Administration

Who We Are, What We Do

Facilities & Services is the largest administrative unit on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. F&S provides all physical plant, operational, and essential services for sustaining an environment that fosters the research, teaching, and public engagement activities of the university.

The F&S goal is to support the university’s education, research, and outreach missions by improving the physical condition of the facilities and grounds, implementing energy conservation initiatives, and increasing customer satisfaction by providing quality services in a responsive, reliable, and customer-focused manner.

Facilities & Services provides and maintains a physical environment that is conducive to supporting learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development at the University of Illinois and is an active partner in research, teaching and learning.

We will be a responsive, reliable, and highly valued service provider.

Trust: We will believe in the best of everyone and treat others as we would like to be treated. 
Respect:
 We will value our employees and foster a work environment that promotes respect, dignity, and the worth of each individual. 
Accountability: We will be accountable for our actions and good stewards of our resources.
Integrity: We will be honest, do what is right, and keep our promises.
Teamwork: We will work together to achieve common goals.
Safety: We will work to ensure the health and welfare of our employees, customers, and the community.
Perseverance: We will personally demonstrate dedication, tenacity, and endurance in accomplishing our work for the university.

Customer Focus: We will develop relationships with our customers built on trust, confidence, and reliability.
Diversity
: We will have a diverse workforce in an inclusive workplace that unleashes the talents of all employees to create value, deliver superior support, and develop innovative solutions for the customers we serve. We will treat our co-workers and customers in a manner that encourages and strengthens an environment of inclusivity.
Environmental Stewardship
: We will demonstrate a commitment to health and sustainability in our stewardship of the campus environment.
Innovation
: We will continuously strive to create new and innovative solutions that bring greater value to the customers we serve.
Operational Excellence: We will empower our employees to deliver the greatest value to our customers in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

Words and Actions

From the mouths of F&S team members, answering questions about the organization’s guiding principles.

How do you demonstrate customer focus?

Understanding customer needs and concerns and working to meet and exceed them builds trust and a good working relationship.

I build relationships with our customers/vendors by helping them through situations they have and/or providing adequate information when needed.

Treat customers with respect. Be honest and open.

I demonstrate customer focus by listening, understanding customer needs, treating them with respect, guiding them through processes and delivery methods, providing honest communication/feedback, and following through/up on my commitments. 

Communication, reliability, honesty, and availability.

I show customer focus by spending a little time getting to know customers as people, understanding their needs for a project, and alleviating stress around the service we are providing by staying on top of things and always communicating – both the good and the bad.

Building relationships with each individual customer that meets their needs and personalities demonstrates customer focus. By doing so, the customer feels welcome and respected.

I build relationships by listening to what the customer is saying, being empathetic to their needs, and understanding that their perceptions are the reality for them and what they are going through. By doing this, the customer understands that you really care and want to meet their needs in a timely fashion, in turn allowing them to gain respect for what you do.

I email customers.

I let the occupant know when the work is scheduled to be done.

For many jobs, I contact the requester, and on some occasions, such as with more complex work orders, I arrange a site visit with the requester to plan the work together in person.

Before the work begins, we meet with the person requesting the work to find out what they need done and make sure we know all of the needs of the customer before the work begins. Once the work is complete, I  inspect the work and speak with the customer to make sure it’s been done properly, meeting their expectations.

When I receive a work order request, I return the request with a call to ask the customer what their needs are and whey they need the request completed.

I speak to the customer in person or by email.

I give the customer a call and confirm that I received a work order. Then I ask if there are any concerns I need to address before completing the work order.

I demonstrate customer focus by going personally to the contact to see what their expectations are for the work order. This assures that it will be done in the manner in which they want.

If I have questions, I email the contact.

I email the customer to advise them I have the work order and that it has been/or is being scheduled.

With other than a routine request, I will let the customer know the progress of the work and when it is done. Sometimes I have included pictures.

I make sure the customer has my contact information and advise them to please contact me if they have any concerns.

I provide my contact information, including my Lync/Skype number and email address, welcome the customer to contact me at any time for any reason, and then I explain my offset schedule.

By letting them know we got the work order done, any problems we encountered, and that we value their business.

I will contact the customer to judge their satisfaction level.

What is your definition of diversity?

