The old saying goes, "a new broom sweeps cleaner, but the old broom knows where all of the dirt is."

Recent changes in the structure of the Advancement Department of NCSA, are giving what some consider a much needed face lift to the school's main fund-raising mechanism. For others, the changes are raising concerns.

The Advancment Department includes the Offices of Development, Public Relations, Alumni, and the Foundation.

According to sources close to the Advancement Department, two people were "riffed" (a reduction of force) in Public Relations, and four others in Development. Additionally, two administrators resigned and one retired from Development. The reduction in staff was accompanied by the transfer of Career Services from Advancement to the Office of the Chief Academic Officer, and the search for a new Vice Chancellor of Advancement, Development Director, and Major Gifts Officer, to name a few.

The issue of how the school raises money is truly sensitive. For their opinions on a Department which relies heavily on accountability, few people within the NCSA community are willing to be held publicly accountable.

One such anonymous person contacted the Gazette directly to question whether or not the goal for fund-raising would be met and how much of the funds raised would go to create new scholarships.

Another nameless person, concerned about the retirement of Sarah Turner, one of Development's longest staff member who, according to colleagues knows just about everyone in Winston-Salem, wondered who would fill in the gap to insure the school maintains its strong connection to loyal, local donors.

The answer to the anonymous skeptics' concerns might be found in the recent appointment of John Mauceri as Chancellor of the school.

Vanessa Butler, who worked with Chancellor Mauceri to create the brand of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, is now the Senior Director for Communication, Marketing, and Development. According to her, the recent changes in the Advancement Department were to consolidate the separate silos within the division, converting it into a whole office where each part of it can become more collaborative.

Is this a common practice towards re-shaping, in order to address issues, as one sees on a national scale?

It is not only Butler who sees the potential in developing the concept of one school, under the guidance of an artist as Chancellor, to improve communication, create opportunities, and consolidate resources. George Burnette, Interim Chief Operating Officer, Lee Thompson, Director of Marketing and New Business Development, and Marla Carpenter, Associate Director/News Bureau, are speaking the same language.

Burnette is working with Financial Aid to research incoming and existing scholarships and discover if any limitations are applied to them. According to Burnette, "scholarships without a limit, give Financial Aid the flexibility to craft the best package customized to students with the most need." He is also initiating a program, in coordination with I.T., to help teach the financial people from each division of the school how to read their budget analysis and access their foundation accounts over the internet "in real time." This brings them one step closer, "to manage their foundation and state funds."

Thompson sees that "a more streamlined teamŠcan work more closely together" on focused activities such as upgrading "corporate sponsorship, the design of the school's website, and a new logo." Carpenter acknowledged that Public Relations is "here for the students" and focused on getting "people involved in the school both emotionally and financially" giving them the opportunity to "fall in love with it (the school), just like we did!"

For the time being, all doubts and questions are waiting to see results, and according to Butler, "the Chancellor is here to stay."

Its time to take the new broom out of the closet and put it to good use.

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