Tiwatha’s fitness routine involves exercising four to five times a week. That’s a busy schedule for a mother of two with a full-time job. She walks for about an hour and lifts weights. Sometimes, she runs stairs at Wallace Wade Stadium. Congrats, Tiwatha. You are indeed an inspiration. Keep it up! Thanks for reading, Leanora

Newsbriefs A toast to professional development Hone your public speaking skills by joining the Duke Toastmasters Club in 2009. The club, formed in 2003, is a local chapter of Toastmasters International comprised of Duke staff and faculty from various departments. The group typically meets from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month in the Duke Credit Union at Erwin Square, 2200 W. Main St. The club’s next meetings are at 7 a.m. Dec. 10 and Jan. 14. Staff and faculty can attend an initial meeting as a guest without paying a membership fee. To join, members pay a one-time enrollment fee of $20 and a recurring fee of $39 every six months. For more information, visit duketoastmasters.org or send an email to [email protected].

Technology pilot with Lynda.com. The site offers more than 30,000 online training videos on topics ranging from Microsoft Word and Excel to Web design and computer programming. During the pilot program, a limited number of individual accounts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Staff and faculty can enroll for a two-week trial that will enable them to access training on the site at no cost. After that, they can enroll for another free twoweek trial if an account is available, or they will be placed on a waiting list. Staff and faculty without individual accounts can review the training tutorials from Lynda.com by using designated workstations at the ACT Warehouse lab, Multimedia Project Studios, the Center for Instructional Technology and the Link. For more information or to sign up for an account, visit oit.duke.edu/help/training/online.

Provost lecture series offers insight on timely topics Mystery diners get free meals at Duke The adage “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” isn’t necessarily true at Duke. Through Duke Dining’s Mystery Diner Program, staff and faculty can savor meals at no charge at more than 30 eateries on campus. What’s the catch? You must complete a Customer Care Review within a week to provide feedback about customer service and food quality. Volunteers first schedule an appointment with Tammy Hope, who oversees the program, to review policies before receiving an assignment that specifies location and whether the visit is for breakfast, lunch or dinner. “This is a great way for staff and faculty to explore many of the unique places to eat on campus,” Hope said. “Completing the review usually only takes about 10 minutes, which is a good trade for a free meal.” For more information, send an e-mail to [email protected] or call (919) 660-3926.

New online technology training program Faculty and staff can take online technology training classes anytime, anywhere through a new Duke Office of Information

The Provost Lecture Series presents free forums on issues the new U.S. president will face, such as population growth, energy alternatives and crime. The series, launched four years ago by Provost Peter Lange, continues at 5 p.m. Feb. 2 with Paul Ehrlich, a Stanford University biology professor. He will discuss U.S. population growth and how increased consumption of resources and goods impacts society and the global economy. Other speakers include Joseph Stanislaw, adjunct professor in the Nicholas School of the Environment and member of the Board of Advisors for the Nicholas Institute for Paul Ehrlich Environmental Policy Solutions. He will discuss the future of U.S. energy policies at 5 p.m. Feb. 10; and at 5 p.m. on Feb. 19, Bruce Western, a Harvard University sociology professor, will talk about crime and incarceration. For locations, visit provost.duke.edu and select the “Provost Lecture Series” tab.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must include name and contact information. E-mail letters to [email protected] or mail them to Working@Duke Editor, Box 90496, Durham, NC 27708. Fax letters to (919) 681-7926. Please keep length to no more than 200 words.

Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND CNN ANCHOR TO SPEAK AT DUKE he Rev. Joseph Lowery, who has been called the “dean of the Civil Rights Movement,” will give the keynote address for the university’s Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration. CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien is also scheduled to speak. Lowery’s speech, at 3 p.m. Jan. 18 in Duke Chapel, is part of a program celebrating King’s life. The commemoration’s theme is “What Becomes of the Dream? Faith and Politics, Vision and Leadership” and includes music and dance. It is free and open to the public. Joseph Lowery “Dr. Lowery and Dr. King were partners in laying the foundation for the changes that we now see occurring in America’s public life,” said Ben Reese, a King committee co-chair and Duke’s vice president for institutional equity. “His appearance here will give the Duke community an opportunity to reflect on that foundation and inspiration to build upon the principles and tenets of Dr. King.” O’Brien, who recently hosted the “CNN Presents: Black in America” series on CNN, will speak at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at Griffith Theater. She will show clips from the series and other work related to the legacy of King. Lowery and Martin Luther King Jr. were part of the group that founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in Atlanta in 1957. Lowery later served as president of the organization from

