(l to r ) Ray Wagner, Bob Holden, President Meyers and Jane Dueker. Wagner and Dueker assist Holden with the lecture series. Photo by Claudia Burris

Former Missouri Governor Bob Holden, adjunct professor, School of Business and Technology, and President Richard Meyers on April 20 announced a new public policy lecture series at the Old Post Office campus — The Holden Public Policy Forum.

The bipartisan series will bring governors, senators, presidential candidates and private sector public policy leaders to St. Louis and Webster's Old Post Office campus. "I am determined that our forum will offer an equal balance of views from both sides of the political aisle," Holden said.

The forum kicks off May 10 with a speech by Mike Huckabee, Arkansas governor and chair of the National Governors Association. New York Times columnist and Princeton University economics professor Paul Krugman speaks May 31.

Other speakers commited to appear include Sens. John Kerry and Joe Biden; House Majority Whip Roy Blunt; Govs. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Janet Napolitano of Arizona; Dr. Charles Inlander, president of the Peoples Medical Society; and Webster alumna Brigadier General Sheila Baxter, commanding general of the Madigan Medical Center in Washington state and the first female general in the Medical Services Corps.

The lectures, which will take place in the Missouri Court of Appeals courtroom in the Old Post Office, will be Webcast live to Webster's worldwide campuses. There is no charge to attend the lectures; however, reservations are requested due to space limitations.

"When I invite public policy leaders to come and appear in our speaker series," said Gov. Holden, "I tell them that if they have something to say, Webster University is the place to say it because the world will hear. At each of these programs, we will invite interactive discussion both with members of the audience here in St. Louis and with viewers on Webster's campuses from the United States to the United Kingdom and from Amsterdam to Shanghai."

President Meyers said, "We are marrying Governor Holden's public policy experience and network of leadership contacts with Webster's global network to produce a truly unique opportunity for meaningful public policy dialogue on a global scale. We hope that everyone in St. Louis will be as excited as we are that it is happening here."

For more information about the lecture series, go to http://www.webster.edu/news/currentreleases/holdenppf.html or contact Christine Eason at (314) 968-5976 or eason@webster.edu.

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August Busch IV accepts the 2006 Presidential Award from Dean Akande. Photo by Claudia Burris

When August A. Busch IV, president of Anhueser-Busch, Inc., spoke in the School of Business and Technology's Success to Significance Speakers Series April 4, he was awarded the School's 2006 Presidential Award as this year's top CEO.

Dean Benjamin Akande said Busch was chosen for being at the forefront of leading the growth and transformation of Anheuser-Busch. "We recognize him because he is unrelenting in his pursuit of success and because he is passionate in his search for significance," Akande said, handing the award to Busch.

Past corporate leaders who have received the SBT Presidential Award include Andrew Taylor, CEO, Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Ed Whitacre, Chairman, AT&T; and Lee Scott, CEO, Wal-Mart.

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As President Meyers noted in his Town Hall address, "We've all been there."

You make a call to get some information you need and if you are lucky, a person — rather than a recording — answers. You explain your case only to have them say, "Hold on, I'm going to transfer you to …" You explain your case again, only to be transferred again and perhaps again. There's a very good chance you'll hang up at some point and take your business elsewhere.

Recently, Graduate and Evening Student Admissions — in partnership with Academic Advising — instituted new procedures to ensure this kind of reception doesn't happen to prospective students who call the University. "We want to establish a relationship between the inquirer/applicant and an advisor that continues through the process until the student is enrolled," says Matt Nolan, director, Graduate and Evening Student Admissions.

"Every time we talk with a student, what we want to hear at the end of the conversation is, 'Thank you, you've been a tremendous help,'" Nolan says. "Personally, if I don't hear that, I haven't done a good job."

After examining the way the department has handled things in the past, Nolan says they realized a caller might have to speak to six or seven different people from the point of original contact to actual enrollment. "And it was all on them — that is not good customer service. We were locked into a mindset of 'I can only do this,' which might be great for us, but it's not so great for the students. We hear from them when they keep getting transferred and know how frustrating that can be."

