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ZIPCAR ROLLS IN Four self-service vehicles, including two hybrids, are now available for rent 24/7 on Duke’s West Campus after joining Zipcar.
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TALKING WITH CLINT DAVIDSON Duke’s vice president for Human Resources talks about the evolution of Duke’s work culture and challenges ahead.
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SUSTAINABLE DUKE Learn what you can do to help make a difference in Duke’s efforts to become a climate neutral campus.
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Paying For College
Stan Jones, a utility worker with Duke’s Housekeeping Operations, is using Duke’s employee tuition assistance program to work toward an associate’s degree in electrical technology from Durham Tech.
DUKE’S EMPLOYEE TUITION PROGRAM EXPANDS SKILLS, ADVANCES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT itting in a classroom at Durham Technical Community College, Stan Jones studied a blackboard filled with algebra, fractions and word problems. Jones, a utility worker with Duke’s Housekeeping Operations, paused for a moment, recalled the math formulas he reviewed over the week, then picked up a pencil and started scribbling in a notebook. “Good job,” Durham Tech math instructor Richard Noble told Jones, as he looked over Jones’ work. Jones is participating in Duke’s employee tuition assistance program to work toward an associate’s degree in electrical technology from Durham Tech. He’s among 1,000 staff and faculty members who have enrolled in the tuition benefit in recent years for career-related courses and degrees at accredited North Carolina schools. As part of his job at Duke, Jones cleans floors in East Campus buildings and hopes the new skills he learns in school will open doors to become an electrician at Duke. “When I heard about the program, I jumped on the opportunity,” said Jones, 48. “I’ve wanted to learn more about wiring and circuit boards for a while.” Although companies and other organizations are eliminating or reducing benefits to tighten budgets during the recession, Duke has expanded its employee tuition assistance program for faculty and staff. In January, the benefit expanded to cover up to $5,250 in tuition reimbursement and nine courses per calendar year. Employees can also request a waiver to take courses at accredited schools in other states if the courses are not offered in North Carolina, or if the employee’s primary work location is in another state.
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The tuition assistance is available to fulltime staff and faculty with at least two years of continuous service at Duke. Since 2007, Duke has reimbursed employees nearly $1.5 million for tuition. Lois Ann Green, director of Duke Benefits, said the program supports Duke’s long-term staffing and professional development strategies by expanding the internal pool of talent to fill positions at Duke.
When I heard about the program, I jumped on the opportunity. I’ve wanted to learn more about wiring and circuit boards for a while.” — Stan Jones Utility Worker Housekeeping Operations
“It helps us to build a more skilled workforce and boosts retention because employees can grow and have the opportunity to advance within Duke as they expand their skills,” she said. Results show the program is meeting Duke’s goals of getting a diverse group of employees to utilize higher education opportunities and encouraging managers to help staff develop career goals. In a recent survey of staff and faculty who participated in Duke’s employee tuition assistance program, 87 percent said knowledge gained by using the benefit will help them better perform in their jobs; in a similar survey of Duke
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managers, 85 percent agreed that the benefit helped improve employee performance. The benefit program evolved from the 2003 recommendations of the Women’s Initiative, which called for greater opportunities for professional development. It was designed to provide more employees with opportunity for professional development by offering reimbursement for classes not offered at Duke or access to courses at local community and state colleges with lower tuition. Before the program was introduced, only courses at Duke were covered. Today, the program offers employees more options, including evening classes at community colleges. Durham Tech, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University are now among the most utilized schools. As a result of the expanded program, participation and diversity of enrollment have increased – from 320 staff and faculty with an average salary of $66,172 in 2006, to 549 employees with an average salary of $53,060 in 2008. Minority enrollment increased from 19 percent in 2006 to 40 percent in 2008. “Since we expanded the program to include other schools, there’s been a lot more participation among non-exempt employees, skilled labor staff and minorities, which is wonderful because we want all Duke employees to have the opportunity to develop professionally,” Green said.
>> See PAYING FOR COLLEGE, PAGE 5
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