Meet Your Colleague: A Q&A with Nicole Boymook, Associate Director of Residence Life

Name: Nicole Boymook

Job title: Associate Director of Residence Life          

Department: Student Life

How long have you worked at Whitworth? 13 years

What do you like best about your job? Working with fabulous Whitworth students

In what ways do your gifts and abilities help meet the needs of the campus community you serve? I have degrees in business and counseling, so I feel like my job helping organize residence life and working directly with students is a great fit for my abilities

Favorite book: In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen

Favorite movies: “Chocolat” and “Amelie”

Favorite foods: Sushi and seafood

Favorite music: I think the better question for me is: What type of music do I least like… country. Other than that, I like it all.

Favorite animal: Zebra

Guilty pleasure: Shopping

Hobbies: traveling, scootering, reading, shopping, photography, techie things like shiny Apple products

Best vacation ever: Last spring I went to Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris. 

Birth place: Lansing, Michigan

We’d be surprised to know that…I have only one kidney.

I collect…shoes.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? New Zealand

If you could try anything and not fail, what dream would you attempt? Kite boarding

What is your favorite sound? Ocean waves

What is your life motto? Luke 6:31

If the whole world was listening, what would you say? “Be nice.”

Favorite childhood book: The Velveteen Rabbit

Favorite childhood TV show:  “Scooby Doo”

Least favorite word: Not appropriate in this venue

Best high school class subject: I loved my French class. I wasn’t very good, but I loved the class.

“A Look at Life in Student Life” with Kathy Storm April 28

Have you wondered what sets Whitworth’s student life program apart from other institutions, or what we mean by “SGC”? Maybe you’ve heard of the Bonner Leader program and don’t know what it is…or have wondered where those wacky theme-houses themes come from. You may even be curious about where the Health Center is located this year.

These questions and many others will be answered by Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Kathy Storm at the next “A Look at Life in...” brown-bag dialogue on Thursday, April 28, from 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., in the HUB meetings rooms ABC. Please note: this is a different location than the prior two “A Look at Life in…” dialogues.

The April 28 event continues a new monthly series of brown-bag dialogues during which members of cabinet provide an overview of their areas of responsibility and then invite questions and discussion. All staff and faculty members are invited to bring their lunch and join in the dialogue.

President Beck Taylor encourages Whitworth employees to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about areas of the university that may be unfamiliar to them. “As our community has grown, it has become harder to stay in touch with our colleagues across campus and what they are doing on a daily basis to advance our mission,” he says. “We need to work harder to be accessible and transparent, and we hope this monthly brown-bag dialogue can help in that process.”

Next month’s dialogue will feature “A Look at Life in the President’s Office,” with Beck Taylor, on Monday, May 9, from 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. in the HUB meeting rooms ABC.

Updated Medical/Dental/Life Summary Annual Reports Available Online

Please visit the Human Resource Services Benefits & Wellness web page to view the most recent Summary Annual Reports for our required IRS 5500 reporting. To view the two reports, click on the “Medical/Dental Summary Annual Report” and “Prudential Summary Annual Report” links.

If you would like to have a paper copy of these reports, or of the 5500, please contact Human Resource Services at x4219.

Join Us for Retirement Receptions Honoring Elisabeth Buxton and Rick Hornor

Join Us May 2 for Elisabeth Buxton Retirement Reception

Dear Whitworth Community,

We invite you to join the Modern Languages Department in celebrating the retirement of Elisabeth Buxton. Please join us for hors d’oeuvres in the foyer of Westminster Hall on Monday, May 2, from 3:30-5 p.m.

Stop by and thank Elisabeth for her many years of dedication and service to the Whitworth family, and find out what she has planned for her retirement!

For more information, please contact Vicki Daggy by e-mailing vdaggy@whitworth.edu or calling 509.777.4765.