A diverse workforce is made of individuals from varying backgrounds, experiences, races, genders, ethnicities, and other differentiating dimensions.

Diversity increases creativity and promotes innovation within the organization. Having a diverse workforce brings forth unique viewpoints and forces groups to consider alternate ways of dealing with issues. Diversity helps to guard against groupthink. 

Diversity incorporated through meaningful, inclusive action is where the rubber hits the road. Making sure everyone feels comfortable and empowered to achieve their best is where we will be at our best.

Diversity means that everyone is not the same. A “diverse” workplace has individuals of different racial/ethnic backgrounds, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, educations, abilities.

Diversity means variety/different.

Diversity is the inclusion of different types of people in a group or organization.

The best way to look at diversity would be looking at our department. We have employees of many different nationalities, many of whom were not born in the United States. These employees bring a new and diverse look at the world and many times have a different point of view which can create a very rich working environment.

Diversity is the composition of people with varying skills, perspectives, and practices that result from the inclusion of employees from different backgrounds.

Diversity is people interacting who are different, and different has lots of meanings such as race, gender, sexual orientation.

Diversity to me is the awareness everyone is unique and recognizing the differences in all of us. Recognizing the differences and valuing them is important for living a full, meaningful, and humble existence.

DIVERSITY is important because we can learn, develop, share ideas, knowledge, and information. Like “iron” that sharpens “iron,” DIVERSITY” makes us strong and strengthens our unity. In a progressive organization “DIVERSITY” has to be the “glue” that bonds people together. It is reflected in TEAMWORK. Together everyone accomplishes more.

For humans, there must be a wide range of experiences brought together to have the most dynamic solutions. How boring to have everyone just like you!

When I think of diversity, I do not just have a narrow vision of ethnicity, race, sex, or age. There are many additional facets of diversity that make people unique from one another such as socioeconomic, political, or religious beliefs. These individual identities may not be obvious on the outside but make a person diverse in their own way. I think of diversity at work as a way for everyone to learn more about life and to expose themselves to the world around them.

My definition of diversity is to have a group with as many different backgrounds as possible. The group could be people, or it could be plants (biodiversity). For groups of people, diversity could mean people from different levels of management, race, gender, or skill.

Having diversity at work is very important as it increases innovation, life experiences, and creativity. The trick is to truly treat everyone equally and not give any particular diverse background priority or leniency because they fit the typical diverse mold. That is when conflict and resistance

Diversity is people of different backgrounds all getting an equal chance to work with each other and to have an equal chance at all assignments and promotions, etc.

Diversity is important because it produces effective solutions, it promotes adaptability in the workplace, fosters innovation, and increases the range of service.

Diversity is a reflection of the unique and varied flavors of people, including varying backgrounds, life experiences, cultural and social influences, and gender orientation.

You get different viewpoints on how to accomplish work. When people work with others who are not like them, it helps to break down barriers. This lets us all see each other as people instead of just black/white or male/female, etc.

Diversity brings unique perspectives together in a way that improves understanding of problems and enables better solutions. 

Diversity is being in a very flexible setting, having many interchangeable parts, or being around many different people with many backgrounds. It’s like not having plain coffee, but a mocha or cappuccino. Diversity is always changing. It’s being different, but not wrong or right.

My definition of “DIVERSITY” is a variety. This means that you would have a mix of different things, people, whatever in the group you are looking at or discussing.

Diversity is people interacting who are different. It can have a lot of meanings, like race, gender, or sexual orientation.

Diversity is not just skin deep. It includes everything about a person.

DIVERSITY is important because we all complement each other. We have different traits, backgrounds, experiences – that means we have different strengths and abilities. Each one of us brings something different to the table, which means that together, we are greater than the sum of our parts. If we all work together toward the same goal, we can achieve it.

Diversity can show someone that things might be able to be done different ways or not like how you might do things. It can show someone a different path.

“DIVERSITY is important in that you do not learn much that is new without a variety of views, backgrounds, and histories to give differing perspectives on various subjects. Everyone’s journey through life is unique to that individual. No one should be lumped into a larger group because they are from the same region, wear the same clothes, went to the same schools, or have similar physical aspects. Each person is a unique organism with their own lifetime’s worth of experience.

Diversity is respecting different opinions of people coming from different backgrounds.

Diversity stimulates discussion resulting from the collision of different thoughts and pushes an organization to move forward.

