MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT/CFO

Message from the Vice President/CFO

Dear ABA Staff Professional,

As the fall semester begins to wind down, I would like to acknowledge all of the changes the ABA family has been a part of this year. I am sure many of you may be experiencing changes in management or a period of uncertainty in leadership. Each person experiences change differently; some embrace it, while others feel doubt, or attempt to ignore it. Ultimately, it is imperative as an organization that we acknowledge the changes to our family this far, and anticipate those that may come in the future. How we manage change as an organization is directly linked to our success in accomplishing our strategic goals and fulfilling our initiatives.

However, before we completely understand the organizational changes, we must cope at an individual level. Remember to have conversations with your managers and supervisors about how you best respond to change. Let them know what transitions you might need, or desire, in order to make the changes more organic and less resistive. Embrace new opportunities to learn new tasks and roles as a way to grow professionally. Understand that in any organization, change is inevitable and how each member reacts to it will influence the overall outcome.

As an organization we can use this time to come together and focus on quality improvements for our work processes and offices. Quality improvement is a priority for ABA, as outlined in the ABA strategic plan. A culture of continuous improvement is something that ABA would like to focus on, and leadership will rely on their team members to champion some of those improvements. It is team members who understand and utilize processes the most and as a result are insightful to the ways in which those processes can be improved.

Even though changes are occurring all around us, I am consistently reminded of how resilient ABA staff are. I hear on a daily basis of ABA staff members who are picking up the baton and going above and beyond their duties. Here are some highlights of what our ABA families have accomplished over the last several months.

• The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) named Sacramento State a top performer in their 2016 Sustainable Campus Index. Sac State earned a STARS Gold Rating, the highest in the CSU system for its sustainability efforts such as: closed-loop project for food waste and clean fuel for the Hornet Shuttles, LEED-certified design of the American River Courtyard and the WELL, Sustainable Technology Optimization Research Center, aquaponics initiative, propane tank-refueling program and a pharmaceutical take-back program.
• The Vice President’s Office worked in collaboration with the CSU Chancellor’s Office, the UC Office of the President, and the Community College Foundation to host the annual 2016 California Public Higher Education Collaborative Business Conference at Sacramento State. The event was a great success.
• The Vice President’s Office, in collaboration with International Programs and Global Engagement, co-hosted a group from Fuzhou University, China. The delegation was specifically interested in sustainability efforts on our campus, and the Administration and Business Affairs division. Several ABA managers and directors presented and the visit was received well by the participants.
• Facilities Management coordinated the re-surfacing of the baseball field. The grass used for baseball fields is extremely unique and has to be special ordered. Because Sacramento State continues to be a leader in sustainability, the replaced baseball field grass was reused by the intermural fields nearby.
• Facilities Management partnered with the IRT Learning Space Services and IRT Telecom and Networking teams to renovate 25 classrooms, transforming them into Intermediate Smart Media or hybrid type designs. You might be wondering, what makes a classroom smart? These classrooms now include whiteboards, rather than chalk, laser projectors, smart podiums with laptop connections, as well as document cameras, new screens, and speakers. Aesthetically, the rooms had paint touch ups and blinds replaced or installed as well.
• A campus-wide effort was made to host the US Junior Olympic National Championships on July 26 and 27, 2016. Specifically, our ABA families, the Hornet Ticket Office and Facilities Management, acted behind the scenes to ensure the success of the event. Thank you for your effort, and ensuring ABA’s commitment to campus community events.
• Various ABA families hosted the following events: Financial Services hosted two Business Partners Roundtables on August 9 and October 28, 2016 and Public Safety hosted Coffee with Cops at the WELL on September 14.
• In relation to the campus commitment to Finish in Four, the Bursar’s Office contributed to the decreased number of students canceled in the third and fourth weeks of the term. Their strategies included: delaying cancellations, adding text and email alerts and working closely with the Financial Aid Office. As a result, the number of cancellations was reduced by nearly 80%, when compared to a three-year average.

I believe that the common bond that unites us is our shared goal of a successful campus and our role in student success. I value and appreciate each of your efforts to focus on improvements and meet the demands of our division, even in these times of change.