Pizza with the President Review

In response to the University’s goal to become less tuition-dependent, Dr. Rooney described the new multi-year financial planning efforts underway that will produce three-year rolling budgets to help Loyola look at the bigger picture and build more predictable metrics around capital needs and enrollment. She has also worked with the Board of Trustees and other administrators to move the budget approval process from June to March, so there is more room for planning before the start of the fiscal year on July 1. Dr. Rooney is focused on enhancing research, launching new academic programs, bolstering advancement efforts, and doubling our endowment so the University can continue lowering its tuition rate increases or perhaps adapt a static rate in future years.

She emphasized that we have no budget shortfalls, but at the same time, we must be more calculated with our finances and hiring as higher education is a volatile industry right now. The lack of funding for MAP grants, for instance, affects our finances. State legislators say they will increase this funding, but there is currently no state budget. Loyola will fill the financial aid gap for the more than 2,000 students who have been affected, but there is currently no long-term solution. When asked what keeps her up at night, Dr. Rooney said the reauthorization of the Federal Higher Education Act, which could come as early as this spring, is important to her. She also is concerned about the currently proposed “One Grant, One Loan” program.

Tasked with planning for Loyola’s future, five financial planning working groups have been appointed to advise the Budget Review Team on future directions for financial and operations planning. These groups, composed of faculty, staff, and administrative leaders, will examine five key areas to determine what the University could be doing differently and more efficiently over the next nine months. More information on the financial planning working groups was shared in an e-mail to the Loyola community following the Pizza with the President events, which can be found here.

In bolstering Advancement efforts, Dr. Rooney said we will have a new senior leader for Advancement soon* and when asked for her top priorities, fundraising success was at the top of the list. For optimal success, she would like the team to be able to raise funds and put that earned money back into the division in order to properly staff the team. Dr. Rooney said her vision for parent engagement and giving includes building up parent engagement outside of the traditional avenues such as Family Weekend, which Dr. Rooney sees as an area of opportunity, as well as instituting a “culture of giving,” which starts before students and families even step foot on campus. She was also asked about how she has been received by alumni, and she said that her reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Alums are eager to share their experiences with the University and are generally supportive of her as the new president.

At the Water Tower Campus event, Dr. Rooney was asked specifically about how the University can reconcile gifts from corporations that may be misaligned with the institution’s mission (e.g., PNC Bank** with Dakota Access Pipeline and Chick-fil-A with discrimination). In response, she shared that both organizations have done good by our students, but she also shared that she is not afraid to say no to funds granted by an entity that are out of line with Loyola’s mission. When faced with a gift/funding opportunity, there needs to be a hard look at how the gift could/would impact Loyola, specifically if the funds benefit student success.

*Damon W. Cates, EdD, was announced as the senior vice president for Advancement on March 9, 2017. Details can be found here.

**As a follow-up, it was confirmed after the event that PNC Bank does not provide project financing for the Dakota Access Pipeline. More information can be found here.

When asked about the role of the chief diversity and inclusion officer at the Lake Shore Campus event, Dr. Rooney introduced Winifred Williams, PhD, vice president for human resources and the chief diversity and inclusion officer. Williams explained that her role is to serve on the leadership team and to oversee strategy for diversity efforts, which includes overseeing the Executive Council on Diversity and Inclusion and providing counsel to the president and cabinet. She shared that the intended outcomes of the council include drafting and finalizing a University-wide diversity statement, the creation of the Diversity and Inclusion website (which includes many happenings and events around campus), and the annual Diversity Report. Dr. Rooney noted that looking ahead, the council will look at student success and retention rates, faculty and staff training opportunities for hiring more diverse colleagues, more events, and a campus climate survey.

Dr. Rooney also shared that a focus area for her is to examine how we can better retain diverse faculty, staff, and students.

When asked about how staff can continue supporting students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, Dr. Rooney underscored that Loyola continues to support students across the University and highlighted the following programs: Stritch School of Medicine was a national pioneer in accepting and supporting DACA students; Arrupe College was developed as a home for Chicagoland students, including those with DACA status; students launched the Magis Scholarship Fund in 2015, which adds an individual $2.50 student fee each semester to support scholarships for undergraduate undocumented students; and most recently, as the state of Illinois now allows DACA students to take the Bar Exam, the School of Law plans to admit five of these students next year. She emphasized that our support is more than just financial for this population, as the University is also connecting students with the Wellness Center and outside partners, including legal counsel.

Regarding the protocol for faculty and staff if a student is detained by law enforcement, Dr. Rooney noted that there is still due process as part of our Constitution. As a University, we cannot provide legal advice, but we can put those individuals in touch with legal resources and people who can assist.

