Last week in Davos, many of the world’s billionaires gathered to discuss topics of the day. So did ALT, except for the Davos part. We didn’t have private jets or Greta Thunberg, but the Davos gang didn’t have Tom Hewitt in a hoodie. (Can’t unsee that).
ALT spent most of the day last Wednesday discussing the rollout of the strategic plan, as well as objectives for the 2020-2021 fiscal plan. (See key dates below). We also, as we always do at these meetings, talked about how the ALT is working and what we need to do to improve as a leadership team. We spent a fair bit of time talking about “receptivity” – because our group DiSC score skews heavily towards “challenging.” To that end, each of us will be working on our openness to ideas, different perspectives, and opinions in an effort to find balance between receptive and challenging leadership. Please let us know how we’re doing.
We also spent a considerable portion of our day talking about how we move forward with our goal of establishing a single, unifying mission, vision, and an agreed-upon set of values for the Office of Advancement. We worked together to build a mission statement to focus everyone on the same goal. Now we’d like to pursue establishing a set of values for Advancement. We’ve also decided that the process to establish these values will not be top-down.
Before we jump into any process to establish a set of values for Advancement, we first want to do a little self-reflection about how we as a leadership team are adhering to the principles we adopted to govern our own conduct. In 2018, ALT developed a Team Charter – a set of rules to help guide ALT meetings, decision making, and team interactions. The charter is three pages long, but here are the key points:
- Our role is to lead an innovative advancement team in support of Queen’s University’s strategic direction.
- The desired characteristics of the ALT team are: Accountability – Committed to learning – Consistent messaging – Co-ordination – Each unit is distinct, but connected – Empowered – Focus on future state – Invitations for key stakeholders – Professional – Trust and support
We believe we have made real progress in making our meetings work better, streamlining the decision-making process, collaborating among teams, and sharing common goals and objectives. We think we are moving in the right direction, but acknowledge there is always more progress to be made. What we are not sure about is whether we’ve done a good job projecting these principles to the entire Office of Advancement. We want to take some time to think about that and how we, as a team, demonstrate our accountability to the attributes we’ve agreed we value. But what do you think? Do you believe ALT is demonstrating the characteristics mentioned above? Your ALT member would love to hear from you.
In the meantime, please think about the values you would like to see for the Office of Advancement. Each ALT member will start conversations about values over the coming weeks and we will start a formal process to establish a set of values in the spring.
Winner, Winner
Last week we learned that the 25th Anniversary celebrations at the Bader International Study Centre have won two CASE District 2 Accolades Awards. Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to bring the 25th together and those who worked on the award submission. The Alumni Review was also honoured by CASE – for staff writing. Congratulations, Andrea! Well done!
Here are the results:
Alumni Relations Events and Affinity Programs
GOLD
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Rutgers Alumni Workplace Engagement Program
SILVER
Queen's University
Bader International Study Centre 25th Anniversary Celebrations
BRONZE
Drexel University
Drexel University's Inaugural Volunteer Summit
BRONZE
West Point Association of Graduates
West Point Entrepreneur Summit: Exploring Professional Service after Selfless Service
Community Relations Programs, Projects, and Special Events
GOLD
Johns Hopkins University
Youth De-Escalation & Juvenile Justice Initiative in Baltimore
SILVER
McMaster University
Laying the Groundwork: McMaster University's Pre-Election Outreach
BRONZE
Queen's University
Bader International Study Centre 25th Anniversary Celebrations
Staff Writing
GOLD
Bucknell University
Five articles by the staff ofBucknell Magazine
GOLD
University of Maryland College Park
Terp Magazine Staff Writing
SILVER
University of Maryland Baltimore County
A New Brand Breathes Life into a Favorite Feature
BRONZE
Queen's University
Staff writing Queen's Alumni Review
BRONZE
University of Toronto
University of Toronto Magazine – Staff writing by Stacey Gibson
HONORABLE MENTION
The Catholic University of America
CatholicU Magazine: Ellen Woods, Katie Bahr, and Greg Varner
The Best Laid Plans
If your boss looks a little frazzled these days, it might just be Dry January taking its toll. Or, it could be one of the many approaching deadlines (see below). It’s planning season in Advancement – budgets, annual plans, and personal objectives. Below is a list of upcoming deadlines so you’ll know exactly what that look of desperation on your boss’s face is all about:
Deadline for completion | Item |
---|---|
February 3, 2020 | 5-year Strategic Plan presentation to staff |
February 11, 2020 | 2020-21 high-level priorities and resourcing plan determined by ALT |
February 28, 2020 | Determine metrics for fundraising performance measurement |
March 6, 2020 |
|
March 20, 2020 | 2020-21 Fundraising goals by fundraising type (AF, MG, PG and GP), faculty and individual fundraiser confirmed through consultation |
March 31, 2020 | 2020-21 Unit and Department objectives determined (X-matrix) |
April, 2020 | 2021-22 to 2023-24 Budget Submission planning begins |
April 30, 2020 | 2020-21 Individual performance plan objectives determined – including scorecard for fundraisers |
May 15, 2020 | 2019-20 PDP self-assessment submitted to manager |
May 29, 2020 |
|
June 15, 2020 | ALT member and manager review Department Talent Review |
June 30, 2020 |
|
July 31, 2020 | 3-year Budget Submission Due |
2020: A Space Odyssey
For Advancement staff working in Queen’s oldest buildings, the Summerhill Shuffle and Old Meds Move-a-rama continue. The space committee had a productive meeting in early January to further develop the future space vision for these two iconic buildings.
Deanna is currently seeking input about the uses of Old Meds 306 and options/alternatives if it is no longer available for meetings – so get in touch soon if you have input. As well, she is gathering input from the Help Desk about any potential issues our plan/vision creates. In the coming weeks, Deanna will present the committee’s vision to ALT for feedback and develop a preliminary project, budget, and resource plan.
Deanna hopes the whole plan will be presented to staff sometime in March.
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 vacancy below with your networks and let’s find some amazing new team members.
Applications (including a cover letter and resume) must be submitted through CareerQ. For additional information on this posting, please reach out to either Katelyn, Carla, or the hiring manager for the position you are interested in.
Available Position:
POSITION | UNIT AND DEPARTMENT | CLOSING DATE | GRADE |
---|---|---|---|
Relationship Manager | Alumni Engagement | February 4, 2020 | 8 |
Fun Fact
The Academic Chair
The academic chair organized in 16th-century England when a chair – complete with arms, legs, and a back – was a prized piece of furniture. In those days commoners sat on stools or wooden benches; the gentry used cushions on the floor. However, when a worthy teacher was accorded the rank of professor, the reward was not only a life income but a handsome high-backed chair as a symbol of new status in the world of learning. The oldest academic chairs are the Regius Professorship at Oxford University. These were established in 1546 by King Henry VIII. They are regarded today as the most honoured seats in English Academic life.