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1977 to 1998. He was an active partner with King throughout the Civil Rights Movement, leading marches and sit-ins against segregation. Lowery has pastored churches in Mobile, Memphis, Birmingham and Atlanta. As an activist, he has championed such causes as Middle East peace, ending apartheid in South Africa and cleaning up toxic waste in North Carolina. O'Brien joined CNN in 2003 and distinguished herself by reporting on transformational stories such as Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Soledad O’Brien Thailand. She also anchored a highly acclaimed CNN documentary featuring King's private writings, notes and teachings, which represented the foundation of his life's work as a preacher and human rights activist. The 6-hour “Black in America” series, which aired in July, is an on-air and digital initiative that reveals the current state of black America 40 years after King’s assassination. It features fresh analysis of the real lives behind the stereotypes, statistics and identity politics that frequently frame the national dialogue about black America. — By Camille Jackson Communications Specialist Office of News & Communications

2 For the schedule of commemoration events, visit mlk.duke.edu

Virtual weight loss DUKE EMPLOYEE LOSES 100 POUNDS USING ONLINE RESOURCES

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She decided to take charge of her life. She’s focused on having an overall, healthy lifestyle, not on being thin or on a quick-fix.” — Dr. Jennifer Jo Duke Primary Care Physician

iwatha Godley was in denial about her eating habits and weight. “I used to tell my doctor that I was taking her advice, that I was eating right and exercising,” said Godley, a nursing care assistant and health unit coordinator in ambulatory surgery in Duke University Hospital. “I’d tell her that I had a salad for lunch when I really had a fast food burger.” Godley weighed 290 pounds, her heaviest, in 2000 and had been overweight more than 19 years. But in the past three years, she has lost 100 pounds. Without surgery, diet pills or yo-yo dieting, she got moving on her own with Duke’s online health and fitness tips. Godley, 39, signed up earlier this year for the online initiative, Eat Wise and Exercise, offered by LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program. She learned about nutrition and exercise, and now receives a daily email with tips for a healthier lifestyle. Godley took the electronic route because she doesn’t have time to participate in LIVE FOR LIFE fitness and nutrition activities and workshops due to her hectic schedule, she said. Because she works in patient care, she’s unable to leave her department for breaks during the day, and as a single mother with two children, including one with disabilities, she’s eager to get home after work. Her favorite virtual motivation has been the e-mail tip of the day. She finds the cooking tips about cooking with less sodium and fat, and the quick, easy recipes especially helpful. “I used to print them out and tape them to the desk as reminders,” Godley said. “It was very encouraging, and it was also convenient.”

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In 2005, Godley faced reality after seeing a photograph of herself at her youngest daughter’s soccer game. She said she couldn’t believe “how big” she looked. “I didn’t like what I saw,” Godley said. “That December, I just started walking. I didn’t go far, and I got out of breath quickly. But I didn’t give up.” Godley’s determination and positive attitude have made her successful, said her Duke primary care physician, Dr. Jennifer Jo. “She decided to take charge of her life,” Jo said. “She’s focused on having an overall, healthy lifestyle, not on being thin or on a quick-fix. I’m very proud of her because I know how difficult it was for her to initially be honest with herself.” Godley said she realized her unhealthy habits affected her daughters. They were following in her footsteps, especially her youngest daughter, Jayda Henry, 12. Now, mother and daughter exercise together. “My daughters keep me going,” Godley said. “I want to be healthy for them, and I want them to be healthy. Before, I couldn’t be involved in their activities. I’d get home from work and take a nap. Now they can hardly keep up with me.” Godley’s seen the rewards. She ran her first halfmarathon in August and received a Lifestyle Change Award this year from the American Heart Association. She weighs about 190 but wants to lose 25 pounds before she turns 40 in May. “My goal is to be a healthy size by then,” she said. — By Elizabeth Michalka Writer/Public Relations Specialist Senior Fuqua School of Business

Check out the health, fitness and nutrition tips at hr.duke.edu/eohs/livelife/index.html

Tiwatha Godley, upper left and center, regularly exercises with her daughter Jayda Henry, at Peak Fitness gym in Raleigh. Above, Godley proudly displays an old pair of size 26 pants, a size she wore from 2001 to 2005. She now wears size 14.