To me, diversity is the differences between individuals that make each person unique.

When people work with others who are not like them, it helps to break down barriers. This lets us all see each other as people instead of just black/white or male/female, etc.

“DIVERSITY” means being open and accepting of people. Looking beyond outward appearance, differences, backgrounds, cultures. Expressing genuine interest and welcome people of all sorts.

Diversity is important because it produces effective solutions, it promotes adaptability in the workplace, fosters innovation, and increases the range of service.

It is very important to hire employees with different backgrounds and points of view. They bring in new ideas, change others’ thinking, and broaden the viewpoint of others.

Diversity provides different viewpoints and different experiences which can help solve problems faster and easier, or someone different from you may have a better way of doing the same task.

I feel that diversity means having a collection of every representative body so as to provide an all-encompassing environment that ensures a well-rounded blend of norms, traits, values and personalities.

I feel diversity is important because of the blended environment we live in today. Everyday life involves constant communication and interaction with people from all walks of life. Having a workforce that reflects this provides confidence for those we collaborate with, in that their situation is being well understood and handled professionally.

Diversity to me means an awareness of others. An awareness and acceptance of other cultures, other backgrounds, other people, and values different from my own. In my work environment, there are daily affirmations of the true diversity of the university campus. We are in the middle of the United States but draw from around the globe because of our commitment to diversity.

Diversity is the variety of voices and experiences that are involved with the work environment and project development.

Diversity is essential for strong projects to develop and for the campus to become an innovative leader in the work we do. Diversity pulls from more experiences and creates a space that is inviting and inclusive.

Diversity is important because it safeguards against stagnation and complacency. Without different people, different cultures, different genders our brains and ourselves shrink a little, and a roadblock to innovation is erected by omission.

Every individual has their own God-given talents, skills, and abilities. Every opportunity should be utilized to capitalize on them. Can you imagine getting the best out of everyone?

Diversity fosters different ideas, thoughts, and perspectives that yield improved inventions, technologies, advancements, and ultimately success.

Diversity is trying to be actively aware that you almost certainly do have specific tendencies you are not aware of that influence how you think and decisions you make and to be more actively critical of those tendencies so that you make the best decisions you can.   

Diversity in an organization stimulates innovation, mitigates “group think”, and challenges employees to think “outside the box.”

Diversity is a mix of multiple races and genders that provide an experience of something, or someone, that is different from you.

Diversity means listening to, respecting, valuing, and even sometimes taking a chance on people or ideas that are different from you or your own.

A diverse workforce allows for different perspectives to come to the table, and with that, we hopefully leave with the best solution. This is one of the reasons that during my most recent hiring process, I looked for students who could bring something different than I bring to the table.

Diversity is important because it allows people who are different to be treated equally and with respect. It also strengthens teamwork.

My definition of diversity is the representation—in a group of people, the media, the workplace, learning environments, etc.—of people with different backgrounds.  It can include anything from different races, religious affiliations, mobility or mental functionality, and sexual orientations, to varied cultural, political, and economic backgrounds.  Perhaps also the myriad of ways in which people understand, experience, and interpret the world around them.

Diversity makes one think about things they might not be aware of or experienced. Diversity can show a person that things might be able to be done different way or differently from how you might do things. It can show someone a different path.

Diversity is understanding and respecting every individual; uplifting them to reach their full potential to positively impact society, educational institutions, and the workplace.

I think diversity is important because the only way to truly understand life, the world, and humanity is to engage with all aspects of people. Diversity allows us to come at the world (and our experiences therein) from a different, potentially heretofore unknown perspective, which in turn helps us to think critically about our views and beliefs. In that sense, diversity not only teaches us about others but helps us learn more about ourselves, too.

Diversity to me means that out of many people with various backgrounds and life experiences one group can come together towards a common good.

My definition of diversity as it pertains to an organization is the inclusion of individuals from various walks of life, with unique experiences, value systems, and skill sets.

Diversity is important because it allows for a sharing and contribution of a variety of ideas, viewpoints, backgrounds, etc. Diversity in a group allows for more creativity and experiences which enable the group to work, grow, improve, develop and adapt to change.

Diversity is important because of the blended environment we live in today. Everyday life involves constant communication and interaction with people from all walks of life. Having a workforce that reflects this provides confidence for those we collaborate with, in that their situation is being well understood and handled professionally.