Questions were also asked regarding the term “sanctuary campus” and whether the University would use it. Dr. Rooney noted that there is no standard definition of the term, and the label has become polarizing and political. Loyola continues to support DACA students in a number of ways, and “actions speak louder than words,” she said. Dr. Rooney encouraged attendees to read the Dreamer Committee’s annual report, which includes a list of actions taken, as well as recommendations for future consideration. Dr. Rooney recently responded to the report; both documents can be found here.

Regarding campus internationalization, she confirmed we continue to strategically recruit students, which includes tapping into partnerships with other institutions and the Jesuit network and participating in faculty exchanges. We also continue utilizing our campuses in Rome and Vietnam, with the Beijing Center as a resource as well. She also shared that immigration changes may impact the incoming class of international students—an issue that would impact us in the classroom and economically. To that end, Dr. Rooney noted that the University must seek creative strategies and will continue to engage with our congressional representatives, mayor, and governor about these issues.

An attendee at the Lake Shore Campus asked how we can create a more physically inclusive campus for students with disabilities, particularly in the labs. Dr. Rooney said she is actively working on this concern now; the University is not just looking at labs and lab spaces but all areas of our campus. She said she would have a better idea of the current status by the end of the semester and into the summer months. Services for Students with Disabilities is a University resource that can be utilized by students with a variety of needs—from physical disabilities to emotional needs.

Dr. Rooney stressed program development and teamwork between campuses is key to our University’s future. Gaining access to data is one component of this, and she said the University is committed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. It is imperative that when we produce data, we must share it and utilize it to make informed decisions.

At the Health Sciences Campus, recruiting and retaining researchers is a top priority for the division. There is much space that can be utilized at the new Center for Translational Research and Education and filling that space with researchers is an ongoing conversation with Health Sciences leadership. These efforts will be enhanced by the new dean of the Stritch School of Medicine, who will be announced in the coming weeks.*

University leaders are also examining the current model for our graduate programs, and Dr. Rooney said the current structure may shift in the future.

The vision for the Quinlan School of Business, as well as the other professional schools, Dr. Rooney said, is for them to continue to follow Plan 2020 as a guide, which is already being fulfilled. Also, it is important to continue engaging the local community and partnering with them when possible.

When asked about the vision for the first graduating class of Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago, Dr. Rooney gave a brief status update on the college and said the model is being watched closely by other institutions, as well as internally, to determine what the four-year degree retention rate will be. When the first class graduates this August, she noted there will be some students who choose not to seek a four-year degree, but instead begin working after receiving their associate’s degree. Dr. Rooney said the University asked, “How can we clear the path for the students who want to transfer to a four-year college?” The response was twofold: First, we needed to ensure that their credit hours would be accepted at universities across Illinois. Second, we need to ensure that they can be supported financially. She noted that we are raising funds for many of them to transfer to a bachelor’s program at Loyola, and a number of Arrupe students have already been admitted.

Regarding union representation on campus, most recently with the graduate assistants within the College of Arts and Sciences voting to be represented by SEIU Local 73, Dr. Rooney said it was too soon to know how it will affect the larger institution.

*Steve A. N. Goldstein, MD, PhD, was announced as the dean of the Stritch School of Medicine on March 17, 2017. Details can be found here.

Dr. Rooney mentioned civil discourse events will occur throughout the semester to engage Loyolans in discussion.* She said faculty and staff should remain apolitical—separating their work self from their personal self—and supportive of our social justice mission; legally the University must remain apolitical. She noted that the Council of Deans recently completed a session with Phil Hale, vice president for government relations, and he could run a session for staff as well.

*In the weeks following the events, Academic Affairs announced a website and events related to Civic Engagement and Civil Discourse. Details can be found here.

Many office spaces may go unused by faculty for several consecutive days, especially for those who have appointments at multiple campuses. When asked about how Loyola can best use these spaces for staff or potentially rent them for additional revenue, Dr. Rooney said we are looking for “out-of-the-box thinking” on how to best use our resources, including our office space.

In response to questions about the physical distance between campuses, Dr. Rooney said location is “all about perspective” and that technology is imperative. There are currently discussions with the hospital system about running a shuttle from the CTA Blue Line station to the Health Sciences Campus. A shuttle previously ran from the Lake Shore Campus to the Health Sciences Campus, but it wasn’t used enough to justify continuing the service.

A question was asked regarding paper towel waste in restrooms around campus: Has the University ever considered alternative uses to the waste, similar to the Biosoap process? Dr. Rooney mentioned she was not aware of any research or work that had been done on the issue but said she would raise it to the financial planning working groups and others to investigate. She noted the creative thinking could possibly save the University money.

There was a concern raised at the Lake Shore Campus event about the safety at the pedestrian walkway at Kenmore and Sheridan. While there is a stoplight, could the University do more? Dr. Rooney said she would have the appropriate people look into it to analyze the concern and potential solutions.

Dr. Rooney said she would have someone assess the need, function, and usability of a potential faculty and staff lounge or gathering space at the Water Tower Campus.