VIDEO

100 Pounds

Watch a video about Tiwatha Godley’s weight loss journey at hr.duke.edu

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Duke Credit Union offers stability in uncertain times uke research associate Karthik Vishwanath and his wife, Vrinda Kalia, did their homework before buying a new home in southwest Durham. After calculating how much they could afford and comparing rates at several banks, they applied for, and received, a mortgage through the Duke University Federal Credit Union. “Now we’re paying about $850 a month to own a home, which is only a little more than we paid for rent,” Vishwanath said. Despite the national credit crisis, the Duke Credit Union has not toughened lending criteria, said Dan Berry, chief operating officer. The credit union offers competitive loan rates for qualified buyers for home equity and mortgages, automobiles and educational expenses. Unlike lenders that offered subprime loans and are experiencing a high rate of late payments and foreclosures, Duke Credit Union’s delinquency rate in 2008 is only about 1 percent, Berry said. “This means that one out of 100 of our loans is not being paid as agreed,” he said. “Our loan portfolio is stable because our policies have never allowed borrowers to take out loans based on unrealistic repayment plans. We’re the same reliable lender that we’ve always been.” The credit union’s strong reputation has encouraged 425 new members to join this year, boosting ability to make loans, Berry said. “With members trusting us with additional deposits in these difficult economic times, Duke Credit Union has the resources to lend,” he said.

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Duke research associate Karthik Vishwanath, right, and his wife, Vrinda Kalia, received a mortgage for a home in Durham through the Duke Credit Union. “They have good rates and sat down with us to discuss our options to make sure it was a payment we could definitely afford,” he said. “That helped us feel comfortable because we didn’t want to overstretch our budget.”

Nationally, about 90 million people belong to about 8,000 credit unions. Deposits are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a federal agency in Washington, D.C. Coverage was increased to $250,000 on individual accounts; $250,000 on Individual Retirement Accounts through Dec. 31, 2009, as part of the federal financial stabilization package. Rodney Hood, vice chairman of NCUA, said credit unions like Duke’s, which are non-profit and tax-exempt, typically offer lower interest rates on loans and higher rates on savings than commercial lenders. “Credit unions like Duke’s really are weathering this storm well,” said Hood, a Durham resident. So far this year, the Duke Credit Union has approved more than 40 mortgages for homes valued at a total of more than $5 million, and the applications keep rolling in, said Scott Baker, the credit union’s mortgage lending officer. “In the past few months, things have really been picking up,” Baker said. “This August, I had 18 applications for first mortgages, compared to six last August.” Many loans are with the HomeExpress program that provides 100 percent financing for applicants with a credit score of 660 or higher. Vishwanath, who received a HomeExpress loan, encourages Duke employees to check out the credit union. “They have good rates and sat down with us to discuss our options to make sure it was a payment we could definitely afford,” he said. “That helped us feel comfortable because we didn’t want to overstretch our budget.” — By Missy Baxter Writer, Office of Communication Services

How clean is your credit report? BUILD A BETTER CREDIT SCORE WITH DUKE CREDIT UNION aintaining good credit is crucial, especially as banks tighten the reins on loans. “With the credit crunch and foreclosures growing, creditors are looking closer at credit history and credit scores,” said Scottie Dowdy, a financial counselor with Duke University Federal Credit Union. The Duke Credit Union offers free workshops to help members dig out of debt and improve their credit score, a three-digit number lenders use to determine ability to repay a loan. The number, typically ranging from 300 to 850, is Scottie Dowdy calculated based on payment history, available credit limits and total debt. The higher the number, the better. The score affects what credit is available to borrowers and the terms (such as interest rates) that lenders offer. “A low credit score could prevent you from getting a loan, while a strong credit history will usually allow you to get lower rates on car loans, mortgages, credit cards and insurance,” Dowdy said during a recent workshop. “Plus, some landlords and employers also look at credit history, so negative information in your credit report could even prevent you from getting an apartment or a new job.” Learn more about credit scores at myfico.com.

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6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Dec. 9 Teer House 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Jan. 13 Duke Credit Union, 2200 W. Main St.

Planning For Retirement: The Basics 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Jan. 27 Searle Center

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Lower credit card balances. “Keeping credit card balances near your credit limit has a negative impact on your credit score,” she said. “It’s important to bring down those balances.”