Join Us for May 6 “Broadway Unbound” Performance and Farewell for Rick Hornor

As Whitworth Theatre closes the curtains on its 2010-11 season, we will say farewell to our dear colleague, Rick Hornor, who is retiring after 26 years in the theatre department. Please join us to enjoy “Broadway Unbound,” our final show of the season, and to honor Rick and say good-bye.

Broadway Unbound

Cowles Auditorium
Friday, May 6, at 7 p.m.

$3 Admission

Refreshments will be served following the performance.

R.S.V.P. for the May 16 Faculty & Staff Awards & Retirement Celebration

Monday, May 16, 2011

HUB Multipurpose Room

Appetizers at 5:15 p.m.

Program at 6 p.m.

Join us for a dessert buffet following the program.

Due to limited seating, it is important for us to know whether or not you will be attending or bringing a guest. R.S.V.P. via the SharePoint links below by Monday, May 9, 2011.

1. Click here if on campus OR click here if off campus

2. If prompted to log-in, enter your user name and password in the following format:

• User name: ADMIN\username (note back-slash)
• Password: network password

3. Select an attendance option, then click Finish (you will be returned to the survey home page)

4. Close site

To view the invitation, please visit Faculty and Staff Awards and Retirement Celebration Invitation.

Recording Holiday Hours for Non-Exempt Hourly Staff

If applicable to your position, please remember to record the Good Friday holiday observed on April 22 under “Other Time Hours,” choosing “Holiday” from the drop-down menu under “Other Time Types.”

Thank you for ensuring that these hours are recorded correctly for yourself and the employees you may supervise. Please note that student workers are not eligible for holiday hours.

Thank you,

Payroll Services

Avista Corp. Vice President Jason Thackston, '92, Elected to Whitworth Board of Trustees

Jason Thackston, vice president for Spokane-based Avista Corp., was elected to the Whitworth University Board of Trustees on April 8 during the board’s spring meeting.

Thackston recently was named Avista’s vice president of energy delivery; he has responsibility for overseeing the utility’s gas and electric transmission and distribution operations. He previously served as Avista’s vice president of finance, overseeing financing and capital activities and being involved in corporate development, investor relations, risk management and planning and analysis. He joined Avista in 1996 and has held leadership positions in energy resources, resource accounting and financial planning.

Thackston earned a B.A. in international studies and business management from Whitworth in 1992, and he earned an MBA from Gonzaga University. In addition to now serving on Whitworth's board of trustees, he also serves on the boards of the YMCA of the Inland Northwest, the Northwest Business Development Association and the Business Development Corporation of Eastern Washington.

Thackston’s wife, Julie, is also a ’92 Whitworth grad, and they have five children.

Commute Trip Reduction Program Survey: Please complete by April 21

As a major employer in Spokane County, Whitworth University is committed to providing a Commute Trip Reduction Program that will meet the needs of employees and achieve the goals of the Washington State Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law. One element of the law requires us to survey our employees about commute habits and work schedules. Your support will be necessary to complete the survey during this four-day workweek (April 18-21).

By completing the online CTR Employee Survey, your answers will help us better understand your transportation needs and allow us to enhance the effectiveness of our Commute Trip Reduction Program.

To take the survey:

• Log into http://www.ctrsurvey.org/ and enter your e-mail address.
• Select your worksite from the drop-down box.
• Complete and submit your survey.

All employees who complete the survey by Thursday, April 21, will be entered in our grand-prize drawing. Please contact me at x4413 or jfox@whitworth.edu if you have questions about the survey process.

Thank you.

JoAnn Fox
Assistant Director of Benefits

This message is sent to you in compliance with the Washington State Commute Trip Reduction Law.

Meet Your Colleague: A Q&A with Custodian Crew Leader Ina Ward

Name: Ina Ward

Job title: Custodian Crew Leader

Department: Facilities Services

How long have you worked at Whitworth? 10 years

What do you like best about your job? The people I work with!

In what ways do you feel your job fulfills your sense of vocation? I enjoy serving and helping others.

Favorite book: Holy Bible

Favorite movie: “Snow Dogs”

Favorite food: Nachos

Favorite quote: “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything.”

