Good afternoon colleagues,
This last week has been exceptionally busy on campus. Last weekend the campus hosted numerous events celebrating the 60th anniversary of the JFK speech at Rice. I want to thank Dean Killian for including me in the celebration and helping me appreciate the magnitude of this important event. I hope you, too, were able to get out and enjoy the exhibit or take part in the Spelfie. Most importantly, I hope you took some time to reflect on President Kennedy’s transformative speech and the role Rice has played in achieving the nation’s goals. I reflected on the future of Rice and Finance and Administration’s (F&A) role supporting that future. I continue to be inspired by what F&A has already accomplished and am ready to begin working with you to plan our future path. Please join me in sharing your ambitions, hopes, and concerns at an upcoming coffee and conversation. I am eager to begin meeting with you all on Monday at our first session. If you can’t meet in the first sessions, I may add a few more in the upcoming weeks. If you only wish to share feedback, you can do so online using these links:
This week was also important, with a regular Board of Trustees meeting. Lots of great work has gone into preparing for the meeting, with many of your team members contributing materials and time throughout the week. The Board is engaged and brings their professional experience to help us achieve our objectives. There were many great conversations in the committee and general board meeting centered around evolutions in our processes and approaches to help us achieve our goals. I shared with the Board my initial goals for the year and am delighted to share them with you. In general, there are three goals for us to work on together:
- Assess organizational structure and roles to determine the best approach for the new F&A organization.
- Build on the foundation of excellence in our previously separate organizations to create the new F&A culture of trust and operational excellence.
- Create a strategic plan focusing on engagement with the team and the campus community to provide high service levels, operational excellence, and trust throughout the F&A organization and the university.
One fun event this past week, which I was genuinely disappointed to miss, was the celebration for our custodial staff from Housing and Dining, Facilities Engineering and Planning, and the BioSciences Research Collaborative. The gathering was during National Housekeepers Week, where the incredible work of our dedicated staff was recognized. We acknowledged their work to make the physical environment on campus so that students, staff, and faculty can do their best work. A photo collage is included below of the many smiling faces from the event. Thank you all who helped make this a success.
One last reminder is that the final on-campus flu shot clinics are scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday, September 19 and 20. Appointments for these clinics are required. You can register using this link. I hope that you consider your health and well-being a top priority, and getting your flu shot is a great way to ensure you stay healthy throughout the season.
Respectfully,
Kelly Fox Vice President for Finance and Administration