Campus Facilities and Beautification Initiative

Director of Facilities Management & Facilities Planning

Telephone: 304.442.3104

Email: Tech-Facilities-Planning@mail.wvu.edu

Campus Address: 405 Fayette Pike

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

October 21, 2011 at 10:00am (1 Hour) Facilities Conference Room

November 18, 2011 at 10:00am (1 Hour) Facilities Conference Room

December 16, 2011 at 10:00am (1 Hour) Facilities Conference Room

Campus Facilities and Beautification Goals for Year 2 of the Strategic Plan:

1

2

3

Completed Campus Facilities and Beautification Goals from Year 1:

The campus Master Plan is complete, with all of the components assembled. They include 32 projects that cover deferred maintenance and facility upgrades and improvements. The complete list of deferred maintenance and capital renewal projects was developed with a national firm that has worked with many universities. The projects must now be prioritized and funding sources identified, which will be goals for early Year 2 (see also the Financial Resources initiative). Several models of new landscaping and signage designs are complete, and during Year 2 the Tech community will be solicited for input as to which model would be best to implement. Focus groups and forums will be held in Year 2 for input on prioritizing the deferred maintenance list as well. Tech has not had a comprehensive facilities master plan since 1992, with a minor update in 2002.

The campus energy audit is complete, and the data gathered from it has been used to develop an electrical “smart grid” system for the entire campus. Implementation of the smart grid system and technology has already been installed in the COBE building and parts of the Engineering and Tech Center buildings. The entire campus is expected to have the smart grid system installed and running by 2013, making Tech the only campus in the state to be fully run on this system. Annual energy savings are projected to be at least 10%, with estimates rising to possibly saving Tech $250,000 per year. A campus sustainability program committee has been set in Year 1 and will begin identifying opportunities for recycling and other activities for Year 2.

The assessment of campus service operations is complete and staffing productivity levels with efficiency levels have been analyzed. A schedule for Year 2 that emphasizes higher productivity with existing resources will be implemented with staff training for “best practices” in cleaning and maintenance. The end of Year 2 is projected to realize gains in service operations efficiency.

The campus space-utilization system has been implemented for all non-academic areas, such as the Tech Center Ballroom and the Baisi Athletic Center, and Years 2 and 3 will see the completion of the system for academic spaces as well in conjunction with the Enhancing Academics strategic initiative.

Analysis:

This initiative has completed all of its Year 1 goals and has met benchmarks for progress well into Year 2. The critical contribution of this initiative is the completed campus Master Plan, which will guide and coordinate facility repairs and campus upgrades for the next several years. These improvements will be vital to the success of the other initiatives, including recruitment and retention, enhanced student life, and academics. While other contributions, such as the energy smart grid, space rental, and increased service operations efficiencies, will generate revenue and cut costs, sufficient funding from external sources will be essential to make this initiative a success in Years 2-5. It is also important to note that the progress in this initiative represents significant advances in Tech’s facilities over years prior to the strategic plan.

For the complete Year 1 Progress Report, click here

The 5-Year Strategic Plan for Campus Facilities and Beautification :

Many of WVU Tech’s strategic initiatives regarding finances, enrollment, academics, student life, and more intersect with its physical campus and facilities. To integrate these varying initiatives, a campus master plan will be developed in the first year. This plan will be designed in coordination with the WVU Facilities Planning Department to identify existing campus needs and to anticipate future needs. Years two through five will see a continual revising of the plan based on changing needs, funding sources, and construction progress levels. By the middle of year two, a campus-wide analysis will result in a prioritized list of deferred maintenance projects and capital renewal projects. In tandem with this list will be a capital funding plan that identifies potential sources of monies that could fulfill the projects.

Year one will also see the development of a campus sustainability program. By years two, three, four and five a campus recycling program, along with other similar programs, will be integrated into the campus master plan and incorporated into Tech culture. Similarly, a campus audit of energy consumption patterns will be completed in year one and energy/cost saving systems will be applied and integrated into the campus master plan for continued review in successive years.

To best get input on facility needs that would enrich learning environment and student life, focus groups will be conducted and analyzed in year one. Realistic goals to achieve identified needs will be set in year two and implemented in following years accompanied by repeated re-analysis with key faculty, staff, and students. Other plans in the first year would lay out a system for campus signage and set landscape master plans that capture campus topography and horticulture. The plans would be implemented based on established progress benchmarks for each following year.

An outside firm will conduct an assessment of campus service operations to correctly set staffing levels for particular academic units and their related infrastructure. The adequacy of the staffing levels will be studied each year following prior year changes.

The first two years will see streamlined and centralized web based scheduling of classroom and meeting space throughout campus. Space specifications and usage levels must be entered into the master plan to increase space efficiencies. The system’s effectiveness will be studied for tweaks in following years. Similarly, a standard fee schedule for the use of ancillary spaces on campus will be set and updated annually.

For the complete Strategic Plan, click here

YEAR 1 (10 goals):

Goal 1: Campus Master Plan Timetable: Ahead of Schedule. Notes: Consultants are engaged, with input from WVU facilities administrators. Campus meetings for input are to be held in late late March 2011. Master Plan will be finished by June 2011.

Goal 2: Facilities Assessment/Prioritized Deferred Maintenance List Timetable: Ahead of Schedule. Notes: Intensive campus-wide data collection is complete. Data will be integrated with Master Plan. Prioritized list to be finished by May 2011.

Goal 3: Sustainable Campus Plan Timetable: On Schedule. Notes: Campus study is complete. A campus recycling committee is forming for input. Plan will be implemented April 2011.

Goal 4: Energy Conservation/Efficiency Plan Timetable: On Schedule. Notes: Contractor has been hired; campus energy audit is complete. Some energy controls are set. Implementation for parts of campus is to set to begin in late April 2011.

Goal 5: Multi-year Capital Plan Timetable: On Schedule. Notes: Identifying costs and plans for payment. The capital plan is linked to completion of Goals 1 and 2.

Goal 6: Campus Landscape Master Strategy Timetable: On Schedule. Notes: Looking at campus signage, entrance and exit points. To be linked with Master Plan, late April 2011.

Goal 7: Evaluate Campus Services, Training, Staffing Timetable: On Schedule. Notes: External review of campus services department and operations (maintenance, cleaning) is underway. To be completed May, 2011.

Goal 8: Space and Classroom Utilization for all Facilities. Timetable: Completion date moved to Fall 2011. Notes: Campus assessment is completed. Management software acquired and remains to be installed. The first phase is to be completed by February 2011. The second phase is to be completed by October 2011.

Goal 9: Set Policy for University Facilities Rentals Timetable: Completion date moved to April 2011. Notes: Evaluation of current space and costs underway.

Goal 10: Facilities Department Guide Timetable: On Schedule. A full prototype of the guide is complete, currently under review for refinements. Final version is to be completed late May 2011.