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Creditability: Build A Strong Credit History

Pay bills on time. “It might take a while to improve your score,” said Dowdy, “but making timely payments is critical, even if it means asking lenders to adjust the due date.”

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12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Dec. 9 Searle Center

Get a copy of your credit report and file written disputes for any inaccuracies. To request a free annual credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, call (877) 322-8228, or visit annualcreditreport.com. “Keeping an eye on your credit report is also a good way to make sure the information on it is accurate and to help prevent identity theft,” Dowdy said.

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Retirement Strategies for Women

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Attend A Seminar

BUILD A BETTER SCORE

Cancel unused credit cards. “The available credit on those accounts could have a negative impact when potential creditors calculate your ability to repay a new loan,” Dowdy said.

To register for a seminar, visit dukefcu.org and select “seminar sign-up” under Quick Links; send e-mail to [email protected] or call (919) 660-9745.

Q&A

‘Duke is strong financially’

with Tallman Trask III, Duke’s Executive Vice President

The fallout from the failure of financial institutions and declines in the stock market have fueled concerns about the economy and raised questions among faculty and staff about the impact on Duke. Executive Vice President Tallman Trask III sat down with Working@Duke recently to discuss the University’s financial position and impact of the financial crisis on operations and Duke’s future plans.

What impact has the global financial crisis had on Duke? Duke is strong financially. That being said, we are watching things closely, and we are going to have to be very careful about the new commitments we make. Our intention right now will be to protect what we have rather than making new investments. We are fortunate not to have had some of the problems other institutions had with variable rate debt, bond insurance, and investments. We tend to have a pay as you go mentality. If you look at some of the corporations in trouble, they have 30 times more debt than the value of their assets. Duke has net assets of $8 billion and only $1.2 billion in debt. There are few corporations in America that have that kind of balance sheet. If you look at the financial performance of the 25 largest research universities in this country, Duke’s performance during the last two decades has helped put us among the top schools. How have stock market losses affected the university’s endowment? Out of an investment portfolio of nearly $8 billion, including an endowment with a market value of more than $6 billion at the end of the past fiscal year, less than 20 percent was exposed to global equities, which suffered worse than domestic markets. The university’s long-term investment model assumes an annual return of roughly 10 percent. For the last decade and a half, we have averaged more than 15 percent. We have a lot of reserves built up over time. We would obviously like not to spend them, but the model has always assumed there would be ups and downs. So we are fairly well buffered to weather financial storms such as this. Of course, like almost every other investment fund, our portfolio has declined in

VIDEO

Tallman Trask III

value since July, though by a lower percentage than the overall drop in global equity markets. But, we look at a three-year rolling average when calculating the payout and, ultimately, the impact on the University's operating budget, so if you add the losses this year with the gains from the two preceding years, we are still up more than 15 percent. What impact does the financial crisis have on Duke’s other sources of funding? Other than the endowment, our primary sources of funding include grants, tuition, and donations. The federal government is the largest source of grant and contract funding for Duke, and currently the federal government is spending a lot of money on other things. It is possible that grant money we receive from the federal government will be reduced. Regarding tuition, we are committed to making sure Duke’s education is affordable, regardless of a student’s ability to pay. Our commitment to financial aid for students is rock solid. We anticipate a greater need for financial aid, and we’ve put aside money for this. It is too early to tell about future giving to Duke. While a lot of the people who have been very generous with us have been hit by losses in the market, Duke donors have been steadfast during good times and bad. Has the credit freeze changed Duke’s plans for the future? Eighty-five percent of Duke’s debt portfolio is fixed rate, which means it does not change

with the market. The 15 percent that is variable rate only totals $174 million from a total debt portfolio of about $1.2 billion. The big decision will be how much new debt we take on for capital projects. We have capacity to take on some new debt, but if you add up all the proposed capital projects, it is far beyond what we would want to assume. This situation has forced us to think through what is really important. What operational changes might be implemented at Duke as a result? We’re not intending to impose any immediate or specific budget cuts right now. My biggest concern is about our expectations going forward. We don’t currently have problems in our operating budget, but we could create problems by trying to take on more than we can afford. I think any changes will primarily manifest themselves in our inability to do some things that we wanted to do in the future. Our employee benefits will be just as generous as they were this year, and it is too early to determine salary increases for next year. I think people at Duke are more secure here than at any other place they might work. At the same time, I hope people generally understand that we are in very uncertain times, and any actions we can take now to be more efficient with resources will help us later. — By Paul Grantham Assistant Vice President Office of Communication Services