Nolan says graduate admissions deals with a savvy group of working adults used to good customer service. "We aren't just dealing with how we compare with other institutions of higher education in St. Louis, but how we compare with other customer service."

"Webster has always been a leader in the St. Louis market, especially with working adults, and other institutions have looked to us as a model" Nolan says, "They have caught up with us in terms of offering working adult programs, however, so we've got to pull ahead of the pack and separate ourselves again as leaders. I think we'll do that through customer service."

The new procedures involve a team of people who, up until now, have operated as two separate groups: admissions and advising. The new team consists of Nancy Wilson, Karen Freeman, Sue Palumbo, Valeri Bush-Reynolds, Linda Walker, Sharon Dowell, Denise Harrell and Sarah Nandor.

"The program is very new so we're still learning and fine tuning as we go along," Nolan says. "As staff concentrate on viewing their work through the eyes of our working adult students, attitudes change and new possibilities emerge. I think the two groups together will exceed the sum of the two parts."

Summing up, Nolan quotes author and organizational expert Peter Senge, who said, "In the long run, the only sustainable source of competitive advantage is your organization's ability to learn faster than its competition."

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In an effort to improve communication between the administration, faculty and staff, President Richard Meyers held a Town Hall meeting April 28.

"I hope today will be the restart of past efforts to communicate more effectively with everyone at the University," Meyers said. "I want to talk to you about a few of our successes and challenges, and we aren't going to dodge the hard issues. Mostly, I want to hear from you — your questions, concerns and whatever statements you have."

In that regard, Meyers recently initiated a monthly "breakfast with the president" get-together with 10 to 12 randomly selected members of the University community, including adjunct and full-time faculty and staff. "We have no agenda and what is said at breakfast stays there," Meyers said. The breakfast program, designed by two student interns, has ended for this school year but will resume in September.

Here are some of the challenges the University faced this year:

• The budget had to be adjusted to a much lower-than-expected enrollment. Meyers said many departments suffered because of the budget cuts, but they allowed the University to remain fiscally healthy. Thanks to those budget cuts and some "one-time gains" (including three $1-million solicited gifts, proceeds from the sale of the Community Music School building in University City, and proceeds from the School as Lender program), the current financial statement looks good.

• Meyers said the University cannot continue to cut budgets and remain a successful university. "We must grow and at the same time, we must address our enrollment issues."

Here is the plan:

• Review of the role of marketing and communications.

• The marketing and communications function is undergoing an audit exercise to determine how to best meet the needs of a contemporary Webster.

• Deans and directors are giving their input about key marketing messages for new radio spots to begin airing in July.

• Marketing and Information Technology staff are working on a complete overhaul of the University's Web site, scheduled for completion by the end of summer.

• A plan for drawing traffic to the Web site is in process, including completion of the e-recruitment module, which will enable students to apply online.

• Graduate and Evening Student Admissions has partnered with Academic Advising to re-engineer the way student inquiries are processed. Prospective students who call will be assigned to one person who will oversee their entire enrollment process.

• The Grad-to-Grad program goes into effect for this year's graduates, using some of the proceeds from the School as Lender program to provide scholarships to St. Louis-area undergraduates who want to do their graduate work at Webster.

• The large open house for prospective students in July will be replaced by 14 smaller information sessions, rotated between the Webster campus, the Old Post Office, WingHaven and Westport campuses.

Extended campus initiatives:

• Advertising dollars will be reallocated to provide most of the funds to the sites with the best record of success for the highest return on the dollar.

• The job descriptions for the community relations coordinators, who function as site recruiters, have been updated and reclassified.

Some positive indicators for next year:

• The University has its highest number of confirmed freshmen ever.

• 200 more financial aid applications have been processed than at the same time last year.

Some of the year's successes:

• The Old Post Office campus opened.

