Monarch Mornings Serve to Keep the Lines of Communication Open
As some offices on campus already know, I have resumed my annual "Monarch Mornings" visits with staff members and administrators throughout the campus. And, as can be seen from the dates below, many more sessions are scheduled this semester. I encourage our staff members to join us at these meetings to hear about the latest happenings at the university.
When I first started these sessions in 2009, I quickly came to realize how valuable they are. First and foremost, they underscore my belief in the importance of keeping open the lines of communication on our campus. These meetings not only offer an opportunity for me to update employees about the latest university developments, but they also are valuable because I get to answer questions and hear from our dedicated staff about issues important to them, and about any concerns they might have.
As I have said many times, our classified, hourly and administrative staff are the backbone of this institution. The more we talk with each other, the more effective we can be in doing our jobs and promoting this great university.
In a recent survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education, Old Dominion University was named, for the second straight year, as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for. The results, released in August in the Chronicle's fifth annual report on The Academic Workplace, were based on a survey of nearly 47,000 employees, evaluating their colleges in 12 categories, from job satisfaction, to teaching environment, to work-life balance.
ODU also was selected as one of this year's Honor Roll schools, recognition given to schools that are identified as excelling in at least four of the 12 evaluation categories. This is a great honor for us but, frankly, it's recognition for the many faculty, staff and administrators who work their hardest to make this institution great.
We received recognition in an impressive eight of 12 categories, and I was particularly pleased that the publication cited our "Monarch Mornings" meetings, along with my open-door policy for employees, as an outstanding feature of the university.
In addition to my "Monarch Mornings" meetings with classified, hourly and administrative staff, Provost Carol Simpson and I are again conducting scheduled meetings with instructional faculty this semester. With all of these meetings combined, I will have had a chance to reach out to nearly 600 people on campus.
For those whose "Monarch Mornings" meetings are still ahead, I invite you to attend these sessions. "Communication works for those who work at it" is a quotation I subscribe to, and I encourage all of us to work at this very important aspect of our jobs. As we've heard many times, communication is key. Let's keep talking with each other and keep those lines of communication open.
MONARCH MORNINGS
Wednesday, Oct. 17
Powhatan Community Room
7:30-8 a.m.
(for designated employees from Facilities Management)
8:15-8:45 a.m.
(for employees from Virginia House, Powhatan Apartments I and II, Powhatan Sports Complex, Writing Center and Academic Skills, and designated employees from Facilities Management)
9-9:30 a.m.
(for employees from Human Resources, Child Development Center, Procurement Services Department, Student Recreation Center, auditing office, Powhatan Avenue Consortium, Whitehurst Hall, planning/estimating, Governor's School, Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center, Jim Jarrett Athletic Administration Building, Bud Metheny Baseball Complex, soccer stadium and designated employees from Facilities Management)
Wednesday, Oct. 24
Constant Hall lobby
8:15-8:45 a.m.
(for employees from Visual Arts Building, Constant Hall and Dragas Hall)
Wednesday, Oct. 24
Webb Center, River Rooms
9-9:30 a.m.
(for employees from Webb Center, Filipino American Center, Diehn Center, Judicial Affairs, BAL, Alfriend Chemistry Building, MGB, Oceanography and Physics Building and Physical Sciences Building)
Tuesday, Oct. 30
Virginia Beach Higher Education Center
9-9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 31
Kornblau Alumni Center
8:15-8:45 a.m.
(for employees from Koch Hall, Alumni Center, Parking Garage C, 47th Street Gym, Stables Theatre, Gresham Hall, Rogers Hall Maintenance, Research Park 1, Development, Health Sciences Building, Bioelectrics - 4211 Monarch Way)
Wednesday, Oct. 31
Rollins Hall lobby
9-9:30 a.m.
(for employees from Rollins Hall and Spong Hall)
Wednesday, Nov. 7
Kaufman Hall Atrium
8:15-8:45 a.m.
(for employees from Education Building and Kaufman Hall)
Wednesday, Nov. 7
Perry Library, Conference Rooms 1310 and 1311
9-9:30 a.m.
(for employees from Perry Library, Academic Enhancement and Student Success Center)
Friday, Nov. 9
Virginia House Community Room
8:15-8:45 a.m.
(for the ODU Police Department)