Building a Better Workplace

Just before the holidays, Karen wrote about the work that we want to do around determining what a post-COVID working environment could look like for Office of Advancement staff currently located in Summerhill and Old Meds. I am happy to report that this work, which is being facilitated by Lisa Sansom from Organizational Development, started this week with an hour-long brainstorming session with ALT. We are calling this project Building a Better Workplace, and we want to create a collaborative, inclusive, and inspired environment that works for all of us, wherever we happen to be. 

This project is about much more than where we are going to sit and what our office-space looks like (whether it’s at home or on campus). It’s about how we take what we have learned during the past year and think about the best possible way to work together to achieve our common goals going forward. We want to encourage everyone to think imaginatively about what our future might be. At this stage in the process, there is really no idea that’s too wild. 

We are aiming to have consultations with Summerhill and Old Meds staff, volunteer representatives from faculty Advancement staff, and a few other university partners wrapped up by the end of March, with a final report by the end of April. This will allow us to start designing our new work environment. 

ALT will brief the management team on the details of Building a Better Workplace this week, so stay tuned for more information and please start thinking about how you would like to see us work together when we are on the other side of the global pandemic. 

Update on campus visit procedure

Considering the current stay-at-home order and provincial lockdown, we ask that all Advancement team members please refrain from entering any buildings on campus unless absolutely necessary. In circumstances where a campus visit is required, please be sure to plan your visit ahead of time by contacting Kate Bearse before entering Summerhill East Wing, Natalie Minnema when entering Summerhill West Wing, and Kelly Colby before entering Old Meds.  

If you are going to be on campus, you are required to use the SeQure self-assessment tool on the mobile app or online. These questions are based on the Province of Ontario’s self-assessment survey questions. For contact-tracing purposes, you will also be prompted to provide information about which building(s) you think you will be in and a contact phone number.  

It is important to continue to do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that when someone tests positive, we are able to support the contact-tracing efforts of Public Health.  

Thank you for diligence and understanding as we navigate the increased restrictions.  

CCAE Prix D’Excellence Awards

A reminder to please consider nominations for the CCAE Prix d’Excellence Awards.

Prix awards recognize outstanding achievements in alumni affairs, public affairs, communications, marketing, development, advancement services, stewardship, and overall institutional advancement. Submissions are open from Jan. 25 to Feb. 8.

For more information on the CCAE Prix d’Excellence Awards, go to Prix d'Excellence (ccaecanada.org)

As in the past, Kate Bearse will co-ordinate entries on behalf of the Office of Advancement. Those planning a submission should let Kate know ASAP, and final entry drafts should be forwarded to Kate by Feb. 1 for submission to CCAE by the deadline. We did great work in 2020 – the Prix Awards are one way for us to celebrate those successes.

Sign up to receive a copy of the redesigned QAR

The Queen’s Alumni Review is undergoing a redesign with the new look scheduled for our very next issue.

If you would like to receive a copy of the redesigned QAR, please email Ellen Babb indicating your approval to have your address included on the mailing list and verify that your address is listed correctly on MyHR before end of day today. 

Employee Spotlight

The Employee Spotlight celebrates the arrival of our new staff by profiling responses they share through a fun and informal survey that will help us get to know them better. Be sure to review these profiles and use these fun facts and tidbits to find commonalities, embrace differences and spark a conversation.

On Dec. 7, we welcomed Crystal Noftall to Advancement in the position of Finance & Special Projects Analyst, Department of Gift Services. Click here to learn more about Crystal, what she can’t live without, and what she is most looking forward to in her new role!

Jobs with Advancement

We need your recruitment help. Know great talent that would be a good addition to our team? If so, please promote the vacancies below with your networks and let’s find some amazing new team members.

Applications (including a cover letter and résumé) must be submitted through CareerQ. For additional information on this posting, please reach out to either Carla or the hiring manager for the position you are interested.

Available Position:

Fun fact

EDII Self-Id form

As of Jan. 14, first-year applications include over 3,000 submissions of our new EDII Self-Id form – required for application for the new Commitment Scholars awards.