• Indonesian president and Webster alumnus Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited campus and was honored with an honorary doctorate degree.

• Five new members joined the Board of Trustees: Stan Bradshaw, Bradshaw Capital Management; Patrick Moore, Smurfet Container Corp.; Brenda Newberry, Newberry Group; Reinhardt Ortner, First Bank in Austria; Jim Wetling, Edward Jones Co. In addition, Doug Hill took over as chair, succeeding Ed Glotsbach, who held the position four years.

• The new dorms will be ready for occupancy in August.

• Faculty members continue to publish, present, exhibit, research and perform at impressive levels.

• There has been remarkable growth in the online graduate degree programs. "If you look at online learning as one of our more than 100 campus locations," Meyers said, "it would be the second highest in size, second only to the St. Louis campus."

• There are a number of new degree programs, including the 2+2 undergraduate program in South Carolina.

• 257 students participated in Study Abroad programs this year and 25 percent of Webster's undergraduate students now have an international component to their education.

• Emerson Library redesigned and updated the Passport system.

• The domestic extended campuses continue to provide excellent performance.

• The metropolitan campuses achieved 100 percent of budgeted goals.

• The military programs, which were impacted by war deployments, achieved 87 percent of targeted goals. The military programs are expected to turn around as the troops return.

A lively question-and-answer session followed the president's prepared remarks. Check next month's issue of "Inside Webster" for a summary of the Town Hall Q&A.

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School of Business and Technology 2005-06 Success to Significance Speaker Series "A Conversation with Ambassador Danforth"

Sen. John Danforth

U.S. Sen. John Danforth, former Ambassador to the U. N., partner with Bryan Cave LLP, wraps up the 2005-06 speaker series. For more information, call (314) 968-5986.

• Noon to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, May 4
• Moore Auditorium, Webster Hall
• Free, but reservations are requested
• RSVP to www.webster.edu/sbt/speakerseries

Webster Chorale, Concert Choir and Choral Society Concert "A Mozart Celebration"

Under the direction of Kathryn Bowers, the concert will honor the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth and will feature the "Requiem." For more information, call 314-968-7032.

• 2 p.m., Sunday, May 7
• E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall, Community Music School, University City
• Free

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Contributed by Shawn Arbogast, Student Editorial Assistant

APRIL 2006 SPOTLIGHT AWARD

Cynthia Foder, supervisor, Payroll Office, and Debra Leffler, representative, Fort Sill, Okla., share the Employee Spotlight Award honors for April.

Cynthia (Cindi) Foder, who has been with the Payroll Office for more than 11 years, says she was surprised to be chosen for the honor.

Foder's nominator says, "Cindi has worked many long hours to make sure that Webster staff and faculty receive their pay without missing a beat."

"Cindi has helped the department manager keep everything on target through a very difficult time when we were short-staffed due to the illness and death of our co-worker," the nominator says. "Cindi handled any problems that came up with grace and kindness."

It's not surprising to learn the most enjoyable part of Foder's job. "What I really enjoy most about my job is being able to pay people," she says. "They really like that."

Foder chose a month of reserved parking as her prize.

Debra Leffler says she is honored to be chosen for the Employee Spotlight Award. "It was totally unexpected!"

Debra Leffler, Fort Sill

According to Leffler's nominator, "Debra positively contributes to the University's mission, the Fort Sill campus and the Harry S. Truman Education Center."

Leffler says she strives to add a personal touch to her job, and her philosophy is simple: "If I give my best and provide exceptional customer service, the students will keep coming back," she says.

This simple philosophy earned Leffler the Certificate of Achievement in the fall of 2005, an honor rarely extended to non-governmental school personnel at the Fort Sill campus. Her nominator explains, "Debra was recognized for her outstanding service to Webster University students and for volunteering as editor for the Education Services newsletter, The Truman Times."

"I want to be a good resource person for the students," says Leffler. "After all, we wouldn't be needed if they didn't come."