Favorite music: Owl City

Favorite animal: My dog, Jazz

Guilty pleasure: Just being lazy

Hobbies: Running and kayaking

Best vacation ever: Kayaking in Mexico

Birth place: Pueblo, Colo.

I collect…dragonflies, rocks

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Rome

What cartoon character best describes you? Thumper

If you could try anything and not fail, what dream would you attempt? Run a marathon

What is your favorite sound? Bells

If the whole world was listening, what would you say? “Be nice to each other.”

Favorite childhood book: Bambi

Least favorite words: “What’s Up?”

If you could go on a road trip with anyone (from the past or present), who would you choose and where would you go? Martin Ward, New York

Best high school class subject: P.E.

Meet Your Colleague: A Q&A with Professor of Philosophy Forrest Baird

Name: Forrest Baird

Job title: Professor and Department Chair

Department: Philosophy

How long have you worked at Whitworth? This is my 33^rd year.

What do you like best about your job? Everything! Seriously, I sometimes think, “What would I do if I won the lottery?” (Unlikely, since I don’t enter.) Well, I would want to travel and read books and then I would probably want to talk to people about what I saw and read – some who see it on the same level I do and some who probably could use some help in understanding what they saw or read because I enjoy explaining things…Hey wait a minute – that is what I do! (But I would not grade papers!)

In what ways do your gifts and abilities help meet the needs of the campus community you serve? I love to introduce people and I see myself as a sort of intellectual yentl or matchmaker: Meet my friend, Plato – you might really like him…he has some remarkable contemporary things to say; meet my friend, Michelangelo’s David; and, especially, meet my friend and savior, Jesus.

Favorite book: The Brothers Karamazov

Favorite movie: “Strictly Ballroom” (A funny, quirky Australian movie that is actually about ballroom dancing…and a whole lot more!)

Favorite food: Italian gelato (not sure it qualifies as “food” – but did you know that it has no calories?)

Favorite quote: “No good thing will the Lord withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Ps. 84:11)

Favorite music: James Taylor, hymns (I am old) – but I actually like all kinds of music…even rap

Favorite animal: Not much of an animal person (a failing, I know)

Guilty pleasure: Watching TV – especially sports (If there are two folks playing catch on ESPN, I would probably watch it.)

Best vacation ever: Houseboating on the Thames River in England with my entire extended family (42 of us on six houseboats). I mean, really, this is the best family vacation you could ever, ever have. If you are interested, ask me about it.

Birthplace: Long Beach, Calif. I grew up in inner-city L.A. (I went to L.A. High School).

We’d be surprised to know that…I was in a children’s choir from the age of five and sang opera as a kid – I performed at UCLA in Schoenberg Hall and was even on TV (then when I hit puberty my voice changed and now…well, I guess I can carry a tune, but no one would ever want to listen).

I collect…tacky salt and pepper shakers – the tackier the better (we have shakers to offend anyone).

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? I already have.

If you could try anything and not fail, what dream would you attempt? I would be the oldest NBA all-star of all time!

What is your favorite sound? Our granddaughters’ laugh

What is your life motto? “If a student has not learned, you have not taught.”

If the whole world was listening, what would you say? “God loves you and Jesus proves it.”

Favorite childhood book: A Wrinkle in Time

Favorite childhood TV show: “Engineer Bill” (a local L.A. show with cartoons)

Least favorite word: Phlegm

Best high school class subject: Math

R.S.V.P. for the May 16 Faculty & Staff Awards & Retirement Celebration

Monday, May 16, 2011

HUB Multipurpose Room

Appetizers at 5:15 p.m.

Program at 6 p.m.

Join us for a dessert buffet following the program.

Due to limited seating, it is important for us to know whether or not you will be attending or bringing a guest. R.S.V.P. via the SharePoint links below by Monday, May 9, 2011.

