September 2017

Message from the Vice President

This past March we asked you to complete a climate survey to better gauge how the division can better serve its staff in terms of place, projects, processes and professional development. Here are the results.

About 90% of you who participated in the survey find your work interesting. The top two factors contributing to this response were challenging work and solving problems. This aligns with the top response of why you anticipate remaining in DIAR. You care about your work.

Based on the survey as well as exit surveys, four areas for the division to focus on are

• Communication

• Management

• Training and Professional Development

• Inclusive Divisional Activities

Communication responses focused on transparency and increased communication with supervisors and senior management. Comments on management highlighted strong leadership and equity for all staff members related to growth, opportunity and recognition. Training and professional development is valued along with opportunities for non-billable research and development. Suggestions for the evolution of divisional activities included events that create a sense of community, health and wellness activities, and events with other divisions. 

A new area of focus based on the Employee Satisfaction Survey responses relates to Policies and Procedures. You identified a need for clearly defined instructions and guidelines for all departments to use consistently. Based on the survey results, both Communication and Policies and Procedures are two of the top five factors contributing to a stressful work environment.

We have heard you. We are working on increased communications. This newsletter represents part of that strategy. For professional development, a division-wide committee of managers is developing the criteria for professional development. We are always in pursuit of interesting and challenging work and now that we are working with the University on many initiatives, our yield of interesting and challenging work should increase.

Project Updates

Last month we took a closer look at what makes up our projected FY18 grants and contracts revenue, focusing on what makes 64% of the grant and contract funding source. This month we are taking a deeper look at the type of work being performed under grants and contracts. For a quick reference go to our divisional website to see all applied research, technical services, continuing education, and workforce development services.

Click here to see full graphic | Click here to see Grants & Contracts

Division Updates

Office of Partnerships & Outreach
In addition to supporting DIAR events, OPO is managing two large events. Envisioning Equity brings together 350+ k12 stakeholders to support the well-being and education of Black and Brown youth in Greater Baltimore. The CUMU Annual Conference will bring 350+ higher education leaders from across the country to Denver to tackle hot-button issues facing urban campuses and the communities they serve.

TU supports 190 engagements with 329 organizations. Later this month the Fall 2017 BTU report will be released and highlight recent successes of BTU—Partnerships at Work for Greater Baltimore.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Classes began Monday, September 11 and will run through Thursday, November 9. There is robust enrollment for the fall semester courses which include such topics as Free Blacks and Slaves on Maryland's Eastern Shore, World Changing Ideas of Feminism, A Brief History of 19th Century Photography, and The 1960s: A Watershed in U.S. History.

Center for Professional Studies
The entire CPS website has been reworked and now includes expanded content for leadership development programs. These changes create a cleaner site that more effectively captures the unit's work and goals.

Regional Economic Studies Institute RESI will host their annual Economic Outlook Forum on October 19. This year's theme is Building an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Challenges & Solutions. Presenters include Daraius Irani, Mike Gill, Frank Bonsal, and Anthony Williams.

TU Incubator EdTechStories, September 21, will feature Burck Smith, who has a 2+ decade track record as postsecondary innovator and co-founder of Smarthinking and StraighterLine.

TU Incubator's premier annual event, EdTech Innovation Showcase, returns October 19. This networking event features product demonstrations and lightning presentations from education entrepreneurs across the country.

Support TU

Thank you to those who were able to attend the breakfast info sessions in August! It was a lot to take in so feel free to reach out to Sharyn Grove if you have any specific questions about the information Brian and James shared. Please consider supporting the work faculty and staff are doing as well as helping students have fulfilling experiences here at TU. There are over 700 ways you can do this through the upcoming faculty staff campaign—be on the lookout for payroll deduction cards in the next month. Please remember that it’s not about how much you give it’s about showing your support to TU. Any size gift makes a difference!

Follow the Division on LinkedIn

In an effort to more widely share our work, we have created a LinkedIn company page. Blog posts and TU and Division news will be shared there. Since a majority of our staff have profiles, our hope is that you will share our content and your blog posts via our LinkedIn page to your professional network. Please follow us.

On-Campus Event Attendance

In an effort to provide staff member with more opportunities to attend events that best align with their work and interests, staff members can now choose which on-campus events they attend. Staff are encouraged to get pre-approval from their supervisor. Attendance must be reported via this form. Contact Julie Knight with questions.

Points of Pride • 15 staff attended T. Rowe Price Finance Lab tour • 10 staff participated in welcome to TU events New Hires (as of July 20) • Shelby Ruby Jones, Osher 8/23 • Craig Lee, OPO 8/23 • Stephen Perrine, OPO 9/6 Farewells • George Edmonds, CGIS 9/12

Pet of the Month White lab – Fitz, Chocolate lab – Dakota, Cat – Captain Owner: Shelby Jones, CPS To submit your pet email Bobbie Laur a photo and pet(s) name(s).

Feedback

Have feedback or want to share an update, email innovation@towson.edu.