Category: OE Updates
OE Update — 3/14/2025
Good afternoon, I am delighted to announce the launch of the OE team’s newest project: Student Testing Accommodations. The growing number of students with testing accommodation needs, combined with a rise in the frequency of tests being administered each semester, presents an opportunity for Carolina to strengthen its student support … Read more
OE Update — 3/7/2025
Good afternoon, At Operational Excellence, we believe students are not only at the heart of our work at Carolina but also valuable partners in driving meaningful change. Today, we are highlighting the impact of student engagement on our team, specifically through our student assistant program. Since spring 2023, student assistants … Read more
OE Update — 2/28/2025
Good afternoon, This month, OE is excited to spotlight Ken Pittman, the executive director of Campus Health at Carolina. With over a decade in higher education health services, Ken is dedicated to student wellness. In this feature, he shares insights about his background in public health, his transformative experiences at … Read more
OE Update — 2/21/2025
Good afternoon, Today, I want to highlight Operational Excellence’s Guiding Principles. These principles are the foundation for how the OE team approaches opportunities for operational improvement. At the heart of our process is a commitment to engaging the entire Carolina community in a way that is structured, transparent and inclusive. … Read more
OE Update — 2/14/2025
Good afternoon, Last week, UNC-Chapel Hill hosted the NCCI Organizational Effectiveness Institute. The event brought together 37 participants from 22 institutions across the country for an immersive and collaborative experience focused on organizational effectiveness and excellence in higher education. Chancellor Lee H. Roberts opened the event with remarks highlighting the critical role of change and … Read more
OE Update — 1/31/2025
Good afternoon, Last August, we announced our partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) on the CAS HR Navigator Project. Led by Dr. Evan Widney, the CAS embedded transformation manager, this project focused on developing meaningful resources to improve operational transparency and enhance HR process clarity, expediency and … Read more
OE Update — 1/24/2025
Good afternoon, Last September, we announced OE’s collaboration with The Graduate School, Student Affairs and Enrollment to support the development and sustainment of credit-bearing certificate programs at Carolina. Building on past efforts, this project defined campus services for non-degree students in graduate credit-bearing certificates to ensure student success and encourage … Read more
OE Update — 1/17/2025
Good afternoon, As we welcome students back to campus, I am delighted to announce OE’s support for the recent release of the *NEW* Student Center in ConnectCarolina. This project, led by the Division of Enrollment, the College of Arts and Sciences and Information Technology Services Enterprise Applications, aims to bring … Read more
OE Update — 12/13/2024
Good afternoon, The holiday season is officially here and as we prepare to begin a new year, it is great to look back and celebrate our success. I am excited to share our annual report for 2024, acknowledging the noteworthy successes and partnerships that have played a pivotal role in … Read more
OE Update — 12/6/2024
Good afternoon, In October, we announced the launch of the Operational Excellence Space Optimization project. Over the past few months, Senior Transformation Manager Georgia McRae collaborated with campus leaders and the design team to address the question of defining optimal space use on campus. The design team aimed to gain a clearer … Read more
OE Update — 11/22/2024
Good afternoon, This month, OE is highlighting Jeff Post in our campus partner spotlight. Jeff manages the building operations for Kenan-Flagler Business School and recently partnered with OE as a design team member, playing an integral role in the space optimization project. Here, Jeff shares a little about his background … Read more
OE Update — 11/8/2024
Good afternoon, In May, Operational Excellence provided an update on the New Student Registration Experience project, a joint effort with the Division of Enrollment, the College of Arts and Sciences and Student Affairs. This project aimed to equip incoming first-year students with the knowledge and resources needed to confidently navigate … Read more
OE Update — 11/1/2024
Good afternoon, I am excited to highlight the story featured in this Wednesday’s The Well newsletter: “Operational Excellence Runs on Research.” The story shares how OE employs the Action Research model as a fundamental framework for continuous improvement. Through a cycle of planning, acting, observing and reflecting, OE works with … Read more
OE Update — 10/25/2024
Good afternoon, This month, OE is highlighting Nikkia Sheppard Lynch in our campus partner spotlight. Nikkia is the executive director of academic finance in the University’s Budget and Data Analysis office, serving as the liaison between Finance and Operations, central administrative units and schools. Nikkia most recently partnered with OE … Read more
OE Update — 10/18/2024
Good afternoon, I am pleased to announce the launch of the OE team’s newest project: Space Optimization. The space optimization project is the second phase of our space management initiative and will focus on continuous improvement of space usage at Carolina. With the introduction of hybrid work, space usage has … Read more
OE Update — 10/4/2024
Good afternoon, In the world of higher education, collaboration and thought partnership often serve as the cornerstone of success. This spirit inspired the OE team’s recent visit to two highly regarded institutions: Georgia Institute of Technology and Clemson University. Led by Sonia Alvarez-Robinson, Ph.D., the team at Georgia Tech welcomed … Read more
OE Update — 9/27/2024
Good afternoon, This month, OE is highlighting Cliff Jones ‘11 in our campus partner spotlight. Cliff serves as senior assistant dean with UNC Advising, guiding students in discovering connections between their interests and their educational or professional journeys. He recently partnered with OE as a design team member, playing an … Read more
OE Update — 9/20/2024
Good afternoon, I am delighted to announce the launch of OE’s newest project: Credit Bearing Certificates – Campus Services. Building on the work completed during our Credit Bearing Certificates project, we’re focusing our efforts on clarifying campus services for non-degree students in graduate credit-bearing certificates to support growth, ensure student … Read more
OE Update — 9/6/24
Good afternoon, Yesterday, two dozen of your colleagues headed to the Quad. Not to sunbathe, but to attend an Operational Excellence training. Senior Transformation Manager Georgia McRae and Transformation Manager Nick Sengstaken delivered our Lean Foundations training. Lean Foundations is the first training in our three-part training series, the others … Read more
OE Update — 8/30/2024
Good afternoon, I am delighted to announce one of the OE Team’s newest projects: The College of Arts and Sciences HR Navigator Project. This initiative, led by our embedded transformation manager, Evan Widney, aims to enhance HR process clarity, expediency, and accessibility within the College by developing meaningful resources and … Read more