A&F Notesenhancing our culture by sharing information

A&F Staff beautifies the campus

Paul's Page: A message from the vc of A&F

A&f Services for students

ACE awards

OUT & ABOUT

Meet... the facilties planning division

Sundry

• Comec
• Trustee vote results in study of selected ancillary services
• Save this date

Back to Archives Page

Back to A&F Homepage

The major portion of the Student Union Patio renovation is completed. Granite steps were reset and paved areas in front of all three entrances were replaced. South and West Entrances are now wheelchair accessible. Informal seating was incorporated into the design. Five Lacebark Elms, with brilliant fall foliage and splendid exfoliating bark will be planted in the Spring. Lacebark Elms grow to a magnificent 40-50 feet high and wide, offering shade for strolling and studying.

• Planted wildflower garden at edge of field north of Durfee Garden

• Re-landscaped outdoor areas at Blaisdell House, Worcester DC, Furcolo Hall, Stockbridge, SOM

• Planted flower beds at the Southwest Gateway

• Placed around campus 30 new planters, 20 park benches, and 10 picnic tables made with recycled plastic lumber

• Installed rail fences at Blaisdell House, Munson Annex and Whitmore

note: new library fence pictures at www.umass.edu/fp 

Back to Top

 Paul's Page: A message from the vc of A&F

Over the past several months I have had the opportunity to meet with staff from each of the units within Administration and Finance to review the activities of the past few years. I have enjoyed the chance to engage in interesting conversation about all of the activities that we are involved in across campus. I am continually struck by the breadth of our organization and the realization that we are engaged in some of the most important aspects of the lives of almost 30,000 individuals who make up the university community. We are an important and vital part of this institution.

The largest and most diverse segment of the campus community is students. In almost every one of our units, we directly and indirectly touch the lives of more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students. While it is important that we focus on the services that we provide, the nature of our interaction with these important customers is also extremely important. For many first-year students, attending the university is their first experience away from home on their own. This campus can be a large and imposing place. To help ease this transition and make students’ lives as productive and enjoyable as possible during their years on this campus we must strive to be pleasant, courteous and helpful in our dealings with students. It is so easy to get caught up in our day-to-day activities and lose sight of the fact that this institution would not be here were it not for students.

This issue of A&F Notes is devoted to the services that we provide to students. It outlines an impressive array of the things we do on behalf of students on the Amherst Campus. Being large in numbers is no excuse for failing to recognize that each student is unique. Each has a complex set of needs and issues that requires attention and understanding. Each must be dealt with as an individual in a manner that reflects our continued quest for establishing and maintaining a quality environment in all our operations.

Also highlighted in this issue are the first employees who have been recognized under the recently implemented Achievement, Competency and Excellence (ACE) Program. This program provides a means to recognize and provide a small token of appreciation to A&F employees for outstanding service and contributions to the fulfillment of our service objectives and was developed in response to feedback received from our internal customer surveys. Congratulations to all current and future ACE award recipients!

Back to Top

The first sentence in A&F's mission states that we will "provide our internal and external constituents with the highest quality services in the most supportive and cost effective manner." Students make up a large and important part of our customer base. A&F provides many services that keep the campus operating so that students can live and learn in a quality environment. A&F departments build, maintain, renovate and manage facilities used by students such as the Mullins Center, Campus Center/Student Union Complex, library, classrooms and laboratory buildings. Many other activities, while not providing direct service to the student population, support the University in its mission of teaching, research and public service. Here are some of the ways that A&F departments are work-ing to improve the services they provide to students.

• 9,600 students served

• Learning Lab for HRTA

• Variety of menus and meal plan options

• Jobs for 1,200 students per year

• Unlimited access to public transportation to all five colleges and seven surrounding towns

• Mobility for disabled students on campus

• Library shuttle services

• Low-cost field trip service for classes, clubs, and RSO's around New England

• Jobs for 150 students per year

• 5,500 student paychecks issued per week

• Student ID card access to residence halls, as library card, meal ticket.