5 Watch a video about retirement planning at hr.duke.edu

Teamwork/Diversityawards Winners of the Diversity Award and Teamwork Award for 2008 were were honored by Duke University and Health System leaders during a luncheon Nov. 13. The Diversity Award recognizes faculty or staff members who demonstrate, through positive interactions with others, a respect and value for differing backgrounds and points of view at Duke. The Teamwork Award honors employees who collaborate and work together on a project or significant effort that advances departmental goals and/or Duke’s mission. In addition to university staff recognized, a Diversity Award was presented to Rebecca W. Johnson, nurse clinician, Cardiac Care Unit, Duke Hospital. Members of Duke Medicine’s Medical Center Library & Archives received the Teamwork Award.

Charles Becker, center, winner of the Diversity Award, accepts the honor during a ceremony at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens with nominator and economics Professor Thomas Nechyba, left, and Ben Reese, right, vice president for Institutional Equity.

Vice Provost Judith Ruderman, center, accepts the Teamwork Award on behalf of 35 reaccreditation team members with nominator and Provost Peter Lange, left, and Ben Reese, vice president for Institutional Equity.

Diversity Award

Teamwork Award

Charles M. Becker

The Duke Reaccreditation Team, Judith Ruderman; Bart Brunk, Robert Byrd, Ginny Cake, Bruce Cunningham, Laura Eastwood, Pat Hull, Eulena Jonsson, Anne Light, Jacqueline Looney, Caroline Nisbet, Katherine Pfeiffer, Jim Roberts, Kendrick Tatum, Tim Walsh, Lee Willard, Linda Franzoni, Elizabeth Gustafson, Kerrie Hillman, Kate Piva, Laura Turcotte, Laceye Warner, Mary Champagne, David Bell, Richard Burton, Sharron Docherty, Colleen Grochowski, Emily Klein, Kathy Hollingsworth, David Jamieson, Matt Serra, Jessica Thornton, Bob Newlin, Mary Nettleton and Peter Linnartz

Research Professor & Master of Arts Director Economics In 2003, Becker arrived at Duke as part of the university’s effort to bring the American Economic Association’s Summer Minority Program to campus. The association is the leading professional body of academic economists in the U.S. It created the Summer Minority Program more than 30 years ago to boost the number of minorities who pursue careers in economics. Becker moved the program from one that courted minority graduates at elite universities to one that reaches out to historically black and urban colleges across the U.S. and world. In addition to black and Hispanic students, Native Americans, Eastern Europeans and Asians have graduated from the program.

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Dr. Charlie Becker has generously donated his time, energy, and intellect to building bridges between people of all backgrounds in order to enable them to help themselves. Ultimately their success enriches Duke, Durham, the nation, and the global community. —Nominators, Dr. Thomas Nechyba, Gail A. McKinnis, Lori L. Leachman, Jennifer R. Socey

The Duke Reaccreditation Team comprised 35 inter-department members who prepared Duke’s compliance certification report for the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Every decade Duke must seek institution-wide reaffirmation of accreditation by its regional accounting body. This includes a report that demonstrates compliance across Duke with 88 core requirements, comprehensive standards, and federal regulations. The team began work in February 2006.

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Reaccreditation of the entire university is complex, labor-intensive and too often thankless work. This large, tireless and remarkably diligent team played close attention to what we do and could do better, and recommended how our policies and procedures could be improved, not just to meet regulatory requirements but to actually make Duke better. —Nominator, Provost Peter Lange

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Long term care insurance for unexpected life events Fast Fact Employees who enroll later than 60 days from date of hire must complete medical questionnaires for Prudential’s review before coverage is granted. But during special enrollment in February, employees are not required to complete questionnaires, unless they enroll in the unlimited lifetime maximum benefit. Dependents are required to complete medical questionnaires.

ean Ross hopes to spend her golden years jet-setting around the globe. “I love traveling and when I retire, I have a long list of places I want to visit,” said Ross, 55, a staff specialist with the Office of the University Registrar.

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Jean Ross purchased long term care insurance.