Campus Safety and Tom Kelly, senior vice president for administrative services, will look into the staffing of the security personnel and the need to make buildings at the Water Tower Campus more accessible during “business hours.”

At the Health Sciences Campus event, it was mentioned that the intercampus mail* is delayed. Dr. Rooney said she would follow up on the issue.

*As a follow-up, the intercampus mail courier makes stops at all three Chicagoland campuses and specifically at the Health Sciences Campus on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. On average, the mail quantity is minimal between Maywood and Chicago: 1-2 packages and about 10 pieces of mail on each run. If anyone has questions or concerns about the system, please contact Brian Slavinskas at bslavin@luc.edu.

Across the events, Dr. Rooney was thanked for the “gift of time” between Christmas and New Years in 2016. When asked if the University would continue closing between the holidays, Dr. Rooney said she has received overwhelmingly positive feedback and will be looking for ways that the gift of time can be given in the future. She did note that some staff were not able to take the extra time since their roles required them to be on campus for various purposes, like those in Residence Life; Dr. Rooney will ask the benefits group within Human Resources to see how all staff may be able to receive and use any given time in the future. She did note, however, that we all need work/life balance and the ability to step away.

Other benefits that will be considered via Human Resources and/or the Human Resources and Benefits financial planning working group will be:

• Cost-sharing related to the tuition benefit for dependents
• The graduate tuition benefit to be extended to spouses/partners
• Summer hours and/or extra time off
• Maternity/paternity benefits
• Flexibility for staff to teach during the workday

With the Loyola Credit Union location at the Health Sciences Campus, a question came up about whether we would ever get credit union satellite locations on the lakeside campuses. Dr. Rooney said there could be an opportunity to look at other options for easier access to the benefit.

The question was raised if the Water Tower Campus would ever have a daycare option available. Dr. Rooney noted that she wasn’t sure, but responded that there would be three main areas to take into consideration for any daycare plans: security issues, facilities (including access to outdoor space), and the need. She said she would follow up with Human Resources to see if any data has been collected on the potential need/desire for such an option.

The University is “on hold,” Dr. Rooney said, in response to a question about the injunction related to the Fair Labor Standards Act, which impacts some staff members on campus.

Regarding general staff development, Dr. Rooney shared her philosophy, which includes a formal review of all of the members who serve on the Cabinet along with their goals, which was not previously done. Second, managers will be held accountable for assisting in developing their staff and encouraging those they manage to participate in growing professionally. She noted it is “critically important” for retention to create these opportunities for development—not just access to formal classes on campus, but industry-related events, too.

Staff and full-time faculty were asked to complete the mandatory harassment prevention training for many reasons, Dr. Rooney said. This included creating an environment of knowledge by giving everyone the same baseline for understanding what harassment in the workplace could look like. It was noted that the EthicsLine is a confidential resource for all in the community who would like to submit a concern.

When asked about how staff can make a difference outside their immediate roles at the University, Dr. Rooney had the following advice:

• Engage in professional development within the industry, because educating ourselves makes us more capable of performing, which makes the University stronger.
• When able, engage with students and support their activities and events by attending Athletics events, theater productions, or concerts. Showing up goes a long way to make the students feel included and valued.
• Be an ambassador for the University. Connect with families and alumni on campus and in the community. Often, they want to know what work is being done, and connecting with them can help them stay engaged.
• Participate, or being willing to participate, in working groups, committees, etc. There will be numerous opportunities for staff to work and provide feedback across departments and disciplines in the coming months.

Three positive surprises since her arrival include:

• Everyone she comes in contact with can articulate the University’s mission, and it’s often the reason why they stay.
• How wonderful our facilities are, from the lake at the Lake Shore Campus to the new Center for Translational Research and Education building that allows for great research to happen at the Health Sciences Campus.
• How pleasant the winter weather has been so far this year.

Her leadership philosophy hasn’t changed since her arrival at Loyola, and she noted, “What you see is what you get.” She will share data openly. She will also give authority with the expectation that those who are granted power are held accountable, as well.

Her favorite place on campus is outside of Madonna della Strada Chapel by Lake Michigan. She said it is the “perfect balance of feeling the energy of campus with the tranquility of the lake.”

Dr. Rooney’s favorite things to do in Chicago so far include taking the river architecture tour and getting involved in the arts community. She also anticipates getting on the water, too, when it gets warmer out.

Most interesting discoveries about Loyola since starting include:

• The uniqueness of the academic programs on campus—like the perpetual source of fresh basil in the Institute of Environmental Sustainability
• We have the coolest spirit band, the Band of Wolves
• The Health Sciences Campus and the spirit there, like the annual event to bless cadavers
• Overall, there is a shared mission across the University with one common bond—the ability to articulate the mission

Cubs or Sox? Dr. Rooney is a Red Sox fan, though she did enjoy watching the Cubs win the World Series and anticipates the White Sox will have a strong season with their new signings and team hires.