Diversity is important because it allows us to see and use different methods and tools of thinking, working, etc. Having diversity around/within us broadens us by getting different points of views.

Diversity encompasses the unique talents, thoughts, ideas, experience, viewpoints, and backgrounds from people of differing races, ethnicities, age, sex/sexual identity, and socio-economic status.

Diversity – something that is multicultural, different, or has variety.

Diversity brings in an interaction of different groups of people and can increase the exchange of ideas between these groups. With a diverse workplace, it can be possible that certain groups specialize in certain tasks and this can help the workplace run more efficiently.

Diversity is a collaboration of people from all walks of life. Race, color, and religion are set aside to achieve a common goal to make the world a better place.

Diversity is valuing differences that we bring to the department.

Race is not the only determining factor to diversity. Factors also include ethnicity, religion, and a broad range of age and experiences, both in work and life. Some people grew up and have spent time in metropolitan areas, while others were in small towns or from a rural setting. Regional influences on our upbringing mold our differences of opinion.

Tolerance and acceptance are not the same things, but putting differences aside allows us to work together.

Every person has worth. I would not enjoy a cookie cutter world of people.

Respecting and valuing our diversity allows us better teamwork and communication.

Respecting and valuing diversity is crucial. Sometimes people butt heads, but we still come together to reach an understanding to get the job done. You have to respect differences and work and learn from them in order to deliver the best service possible.



Why is innovation important at F&S?

Innovation is important because it can minimize injuries and save customers money. 

Innovation is important at F&S as it allows us to continuously improve the efficiency, timeliness, and quality of work that we can provide our customers.

F&S is not just a service provider; we are researchers as well. New products, equipment, tools, and techniques are continually being developed that can and will improve efficiencies and extend the useful life of the universities physical environment supporting our mission. We should embrace them.

Innovation is important because it encourages individuals to find new ways to solve problems, further develop their critical thinking skills, and also perform tasks more efficiently for greater benefits.

The absence of innovation breeds stagnation. Without open-mindedness towards new approaches to old problems, the problems become routine. And routine problems dampen and diminish work towards progress and growth.

Innovation allows for F&S to adopt efficiencies and provide better service to our customers.

Innovation is necessary to allow for continuous improvement to all the processes, procedures and programs we use and perform at F&S. It allows us to find more efficient & more organized ways to perform our work.

F&S faces many challenges across campus, and without innovation, it would be impossible to successfully handle some of these challenges.

An example of innovation in the workplace is finding new ways to more effectively track and schedule work. Combining this with customer communications allows for a greater understanding of job delivery capabilities.

In this day of fast-paced communication, it is critical that F&S look for innovative ways to communicate to our customers. In Capital Programs, our processes are complicated, and we need to continuously search for better ways to communicate the time it takes to plan, design and build a capital construction project.

Innovation is important because new ideas change the way we work and live, such as completing tasks more efficiently, being more environmentally friendly, setting up preventive maintenance to prevent breakdowns, and making jobs safer. If you are innovative, you can do more with less.

Innovation is important at F&S as we have limited resources with which to take care of a large physical environment as well as all of the Faculty and staff expectations.

Innovation at F&S is extremely important. Everyone here has an opportunity to make an impact throughout the whole campus and suggest creative improvements. I believe I provide innovative solutions on a regular basis as challenges are presented to me.

Describe a time you were innovative in your work?

A few years ago shop 23 built cast iron radiator movers which prevented injuries. When we heard about the latest technology on sprinkler systems, we asked for training. Now we can install Vicflex hoses on branch lines of fire suppression systems. This method is faster, so it saves the customer money.

Creating and implementing the Contractor Pricing Proposal app enables contractors in the Contractor Services Program to submit quotes electronically through the my.FS portal. This application provides consistency and reduces entry error. As we perform a proposal risk assessment and evaluation, it provides an avenue for us to electronically go directly back to the contractor for further documentation and answers. In addition, we now have greatly improved reporting on the contractor, divisions of work and trades being utilized in the Contractor Services Program.

I created a new method for my office to inventory accessibility deficiencies on campus using ArcGIS Online.

