January 11, 2007

Briefs

Nominate an Employee of the Year

Northwestern is now accepting nominations for Employee of the Year awards, which recognize a staff member from each campus for outstanding contributions. To complete nominations, go to http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/training/servrec.html#year.

Dronen named SES director

Ann Dronen, associate director of the Student Enterprise System (SES) that provides student information services to the University community, has been named director of SES.

Dronen, who will oversee an associate director and three business analysts, was selected by an 11-member search committee with broad representation from the schools and major administrative units, it was announced by Michael E. Mills, associate provost for university enrollment.

Dronen, who received a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science in 1981, joined Northwestern as associate director of SES in January 2005. She previously served as director of records and technology at DePaul University where she managed a team of 30 to implement PeopleSoft’s Student Administration system and co-directed a 25-member team responsible for the technical aspects of the school’s academic records management in PeopleSoft.

Fed Challenge team wins again

For the third year in a row, Northwestern’s Federal Reserve Challenge team won the national College Federal Reserve Challenge, taking home $25,000 in awards. 

A team of five Northwestern students Nov. 28 presented a mock Federal Reserve Open Market Committee monetary policy meeting to discuss what should be done in reaction to the state of the economy. This was followed by 15 minutes of questions from Federal Reserve economists who were judging the event. 

This year’s team has three members returning from the previous winners — team captain senior Joshua Plavner as well as senior Rosa Li and junior Jeanne Ruan. They are joined by senior Frederick Herrmann and sophomore Joshua Goldstein. The team is advised by Mark Witte, director of undergraduate studies, department of economics, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Mileage rate increased

The Internal Revenue Service announced an increase to the standard mileage rate beginning Jan. 1. As a result, the University’s private mileage reimbursement rate will increase to 48.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven, an increase of four cents from the 44.5 cent rate in effect for 2006, it was announced by University Services.