The Bentley Buzz

The two-day inauguration of President Chrite as the ninth president in Bentley history is less than a week away! On April 5 and 6, the Bentley community will come together to celebrate this special time for our community. Be sure to take part in the celebration by attending the events below! 

Tuesday, April 5

Armchair Conversation with President Chrite and Marcelo Claure ’93
2:00 to 3:15 p.m.
Koumantzelis Auditorium, Lindsay Hall

President Chrite will discuss with the entrepreneur and investor the current state of the business world, the trajectory business leaders expect for the decade ahead, the emerging technologies and innovations that will soon define how businesses operate, and why the future of business is good business. Won't be on campus this day? Watch the livestream below! 

Watch the Livestream

Wednesday, April 6

Installation Ceremony
2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
The Bentley Arena

Join Chair of the Board of Trustees J. Paul Condrin ’83, P ’19 ’22 and members of the Bentley community as we formally inaugurate Dr. E. LaBrent Chrite as the university's ninth president. Following the ceremony, all guests are invited to attend a community reception. Won't be on campus this day? Watch the livestream below! 

Watch the Livestream

Keynote Speakers

Michael L. Lomax, PhD
Chief Executive Officer and President, UNCF (United Negro College Fund)

Debora Spar, PhD
Jaime and Josefina Chua Tiampo Professor of Business Administration, Senior Associate Dean, Business and Global Society, Harvard Business School | Trustee, Bentley University

B. Joseph White, PhD
President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois

On March 24, 1,819 donors participated in Falcons Forward to set records for Bentley's biggest-ever day of giving, unlocking $150,000 from trustee Brian Zino ’74 and Bill ’88, MST ’90 and Christine (Marudzinski) ’90 Speciale. In total, $483,000 was raised by the Bentley community, with donations going to a number of funds including the Bentley Fund and student scholarships to name a few. 313 faculty and staff participated in Falcons Forward, surpassing President Chrite's goal of reaching 250 faculty and staff donors.

Congratulations to University Advancement for leading this impressive initiative and for helping achieve this noteworthy milestone in Bentley's history! 

See the Donation Results

University Police is dedicated to keeping campus safe for all members of the Bentley community. From fostering community engagement by connecting with students, faculty and staff throughout the semester to managing traffic details during Falcon home games and major events, University Police officers and staff are familiar faces across campus.

In keeping with their commitment to support all initiatives within the Bentley community, the department is doing its part to help reduce Bentley’s carbon footprint and promote sustainability. This summer, the department will add its first hybrid police cruiser to the fleet and over the course of the next few years, will convert all cruisers on campus to hybrid.

“Transitioning to a fleet of hybrid electric vehicles will help us to save more than 1,000 gallons of fuel per vehicle each year,” said Chief Frank Bourgeois. “It’s especially important that we make the switch to hybrid, because the manner of our vehicle usage has us idling about 60% of the time as officers fill out police reports or keep an eye on vehicle/pedestrian traffic. With the new hybrid electric vehicles, all of our idling time will now be fully electric.”
 

In addition to the positive impact on the environment, the shift to hybrid cruisers has a significant financial benefit, with an estimated $3,000 in avoided fuel purchases per vehicle each year.

But bringing hybrid cruisers to campus isn’t the only way that University Police is supporting sustainability at Bentley. Recently, Lieutenant David Wade led an initiative to digitalize the department’s scheduling procedures and daily vehicle inspection process, resulting in 15,000 sheets of paper saved each year.

“Lieutenant Wade’s work to onboard a new digital software for our department not only streamlined our efficiency, but also made sure we are doing our part to help the university meet our sustainability goals,” shared Chief Bourgeois. “I’m thankful for his leadership on this project, and I am glad that we can help support the Office of Sustainability and the great work they do. Sustainability can’t be the responsibility of just one office on campus, it takes all of our efforts.”

Did you know that Bentley partners with career coach Mike Fitzgerald to offer one-on-one career coaching sessions to faculty and staff? Mike has more than 20 years of experience working with senior-level business leaders in many industries. In his one-hour sessions, Mike discusses with Bentley employees their career goals in a confidential environment.

Throughout the pandemic, employees across the country have decided to look for new jobs or consider a career change. Some have found success while others regret making the change. At Bentley, some returned to their roles after exploring new opportunities, while others had unfortunately had their previous positions filled. When it comes to a job or career change, is the grass always greener? Mike shared with the Buzz some helpful insights based on what he’s seen.

By Mike Fitzgerald

As a career coach, I encourage people to be aware of their options, even if they don’t feel a need to explore them at that time. There are times when it is right to make a move — whether to another department, a different role or another organization. The key thing is to take the time to discern before you decide. While making a move at the right time can sometimes be a great idea, some people learn that moving was a preventable mistake -- and one they regret. 

When thinking of staying put or seeking a new opportunity, here are a couple things to consider:

• Give serious thought to why you are looking. If you are reacting (or over-reacting) to a bad day or one upsetting experience, wait a few days and talk to someone you trust before deciding. Some things that seem like big deals at first can seem like small matters after a bit of time or a good, honest conversation.
   
• If you are making assumptions about your current situation such as “There is no way for me to grow here” or “I never feel appreciated,” you may be misreading the situation. A conversation with a boss, colleague or member of the HR team might help you understand if you have good reason to think that way or there is another perspective worth considering. 

When it comes to the workplace, sometimes the grass is greener on the other side, and sometimes it is not. Before any decision, it's important to think things through, gather some facts, and make sure you are driven by positive motivation and not fear or desperation.

Want to talk more about your career growth? If you’d like to connect, my appointments are open below.

Schedule an Appointment

The Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center invites you to attend its speaker series, "Organizations Serving the Greater Good." The dynamic speaker series has been organized by the student leaders in the center's nonprofit committee and features speakers from a variety of organizations working for the greater good and building civic programs for deepened social change. If you haven't attended a talk this week, be sure to check out a session next week!

Learn More and access the Zoom Details