• Over 5,000 debit card accounts used on campus at Textbook Annex, Mullins Center Box Office, Parking Garage, athletic facilities, snack bars, coffee shops, vending machines

• Mail service to and from all dorms Monday to Friday

• Sent out mailings to new and returning students reminding them to get their stickers early

• Students were able to apply for parking permits while attending the New Students Program

• Parking set up a satellite office at the Housing Assignments Office to sell permits

• Extended hours Labor Day and the first few days of the semester

• Facilities for educational, co-curricular, and social programs

• Textbook sales and buy backs

• University Store & Food Outlets

• Partner with Campus Activities & RSOs

• Learning lab for HRTA

• Graduate Student Lounge

• Hotel Services

• Jobs for 600 students per year

• Expanded teller hours to open at 9:00

• Maintain billing records for 18,000 undergraduate and 7,200 graduate students

• Disbursed over 16,000 student refund excess checks

• Maintain 3,000 tuition waivers for graduate students

• Record and receive over 2,000 private scholarships per semester

• 125 telephone calls per day, 4,000 per month during peak periods

• Students play racquetball and ice skate during public skate for free

• Hosts concerts, sporting events, theatrical productions, tradeshows, banquets, convocation;and graduate commencement

Back to Top

Small Group Recognition: Thad Dabrowski, Donna Motyka, Meredith Schmidt, Doug Warka, Robert Suprenant, Richard Strycharz, Christopher Bechta, Tony Jno Bapttiste, Joseph Corso and Jacob Van Heerden for their outstanding work in coordinating the Betty Shabazz mural dedication ceremony.

Spot Awards went to Brenda R. Newton, Jane Williams, R. Lee Forsythe, Terence Carney, Cheryl Stafford, Victor Keedy, Brenda Thayer and Marc Morrisette from their supervisors in Auxiliary Services and Leo St. Denis and his staff.

The Facilities Planning Division’s own "biker dude" Civil Engineer, Jason Venditti, recently participated in the prestigious 24-hour (October 10-11) "Newsweek 24 Hours of Moab" mountain bike race in Utah! "The Moab" , considered the Olympics of 24-hour racing, draws the biggest names, both nationally and internationally.

Back to Top

The Facilities Planning Division is responsible for renovations, alterations, and new construction of facilities and infrastructure. Some of the projects that Facilities Planning staff have planned, engineered and managed are the Conte Polymer Research building, Student Union Patio, Engineering and Computer Science Complex, Animal Care Facility and the Old Chapel.

Behind the scenes, they manage all aspects of the capital planning process including project development and spending plans. The Facilities Planning Division is a partnership of many professionals, including engineers, architects, planners, and managers, working continuously through its planning, building and updating of the buildings we work, meet, eat, and study in.

Back to Top

The 1998 COMEC Campaign started in October with a kickoff breakfast and after a strong drive achieved another record setting year with $310,000 in pledges. 30% of A&F staff made a contribution in this campaign as compared to 20% last year. These contributions made it possible for many of our neighbors and co-workers to receive such critical services as housing and food for families in crisis, shelter for women and children in abusive situations, home care for the elderly and programs for our youth. It's not too late to make a donation - contact your COMEC coordinator or send your donation directly to 390 Whitmore. Thank you.. Together ... we are making a difference.

The University trustees voted last month to ask the Amherst campus to explore the best method of delivering high quality goods and services in our retail food and store operations. The vote asks the Chancellor to undertake a detailed analysis of ways to improve existing operations, review experiences at other institutions and solicit information from knowledgeable sources, potential vendors and service providers on alternative options and approaches of providing such services. Chancellor Scott has asked Paul Page to sponsor this project. Paul is moving forward to establish a comprehensive process to complete this task by the May 1, 1999 deadline. Information will be shared with staff as the process is further developed and defined.

 SAVE THIS DATE

Ice Skating

Basketball

Lip-Synch Contest

Refreshments

Back to Top