Feature Story: Summer in Finance & Administration
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IU Police Academy
The IU Police Academy celebrated its 50th class of graduates with a ceremony that honored 22 new police officers who are now licensed to work anywhere in the state of Indiana. Congratulations to our graduates!
| Emily Raye Abbott | Jonathan Karr |
| Emily Rae Anderson | Carlos Mancera |
| Jennifer Buenrostro Figueroa | Zachary Robert Read |
| Kaitlyn Marie Colgate | Roman Lucenko Robic |
| David Conrad Cornett | Israel Isaac Robles |
| Brennan Cox | Anahi Santos |
| William Michael Farrell | Ashlynn Marie Sauerwein |
| Olivia Nichole Feltenberger | William Manley Schmitt |
| Caleb Ferris | Brock William Schulte |
| Ronald Lawrence Fitzgerald | Taylor VanDommelen |
| Anaiz Hernandez | Aaron Scott Worthington |
The two-year law enforcement training program requires coursework in more than 90 topics including federal and state laws, individual rights, investigation procedures, physical tactics, medical aid, and emergency vehicle operations.
Leading up to graduation, the 22 recruits played softball against IU Police Academy alumni. The alumni team continued their winning streak with a score of 20-5. Major Laury Flint, a 1981 graduate of the IU Police Academy, threw the honorable first pitch for the annual event.
The academy also welcomed hundreds of alumni back to Bloomington to celebrate the program’s 50 years. The IU Police Academy is the only program in the nation that allows full-time students to earn a college degree and become a state-certified police officer. Since the program began in 1972, 11,447 officers have graduated with many continuing careers of service at federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Fiscal New Year Cookout
Colleagues from across Finance & Administration gathered in the IMU Solarium to celebrate the completion of Fiscal Year 2023 and to get Fiscal Year 2024 started in style. The weather (and the grill) was hot! Many attendees opted to chill in the air conditioning. Thank you to everyone who attended. We hope you had a great time, and we’ll see you next year!
From the Desk: A Foundation of Finance
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Welcome to the start of the academic year!
The start of the Fall semester always brings excitement with the quickening pace of everything on a campus. The return of students and campus events (including football), remind us, and reinforce for us, the importance of all the preparation we make over the summer when many other industries are experiencing their slow time.
We know that for us, even when there are shorter lines at our favorite establishments and a little less traffic (vehicular and pedestrian) for us to navigate, there is never a slow time. In each of your areas, in very important ways, you have been planning and preparing for the start of another academic year.
The fact that you do this impactful work, year after year, semester after semester, so effectively, so seamlessly, is a testament to your dedication and commitment. Your laser-focused understanding of the relationship between the work that you do and the success of students, faculty, and your colleagues throughout the university is clear.
We, rightfully, herald the accomplishments of our outstanding faculty. We celebrate the successes of our students in the various arenas in which they compete – scholastically and athletically. Today, in these written lines, I recognize and celebrate you! In this, my second year at Indiana University, I am continuing to discover what makes this university so special. With every opportunity that I have to meet new groups and individuals, the character of Indiana University is further revealed.
We have experienced significant change over the last year. More is planned for the coming months as we continue our work to refine the university’s budget model, make improvements in financial reporting and the structures that support it, and continue to build enterprise approaches that leverage best practices. Change is inevitable. It is our challenge to be thoughtful and deliberate with change. I am counting on each of you to help us meet this challenge.
With all the talk of change, however, it is important for us to remember those things that are constants. The values of this institution and the people who comprise it are what have set Indiana University apart within higher education. Those values should not be taken for granted. They remain the bedrock of all our efforts, our north star, our anchor, amid all the exciting possibilities that change will bring.
Yours in IU,
Dwayne
Meet Your Leaders
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"Meet Your Leaders" is a feature that helps Finance & Administration staff get to know senior management. Each individual is asked the same 8 questions. This issue, we're getting to know Don Lukes.
What is your job title and how long have you worked at IU?
My title is Associate Vice President and University Treasurer. I have worked at IU for 9 years.
Where are you from originally and what brought you to IU?
I am originally from just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My family moved to Indiana in 1987 and I went to high school in Valparaiso. I attended IU from 1993-1997 receiving an undergraduate degree in accounting from the Kelley School. I returned to IU to attend grad school, completing my MBA in 2003.
What departments are a part of your unit?
As of July 1, Treasury Operations, Capital Finance, Investments, University Bursar, and Insurance, Loss, Control & Claims (INLOCC).
What does a day in the life of your position consist of?
I would say no two days are exactly alike. First and foremost, I try to spend time with my teams. Most of Treasury is now located at the CIB. I have enjoyed being with them more this year and working together in a more open setup. INLOCC is just across the parking lot, so they are close now too.