1. Click here if on campus OR click here if off campus

2. If prompted to log-in, enter your user name and password in the following format:

• User name: ADMIN\username (note back-slash)
• Password: network password

3. Select an attendance option, then click Finish (you will be returned to the survey home page)

4. Close site

To view the invitation, please visit Faculty and Staff Awards and Retirement Celebration Invitation.

Human Resource Services: A note of thanks; Whitworth welcomes Kyle Lantz; Drawing results

A Note of Thanks

Hello, Whitworth,

I want to send a deeply heartfelt thank you to everyone for the amazing outpouring of concern with my recent health issues. I received many voicemail messages, cards, e-mails, and flowers. The Whitworth community is like no other anywhere in the world. I’m absolutely blessed and humbled.

With that said, I also want to express how much I value the power of prayer and would greatly appreciate your continued prayers as my doctors continue to monitor my situation to determine the proper course of action towards my recovery.

Again, thank you all so much. I am truly blessed.

Sincerely,

Claudia Gallagher
Academic Program Coordinator
Athletics & Kinesiology


Whitworth Welcomes Kyle Lantz

Name: Kyle Lantz

Job title: Resident Director, East Hall

Start date: Aug. 1, 2011

Previous employer/position: On-site director for Taylor University’s International Study Program in Greystones, Ireland

“Kyle is an engaging individual who will be a great addition to our residence life staff and to the Whitworth community. His master’s thesis focused on the experiences of African American students at predominantly White faith-based institutions. For the past two years he has worked in Ireland with U.S. students who were participating in a cross-cultural, international experience.” - Dick Mandeville, associate dean of students


Winner of Spring Break Training Drawing

And the winner is…Lynn Noland (Academic Affairs). Congratulations! Lynn’s name was randomly picked from the list of participants who attended Spring Break training. Lynn won a Homerun Bubble Gum Bat (it’s very cute!) and a Whitworth Pirates water bottle. Thank you to ALL who participated and helped make spring training a success!

The Principal Retirement Plan Statements Available Online

The Principal retirement statements for the first quarter are available online. To view or print your statement, log in at www.principal.com/retirement/statements.

For assistance with your password: If you have forgotten your password, or wish to make a change, select “Forgot Your Password” on the password entry page. You may also contact a representative of The Principal Financial Group® for assistance at 1.800.547.7754.

To update your e-mail address: To help ensure you continue receiving timely e-mail notification as soon as your statement becomes available, please let The Principal Financial Group know if your e-mail address changes:

• Log in at www.principal.com/retirement/statements to view account information.

• Choose “Update e-mail address” from within the “Tools” section, “Your Profile” link available on the left.

To change how you receive your statement: You have a right to receive a paper copy of your statement, free of charge. If at any time you would like to change how you receive your statement, go to the “Statements” link and indicate your mailing preference.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the online statements. I am happy to help.

JoAnn Fox
Assistant Director, Benefits
777.4413
jfox@whitworth.edu

Renewal Update for Benefits-Eligible Employees

Dear Whitworth benefits eligible employees,

We are approaching open enrollment for our benefits plans and I wanted to let you know that there is very good news to share regarding the premiums for all of our plans. Our health care plan with Group Health will have a small increase for this next year of only 4.4 percent above this year’s rates. We are also improving the health care plan by making approved preventive care services no longer subject to co-pays or the deductible. This change takes place beginning June 1, 2011, with the start of the new plan year.

Dental and life insurance rates will remain the same. Also, you will now be able to purchase $10,000 to $40,000 in additional voluntary life insurance, whether you are currently waiving this voluntary coverage, or even if you are at the benefit maximum of $200,000 in voluntary coverage. This increase is available without the need for providing proof of good health.

We will also add the Emeriti Retirement Solutions benefit as of July 1, 2011, for those who meet the eligibility requirements for this plan. More information will continue to be made available for those who will be enrolled.

Open enrollment will take place May 2-9, 2011. Watch for more information from Human Resource Services in the next few weeks. If you have specific questions about your benefits or your benefits elections, please contact JoAnn Fox at 777.4413.

