Best Practices E-Forum

Introduction

In his recent letter to the community President Bienen addressed Northwestern University’s financial position and the challenges that lie ahead in the declining economy.  While Northwestern remains in a relatively strong financial position, greater efficiency in the use of our resources will lead to increased opportunities and flexibility in years to come.

In order to generate ideas on how Northwestern can improve, we look to the university’s greatest resource: YOU, the students, faculty, and staff of Northwestern.

Read the Suggestions

What are your colleagues suggesting? Which suggestions are being implemented?
Read some of the submissions.

Submitting Ideas

You are invited to submit suggestions — from sustainability efforts and operational efficiency to future strategic measures — to help us more fully leverage the resources we receive from student tuition, donors, and other sources.  Specifically, please share your ideas to:

• Improve Quality
• Increase Effectiveness
• Gain Productivity
• Reduce Costs

Submissions will be reviewed by a committee consisting of a cross section of administrators, staff, faculty, and students and delivered to the leaders of relevant departments.

Submit your idea HERE.

Best Practices Forum Blog

The Office of Change Management, in partnership with the Provost and Senior Vice President for Business and Finance, has hosted two Best Practices Forums.  The widely successful forums showcased innovative and valuable practices that have been effectively implemented across the university. More than one hundred participants learned about resolutions to tough challenges and enhancements in wide-ranging topics, for example:  faculty information system, digital portfolios, customer service center, staff development, standardizing administrative roles and responsibilities, faculty on-boarding, and an innovative model for research administration. 

Presentations from the 2009 and 2009 Best Practices Forums are available HERE.  Read the presentation text, ask questions, and share ideas with your peers across the university.