On a regular basis, I am monitoring the university’s cash balances and updates to our cash flow forecasting. Our cash flows impact how much working capital can be invested to generate returns for IU. Bursar work around billing and receipt of student payments are IU’s largest cash flow stream. Their work is critical not only to university revenues and cash flows, but their focus on customer service is crucial to the impression students and families have of IU administration.
Capital Finance has a longer-term focus on capital project needs and how new building projects and renovations will be funded. And last but not least, Treasury has two areas with a safety focus.
Treasury Operations performs functions to ensure every IU customer’s personal information is safe when they make payments to IU.
INLOCC performs inspections on buildings and equipment that help ensure the safety of all IU students, faculty, and staff.
What is your favorite thing about your position?
The people I get to work and interact with on a regular basis. Treasury has a collaborative culture and engaged teams, and I feel very lucky to be able to lead a group that strives to make IU better everyday.
What upcoming initiatives or projects are you most excited about?
Treasury just completed its strategic planning for Fiscal Year 2024. Each team has several exciting and important projects this year. The projects will have differing impacts, several focus on modernization of processes to gain efficiencies and reduce cost. Others, such as the implementation of the new Tuition and Student Fee structure by Bursar, will have a direct positive impact on students.
What shows or podcasts are you streaming when you're "off the clock?"
When I am “off the clock,” I am either watching one of my kids play sports or I am watching baseball. I am a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. I watch almost every game and have been a season ticket holder since 2004. My wife, Cindy, is an avid Detroit Tigers fan…so we have 2 TVs in our living room so we can both watch our games.
I spend as much time as possible with my kids. Steven is a sophomore at Purdue (I know) and Nate is a sophomore at Bloomington South. I have 2 stepchildren, Anderson, and Mackenzie, who are both in high school, as well. Family life is busy!
What's one fact about you that would surprise everyone?
In the baseball offseason I catch up on a few shows, mainly on Bravo. My favorites are Below Deck Sailing Yacht and Vanderpump Rules.
Thank you, Don, for sharing a bit about yourself with the rest of the division!
Department Updates
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Budget, Finance, and Strategic Planning
Sam Adams, Associate Vice President for Budget, Finance, and Strategic Planning will be accepting a new opportunity outside of Indiana University. His dedication to IU and to all our constituents is immeasurable and positive outcomes from his excellent work will benefit the university for many years to come. Congratulations to Sam, his wife, Kelly, and their family. They will always remain members of the IU team.
Budget
The University Budget Office team celebrated “Budget Load Day” with their traditional Hawaiian gathering. Kudos to the entire team for this huge accomplishment! We also had a special guest return from retirement to oversee the process… can you spot him? Thank you, Gary Palmer, for ensuring everything went smoothly!
The University Budget Office hosted an IU Budget Redesign workshop at IUPUI on July 12 and 13. Over the course of the two day workshop, representatives from IU Bloomington, Indianapolis, School of Medicine, and the regional campuses shared their current budget models and brainstormed future budget system needs, resource allocation methodologies, campus/RC financial modeling capabilities, and more.
Finance Shared Services
The Finance Shared Services team celebrated their annual business meeting luncheon on Friday, July 21, at the IMU Tudor Room. This newly-created group includes finance & administration staff from most University Administration divisions.
Employee Services, Training, & Communication (ESTC)
Employee Services
IUHR is looking for Wellness Ambassadors! Wellness Ambassadors serve as liaisons between university-wide health and wellness information and their department. This volunteer opportunity is open to everyone - it is not necessary to have a HR role or background.
If you're interested in being a Wellness Ambassador for your department, visit Healthy IU's Wellness Ambassadors page and review the How to Sign Up menu. Please submit your application before October 1.
Training & Communication
August saw the culmination of many months of work for Juliet Roberts. Earlier this month, Juliet launched a plethora of resources to support department staff through the non-employee travel process. Visit this news story to learn more about these amazing new resources!
The other key player in the non-employee travel saga is Luc Sinex. Working off Juliet’s page mockup, Luc used a design tool called Figma to create a quick, realistic example of the proposed designs of the new pages. This allowed the Travel Management Services team to see the proposed pages and provide constructive feedback without the hassle and time of coding full pages.
Angus Burke has been busy as well! This summer, Angus led his first solo Spotlight on Supplier Diversity interview. Angus hosted the interview while Supplier Diversity and Capital Planning & Facilities staff interviewed John Thompson, a pillar of entrepreneurship in Indianapolis. Not only did he host the interview, but he also edited and published it which is no small feat. Click here to view the interview in Kaltura.
P-Card Essentials training launched on July 17. So far, 513 faculty and staff have completed the course. On the feedback survey, 91% of participants state they would recommend the course to a colleague. This online training must be completed by P-Card holders by January 15, 2024, however the course is open to anyone who wants to learn the ins and outs of P-Cards at IU. The course video playlist is available in Kaltura. Check it out!
IU Public Safety
IU Public Safety’s focus on community engagement was on full display this summer as members of the team joined events on and off our campuses around the state.