Leffler chose the $100 savings bond as her prize.

Employees everywhere are eligible for the monthly Employee Spotlight Award.
Using the nomination form is easy!

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From Jacksonville, Fla.
Dedication and Determination in the Field
Contributed by Robert O'Connor, adjunct professor, Jacksonville Metropolitan Campus

I teach an online graduate course in Organizational Behavior with students from all over the world. This week, the subject was workplace violence, and I asked the students to submit a report on any experiences they have had. One student is on active duty in Iraq. He reported about an incident that resulted in the death of an Air Force physician by a disgruntled former airman. He then concluded with, "On a different note, being here in Iraq, I am under a different kind of workplace violence. As I am writing this, I had to take cover twice!" This man is a testament to what one can do if properly motivated, regardless of the circumstances.

From Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
Scott AFB Wins Awards

Sue Morris, senior director, Scott Air Force Base, shares the news that Scott Air Force Base won the Nathan Altshuler Award for Excellence in Educational Programs in Category 1-A (bases that serve a population of over 5,000). Mission Support Commander Lt. Col Keasley presented the award in January. In addition, Morris just received word that the Mission Support Squadron, of which Scott is a part, won the Best Mission Support Squadron in the Air Force.

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As part of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Missouri benefits, Webster employees have access to health care resources, special discounts and a wealth of health information designed to make health maintenance easier, including the following topics:

• Asthma
• Heart Health
• Diabetes
• Postpartum Depression

Tobacco Cessation: the BC/BS quit-smoking program, TLC: The Last Cigarette, provides tools and resources necessary to help kick the tobacco habit.

Pregnancy: A free educational program offered to eligible pregnant members provides information about having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids: This program is for children who are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

These are only a few of the topics available. For more choices, go to www.bcbsmo.com and click Health Programs.

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Thomas Finan, interim director, Center for International Education, was named 2006-07 George Forsyth Lecturer in Medieval Archaeology by the Archaeological Institute of America. Finan will deliver a series of lectures at AIA branches across the country describing his ongoing excavations at the medieval ecclesiastical complex at Kilteasheen, Co. Roscommon, Ireland. Recently, he received two major research grants from the Irish Heritage Council and the Royal Irish Academy in support of the excavations.

Melanie Gottlieb, international credential specialist, International Recruitment and International Services, presented "Three-Year Degrees and Graduate Admissions: One School's Approach" at the Missouri International Educator's meeting in Columbia, Mo. in March. The presentation highlighted Webster's new approach to credential evaluation for graduate admissions.

Van McElwee, professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, recently had a video installation consisting of four stacked monitors presented at Scope London by Austria's Galerie Trabant. He also exhibited an eight-monitor installation at "Art in The Park" in Jefferson City, Mo., discussed the work with more than 400 school children and was presented with a citation from the Missouri Senate for the project. In addition, McElwee presented a public lecture on the history of video art at the Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis. His four-monitor video installation, Radio Island, was exhibited at Gallery Trabant in Kitzbuel, Austria, and another work, Stupaform, was projected on three screens at the Di Dance festival in Seoul, Korea, during a dance by Janet Park-Datema, with music provided by Phillip Glass.

Barry Hufker, associate professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, and audio production alumna Patricia Tolentino recorded Motown, a recent production of the Gateway Men's Chorus, at the Casa Loma Ballroom. Also recorded was the group Powerplay whose members Beverly Boyd and Rosalind Moore joined the men¹s chorus for several numbers. Hufker also recorded the April 9 concert of the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, directed by Philip Barnes, at Graham Chapel on the Washington University campus. The group sang works by Bantock, Elgar, Maclean and Thomson. Hufker recorded the world premiere of a new work, An Ode to Man by renowned composer Ned Rorem, which was commissioned by the Chorus for inclusion in its 50th season. Hufer and audio production student Chelsea VandeDrink recorded the Webster University Jazz Singers performance April 17, under the direction of Debby Lennon, of "most this amazing day," written by Webster music professor Kim Portnoy and based on the poetry of e.e. cummings. Webster music faculty Paul DeMarinis, Michael Parkinson, Steve Schenkel, Kim Portnoy, Ric Vice and Clarence Newell accompanied the concert.