She realizes, though, that life doesn’t always go as planned. That’s why she is enrolled in Duke’s group long term care insurance provided by Prudential. It covers expenses for nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, home health care and adult day care. Benefits-eligible staff and faculty can enroll year-round to purchase long term care insurance for themselves, spousal partners, parents, parents-in-law, grandparents, grandparents-in-law and children age 18 and older, including those who live outside North Carolina. Duke Benefits will mail long term care enrollment packets to employee homes in January for special enrollment Feb. 2-23. Information sessions are Feb. 3-12.

Long term care generally covers people with prolonged physical illness, a disability or cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease. Without insurance, care can be expensive; the national average cost in 2008 for a private room in a nursing home is $209 per day, according to the AARP. “Long term care insurance helps protect your assets and gives you the flexibility and freedom to choose where you get care,” said Saundra Daniels, Duke Benefits plan manager. Health insurance does not typically cover long term care costs. With Prudential’s long term care plan, Duke policy holders can select from a variety of daily benefit maximums and coverage limits. Monthly premiums vary based on the insured person’s age and coverage level. For example, a 40-year-old unmarried employee would pay $26.99 monthly, without the inflation option, to cover long term care expenses with a daily benefit maximum of $200 and a total lifetime benefit maximum of $219,000. Prudential offers an automatic inflation option to help protect against rising healthcare costs by locking in the premium for the life of the policy, an important consideration. Ross purchased long term care insurance about 10 years ago and recently increased her daily benefit maximum from $100 to $250 for care received in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. “I read an article that said the number one cause of bankruptcy is from medical bills during an illness,” Ross said. “I signed up for long term care insurance because I don’t want that to happen to me.” — By Missy Baxter Writer, Office of Communication Services

6 To purchase long term care insurance, visit hr.duke.edu

Sustainable uke YO U R

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Scooting to Duke

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Kim Hanauer, director of Young Alumni and Student Programs in Alumni Affairs, has been riding her Honda Metropolitan II to work for more than two years.

Maloney isn’t the only employee on campus bundling One day up extra for the daily trip to I saw a work. scooter and thought Kim Hanauer, director of Young Alumni and Student it was time for a Programs in Alumni Affairs, change.” has been riding her Honda — Cheryl Maloney Metropolitan II for more than Program Director two years. Even though she still hen she fills up at the gas pump, Cheryl Terry Sanford Institute of has a car, she said she’ll only Maloney doesn’t feel the same pinch as some Public Policy drive it if it snows, when she motorists. She spends no more than $5 to fill up needs to transport large items, her tank. or if she’s with her dog. That’s because Maloney, a program director for the Otherwise, she said, it’s a waste of gas and not as good for Population, Policy & Aging Research Center, drives to work the environment. from Raleigh on a TGB Sunset scooter – a round trip of “Ninety percent of the time you’re driving in a car, about 45 miles. you’re alone in it, so it can be so wasteful,” said Hanauer, “One day I saw a scooter and thought it was time for a who lives about a mile away from her office and doesn’t change,” she said. mind riding her scooter in the rain. Over the summer, she got rid of her Nissan Murano During colder months, Maloney and Hanauer said they SUV that got 23 miles per gallon. Now, she gets about 65. wear biking clothing or ski outfits to keep them warm and Maloney contributes fewer carbon emissions, while also dry. But, Hanauer said being cold is probably the only saving nearly $700 a month in various costs. downside that comes with riding a scooter. Duke doesn’t charge a parking fee for employees who “As long as gas prices stay the way they are and the ride scooters to campus because they don’t need a parking economy stays flat, this isn’t going away,” said Danny Hoag, pass. Maloney said that’s a convenience of driving her general manager at the Scooterz Inc. store in Raleigh, where scooter, since she pulls right up to the side of Duke’s Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy and parks her scooter next Maloney bought her ride for about $1,800. “Now, it’s almost as if you’re not cool if you don’t ride one.” to a bike rack. Hoag said that Scooterz sold more than 400 units in its Take a look around campus. It’s easy to see that with first 10 months after opening in October 2007. He added a hurting economy and higher prices at the pump, more that the broad appeal of scooters in North Carolina is students, faculty and staff are turning to two-wheeled helped by laws that allow anyone over 16 to drive one. alternatives to save money and help the environment. And They also don’t need a license or auto insurance. scooter sales in the Triangle are on the rise. But, Maloney said those shouldn’t be the only reasons During Maloney’s daily commute to West Campus on someone decides to ride a scooter. back roads to and from Raleigh, she takes the time to clear “It’s caused me to slow down and appreciate my her mind and organize her thoughts. Even with the threat surroundings because I feel a lot closer to nature and have less of ice or snow, Maloney said others ride scooters stress,” she said. “Driving is an enjoyable experience now.” throughout the year just fine, so why not her? “It’s just better for me all around,” she said. — By Bryan Roth

