Saint Louis University is Jesuit University providing co-education, where students are not divided by sex that is located in Saint Louis, Missouri. Nowadays, the University accepts students representing all 50 US states and plenty of foreign countries. Saint Louis University offers great variety of undergraduate majors, graduate and professional degrees as well as adult education majors and programs.
There are several departments responsible for the successful operation of the University. In its turn, facilities management at Saint Louis University plays an integral part of the University performance. In this regard, the paper is devoted to the comprehensible examination of the facilities management concerning key points that were discussed during lessons.
Responsible Department and Persons
First of all, it is appropriate to identify the responsible department and responsible persons. According to the Organizational Structure (2016) presented on the University’s official website, the Associate VP Facilities is a paramount responsible person. Furthermore, the following four subordinate departments report to the Associate VP Facilities:
- Director – Parking, Transportation, Mail, & Data Management;
- Assistant VP – Facilities Management & Construction Services;
- Director – Risk Management;
- Assistant VP – Service Operations.
In their turn, facilities supervisions have to report to the above responsible persons.
Maintenance
Facilities management at Saint Louis University maintains all the buildings including both planned and unplanned work and orders. All the campuses possess elaborated maintenance building assignment maps to control them and respond in the case of emergency timely (Resources, n.d.). Maintenance at Saint Louis University ensures students and staff with physical and financial services and resources.
Precisely speaking, the list of services involves alarm service, electrical, furniture repair, heating and cooling, major appliance support, and others. Both students and the personnel might contact facilities management by phone or sign request through the official website.
Facility Planning
Facility planning at Saint Louis University strives to integrate into the culture of the University. In other words, it aspires to guarantee a high-quality environmental stewardship to collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders. The strategic plan for 2017-2019 fiscal years focuses on the principal mission of the University that is a proactive support of customer’s needs (Strategic Plan for FY17-FY19, 2016).
Project Planning, Design, and Construction
Speaking of the project planning, it is worth turning one’s attention to the fact that the University aims at the modernization of the campus buildings as well as the construction of new ones on the adjacent territories. For instance, Atrium of the John & Lucy Cook Hall will be greatly expanded for needs of the renovated student centre (Strategic Plan for FY17-FY19, 2016). Additionally, among active projects, one might note the following ones:
- Grand Hall / New Residence Hall 2. New building will be designed for first- and second year students and connected to Griesedieck Complex building.
- Spring Hall / New Residence Hall 1. New residence hall.
All in all, Project Planning, Design, and Construction management supports the historical and cultural background of the University while integrating new ideas and projects.
Custodial Services
Cleaning and housekeeping services are performed by the custodial services. “Custodial Services’ staff is responsible for approximately 3,676,125 cleanable square feet, and is comprised of 153 custodians” (Custodial Services, n.d., para. 2). In order to support healthy environment, it applies Green Cleaning Policy that suggests a minimum use of dangerous chemical contaminants.
Utilities Management
This department controls the sustainability of energy resources such as water, electricity, natural gas, and steam in campuses. Utilities management creates special cost-effective projects and programs to decrease the energy expenses. In this regard, based on Saint Louis University’s greenhouse gas inventory for the fiscal year 2014, utilities management plans to lower the consumption of energy up to 20 percents, namely, from approximately 128 to 103 kWh per year by 2020 (Saint Louis University GHG Inventory, 2015). It will be achieved by means of occupancy sensors for room lighting, LED Nativity scene Christmas lights, and building sub-metering (Utilities Management, n.d.). The mentioned goal will contribute to the considerable financial savings without any inconvenience.
What is more, one might note water consumption reduction project. Using applicable water-saving technologies such as low-flow faucets or shower heads, RainBird’s Maxicom2 Irrigation Management System along with Rainworks Stormwater Management Garden, utilities management department will decrease water consumption and ensure appropriate services.
Safety and Security
All the campuses at Saint Louis University are designed according to the standards of safety and security. It should be emphasized that safety and security orders are considered before non-security orders. Moreover, “The University manages a University-wide key system, allowing for prompt lock changes when lost keys are reported” (Security Considerations Used In Campus Facility Maintenance, n.d.). Personnel and students are asked to report about safety and security violation. Such measures secure the University from the majority of emergencies including non-authorized persons’ intrusion.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications issues are regulated by federal law and called for providing students and staff with truthful information in a timely manner including cases of emergency or need to contact facilities management. Telecommunications services are represented by IT technologies, particularly, the Internet, official website, by the fire alarm, telephone, and the video surveillance system.
Analysis of the Facility Planning Function
It is also significant to mention that facilities management detailed information is available for everyone on the official website of the University. Therefore, my key source of information was Saint Louis University website: www.slu.edu. Besides, I used some other credible sources such as STARS website: www.stars.aashe.org. The information also focused on charts and graphs concerning University’s different areas of facilities management.
The function of facility planning at Saint Louis University supports the information discussed on one of our lessons. Saint Louis University develops such a facility planning that takes into account a set of essential issues that should be accurately considered and implemented. Facilities management at Saint Louis University plans future fiscal years in advance making the information free for every interested party.
The vision of facilities management is expressed in the excellence of strategy and operation. The mission of facility planning is to implement the appropriate delivery of services that will enhance the collaboration and communication between students. In addition, excellence in people is also important for the University. Seeing that people are the key asset performing necessary operations, facilities management attracts, engages, and motivates staff members establishing friendly working environment that will promote the integration of the personnel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be stressed that facilities management at Saint Louis University is strong and concisely structured to embrace all the fields connected to facilities. It should also be noted that the University’s facilities management keeps up with the times and, at the same time, tries to preserve cultural traditions in planning, controlling, and performing its objectives.
References
Custodial Services. (n.d.). Saint Louis University. Web.
Organizational Structure. (2016). Saint Louis University. Web.
Resources. (n.d.). Saint Louis University. Web.
Saint Louis University GHG Inventory. (2015). STARS. Web.
Security Considerations Used In Campus Facility Maintenance. (n.d.). Saint Louis University. Web.
Strategic Plan for FY17-FY19. (2016). Saint Louis University. Web.
Utilities Management. (n.d.). Saint Louis University. Web.