Yesterday I took an innovative approach towards a bike in the Campus Bike Center that I wasn’t able to fix. Instead of saying “no” to those who asked about the bike, I explained to a customer that it required certain tools and methods that I wasn’t familiar with. He was okay with that, and now he’s going to build the bike with some of his own tools. So instead of a bike gathering dust and an unhappy customer, we’ll both learn about the bike as we repair it together, and he’ll ride away happy. And we’ll have both broadened our mechanical skills.

I am working on being innovative in my work by looking at new ways to organize work across all F&S divisions so that projects are efficient, cost effective & not in conflict with one another. In addition, we hope that a new software program will help with the efficiency & organization of design submittal reviews for capital projects.

An example of innovation in the workplace is finding new ways to more effectively track and schedule work. Combining this with customer communications allows for a greater understanding of job delivery capabilities.

We are working to develop web-based tools for campus clients to use to gain a better understanding of the steps that are required in the life of a construction project.

With the FY17 budget recession, we reorganized to reduce positions and work within our budget constraints.

How do you deliver value to customers?

I deliver value to F&S customers by lending them a helping hand or just informing them of the projects that we have going on within the area.

I deliver value to F&S customers by scheduling work and providing resources such as tools, technical knowledge, and labor to accomplish work.

We deliver value to customers by responding promptly, leaving the job site clean, and communicating with customers.

I deliver value to our customers by working with a large team to execute service delivery in the most efficient manner. In that pursuit, we work on being responsive to customers as well as work to achieve effective communication that is desired.

I feel I deliver value to F&S customers when I provide solutions in the form of products and services which empower them to help themselves to the information they need and thus enabling them to work efficiently and effectively.

I believe value is delivered to customers through consistent quality service and communication that they have learned they can depend on.

I deliver value to F&S customers by always being prompt and efficient. Furthermore, I always try to make sure that I respond to customers with respect. Every question or request is important to the customer who asks it, so even if it’s something I’ve dealt with 100 times before, it’s still really crucial that I respond with consideration and due diligence.

Value is delivered by listening to the customer’s requirements and asking follow-up questions when necessary. I also do my research to understand the customer’s job duties. From that, I try to deliver data and information that will aid the customer in getting their work accomplished.

I deliver value to customers by giving them what they need in a timely manner to the best of my ability. I only focus on them when they ask a question and attempt to not only give them what they need but offer other suggestions.

I deliver value to customers by trying to get them at a minimum exactly what they want, when they want it, and in the format in which they want it. I try to add value by offering options that I think may meet their needs better, in case they didn’t know about those alternate options.

I try to deliver value to F&S customers by communicating with them to make sure their message comes across clearly, speaking to them in a respectful manner, and overall attempting to give my best work to them.

Delivering value to customers is to maintain the consistency of the service before and after the product has been purchased. We must understand exactly what the customer needs and must work to deliver a little more than what the customer asked for but still keeping the cost within the budget.

Delivering value means taking the time to listen to the customer and understanding their wants and needs.

Delivering value is about offering suggestions if you see a way to improve anything that would be of value to the customer.

“Operational Excellence” is the “glue” that holds F&S together and can be easily identified by our customers by the service level we provide. I deliver value by explaining our expectations and demonstrating excellent service delivery for customer satisfaction. To borrow a power pack phrase from George B. Wright, “you have to inspect what you expect” regarding what your service level should be and hold and maintain accountability. It’s the only way to bring sustainable change to the organization. Accountability must be part of the “Glue.”

How do our mission and vision form a foundation for your work?

Our mission and vision form a desirable foundation by encouraging us to give our best service to the university and all who use it.

Vision creates a high-level objective for the organization’s employees by helping to establish a foundation for where Facilities & Services is going and what the organization wants to become.

The mission helps guide employees in the organization, offering more specific, but general, directives for how the organization will achieve its vision.

The vision and mission, supported by values and guiding principles, help to establish a foundation for the organization and provide employees with the basis from which to build as they perform their duties and responsibilities for Facilities & Services.

Vision is something that is important to keep in mind when trying to uphold the Mission Statement. Customer service is extremely valuable, especially in Facilities Information Resources (FIR) where the work we provide to the rest of F&S is used to help other employees do their jobs more efficiently.

Since F&S is formed mainly for the University of Illinois, it really is our job to create a better environment for the students and faculty who are here on campus. The Mission Statement is truly the reason behind why F&S exists.

