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A&F Notes Summer, 2005
2nd Edition No. 2
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Joyce’s Corner A message from the Vice Chancellor Administration & Finance |
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An off-campus friend commented to me recently about how nice it must be to work at UMass in the summer when work slows down on the campus and there is not much to do. This person obviously has not been on our campus. “Yes”, I said, “it is nice to work on campus in the summer, but mostly because it is a time when we get much work done”.
The summer is the time the controller’s office is busy with fiscal year end processing, the bursar’s office is sending out student bills and collecting the payments, the physical plant is completing $1.5 million of building maintenance and painting work, and the grounds crews are maintaining and improving the landscape. Many conferences are being held, new students and their parents are here for orientation, and efforts to upgrade the PeopleSoft finance and human resource system are underway. And, of course, implementing the major capital construction plan is a focus for many.
One important new Administration & Finance effort that will take a hiatus this summer, but will continue in the fall, is the Supervisory Development Program. Reinstituted last spring, the program addresses important workplace issues such as managing inappropriate behavior, conflict resolution, team building and other topics related to a respectful workplace and efficient management. The first targeted group of attendees is our 34 new supervisory employees. Later, we will aim to offer the program as a refresher course to all supervisors and managers.
A&F is a large area of over 1100 employees. Accomplishing all the work that gets done here is dependent upon good management and supervision. Good managers are the backbone of our enterprise and we are committed to supporting them with learning opportunities.
The Supervisory Development Program is just one of many exciting projects underway throughout our area. All will contribute to making UMass a better place. Together we can make a difference.
Joyce
CONGRATUALTIONS L.O.S. RECIPIENTS!
June 2nd Length of Service Ceremony Awards 74 Longevity Recipients
“Name that Tune” was the theme at this year’s Length of Service award ceremony when two UMass musicians mixed up the decades and performed hits from 1970, 75, 80 and 85. Attendees had a great time listening to UMASS students, Nate Altimari, jazz singer, and Jeff Kempskie, pianist, as they wowed us with their talents and great selections.
Recipients in A&F this year totaled 74. Auxiliary Services awarded 23 employees. Linda Belcher, David Fill and Robert Suprenant reached the 30-year employee level. Physical Plant topped the longevity statistics with 29 awardees; Justin Cobb, Gary Duprey, Norman Mackiewicz, Robert Markert, Michael Orsini and Dennis Purdy had 30 years of service and Barry Parker hit the 35 year mark.
The Controller’s areas had 6 awardees with Gwen Quinlan reaching 30 years of service; EH&S and Facilities & Campus Planning each had 3; Human Resources had 2 with Cheryl Daggett at 30 years, and Administrative Systems had 1.
Campus Services “topped the chart,” however. In their small but mighty group, they had 7 awardees— one 35-year employee, Cynthia Kicza, and, Frank Olbris, who has been with the University for 40 years!
Physical Plant Gets 100%
Back in March, 2005, the University received a Notice of Noncompliance from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Notice was issued based upon an observation that an unattended University vehicle was left idling for more than five minutes in violation of the Massachusetts Air Pollution Control Regulation 310 CMR 7.11.
In response, EH&S developed a Motor Vehicle Idling Awareness Program requiring each department which owns and operates University vehicles to insure that every operator is aware of the Regulation and has completed the Motor Vehicle Idling Policy training session. As of this edition of A&F Notes, Physical Plant is the only department that is 100% compliant with the training requirement.
This achievement underscores Physical Plant’s commitment to environmental performance. The Physical Plant staff continue to do an excellent job working with the Environmental Health and Safety Staff to develop an Environmental Management System and to reduce environmental impacts. Pat Daly, Physical Plant Director, says “I am pleased that we hit our target of 100% compliance and a huge thanks goes to Julia Chandler who coordinated our efforts as well as to all our employees who took the time to complete the training session.” Congratulations to the Physical Plant on another job well done.
Dining Services Wins Best of the Best
Dining Services staff were very pleased that they received the 2005 Loyal E. Horton Dining Award gold medal for the residence hall multiple concepts category. They were overjoyed to hear that, in addition to this award, they were chosen as the grand prize winner receiving the “best of best” award. The criteria for winning the “best of the best” is based on overall ratings in the areas of menu, merchandising, presentation, marketing, nutrition soundness and overall impression. All gold medal winners in the residence hall multiple concepts category were eligible for the grand prize. Dining Services was awarded 49.3 points out of a possible 50. Ashoke Ganguli, Director of Auxiliary Services said “We are delighted and it speaks highly of our program and the dedication of our staff. I think the best is yet to come.”