Introducing Advancement@UO...
Welcome to the first issue of Advancement@UO, a quarterly e-newsletter for all members of University Advancement. The purpose is to enhance communications among UA employees and within units. Advancement@UO will provide an opportunity to tell about successes, share best practices and report significant activities and accomplishments. The object is to deliver an engaging newsletter that builds teamwork among UA units while delivering news and information that is useful, perhaps even inspirational.
As editor, I will count on every UA unit to submit stories and information about employee activities and achievements in a timely way. A web-based form is available at <http://duckhenge.uoregon.edu/advnews/advnewssubmit.html>; just visit that site, complete the form and send it to me. I will edit and organize the copy so that each issue, when e-mailed to you, will be a quick, easy read.
I encourage you not only to submit stories but also to provide suggestions so I can make Advancement@UO a valuable communication tool for you.
John
Annual Giving Raises $5 Million for Academic Programs
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Reaching out to more than 100,000 alumni, friends and parents through mail, e-mail and telephone, the Annual Giving Program (AGP) keeps the UO family current on university events and informed of the need for private support. These efforts resulted in more than 18,000 people contributing almost $5 million to academic programs last year.
Despite a rough economy and downward industry trends, the AGP has raised more support than ever for UO students, faculty and staff. Because of its progressive strategy and savvy communications, the AGP has increased donors by 11 percent and revenue by 22 percent over the last year. The program is recognized as a leader in its field with publication in the Chronicle of Philanthropy and the receipt of the CASE Rising Star Award.
Price Announces Advancement Spotlight Award
In order to celebrate the commitment and achievement of the division's hard-working staff members, Vice President Allan Price announces the establishment of the University Advancement Spotlight Award for meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty.
Any University Advancement team member, or even someone outside the division, may nominate candidates for consideration for this distinction. The award will be given quarterly and featured in Advancement@UO, the University Advancement newsletter.
The nomination process is simple. Complete the form at <http://duckhenge.uoregon.edu/advnews/advspotlightform.html>. It asks for a very brief profile of the nominee and, most importantly, the reasons for the nomination:
- Has the staff member created an office environment that's a pleasure to work in?
- Has she accomplished a goal that seemed more like an impossible dream?
- Has he shown exceptional caring by leading or volunteering with special programs, events or rush projects that benefit the campus or larger community?
- Who among your colleagues has gone above and beyond what is expected?
"We are looking for truly outstanding examples of Advancement team members who have stretched themselves personally and professionally to make our team more effective and to make the university a better place," Price says. "So make a nomination and celebrate our successes!"
Nominations must be submitted by the first working day of the third month in each quarter. For the rest of this year, that would be July 1 and Oct. 1, 2004, and Jan. 3, 2005.
A committee, comprised of representatives from each unit within University Advancement, will review nominations and recommend an individual for receipt of this award to the vice president.
In addition to being featured in the Advancement Spotlight, the recipient will receive a memento acknowledging the award. The vice president's office will have a plaque inscribed with the name of each quarter's winner. The recipient also will receive a modest gift in recognition of her or his achievement.
Advancement Online: Web Site Gets Overhaul
In response to the increasing need to provide services and information online, University Advancement's web pages are undergoing a major redesign that will provide significant new functions and features under a bright new look.
Work began on the enhanced site in late January, with goals of presenting UA's various offices and units in a modern, shared design, providing easier access to our staff and services and taking advantage of new and emerging web capabilities. A web development task force, chaired by Communications Director Todd Simmons, has met multiple times over the past three months to review design options and collaborate on best uses for the site.
The site's most significant enhancements include "dynamic content" news boxes, which load a new selection of stories each time the page is refreshed, a new online giving form and clear navigation designed to get users quickly to where they want to go.
Many draft pages have already been loaded on the site-in-development and can be seen at <waddle.uoregon.edu>. As pages are reviewed and approved by the various offices responsible for managing them, each will "go live" on the university servers, replacing the pages currently online. The site's most heavily trafficked pages will be live by mid-May, with others quickly following along with marketing efforts to encourage use and repeat visits.
Perhaps most notably, a new Campaign Oregon: Transforming Lives site is part of the redesign and will be launched by the end of May.
Comments or questions on the draft pages should be directed to Simmons at <tsimmons@uoregon.edu> or 6-3133.
Government Affairs Reports Successes, New Targets
The Office of Governmental Affairs (OGA) continues to actively monitor and contribute to discussions among policymakers, community leaders and elected officials who are setting a strategic agenda for higher education both nationally and in the state.
President Dave Frohnmayer traveled to Washington, D.C., in April for meetings with Oregon's congressional delegation and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young (R-FL) to provide a university update and attend the annual UOAA reception on Capitol Hill. President Frohnmayer's meetings are coordinated and staffed by the Office of Governmental Affairs.
Thanks to the consistent support of the Oregon delegation, the university has been particularly successful in securing targeted federal funds for top university projects. Since 2000, more than $11 million in funds have been earmarked for university projects, including the Brain, Biology and Machine Initiative (BBMI), the Museum of Natural History and the School of Music.
This year, the university is targeting the Brain, Biology and Machine Initiative, the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI), and the Museum of Natural History's research collections for federal support. Letters signed by the entire Oregon congressional delegation requesting targeted appropriations for BBMI and ONAMI were sent to Chairman Young last month.
A document describing the university's federal priorities is available on the OGA website at <http://oga.uoregon.edu> or by contacting OGA at 6-5020.
OGA appreciates its close collaboration with UOAA, Communications, Special Events and other Advancement offices to support its state and federal efforts.
UO Product Licensing Remains 'Ducky'
Exhibitors at a recent national collegiate bookstore show continue to show strong interest in University of Oregon licensed products. Matt Dyste and Nita Nickell met with more than 75 companies involved in college licensing during the three-day show and left feeling upbeat about the outlook for continued good demand for UO products by the licensing industry.
Officially licensed Oregon products are expanding into new and different categories. If you haven't tried the Oregon Duck tracks ice cream, produced under license by Roseburg-based Umpqua Dairy, or O'Jo coffee from Portland coffee roaster Kobos, you are missing an Oregon taste treat. You also should look for a bag of Oregon Duck tortilla chips from Don Pancho foods of Salem.
A fun new line of licensed sunscreens and lotions should be available in time for summer.
Nita continues build an inventory of unique Oregon items so you are encouraged to contact her for help on locating sources of special gift and recognition items. Give her a call at 6- 6036. If you haven't availed yourself of this service, you might be missing that "oh, it's just perfect--I love it" item.
Two Earn UO Employee Recognition
Two members of the extended University Advancement family--Tammy Lutz, Development, and Chris Murray, Lundquist College of Business--were honored this spring with the university's 2004 Officer of Administration Recognition Award.
They and four other administrative faculty, as well as six recipients of 2004 Classified Employee Recognition Awards, received their citations from President Dave Frohnmayer during an April 27 campus-wide reception.
Lutz, special events director, was recognized for her leadership in organizing the Association of American Universities (AAU) meeting that the university hosted in October 2003, as well as for the more recent groundbreaking ceremony for the Many Nations Longhouse.
Murray, the business college's associate dean for external relations, was singled out for his hard work and dedication that played a large part in making the new Lillis Business Complex a reality.