It seems like the vision relates to how we relate to our customers, and the mission seems higher level or an end goal. It a stating what doing our work will create for the university.

It serves to remind me personally that first and foremost we are here to support the physical infrastructure of the university, which is only here to support students and staff in their endeavors to learn, pass on knowledge, and push boundaries. And to do this, we provide our services in a quality manner so that campus “wants” to choose us (rather than outsource) to help build and maintain this first class institution. I keep in mind the final “customer” (who can sometimes seem pretty far away), and that everything I do plays a role in the quality of service F&S provides to those customers.

Our mission provides a foundation for how Facilities & Services should work together with the University of Illinois, while our vision is the foundation to what we as one group strive to do for our current and prospective clients.

I think F&S’s mission and vision form a basis for our work by providing us with the broader goal of providing a campus environment that benefits learning and research.

Our mission and vision form a foundation for our work in that they provide both a clear, concrete focus and a gold standard toward which to strive in our everyday tasks and interactions. By addressing the needs of the UIUC community in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner, we not only support the learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development of the community, but also demonstrate ourselves to be a valuable resource and active contributor to the betterment and support of the university.

The F&S mission and vision form a foundation for our work by providing accurate data and maintaining the various utilities that keep the campus running efficiently. The F&S Mission helps in the physical maintenance and development of the campus by directly engaging with the various departments and providing data/utilities. The F&S vision is a code for all F&S employees to be responsive and reliable to the customers, develop trust with the people we work with, and produce a high quality of work.

Our physical environment is well tuned for production and engagement. The community is linked at various points for efficient communication, be it over network infrastructure or physically next to each other, to promote teamwork and a group effort in continuing development of an atmosphere that promotes efficiency and mutual benefit. By working together, we ascertain the learning and discovery necessary to improve ourselves and the university.

Facilities & Services continues to prioritize its customers and the service it provides before anything else. We are here to be available and reliable for other members of the community, and our endgame relies on us maintaining the most efficient pathways for them to attain their goal.

The Mission needs to inform about not only the big picture but the small, day-to-day decisions, too. It is a supportive role, but also one that requires some effort and commitment. We offer hands-on learning in a less passive environment than the regular lecture-study-test-grade system. Without an eye toward our Mission, our work is rudderless, and our reputation and standing as an organization is jeopardized.

The “highly valued” qualifier is the most important part of our Vision statement. Being highly valued takes a commitment beyond simply completing work orders or service tickets, and that is, I think, where we want to be as an organization—valued because of and beyond the service we supply. That is achievable in the human element, engaging the people for which our services are provided, and is integral in the future of the organization.

Our mission and vision form a foundation for learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development in a number of ways. F&S has exemplified these characteristics through partnerships with industry leaders, businesses, and engagement with customers across campus and in the outlying community. Facilities & Services plays a vital role in producing the fruits of labor that result from these partnerships and also ensure positive economic development not just for the university as an organization, but its campus body and outlying community.

F&S impacts every part of campus and is relied upon to keep the core purpose of the university possible. If we lose sight of our mission and do not strive to meet it every day, in every project, and in every interaction with the campus community, we fail to adequately support the university.

The Mission is the reason we are here, as in defining why we exist. We exist to provide and maintain a physical environment that is conducive to supporting learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development at the University of Illinois. We provide the support of the physical facilities as a support component for all other departments on campus. We were hired and are paid to care for the physical facilities for this campus.

Our vision is how we desire for us as a unit to be. We want to see ourselves and be seen as a responsive, reliable, and highly valued service provider. We strive to achieve this daily.

Our values, and how we demonstrate them:

Trust

Trust means no matter when and who you talk to in management, you can trust that they have you in their best interest.

Trust is the faith and confidence one feels about a reliable person, process, or organization. What a wonderful feeling it is when any of us discover that we have earned the trust of another person, or that we contribute to a process or organization which has come to be trusted!

“Treating others as we would like to be treated” is the basic building block or foundation of trust and is a good starting point for getting to know one another. My thought is reach out, open up, and get to know as many of those you work with as possible. Only then can we trust one another. 

Sometimes trust can mean managing people’s expectations. For us in F&S, we know the challenges of building, fixing, replacing, and upgrading, and we know the process takes time.  If we are open, honest, and direct with our clients across campus, they will know what to expect during a construction project. 

