October 28, 2009
The fall days are getting shorter and the darkness comes earlier. The fields have yielded their harvest, fall break has come and gone, and the campus has been winterized. I realize I will not see my favorite begonia beds until May. (Be still, my heart!) You should find some of the bountiful items of interest. They will equip you to better tell the Creighton story in the broader community.
Campus Continues to Prepare and Respond to H1N1 and Seasonal Flu
Prevention efforts and campus-wide support have been the keys to success for us this fall. As the H1N1 virus continues to affect many, I am pleased to share that Creighton has not experienced widespread flu-like illness on campus. Basic preventive steps that individuals can take – including hand-hygiene, cough etiquette, self-isolating when ill with flu-like symptoms and receiving seasonal and H1N1 vaccines – will go a long way toward keeping our campus community thriving and productive.
As has been reported in the national media, H1N1 vaccine is slowly becoming available. To date, more than 3,000 students have received the seasonal flu vaccine and 500 have received the H1N1 vaccine from Creighton’s Health Services. Shoo the Flu at CU Clinics will continue to offer vaccine to students, and we will announce when more H1N1 vaccine is available. Finally, because of our commitment to quality patient care, the University effort to vaccinate students, faculty and staff in our health care clinics and at the Child Development Center remains a priority and will continue to be a part of the University’s prevention efforts.
Personnel
Vice President Borchers and I have asked Eric Chiappinelli to become more involved in some key external initiatives in the Law School. Eric has agreed to accept this new role and will be Assistant to the President and Dean for Law School Affairs effective Oct. 26.
In addition to his vice presidential role, I have asked Prof. Borchers to serve as Dean of the School of Law through the rest of this semester, at which time a more permanent solution will be implemented.
Budget
Although operating results for 2009-10 are expected to be improved over 2008-09, the University will still experience an operating deficit. The solid enrollment numbers for this fall are certainly a big positive; however, the favorable effects of the enrollment on our budgeted revenues were more than offset by higher spending on financial aid. This is a direct reflection of the challenges posed by the current economic conditions on our students and their families. The School of Medicine, which is a significant component of the overall budget, is showing continued improvement from the prior two years of difficulties related to the competitive local health care environment. While much work remains, progress is being made.
The planning process for the 2010-11 budget is under way and early indications point to another challenging year. The financial aid budget will need to be enhanced to reflect the 2009-10 profile. Also high on the priority list for 2010-11 is the creation of a salary merit pool. The general consensus on the economy seems to be for a long, slow recovery with an extended period of historically high unemployment. This translates to continued challenges for us to remain affordable to current and prospective students. It is imperative that we operate as efficiently as possible to ensure we can continue to deliver a high-quality education at an affordable price. I am grateful for your commitment to these efforts and request your continued assistance in identifying ways we can be more efficient with our resources.
New Paperless Process
As mentioned in my most recent Update, employee pay stubs will move completely online over the next month. This initiative marks continued progress on several University commitments: sustainability, improved operating efficiencies and providing employees enhanced online access to information. The final paper pay stubs will be distributed Oct. 30 for bi-weekly paid employees and Nov. 1 for monthly paid employees.
Benefits Enrollment for 2010
Thank you for the strong attendance at this year’s Benefit Fairs. The University contributes significant dollars to your benefits, so your attention and commitment to understanding your options is sincerely appreciated. As the end of the benefits enrollment season nears, we are blessed to have flat health insurance premiums for 2010. I encourage you to take time to review the confirmation statement that will be mailed to your home the week of Nov. 2. Your attention in reading this final statement will ensure the accuracy of the benefits you and your family have in place for the coming year.
Construction
There is light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak – the city’s sewer separation project on Cuming Street is nearing completion. This latest phase of the project has shut down Cuming between 24th and 27th Streets and created significant traffic congestion on campus during peak travel times. The pipe is in the ground and paving has begun. With some cooperation from the weather, the work should be completed by Thanksgiving. The end is near!
The state’s project to reconstruct the I-480 and U.S. 75 (North Freeway) interchange adjacent to campus is back in action. The work was restarted in September and includes replacement of bridges over Burt, Cuming and 24th Streets. Also coming in November will be the removal of the unused bridges over 30th Street. There will be various barricades, lane closures and periodic street closures to facilitate the interchange work. Facilities Management will continue to provide detailed updates as the work progresses.
New Home for Creighton Baseball
Creighton and the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) have reached an agreement for the Creighton Bluejay baseball team to play its home games at TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha. The MECA board approved a 10-year lease agreement with Creighton at its Oct. 27 board meeting.
Under the lease agreement, Creighton will play some home games in 2011 and all of its home games in 2012 at TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha. This includes Missouri Valley Conference games and annual games against in-state rival Nebraska. Creighton games will be part of the TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha suite and club seat packages. More details to follow.
Creighton Medical Associates Update
Creighton Medical Associates (CMA) is organizing its practice under two principles: patient-centered care and group practice centric decision making and governance. The Board of Directors has been reorganized to include representation from both the Creighton University Board as well as the community. This has added valuable perspectives to CMA’s move toward improved customer service. Specific initiatives under active development include: the creation of a patient call center, the sharing of nursing and technical staff among departments for increased efficiency and patient service, the adoption and implementation of electronic medical records (EMR), uniform clinic scheduling and start-time policies, a CMA Code of Conduct for faculty and staff, as well as coordinated faculty/practice development, market positioning, and financial performance.
Strategic expansion of our Old Market Clinic is near completion. Planning is under way to evaluate repositioning several of CMA’s west clinics, as well as the possible implementation of a new clinic in partnership with Mutual of Omaha in their Mid-Town Crossing development project. An “on-campus” CU employee clinic is also being considered.