IU Police Department
IUPD officers at IU Kokomo held a National Night Out event at Taylor Elementary School where local kids and families could connect with officers for an evening of fun. At IU Bloomington, students who attended the Sex, Drugs, and Rock-n-Roll welcome event learned about the importance of driving sober by wearing fatal vision goggles while driving a golf cart. At IU Southeast, officers kicked off welcome week by gathering with students and offering donuts and s’mores.
Emergency Management and Continuity
The Emergency Management and Continuity team partnered with Residential Programs and Services and the Bloomington Fire Department to train staff on fire safety. The annual Great Escape program taught nearly 300 Residential Programs and Services staff on the Bloomington campus how to prepare and respond to a fire emergency.
The Emergency Management and Continuity team also welcomed Amanda Roach as its new University Director for Emergency Management and Continuity. Prior to joining IU Public Safety, she was Executive Director of Media Relations and Editorial Content in University Communications and Marketing. Throughout Amanda’s nearly six years at IU, she’s played an essential role in crisis communications and emergency preparedness. She also worked for 11 years at IU Health Bloomington where she led media relations, crisis communications, various marketing efforts and served as a key member of the organization’s emergency preparedness committee.
Office of the University Controller (UCO)
Crimson Card
Brent Robins joined UCO in June as a Senior Accountant in the Crimson Card Division. He has twelve years of accounting experience and is a licensed CPA in Virginia. Brent has a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's from the University of Texas-Austin. He is originally from the Toledo, Ohio area but has lived in various places in the US and overseas. Brent currently lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In his free time, Brent enjoys international travel, reading, movies, and various forms of exercise.
Capital Asset Management
The Financial Admin Coordinator position has been filled by Bethany Phillips. In this role, Bethany will be responsible for all aspects of the capital asset inventory for UITS. She previously worked for UCO (when it was called FMS) for 24 years in Records Management and is delighted to return to work with her IU family.
Bethany loves spending time with her dog, Ollie, friends, and family. She likes to travel, almost anywhere and if there’s adventure involved, she is there. She also loves to read, cook and all things IU basketball. Bethany couldn’t be more excited to be back and very thankful for this new opportunity.
External Financial Reporting
Congratulations to Troy McAlister on his promotion to Associate Director, Financial Reporting & Analytics. As a member of External Financial Reporting, Troy will be primarily responsible for overseeing, reviewing, and analyzing significant financial statement transactions and variances, and developing new reporting to aid in ongoing monitoring of the accuracy of the university’s financial statement activity.
Troy is a graduate of the University of Evansville, Schroeder School of Business, where he holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, where he holds a Master of Science in Accounting. Troy is also a licensed CPA. He has experience in public accounting, at Deloitte & Touche, LLP, with an emphasis on Audit, and since October 2021 served as the Reporting & Chart of Accounts Manager/Senior Consultant within University Accounting & Reporting Services.
Troy enjoys spending his time outdoors biking or shooting hoops with friends, coaching high school basketball and baseball, and gardening. He also enjoys advocating for higher education through board and volunteer work with the University of Evansville, IUAA, and the Indiana CPA Society. Please congratulate Troy on his new opportunity!
University Accounting & Reporting Services (UARS)
Congratulations to Jimmy Mayberry on his recent promotion to Staff Accountant in University Accounting & Reporting Services. Jimmy started as an Accounting Fellow in May. Prior to joining IU, he served as Staff Accountant at Archer-Daniels Midland where he worked in corporate intercompany and inventory. Jimmy’s hobbies include hiking, running, and baking. He also enjoys periodically catching a rerun of his favorite sitcom, Seinfeld.
Office of the Treasurer
Treasury Operations
Treasury Operations is deep into working on their strategic goals for Fiscal Year 2024.
University Bursar
University Bursar and the University Budget Office celebrated the year-long process of reforming IU’s fee structure with the loading of the fees on Monday, July 24 to the Peoplesoft Student Information System (SIS) for the upcoming Fall term. The multi-office and multi-campus collaboration simplified the fee structure, reduced the current academic fee list by half, and should result in a reduction for most students, saving the student body $14.5 million.
Procurement Services
Procurement Services is on the move! Earlier this summer, Purchasing and Supplier Diversity staff in Indianapolis packed up their current space and are awaiting a new office location. Staff are working from home while a new office is established.
In Bloomington, Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Supplier Data Management, and Travel Management Services are headed to the second floor of the Cyberinfrastructure Building (CIB). Technology and furniture will move the week of September 11, and staff plan to work their first day in the new space on September 18.
Accounts Payable (AP) and Supplier Data Management (SDM)
In July, the Accounts Payable and Supplier Data Management teams went on a full day retreat to focus on customer service, communication, and team building. It was a full day which included discussion, interactive exercises, and a team competition. Enjoy some pictures of the day.