I appreciate the good work of the Benefits Review Committee over the past several months as we evaluated our options for our benefits renewal. The committee members are Martha Gady, Richard Stevens, Terry Norton, Bonnie Wakefield, Richard Scott, and JoAnn Fox.

Dolores Humiston

Meet Your Colleague: A Q&A with Marisha Hamm, Manager of Environmental Health Safety and Risk Management

Name: Marisha Marie Hamm

Job title: Manager of Environmental Health Safety and Risk Management

  

How long have you worked at Whitworth? 6 years

What do you like best about your job? It is never boring. I get to work with everyone on campus and learn new things all the time.

In what ways do your gifts and abilities help meet the needs of the campus community you serve? Since I was a child I have always prepared for and prevented against the worst-case scenario. It is the way God programmed me.

  

Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird. It is one of the first novels I remember loving and longing to read at every chance.

Favorite movie: “Grease”

Favorite food: Anything Italian

Favorite quote: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind,” Dr. Seuss

Favorite music: Everything

Favorite animal: My dog, Dandy-lion

Guilty pleasure: Shoes

Hobbies: Reading and being a “dance mom”

Best vacation ever: Disneyland 2009

Birthplace: Missoula, Mont.

We’d be surprised to know that…I won a national championship as part of a dance team in high school. 

I collect…nothing. I hate clutter! But my daughter collects everything.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Serbia

What cartoon character best describes you? Wonder Woman

If you could try anything and not fail, what dream would you attempt? Skydiving…because until I have assurance that I cannot fail, there is no way I am doing that!

What is your favorite sound? My daughter, Sophie, giggling

What is your life motto? Never judge a book by its cover. And if you tell me I can’t, I will show you I can.

If the whole world was listening, what would you say? Probably something silly as a result of being nervous

Favorite childhood book: Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends, specifically the poem “One Sister for Sale”

Favorite childhood TV show: “The Cosby Show”

Least favorite word: NO

If you could go on a road trip with anyone (from the past or present), who would you choose and where would you go? Anywhere with my grandma, but only if there is no snow on the roads. 

Best high school class subject: Math

Notice: Whitworth Does Not Provide Insurance Coverage for Personal Property

Dear Whitworth Faculty and Staff,

The university carries liability, property and casualty insurance that covers all employees for their work on behalf of the university. A sophisticated and routine system is in place to make sure that the property of the university is properly insured against loss and damage.

Because it is not possible to know the extent of personal property that you may bring to campus, the university is not able to provide such insurance coverage for your personal possessions. Such items as art, computers, office equipment, books and other items that are your personal property may well be covered by your personal insurance. If you have valuable property on campus, you would be well-served to contact your personal insurance agent to obtain the proper level of coverage for your circumstances. Thank you.

Brian Benzel
Vice President for Finance and Administration

New Principal Retirement Plan Investments

Effective April 1, 2011, any investments in the target date funds currently utilizing The Principal Lifetime Funds will transition to T.Rowe Price Retirement R Funds. After analysis and deliberation by the Whitworth Retirement Plan Committee, the committee directed The Principal to adopt the T. Rowe Price Retirement R Funds under their spectrum of investments.

We are not moving our retirement plan business from The Principal. It was only requested that the new T.Rowe Price Retirement R Funds replace The Principal Lifetime Funds. These new T. Rowe Price Retirement R Funds will be the only T. Rowe Price funds that we offer.

We have also requested the addition of two new investment options, American Century Inflation Adjusted Bond a Fund and American Funds Capital World Bond R-3 Fund, to provide wider investment diversity for our employees. All other current investment funds will remain the same.

If you had investments in The Principal Lifetime Funds, please log on to The Principal website at http://www.principal.com/ and verify that the transition to the T.Rowe Price Retirement R Funds took place.

