SPOTLIGHT: FACILITIES MAINTENANCE

Student Centers is a diverse department with a variety of responsibilities. In order to better familiarize the Mason community with all aspects of the Student Centers team, we are going to feature a different functional unit in our newsletter.

In this issue, we are going to spotlight the area responsible for facilities maintenance. Student Centers has a facilities maintenance office that is responsible for coordinating general building maintenance for the Student Centers buildings on the Fairfax campus as well as managing the food service equipment repair for all dining service operations on Fairfax, Front Royal, Arlington, Loudon and Prince William campuses.

This office also coordinates with multiple departments, contractors and vendors to ensure effective and timely completion of multiple renovation projects. The facilities maintenance office for Student Centers is made up of six key positions: The Assistant Director for Facilities Maintenance, the Facilities Supervisor, the Administrative and Maintenance Coordinator, two Food Service/Facilities Assistants and one Facilities Assistant. The Assistant Director for Facilities Maintenance is August Runge; this position is in charge of coordinating many Student Centers facilities maintenance projects such as updating carpeting, painting, furniture and renovations. The Assistant Director serves as a team supervisor and primary administrative official for this unit of Student Centers.

The Facilities Supervisor is Morgan Vandergrift; this position is in charge of managing the day-to-day operations of the food service equipment repair operation and many general facilities maintenance programs. Morgan is also responsible for supervising the Food Service and Facilities Assistant staff, coordinating with contractors, vendors and multiple University departments to ensure effective facilities management of the Student Centers.

The Administrative and Maintenance Coordinator is Rachel Harrison and she is the first point of customer contact for the food service equipment repair and facilities maintenance operation for the Student Centers. This position is responsible for managing the work order system, which includes: prioritizing, assigning and follow-up for all incoming work orders. Rachel also plays an important role in ordering and inventorying parts and equipment as well as independently tracking general facilities maintenance issues throughout the Student Centers buildings. Rachel can be reached at 703.993.3147 or via email at scfm@gmu.edu.

There are two Food Service & Facilities Assistant positions, one from 7:30 AM to 4 PM (Kevin Bowers) and one from 3PM to 11:30 PM (TBD). These positions are responsible for the physical maintenance of all food service equipment on the Fairfax, Front Royal, Arlington, Loudon and Prince William campuses. They also assist with general facilities maintenance in the Student Centers on the Fairfax campus.

The Facilities Assistant is Gerson Majano and this position is primarily responsible for general facilities maintenance in the Student Centers on the Fairfax campus as well assisting in the physical maintenance of all food service equipment on the Fairfax, Front Royal, Arlington, Loudon and Prince William campuses. Gerson was recently recognized by the University and awarded the Exceptional Support Award (as noted in News/Updates section of this issue).

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Digital Signage: The Future of
Campus Advertising

Student Centers is in the process of increasing Digital Signage throughout its facilities.

Digital Signage is basically the use of LCD screens in place of or complementing other traditional signs. Digital Signage also allows for contents to be displayed in many different forms and can be ever changing.

Displays can appear as static signs with information changing numerous times a day, have animation, streaming video or even live feeds.

The content of the signs can change quickly depending on situations. For instance, to alert the Mason community of closures or cancellations due to weather or even emergency situations.

Our first phase of signage will hopefully be completed by the end of summer. It will consist of a small number of signs (approximately seven) in the Student Centers. They will be used for directional and informational purposes while also promoting events, activities and services.

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FOOD! (Southside Building)

“There is a lot that we want to do, and a lot that is going to happen this upcoming summer and fall,” says Denise Ammacapane, the Resident District Manager for Dining Services. During the summer, possible renovations may take place in the Johnson Center food court and ground floor; La Vincita, Fresh 'n Lite, and La Patisserie.

With a new Executive Chef on board, Mr. Peter Schoebel, Dining Services wants to simultaneously make sure that great quality food is consistently being served.

As for the fall, the dining options for the new Southside Building are looking very promising. Pending construction and if all goes as planned, the 25th of August is the anticipated date for the opening of this facility.

There are to be six different food stations spread throughout the new facility: An international food station named “Without Boundaries,” a salad station called “Changing Colors,” a grill/fry station called the “4400 Grill,” a sandwich station named “Wrapped Up,” a sweets/dessert station called “After All,” and a take-out station called “Gold Rush.”

These stations will feature exhibition cooking and a self–serve component and will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hours of the facility are still being determined, however, 8am–9pm wouldn't be too bad of a guess.

Additionally, pending construction, there will be a new Starbucks location at the top of the North East Sector. This will be a roomy 53-seat facility with a large patio for outdoor enjoyment. Starbucks is slotted to open on September 15th pending any construction issues. The hours are also being determined, however, this location will definitely be opening early and closing late.

