I am pleased to introduce the inaugural issue of the Administration and Finance Newsletter. It is the first of what I hope to be an informative and interesting communication vehicle for our Executive Area. This newsletter is an attempt to create a greater sense of community within our organization. The idea for it developed as a result of your comments and suggestions. One aspect of our quality initiative is to listen to our customers - those we serve. For me and the other senior administrative staff, we view our responsibility as being responsive to both our external customers and you, our employees.

It is sometimes easy to lose sight of the breadth and comprehensiveness of our organization. In many ways we are the lifeblood and glue which hold this campus together. Our letterhead, which lists our major organizational units, is a testament to that fact. Our nearly 1,300 employees interact daily with a broad spectrum of the campus, from serving 10,000 students daily in our dining halls, cleaning and maintaining 280 buildings with close to 10,000,000 square feet of space and 1,450 acres of land, issuing an average of 13,000 checks weekly, processing thousands of purchase orders, accounting for more than $450 million dollars of expenditures and a whole host of other important and necessary tasks - we make this place tick. We have a lot to feel good about while at the same time realizing that we still face significant challenges in the future.

One of our first tasks about a year and a half ago was to develop a concise mission statement for A&F. The purpose of a mission statement is to clearly define the objectives of an organization - what we do, who we serve, what are our responsibilities. Another important aspect of organizational development is to set forth a vision of ourselves for the future. Dynamic organizations continually strive to achieve increased excellence in whatever they do. Lastly, at the core of any organization are a set of values which guide all of its activities and provide the framework within which its actions are judged.

Our mission, vision and values are included in this newsletter. I urge you to read them carefully and strive to reflect on them often as you go about your day-to-day business.

The strength of Administration and Finance is its employees. I am proud and pleased to be associated with such a fine group.

I would like to express special thanks to Jake Bishop, Ted Davis, Kathy Gallivan, Cindy Hamel, Paul Meade, Meredith Schmidt, Earl Smith, Sam Welson and Ruth Yanka for their efforts in bringing this newsletter to fruition.

Mission Statement: The mission of Administration and Finance is to assist the Amherst Campus in the effective and efficient management, maintenance, and enhancement of its resources, in order to facilitate the overall institutional mission of instruction, research, and public service. We provide policy and procedural guidance and direct service in matters of finance, facilities, personnel, auxiliary enterprises, and associated areas. It is also our responsibility to ensure that the campus operates in a manner consistent with federal, state, Board of Trustees and other applicable policies, regulations, and legislation. Further, and equally important, our staff members are committed to providing faculty, staff, students and guests the highest quality services in the most supportive and cost effective manner possible.

Vision Statement: Administration and Finance strives to provide high quality and responsive service through a knowledgeable, innovative and customer-focused staff who honor diversity and who are part of an organization that is recognized as a rewarding place to work.

Special Recognition

Brian Mielnikowski, front desk clerk at the Campus Center Hotel, was one of only 8 recipients who received the prestigious award for Hospitality Excellence from The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. The award recognizes superior customer service to guests of the Pioneer Valley. Brian received a glass award and the hotel will receive a framed certificate for display.

Congratulations to Mike Robidoux from Campus Distribution Services. Mike received a letter of gratitude from Laurence Murch for assisting in a six ton equipment delivery. Professor Murch was pleased with "dealing with friendly, courteous people who know their job and realize that we are all working for the University and have stock in seeing that a job is done well."

Congratulations to Jim Cahill, John Robinson, Dick Nathhorst, Jason Burbank and others from Facilities Planning and the Physical Plant for a job well done at the Silvio O. Conte National Center for Polymer Research dedicated on April 12, 1996.

Congratulations to Jake Bishop from Procurement for receiving the Bert C. Ahrens Achievement Award for 1996. This award, made by the National Association of Educational Buyers, Inc. Board of Directors, is the highest form of recognition offered by the Association. By voting to make this award, the board formally recognized what his peers have long known, Jake Bishop is a major asset to higher education.

The Waste Management Section of the Grounds Department at the Physical Plant was honored with this year's "College/University Recycling Award" for the best recycling efforts in the state. The awards ceremony was held at the World Trade Center in Boston on May 8th.

Congratulations to Peg Jakutowicz, Facilities Planning, whose Sweet Adelines International singing group, the Mount Sugarloaf Chorus, won second place in the Sweet Adelines International regional competition held on 4/12 and 4/13 at Springfield Symphony Hall.

MEET ..... the Customer Service Staff

The Customer Service Center Staff of the Physical Plant is responsible for coordinating all requests for work. Whether a light bulb needs replacement, an elevator is stuck or a cost estimate is needed for a small project, the place to call is the Physical Plant Customer Service Center at 545-6401. These folks will either answer your questions, dispatch someone to handle your emergency or direct you to the appropriate people.

The Customer Service Center is responsible for:

The Customer Service Center, part of the Customer Service and Work Management Department, is open from 11:00 p.m. Sunday through 11:00 p.m. Friday. Weekend emergency calls should be directed to 545-0600.

Customer Service Center Staff: Bruce Parkin, Assistant Director for Customer Service and Work Management Department, Roy Rule, Supervisor of Customer Service Center, Sylvia Jackson, Physical Plant Receptionist, Ron Brownie Brown, Service Desk Operator, Alice Chapin, Service Desk Operator, Myron Dudkiewicz, Service Desk Operator, Dick Heath, Service Desk Operator,Norman Moran, Dig Safe Coordinator and service desk back-up

A&F CELEBRATES STAFF SERVICE

Administration and Finance hosted a Length of Service celebration for 258 members of A&F who have been employed at the University for over 20 years on June 3, 1996 in the Student Union Ballroom. Over 180 people attended the luncheon and received Length of Service Awards. Paul Page, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, gave an account of the events and changes at the University and in the world during the last 40 years as he recognized each group of employees. Al Potter, Assistant Director, Grounds and Maintenance at the Physical Plant, received special recognition for having the longest length of service in A&F with 40 years. With the reinstatement of the Length of Service Program, this celebration will be an annual event.

A&F GOES TO THE OLYMPICS

Several Mullins Center personnel including Ed Murphy, Director of Facilities and Services, and Event Supervisors Dave Touhey and John Spinale, have been asked to participate in Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Olympics. On leave from the Mullins Center, they will work at the Georgia World Congress Center, which will host table tennis, weightlifting, fencing, wrestling, team handball, judo, some pentathlon competitions and serve as the International Broadcast Center. Joining the above are former Mullins' Event Supervisor, Mike Steele and UMass alumna, Lisa Mickelson.

Also, Transit Services will provide 15 busses to the Olympics this summer as part of the nationwide transit support of the Olympics.