Trust means having no doubts that any situation will be taken care.

Trust in the work place means I believe in the reliability, honesty, and strength of character in those I work alongside.

Having trust in my employees enables me to focus on the duties and priorities that are expected of me.

Trust means that when someone doubts what I’m doing, what I did, or what I intended by something I said or wrote, they give me the benefit of the doubt. They don’t jump to conclusions. They pause and talk to me to get more information and better understand the situation.

It’s the faith we put into something and/or someone else.

Trust is a form of currency in the workplace. We are in a team environment, and trustworthy teams are energetic, talent rich, creative, and respectful. Without trust, the team dynamics fail and effective results are in short supply.

Trust is not granted by what we say, but earned through our actions and intentions.

Trust means that my colleagues believe that my work and expertise matter, as I believe their work and expertise matter.

At work, trust means that I can count on someone to complete a task correctly and on time.

Trust means having the confidence in someone or something to do or complete what is said or agreed upon.

In my unit, trust means knowing we are each part of a fabulous team that has each other’s back. We trust that when one of us needs a ball caught, someone else will catch it. Together we will get it done.

Trust means to tell the truth, even when it is not popular to do so.

Trust is something between workers and management. They should “have each other’s back.” When there is no trust between the ranks, the working relationship is severed.

Trust is something that is not given but earned. It all starts with a genuine caring intent followed by your capabilities, skill, knowledge, and effort to produce results as promised or set forth.

Respect

Respect means saying hello to all and having a smile.

Respect means always treating others the way you would like to be treated, no matter what the situation.

Respect is treating someone how you would like to be treated.

“RESPECT” . . . Is believing in the GOOD IN OTHERS and giving them support and encouragement. When you give “RESPECT” you usually get “RESPECT” in return. Working towards building a good relationship / being flexible and not seeking my own interest but that of the other person.

Respect means care and consideration for others around you, and taking other opinions into account when making decisions.

Respect is treating each other with courtesy, kindness, and consideration.  It is valuing the contributions made by others and letting them know they are appreciated.

“RESPECT” means . . . HONORING, LISTENING, SUPPORTING and CARING about all people and the differences that make us unique. Includes BUILDING A STRONG BOND OF TRUST and BELIEF IN PEOPLE. Always doing the right thing on behalf of others and expecting the same in return.

Respect is a line of trust, integrity, and other values that make up a healthy relationship. Respect is fundamental in all relationships.

To me, respect means that we recognize the worth of all people, regardless of our differences.

Understanding and appreciating that everyone here has a job that is part of the whole is what respect means to me. There is no one job more or less important than anyone else’s. It takes everyone here to be successful at what we do.

Respect in the work place is an admiration of a colleague’s skills, qualities, and ability to contribute to the success of the organization. Mutual respect amongst colleagues is important for good team dynamics as we work together for the overall success of the organization.

This word “RESPECT” is a very powerful word and difficult to put into words. I hope you understand what it means to me “RESPECT” that is what it means to me (smile).

Accountability

Accountability means being held responsible and accepting responsibility for your actions.

Accountability stems from the word account. Simply put, it means that everyone is a portion of a summed total.

Accountability means being held responsible for your actions when possibly breaking or willingly ignoring a policy.

Accountability means showing up, but more than that, being responsible for my work.

Accountability means taking responsibility for your actions and do not expect everyone else to make changes or modifications for your personal shortcomings.

Accountability means that I can be depended on by my coworkers and supervisors.

 “Accountability” has two components: An individual must first accept accountability by clearly understanding the boundary of her or his responsibility and what is expected; the employee must then act responsibly.

Accountability means take credit for your successes AND your mistakes.

Accountability is about taking responsibility for your work and seeing things through to the end.

Accountability means we stand behind our work and make sure it is the best for our community.

Accountability means being able to depend, rely, and trust in someone to do something efficiently and effectively with little to no supervision or direction. Having the faith in someone that something will get accomplished accurately.

Accountability means being trustworthy and reliable.

Accountability refers to your obligations and responsibilities (not only professionally but also in your personal life) and can be taken to a higher level by striving to do your best in all things. The person you are most “accountable” to is yourself. Knowing that you did your best and gave it your all, 100% of the time can really give you a sense of great accomplishment and pride.