There’s much to look forward to, so keep your eyes open for these positive... and delicious changes around Mason.

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Leadership Awards Luncheon

Taking place on May 2nd in Mason Hall, the Leadership Awards Luncheon turned out to be a great success. Over 35 of Student Centers' student employees came out to eat, be rewarded and appreciated.

Through a tough voting process, the following are the 2007–2008 Student Staff Leadership Awards recipients:

Volunteerism Award: Emmanuel T'Chawi
Teamwork Award: Emily Ryan
Rookie of the Year: Akshaan Arora
Professionalism Award: Joel Parsons
Mentor Award: Rebecca Samuelson
Exemplary Management Skills Award: Brayson Taylor
Initiative Award: Matthew Relph
Customer Service Award: Allison Burgess
Employee of the Year: Andrew Roth

Congratulations to those who received these awards! To all of the student staff, thank you for your hard work. You are greatly appreciated. Returning student employees; see you in August for training. Thanks again for a great year!

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Our New Way of Managing Work Orders

In the past, many people placed work orders over the phone or via email. Student Centers is moving forward and now uses the same system that Facilities Management uses to manage work orders.

This system will electronically send the request to Student Centers. It will update you as to the status of the work and keep a record of all of your work requests.

If you already have a log-in and account for the Facilities Management system, there is no need to create another. If you have not yet created an account, you may do so by following the steps on the work order section of the Student Centers Website.

The email address that was previously used to submit work orders, (scfm@gmu.edu), is still a valid email address and please feel free to use it if you have any questions, comments or if you are having trouble creating an account with the new system.

You can also reach the office by calling 703.993.3147.

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ENHANCING U

Are you a student employee or have a student employee who works in a/your departmental office on campus?

Do you want to enhance your/their skills to perform better?

Student Centers is proud to present–

Enhancing U: Beginning in the Fall 2008 semester.

It is a program that will be presented three times in the month of October. You will only need to take one of the three sessions which have a duration of 1.5 hours.

Don't miss this great opportunity to improve your/their skills to be more effective and efficient employees who will perform at their best.

Please contact Mecca Marsh at mmarsh3@gmu.edu with any questions.

Coming in the Fall to the University Game Room...

The end of the year is upon us. Reports are due and we are getting things ready for the upcoming fall semester. Student Centers is working hard over the summer "break" to create a new and exciting atmosphere in the University Game Room, SUB I.

We are looking to remove various arcade games and replace them with an electronic gaming system called, the Game Booth.

The Game Booth will contain three X-Box 360 systems and one Nintendo Wii. The Game Booth will also include four 17" LCD screens, allowing for multi-player enjoyment.

When completed, the project will create an environment for relaxing and unwinding after a long day in the classrooms or in the office.

Before you know it, you'll be able to go bowling without leaving campus or be like Tiger Woods without breaking a sweat!

This is our big project for the summer. As always, we strive to continue to give you great customer service, while you are enjoying billiards, table tennis and soon enough the new Game Booth. See you soon!

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Anniversaries

Congratulations to the Student Centers staff whose anniversaries are in the months of June and July:

David Atkins:
14 Years

Mecca Marsh:
2 Years

August Runge:
1 Year

Rachel Harrison:
3 Years

Ken Locke:
4 Years

Saul Menacho:
23 Years

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Web Information

To learn more about services associated with our department, consider visiting these websites:

• Apple Credit Union
http://www.gmu.edu/univserv/
apple.html

• Bookstore
http://gmu.bkstore.com

• CampusLink
http://www.campuslnk.com/
schools/gmu/index.cfm

• Chevy Chase Bank
http://www.gmu.edu/univserv/ chevychasebank.htm

• Dining Services
http://www.gmu.edu/univ_ctr/
services/dining/

• Events Management
http://www.gmu.edu/departments
/ur/events

• Events Production
http://www.gmu.edu/ep

• Game Rooms
http://gamerooms.gmu.edu

• Student Centers
http://studentcenters.gmu.edu

• University Services
http://www.gmu.edu/univserv

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Listservs

We have just created new listservs for our department so that we can keep you informed on announcements, closings, upgrades and improvements. If you know someone who is not on the listserv or if you have hired a new staff member, please bring this to their attention.

If you are receiving this
e-newsletter, you are on the listserv.

You can subscribe to the listservs by using the links below:

• JC Occupants Listserv

• JCSU Student Staff Listserv

• SUB I Occupants Listserv

• SUB II Occupants Listserv

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Hours of Operation

For Summer hours, please click here.

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