Communication is key for Facilities

Pifer

by Richard Pifer

he staff of University Facilities and Services pride ourselves on the role we play in helping faculty, students, and staff achieve the goals that they have set for themselves and for the institution.

Our major responsibilities include operation and maintenance of most University buildings, management of construction and renovation projects, provision of steam and chilled water, maintenance of campus utility infrastructure, campus security, parking and transportation, and mail services.

It's a support role that is driven by the programmatic needs of the University. Facilities and Services exists to support the University's missions of teaching, research, and service.

To do that well, we rely on communication between program leaders, who set the goals for their departments, and our office.

Our University has an enviable record of communication and cooperation between the academic, clinical, and administrative units of the University and support offices, such as Facilities and Services. It's a crucial factor in the University's success, and we are committed to making sure it continues.

Our immediate goal always has been, and will continue to be, outstanding customer service in all areas. All of our 800-plus employees are encouraged to demonstrate initiative, use good judgment, and "do what is right for the University." Feedback is important, please share your comments--good or bad--with the Customer Service Center or our supervisory staff in your area.

On a more strategic level, we are working on a communication plan to share information, which we think will help current and future planners as they guide the University into the 21st century.

We will continue with our Facility Condition Assessment Program, focusing on building and central plant infrastructure.

We will examine the current capabilities and limitations of the buildings and evaluate their potential to support new or more dynamic programs.

That information will assist in developing an improved preventive maintenance program, establishing priorities for deferred maintenance, and providing a foundation for answers to future questions about how--and at what cost--those buildings can meet the strategic goals of the programs that occupy them.

One of our great challenges currently is meeting the additional support requirements generated by University program and activity growth. As a University, we must balance our appetite for growth with our ability to build new facilities while adequately providing resources to maintain existing facilities.

Of all the challenges our department can face, this is the "best kind" of problem to have, and it's one that I'm confident we will solve together through our tradition of communicating, cooperating, and caring about the future of the institution.

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Richard Pifer is director of University Facilities and Services.

This column is one of an occasional series on administrative issues at the University.

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