University Business - December 2012 - (Page 8)

E D I TO R ’ S N OT E I Effective Efficiency t’s nice to see something grow and take on a life of its own. When we first developed the Models of Efficiency program, we honestly didn’t know quite what to expect. We knew that, in the depths of one of the worst economic crises the country has faced in many years, people were desperately trying to find ways to “do more with less.” That mantra was drilled into the way we all did our jobs each day. Now, even as the economic picture improves, the “new normal” requires that college and university departments continue to rein in costs while improving service and effectiveness. But, even after nine cycles of the program, I am continually surprised at the number of innovative ideas that are sent Another example is the print and publishing departto us for consideration. As has been mentioned before, we receive far more entries than what we eventually recognize. ment at one school that was given the directive to become The reason some are chosen over others is not typically that self-funded within two years. Self-funded. Those are terrifying words when budgets are being cut the entries are poor or that the ideas the board already. Yet, as you’ll are lacking. More often it is that the Even with all the efficiency acrossthe team rose to the challenge, read, entry does not include supporting innot only meeting its goal of becoming formation that proves the return on stories we’ve told to self-sustaining and improving producinvestment and, importantly, that the date, I believe we’re only tivity, but also discovering new revenue solution can be replicated elsewhere. streams for the department. After all, the whole point of the scratching the surface. Still, even with all the departprogram is to spread ideas that work so ments we’ve recognized and all other departments can save time and the stories we’ve told to date, I believe we’re only scratchmoney, and better serve their constituents. To date we’ve recognized nearly a hundred campus depart- ing the surface. As we judge the new entries in each cycle, ments that have found ways to work smarter and with less cost I’m impressed with how many of them represent soluas Models of Efficiency. It has really opened our eyes to the tions that can be adapted for use elsewhere. Maybe the anlevels of resourcefulness that higher education professionals swer to your HR department’s record storage problem can be found in the document management solution emcontribute to their institutions. For example, in this issue, we profile an IT department that ployed by the admissions department at another school. discovered it had an abundance of unused server space that So, as you read the profiles in this issue, think not only about could be turned into a powerful virtualization system. Rather the solution presented, but also the thought that went into it, than buy new equipment, the team upgraded and reassigned and how it might help you. what they already had. That simple change took full advantage of under utilized existing systems to improve efficiencies and Write to Tim Goral at reduce the cost of licensing. How many of you have unused tgoral@universitybusiness.com. technology assets that can be similarly repurposed? Does your department Models of measure up? Efficiency Sponsored by See page 24 8 | December 2012 universitybusiness.com http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - December 2012

University Business - December 2012
Contents
Editor’s Note
College Index
Ad Index
Behind the News
Money Matters
Independent Outlook
5 Reasons Flipped Classrooms Work
Test Driving Mobile
Open Source Myth Busters
Models of Efficiency
1st Annual Readers’ Choice Awards
Education Innovators
Viewpoint
Endowments: New Questions
End Note

University Business - December 2012