Deborah Camp, adjunct professor, Memphis Naval Supply Activity, Tenn., was the keynote speaker at the 2006 National Women's History Month symposium, "Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams" on March 30 in Memphis.

Gary Gottlieb, assistant professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, has been selected by the Audio Engineering Society's (AES) Education Committee to spearhead an effort to establish goals for audio production programs worldwide, with the standards to be applied to all AES members' audio production programs. The AES is an international professional society devoted exclusively to audio technology.

Don Corrigan, professor, and Jessica Brown-Billhymer, adjunct professor, Communications and Journalism, received the Virginia Betts White Quest Award from the National Federation of Press Women-Missouri Affiliate, an organization that recognizes people whose work "reflects an enduring quest for the highest standards of professional ethics and excellence." Corrigan's work as a member of the Webster University faculty and advisor to the student publication, The Journal, was cited, as well as his professional contributions as a writer and editor.

Kella Price, adjunct professor, Camp LeJeune, N.C., recently presented "Performance Appraisals, Coaching and Career Development Strategies for Engaging Employees" at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) 2006 Employment Management Association Conference. She also presented "Show Me the Money! Getting ROI: Expatriate Best Practices" at the 29th Annual SHRM Global Forum.

Carolyn Cottrell, regional director, Kansas City Metropolitan Campus, presented the workshop, "Ten Brain-Compatible Teaching Strategies for the College Classroom," April 21 at the Dallas County Community College. Cottrell will also present the workshop for the Teaching Professor Conference, May 19-21, in Nashville, Tenn.

Keep us posted on your professional activities and send us your story ideas by completing the UFO form.

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The University extends its appreciation to the following individuals who have served the institution for many years:

APRIL 2006

Dolores Coulter, MAT department assistant, Kansas City Metropolitan Campus, Mo., 25 years

Mary Kunde, director, WingHaven and Westport Campuses, 25 years

Ginnie Schuermann, database manager, Administrative Information Systems, 25 years

Emeline Irving, office administrator, LIFT-Missouri, 15 years

Russ Viehmann, vice president, Development and Alumni Programs, 10 years

Elizabeth Welsh, office coordinator, Emerson Library, 10 years

David Brown, general clerk, Pope Air Force Base, N.C., 5 years

Monique Kottwitz, director, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., 5 years

Michael Seppi, director, Diversity Awareness, 5 years

Katherine Taylor, general clerk, Brooks City Base, Texas, 5 years

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We extend warm welcome to the newest members of the Webster family:

Andrew Belsky, associate head golf coach, Athletics, (314) 968-2660, ext 7858.

Nanette Cazier, representative, Space Coast Metropolitan Campus, Fla., (321) 449-4500 or speed dial #6 008, replaces Hope Tarr's former position.

Maria Jubelt, accounting assistant, Payroll, (314) 961-2660, ext. 7520, replaces Jean Titter.

Timothy Lombardo, head men's and women's swim coach, Athletics, (314) 968-2660, ext. 7547, replaces Kevin Mabie.

Audrey Pollard, position representative, Denver Metropolitan Campus, (303) 708-8305 or speed dial #6 051, replaces Laurence Joireman's former position.

Diana Simmons, department assistant, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, (210) 226-3373 or speed dial #6 027, replaces Yolynda Cooley.

To learn more about job opportunities at Webster, go to the Human Resources Jobs site.

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The University extends sympathies to Benjamin Ola. Akande, School of Business and Technology, in the loss of his mother-in-law, and also to Mary Jo Wilmes and Tom Lang in the loss of her father, Tom's father-in-law.

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© 2006 Webster University