The Goal 7 Committee investigated and evaluated how effectively and efficiently Michigan Tech’s physical plant supports University purposes and meets strategic planning objectives. In 1988, the NCA Evaluation Team found the physical plant “very well maintained and well suited to...[the University’s] focused technological mission” [6.1A]. This chapter addresses what we have accomplished since 1988 to develop and maintain the physical plant.

This chapter draws on the Goal 7 Committee Report [6.2B9], the Facilities Management Self-Study [2.6H7], the Retail Operations Self-Study [2.6H5], and the Residential Services Self-Study [2.6H10]. Please see these reports for more detailed information.

Patterns of Evidence

Purposes

Developing the campus requires well-planned and well-funded capital projects, and maintaining the physical plant requires efficient and effective operations. The long-range Campus Master Plan [2.2A] provides the vision for a physical plant which supports our stated purposes. Guiding principles of this Plan include:

• minimizing current and future maintenance costs;
• maintaining architectural continuity in a campus core;
• enhancing relationships with the local community by relocating non-academic functions off-campus; and
• being accommodating to the natural environment by
  • utilizing topography to accommodate large buildings,
  • maintaining open space with views of Portage Lake, and
  • linking buildings to provide protection from winter weather.

We interpret a facility to be something that promotes the ease of action and operation: our physical facilities are designed to promote ease of action in instruction, research, and support services through efficient operation of classroom, laboratory, housing, retail, recreational, and support facilities in a location with a challenging climate. Facilities Management is charged with the operation and maintenance of a campus which is safe, efficient, attractive, accessible, and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and codes. Some specific objectives of this department include:

• maintaining and upgrading aging facilities,
• adding highly specialized space,
• facilitating better utilization of existing spaces on evenings and weekends, and
• minimizing or eliminating occupational and environmental hazards.

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