As I begin this update, the campus is coming alive in preparation for the beginning of the new school year. Many of our professional students are already hard at work. The new undergraduates arrive Saturday. They will be joined by our returning students on August 21st, the first day of classes. In my next column I will update you on the profile of the entering class of 2006.

The focus of this column is on several items that have come to my attention that I believe warrant a response as well as several updates/announcements as the new academic year begins.

COMPENSATION

It has come to my attention that there is some concern and confusion regarding the awarding of salary increases to certain University employees. As I stated during this year's convocation address, salary compression and market competition are prevalent in certain areas of faculty compensation. Accordingly, these issues are being addressed with designated salary adjustments being allocated to targeted areas where the needs are most critical at this time.

These issues are not limited to faculty positions, but also involve staff positions, primarily in certain clinical and research areas of the School of Medicine. It should be noted, however, that increases in these areas were funded by clinical operations and/or grant-funded activities, which are not available for use in the University's general current funds operations. The actions were deemed necessary in light of the keenly competitive healthcare environment.

Lastly, amounts were set a side in this year's budget to continue progress on the staff classification and compensation program. These increases are expected to be effective in January 2003.

I have also recently fielded questions about the possibility of one-time bonuses in lieu of merit increases for this fiscal year. You may remember I raised this possibility during my convocation address. The concept of performance bonuses was dependent on a significant improvement in our expected enrollment and other operating factors over budgeted levels. Unfortunately, there has not been sufficient improvement in these areas to warrant further consideration of bonuses for this year.

PII UPDATE

Several people have expressed concern about the progress of the PII (Process Improvement Initiative) undertaken in 1999. I, too, have raised some questions, consequently I have requested a thorough updated report prepared for general distribution in early September. I think it is very important that we all have the same understanding of the progress of this most important issue.

DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL MARKETING

Danielle Pedersen has been appointed Director of Institutional Marketing effective immediately. She will report to Pat Callone, Vice President for Institutional Relations. Pedersen, who served from October 2000 until this spring as Director of the Creighton Institute, will work with individuals across the University to continue implementation of our Integrated Marketing Program.

Pedersen has experience as Iowa/Nebraska marketing director for Sprint/PCS. Prior to joining Sprint/PCS, she was director of marketing and research for First Data Resources' home banking and debit card operations, and the director of marketing for West Interactive.

Building an effective marketing team and program is a long-term task requiring the University to make significant operational changes. A realistic timeframe for successful implementation is three to five years.

Pedersen's primary duties:

1. Provide knowledge and expertise in the areas of market research, brand marketing and direct marketing, and to collaborate with others at the University to develop an enrollment marketing plan that will increase student acquisition and decrease attrition.
2. Devise, coordinate and execute the development of University-wide ongoing primary and secondary market research to facilitate strategic and marketing planning.
3. Provide collaborative strategic marketing direction in all aspects of the marketing function to facilitate effective product development, marketing positioning, pricing strategy and institutional awareness.

THANK YOU

A delegation of United Way of the Midlands visited me recently to thank Creighton for its participation in the 2001-02 funding raising efforts. As an organization, CU contributed $129,932. Congratulations! And thank you to all of you who contributed making the greater Omaha area a better place to live.

INVITATION

Also, mark your calendars for August 29 for a University-wide welcome to Prof. Christine Wiseman, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Mr. Don Bishop, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, and all new faculty and staff. This event will be held in the Jesuit Gardens behind the Administration Building. It is scheduled for 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. on August 29. All faculty and staff are welcome.

John P. Schlegel, S.J.
President