Site Team Report

11. Physical Plant

University Goal 7 is to "Develop the Michigan Tech campus and continuously maintain the physical plant." While all units of campus have considered how they can contribute to this goal, the Facilities Management Department is central. In addition there are a Residential Services Unit (Residence Halls, Dining Services, and University Apartments) and Retail Operations Unit(Memorial Union Building, Student Development Complex, and other athletic facilities).

The facilities at Michigan Tech University are first rate. They are attractive and well-maintained. New facilities are at various stages of planning, design and construction. There is a Campus Master Plan, last updated in 1993, that has been followed for 35 years. The guiding principles of the plan and the observations during the site visit are:

(1) minimizing current and future maintenance costs The cost per square foot for plant operation and maintenance for 1996-97 was $3.95. Of this $1.28/GSF was for utilities and $0.04 for solid waste. While the trend has been for this number to increase slightly (It was $3.75/GSF in 1992-93), this cost is low for comparative institutions of similar size and mission. One reason these low costs are achieved is that the physical plant staff has been reduced to 97 (of which 14 are police department), which is significantly below the average of 155 for doctoral institutions. Michigan Tech is seen as a benchmark for maintenance costs. It should be noted that there are no formal targets in the department for maintenance costs, just to keep them as low as possible. Much of the maintenance is performed by personnel located at building sites and no paperwork or records are kept of small work orders. Detailed tracking of response times are not kept. Customer surveys are not routine (the last one was done in 1991). It would be good to establish a formal regular process for assessing fiscal operations through customer surveys.

(2) maintaining architectural continuity in a campus core This guiding principle is met very well. The limestone and brick campus provides a massive, flywheel image suitable for the technology theme of the university.

(3) enhancing relationships with the local community by relocating non-academic functions off-campus The relationships with the local community are excellent. In fact the director of Facilities Management currently serves as mayor pro-tem. However, some community members feel that the campus competes with the city in some retail operations.

(4) being accommodating to the natural environment The topography has been used exceptionally well in building placement and the campus is very inviting.

Space needs which have been forecasted have been met or will soon be met. Additional building projects are being developed. The deferred maintenance is low. There is a concern that funds to continue to meet operating, maintenance, and upgrading costs are not readily identifiable. This is a national problem, but with a number of new buildings coming on line at Michigan Tech, the funding requirements are large. [Concern 5] One approach of Michigan Tech to upgrading aging facilities is to build new buildings connected to existing buildings and to refurbish the old buildings as a part of the new construction. These funds come from the state and private sources. The university has become increasingly successful in attracting private funds.

The department has an objective to minimize or eliminate occupational and environmental hazards. There have been no environmental citations or fines at the university and safety problems are infrequent. However it does not appear that safety training and internal monitoring is routinely documented. Most operations are distributed across campus with no reporting required. Anticipating research activity increases and the potential for accidents increases, Michigan Tech has begun to put in place a more systematic method of tracking safety training received and tracking of hazardous materials. [Concern 3]

The two locations noted during the site visit which will require attention soon are the library (need for expansion and renovation) and the student union (need for modernization). [Concerns 2, 4]

Overall the physical facilities are in excellent condition and are run very efficiently. Management of the operations and the dedication of the staff are to be commended.

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