As a reminder, these decisions were made by the Whitworth Retirement Plan Committee, which acts as fiduciary for Whitworth’s retirement plan by selecting and monitoring the investment options made available to employees. The committee’s goal is to select plan-offered investment vehicles that:

• provide exposure to a wide range of asset classes with varying risk/reward profiles;
• maximize return for a given level of risk;
• provide risk and return characteristics comparable to similar investment options;
• and minimize management and other expenses.

If you have any questions, please contact JoAnn Fox at x4413 or Rick Scott at x4219. Thank you.

 

 

Human Resource Services: Note of Thanks; Save the Date; Employee Wellness Newsletter

A Note of Thanks from Elisabeth Buxton

Dear Whitworth Community,

I very much appreciate the thoughtful gift of the Flower Dish Garden. It is gorgeous and graces my dining-room table. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Blessings,
Elisabeth


Save the Date for Years of Service and Retirement Celebration on May 16

Human Resource Services will host a celebration to honor our employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and, yes, 30 years of service. The celebration will take place on Monday, May 16, beginning at 5:15 p.m. We will also honor our employees who are entering the retirement phase of their lives. We will begin with appetizers in the Multipurpose Room, move into the main dining hall for our presentations and celebration, then complete the evening with dessert in the Multipurpose Room. Please save the date and join us in celebrating these milestones.


Employee Wellness Newsletter from the Spokane Regional Health District

Human Resource Service regularly shares information provided to us by recognized organizations that promote health and wellness. Below is the Employee Wellness Newsletter from the Spokane Regional Health District for the month of April.

Employee Wellness Newsletter from the Spokane Regional Heath District

Accounting Students to Conduct Department Auditing Project April 11-15

As is our practice each spring, we are partnering with our senior accounting students in Margie LaShaw’s Principles of Auditing class on a mutually beneficial audit project. We provide the students with an opportunity to use their auditing skills and they help the university’s internal control testing.

The audit project will take place the week of April 11-15 and will be coordinated by Tara Lambert, our senior accountant for audit and tax, as part of her internship for the Whitworth MBA Program. Students will visit departments to monitor and report on their procedures in the following areas:

• Cash management
• Budget review procedures (this activity is closely related to our external auditors’ recommendation from last year to verify that department managers are monitoring their budgets)
• Various internal controls to monitor risk management

Tara will contact selected departments ahead of time to schedule appointments for the students’ work. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and openness to our students. If you have any question or concerns, please call Luz Merkel at x4225.

New WhitNet Budget-Review Process for Departments

Whitworth’s external auditors have reported that the university needs to do a better job making sure that departments are reviewing their budget activity on a regular basis and reporting any issues to the business office. To address this issue, the business office and the information systems office have developed a new procedure that will expedite the review process and facilitate any necessary follow-up with the business office.

From now on, as we close each month in Datatel, the system will send an e-mail to those who have been designated by their supervisors as being responsible for reviewing departmental budget activity. The e-mail will inform budget officers and reviewers that there is budget data ready for their review through WhitNet. To view the data, reviewers need to go to their Financial Section in WhitNet and find the new line item: Budget Review.

When the reviewers have checked their budgets, they just need to select that the budget activity is approved, or select that changes/corrections are needed and provide details regarding the desired changes. Once the reviewers submit this information, the system will send an e-mail to the business office indicating the approval or that changes are needed. The system will also show which reviewers have not yet completed the review so that the business office can notify supervisors if/when their employees have completed the budget review.

We are excited about this new procedure and trust that it will help departments make budget reviewing and any necessary follow-up with the business office a more efficient process. If you have questions, please contact Kris Zimbelman at x4322.

Thank You from the School of Education

The School of Education has been working for more than a year to prepare for reviews by the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. That preparation culminated in site visits March 26-30 by teams from both agencies.

The exit reports from the teams were very favorable and we will share the final outcomes of those reviews after the official boards meet and take action. However, the preparation of teachers, school counselors and school administrators is a team effort that includes the entire university. From all of us in the School of Education, thank you for your work and for your ongoing support of our programs and our students!

Dennis Sterner
Dean of the School of Education