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Writer, Office of Communication Services

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WORKING@ DUKE

HOW TO REACH US Editor: Leanora Minai (919) 681-4533 [email protected] Assistant Vice President: Paul S. Grantham (919) 681-4534 [email protected] Graphic Design & Layout: Paul Figuerado Photography: Bryan Roth, Office of Communication Services; Duke University Photography; and Stewart Waller. Support Staff: Mary Carey

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dialogue@Duke “How has the financial crisis affected you?”

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I’ve seen an increase in the cost of groceries, so I’m using coupons and doing more comparative shopping for the best deals. That’s my main thing. I’m even doing comparative shopping for gas.”

Michele Jones Administrative assistant, Office of Undergraduate Education 4 years at Duke

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There hasn’t been an immediate impact because I’m 25 to 30 years away from retirement, but I have seen a negative impact on my children’s college funds. But, my investment theory is if it’s a decade’s long investment like the college funds, you shouldn’t worry about it right now.”

Ian Baucom Professor, Department of English 11 years at Duke

I don’t travel as much as I used to – just locally. If I go out on the weekend for errands, I don’t try to run here and there because I don’t want to burn gas. I clip coupons out of the paper and sometimes I shop at secondhand stores for items I can use. Just miscellaneous items like magazine racks or something I can use at home. Maybe a sweater.”

TIME ON THEIR SIDE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

KIEL TIME OFF DONATED IN 2007

28,664 TOTAL DONATED HOURS

28,028 HOURS GIVEN TO RECIPIENTS

636 HOURS GIVEN TO GENERAL POOL

979 DONORS

164 NEW RECIPIENTS

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Bernice Patterson Staff assistant, Administrative Office in Perkins Library 1 year at Duke

Have ideas for stories? Write

[email protected] Call

681-4533

— By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

from Duke employees. “We were very pleased and grateful When Alexander needed to draw from the Kiel pool, to the university for working with us to try to build a her colleague Anne Light, assistant to the executive vice better system, a better community,” Kell said. president, sent a request to Alexander’s current and former Sylvia Alston, Kiel’s former supervisor and now associate co-workers to donate time. Approximately 500 hours were chief nursing officer for Recruitment and Hospital donated to Alexander. Administrative Systems, said “Sheila is a valued employee the program shows the impact who was in a hard spot, and I knew that a few people can have on she had a number of friends and I don’t each other. Alston has donated colleagues at Duke willing to know time to the program. “I may support her,” said Light, who what I would have not be able to do anything donated some of her own time off about someone’s illness or to Alexander. done without the their diagnosis, but donating Alexander was touched by the Kiel program. It was generosity. “They gave up time that time to them is a way that I a blessing to know can help.” they could have used themselves,” she Sheila Alexander, an that I didn’t have to said. “That really meant a lot to me.” administrative assistant in Gump, the administrative worry about not getting a paycheck or the executive vice president’s assistant in Fuqua, has only been losing my benefits because I had to office, has also benefited able to build her paid time off up through her colleagues’ to “a few hours,” she said. The take so much time off.” generosity. Gumps have a nurse who stays with — Sheila Alexander She was diagnosed with Donald seven hours a day, but Administrative Assistant glaucoma last May and Nancy Gump still took some time Executive Vice President’s Office needed more than the 18 off to fill in gaps when the nurse accrued days she had saved couldn’t be there. to go through three surgeries, including an emergency “In the 40 years that I’ve been working, I never had operation to save an optic nerve in her left eye. that opportunity with other places where fellow employees “I don’t know what I would have done without the could help you by donating their time,” she said. “They Kiel program,” said Alexander, who missed about three didn’t have to do it, but they did and that says a lot about months of work. “It was a blessing to know that I didn’t the people at Duke.” have to worry about not getting a paycheck or losing my — By Bryan Roth and Elizabeth Michalka benefits because I had to take so much time off.” Writers, Office of Communication Services

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