As the RQT Turns

by Zach Luther

Another RQT term is up, and a new team has assembled to take over the responsibility of promoting recognition in Financial Management. Unlike past teams who served for 18 months, this new group will serve a 12 month term with a two month extension to train the following team. This change came out of the results of the RQT survey, which suggested that an 18-month term was too long, and that it would be beneficial for the RQT to receive an infusion of “new blood” more frequently. Based upon this feedback, the previous team decided to shorten the term length for future teams, and this new team will be the first under the new system.

The new team members are Mai Lin Chua (SFS), Lauren Collins (GCA), Celia Durham (Payables Admin), Lisa Edlin (Treasury), Zach Luther (FM Administration), Lisa Scheyer (Payroll), JR Sloan (Payroll), and Kiet Tran (GCA). The team will be facilitated by Suzette Ashby-Larrabee (MAA). Laura Lai (Treasury) and Ruchi Aggarwal (MAA) will stay on for two months as leader and facilitator respectively, to teach the new team how the RQT works. The new team members are very excited about their roles, and bring a lot of enthusiasm and new ideas to the process.

In the short time the new team has been active, they have begun promoting the BRAVO award (a brainchild of the previous team), and have orchestrated multiple formal award ceremonies. They’ve also been meeting frequently with previous team members in an effort to benefit from their ideas about marketing, communications, the Person-to-Person Breakfast, and other issues. The team has a number of projects in the works, so expect to hear about more new developments in the near future.

The new team is receiving a terrific number of formal award nominations. It’s a tribute to the hard work and extra effort people put in, and proof that people notice when they receive high-quality assistance. One of the projects the new team is working on is redesigning the nomination forms for the TOPS, LINQ and QSTEP awards. The content and requirements of the awards will not change, but the forms will be laid out in a new format that will make them easier and more intuitive to fill out. Once completed, the improved forms should make it more convenient than ever to nominate someone.

The RQT website has changed along with the team, and now offers a new layout, RQT meeting minutes for those who like to keep informed, and an improved system for viewing award photos. The site is updated after every meeting and every formal award, so there’s always something new to see. Visit it online at www.washington.edu/admin/finmgmt/qi/rqtnew/.

Your RQT representative is always willing to talk to you about the program, and answer any questions you have about recognition. Feel free to stop by his or her desk, or drop your rep a line at any time!