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Business Excellence Community of Practice

Newsletter | January 2024

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Welcome to the first edition of 2024!

We hope your winter break was an enjoyable one and that your start to this new year has been rewarding and exciting!

We're excited to share with you that BECOP 2024 will be supported and sponsored by the Academic Affairs Center for Operational Excellence in collaboration with our colleagues from Information Technology Services and our partners in the Office of Operational Strategic Initiatives, Division of Extended Studies, and Transformational Healthcare Team.

Traditionally, BECOP relied on board members for two-year terms, but we understand that today's limitations and busy schedules require a more flexible approach. BECOP recognizes the evolving needs of both our community and our volunteers and as such, we are piloting a new collective stewardship model with our partners for 2024. 

This collective stewardship will leverage essential support from COE for organizational and technical needs, remaining committed to core event support, fostering connections and disseminating key information to our BECOP members in the areas of process improvement, project management and change management. 

We look to the UC San Diego BECOP community for volunteers who can assist for a single BECOP session with no long-term commitment. The stewardship will arrange for topics & speakers while our volunteers will help produce and host a session. Contact us and we'll get the conversation started!

Stay tuned for the session schedule and further details about engagement opportunities!

As I reflect on my year as Chair of BECOP, a wave of emotions washes over me. Pride in our community's resilience, gratitude for the community support, and excitement for the vibrant future ahead. Like many facets of life, BECOP hasn't been immune to shifts in the higher education landscape coming out on the other side of COVID. Yet, amidst the change, one constant has remained – the engagement of our passionate board, campus partners, and community members.

BECOP wouldn't be possible without the incredible support of our board members. Their dedication, expertise, and commitment have been the bedrock of our success. Saying thank you simply doesn't cut it. You are the true heart of BECOP. And to our community members – your appetite for business excellence and your willingness to collaborate, participate in our events, share knowledge and support one another – these are the driving forces that propel us forward.

BECOP is more than just a network of professionals; it's a vibrant ecosystem of shared passion, continuous improvement and learning, and unparalleled dedication to business excellence. I am honored to have been part of this journey, and I can't wait to witness the incredible things this community will achieve in the years to come.

With immense gratitude and boundless optimism,

Loralyn Cross, LSSBB

The 2024 Annual Conference Committee invites you to submit a proposal for the 2024 NCCI Annual Conference, “Reflect, Connect, Transform: Celebrating 25 Years of NCCI,” July 24–26 in Rancho Mirage, California. The conference's community-generated program will showcase the many ways that we have advanced change and innovation in higher education.  

This year, NCCI is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and you won't want to miss the opportunity to connect with fellow change leaders and learn actionable strategies to help your campus thrive. Whether you are a first-time submitter or a veteran presenter, we welcome your submission!  

Submissions open through January 25, 2024.

Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST

Registration Cost: FREE

A new and unique webinar to get you excited for Process Palooza 2024! 

This stand-alone webinar, taking place on March 26, 2024, will host an engaging discussion around the intersection of Process Improvement and Artificial Intelligence and the impacts on productivity, quality and satisfaction.

IBM Master Inventor and United Nations (UN) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisor Neil Sahota will serve as the keynote speaker. Neil will highlight some real examples where AI and a continuous improvement mindset converge to produce positive impacts on workforce development and beyond.

Stephen Yorkstone, founder and chair of Lean in Higher Education, will moderate a panel discussion showcasing how UC San Diego leaders are applying innovative AI solutions to not only improve processes but to enhance productivity, quality and satisfaction. The panel will also host a Q&A session to answer your burning questions about process improvement and AI/automation.

We guarantee this webinar will stimulate minds and generate conversations that will carry into Process Palooza 2024!