The State University System Facilities Initiative
In the fall of 2005, the Board of Governors Facilities Committee began identifying short-term and long-term issues that need to be addressed. As a continuation of that effort, the Committee Chair, Governor Ava Parker, asked Chancellor Mark Rosenberg to appoint a Facilities Task Force to review and make recommendations on facilities issues related to revenue, processes and procedures, and best practices.
Facilities Task Force
The Task Force appointed by the Chancellor consisted of two people from each university, and provided a balance of skills and expertise needed for this effort. Represented on the Task Force were presidents, provosts, administrative vice presidents, facilities directors, revenue experts, data analysis/institutional research staff, general counsels, lobbyists, and Direct Support Organization staff. The Task Force began its work in May 2006 and submitted a report with recommendations to the Chancellor on September 22, 2006.
Chancellor's Report - Building Florida's Future: Quality and Access or Business as Usual
After taking the work of the Task Force into consideration, Chancellor Rosenberg developed his own recommendations. These were presented to the Board of Governors in Pensacola at their November 15, 2006 meeting and stressed the theme of providing quality and access via world class academic and educational facilities.
Chancellor Rosenberg called upon the Board to raise standards for classroom and instructional laboratory use to be among the highest of any public system in the United States. Secondly, he called for the development of an aggressive, strategic construction plan for State University System, as well as a commitment to adequate funding for the maintenance and improvement of current sub-standard facilities. Finally, the Chancellor stated that he wanted to lead the nation in sustainability, through cutting-edge facilities research, engineering, architecture and planning.
The Board directed the Chancellor to develop an action plan, providing a list of specific short-term and long-term recommendations for adoption by the Board at its meeting on January 25, 2007.
Building Florida's Future: Quality and Access or Business as Usual? [874.5 KB PDF] Presented by Chancellor Mark Rosenberg, November 15, 2006, Pensacola, Florida
Facilities Workgroups
Four systemwide workgroups were created by the Chancellor's Office to address critical recommendations identified by the Facilities Task Force and subsequently included in the Chancellor's Facilities Report. The primary goals of the workgroups included:
- Review and update, as needed, the Plant Operations and Maintenance funding process
- Improve the Plant Survey process
- Review and update, as needed, the Space Needs Generation Formula
- Maximize utilization of space and recommend a higher and more accurate Space Utilization Standard
Each task has been assigned to a specific workgroup. This is anticipated to be a two-year process, with some short-term results reported out in June 2007 and final long-term implementation completed in time for inclusion in the BOG 2009-2010 Capital Improvement Plan Instructions (Spring 2008).
Members of Workgroups [76.7 KB PDF]