CMA’s management is being reorganized to ensure that all CMA clinics will be directed by clinically trained, centrally accountable professionals in the specialty centers of primary care, medical specialties, surgical specialties and cardiology services. Further, CMA is reorganizing administrative services whereby CMA “purchases” technical and management services from existing Creighton University departments such as finance, HR, DoIT, compliance, risk management, facilities and legal, thus ensuring increased efficiency and a more robust utilization of the high-quality services Creighton provides.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, CMA has adopted a new Code of Conduct for both employees and faculty, which addresses such critical issues as hostile work environment, ethics standards, vendor relationships, professional appearance and CMA’s non-profit status. Such a code will ensure not only that high-quality care is provided, but that CMA remains firmly grounded in the Jesuit mission and tradition that sets it apart from other local health care service providers.
Admissions
The statement below was a header in a recent report. I judge it to be a useful summary statement for our admissions efforts this past year and into the future.
“Overall we should be grateful for our success as a University of quality and first-choice. Many institutions are struggling during these challenging economic times. Our strong reputation for academic excellence, top quality faculty and a Jesuit tradition combined with the improvements in our campus and expansion has positioned us well. This year our campus community came together like no other time in its history to serve our prospective student families and the result is record enrollment! As we made a thoughtful decision to increase merit awards and provide access to more needy families, our discount rate climbed upward, but our diversity and quality were maintained. There was a greater sensitivity to net price after aid but obviously many families valued the Creighton difference.”
THANKS ALL AROUND. YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! It does take a whole campus to recruit a student!
Technology
On the technology front, we have seen a tremendous growth in the use of our new Creighton portal: my.creighton.edu . There are many new features that are available for students, faculty and staff, including access to all of your important Creighton applications. I encourage all of you to visit the portal and explore how you, your teams or department could use this site.
Technology as it relates to the delivery of health care has become a national focus, and it is also a focus for Creighton. I am pleased to announce that Creighton is in the early stages of planning for the implementation of an EMR (electronic medical record). This EMR project is vital for us as a university focused on delivering quality patient care. Over the next several months, there will be much infrastructure work accomplished to position Creighton so that we will be ready to launch this exciting new application. We will keep the campus updated as this project progresses.
Doctor in Nursing Practice
In fall 2008, the Creighton University School of Nursing became the first school in Nebraska to launch a new program of study in nursing that leads to the degree of Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP), the highest level of preparation for clinical practice. Specialty tracks are offered in Advanced Practice Nursing (i.e., nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialists), Global Public Health and Clinical Systems Administration (CSA). Graduates are prepared to participate as advanced clinicians, nurse managers/executives, consultants, collaborators and change agents in health care systems and communities. Creighton University offers an option for early entry into advanced practice for students who want to begin doctoral studies immediately following completion of the BSN. A post-master’s option is also available. Of the current 49 students, the majority are enrolled in the BSN to DNP program.
As of fall 2009, Creighton is among the nearly 100 universities setting the standard for doctoral education in nursing practice. The national goal to transition master’s programs to DNP programs is set for 2015, and Creighton University nursing graduates prepared at the doctoral level will be on the forefront of new models of health care delivery. 
Fall Break Service Trips
This fall break, 116 energized students served and learned with host communities of different cultures in Omaha and nationwide. Student interest exceeded capacity of the newly expanded program, with 160 applicants. Seventeen student coordinators worked for more than a year organizing 12 trips.
The students were educated by Native American elders, immigrant adults learning English, children and Catholic workers in communities including Wind River, Wyo.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Morton, Miss.; Chicago, Ill.; Stroud, Okla.; El Paso, Texas; Rosebud, S.D.; Clinton, Iowa; and Omaha.
Campus Ministry Retreats
We’ve been blessed to have an amazing start to our year in the Campus Ministry retreats program! Below are highlights from our first two retreats for the year:
Fall Adventure, held in the Black Hills of South Dakota, was a huge success with more than 30 participants. Students learned how to find God in all things through active contemplation, guided meditations, star gazing, a prayer service and Mass.
Freshman Retreat was held at the Creighton University Retreat Center in Griswold with almost 90 student participants! The retreat focused on helping Creighton’s newest students and included presentations, activities, sharing and prayer. 
Memorial Service for Lee Lubbers, S.J.
Lee Lubbers, S.J., died on June 27, 2008. However, since he donated his body to the medical school, there has been a bit of a lag in terms of his burial. In true Lubbers form, he has continued the work as an educator of our students even after death. The Jesuit Community recently received news that his remains have been released and are available for burial.
You are invited to attend a memorial service, lunch and burial on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Church. It is good to remember this good and great man once again.
Campaign Update
The fall phonathon, which involves more than 60 Creighton student callers, is under way and has already raised over $400,000 in pledges, pacing ahead of last year. Through the spring semester, our students will contact 50,000 alumni and friends to raise more than $1 million for this year’s scholarship and financial aid budget. The success of the Willing to Lead campaign is the result of many gifts – small, medium and large – all of which are testimony to the affection and respect with which this institution is held. So far, more than 63,000 donors have responded to the campaign and approximately 35,000 are first-time donors, demonstrating a broad base of support for our mission and students. 
As you see, things are very active; there is much going on. One final note of accomplishment: We recently were recognized by the Fulbright Program for our success in preparing students for this prestigious award and as a “best neighbor” in a national ranking for our commitment to the community.
I think it is very important that the Creighton community—all of you—are kept updated on these important happenings that have an impact on the quality of our life on and off the Creighton campus. Stay tuned for the Thanksgiving Special, due out next month. You remain in my thoughts and prayers.
John P. Schlegel, S.J.
President