Accountability should not be associated with punishment but instead as a tool for improving performance.

Accountability is based upon commitment to one another. It involves providing/receiving feedback from fellow co-workers for the good of all.  It applies to safety, productivity, quality of work, and consistency with approved procedures.  Further, it applies to words, behaviors and attitudes. Accountability protects us from the dangers and disadvantages of working in a vacuum.

Accountability is about taking personable responsibility for your actions.

When I hear the statement “I’m going to hold you accountable”, I initially think of accountability as punitive, a negative, uh oh what did I do wrong. But in actuality, to be successful, accountability should be a portion of my daily plan, my daily actions. I am entrusted, depended upon to do what’s right, to do what I’m supposed to be doing and perform in the manner that best represents F&S and the university on a daily basis.

I strive to set and be a good example of accountability in all my work activities and in life itself day to day. Accountability starts with me and hopefully my example encourages others I come in contact with on the job and in real life. For me, it means holding myself accountable in my actions and standing up for what’s right every time, even when it may be unpopular. As a leader, being accountable for my actions, activities, and work assignments is setting the example in life to help others to be successful.

Integrity

Sound moral and ethical principles. A quality of honesty and high moral values.

Integrity means that what I do can be relied on by others; that it is authentic and honest and won’t need to be second-guessed or rehashed.

An individual with integrity performs consistently at a high level and can be relied upon to do so. They will strive to inform customers, be honest with them, and treat them with respect and courtesy.

Integrity, or lack thereof, is what you do or how you act when no one is there to hold you accountable. It comes from within. It is an internal self-regulator with no need of external policing.  

Having integrity is being trustworthy and respectable.

Integrity to me means we steward the university’s assets and knowledge to offer the world the greatest learning and labor environment for the most noble cause – educating humanity. We unconditionally offer this to humanity with an uncompromised sense of integrity. It is the way we have embarked upon our journey for 150 years and we will continue. It is the only way we know how to move forward.

One can say that a person is integral when that person stays true to his/her values and beliefs under any given circumstance. A person with integrity is honest, dedicated, and has a clear view of what is right and wrong.

Integrity means: doing what’s right when nobody knows.

Being honest and doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

Integrity…means….one who exemplifies…..”THE RIGHT STUFF”….

Being honest and having strong moral principles.

Integrity means “Walking the TALK” . . . Our walk must match our talk. We need to “LIVE IT”” . . .
Whether we’re conscience of it or not, deep down we know our “WORD” must match our “ACTIONS” and everything starts with our “WORD.”

Teamwork

Teamwork is what happens when a group is formed, members of which have individual strengths and skill sets, to collaborate and work towards a solution to a common problem or to reach a desired goal.

Putting “team” before “you.”

Understanding that working with and actively supporting your team gets everyone to the goal faster and cheaper with a better end result.

Trusting that your teammates are all doing the best they can with their responsibilities.

Trusting before judging.

The ability to come together as one by supporting and working together efficiently and effectively to achieve a common goal(s).  Teamwork makes the dream work.

Teamwork is being able to come together for a common goal regardless of whether you like someone or not.

Teamwork means that you have a person or a crew that have your back when you fall short on a goal or a task. 

Working together to get the job done – big jobs, small jobs, all jobs. Teamwork is always about the TEAM, we must always appreciate the people we work with and their contribution – no matter how big or how small. Everyone plays a part in getting things done – no one man or woman does it all – or in the same way or at the same pace. Learn from our teammates, teach our teammates, be thankful, shower appreciation on everyone, smile, and always lift one another up.

Simply put – Each one in the group contributes.

The teamwork perspective means to esteem the presence and contributions of others with as much validity as my own. It takes a team to achieve the vision.

Teamwork means to work together as a team and gladly help each other out. Together we can.

To me, teamwork means working together with a group of people to achieve a common goal. Good team players work together to combine individual strengths to make the team even stronger.

Teamwork is working together by helping each other through sharing information, mentoring, giving the advice, supporting someone when (s)he is quite well, and also when (s)he is down, giving a helping hand whenever and wherever needed – on a regular basis, every day.

Together Everyone Accomplishes More Work . . . through a common thread: focus, inclusive of a common direction, purpose, goal, support, encouragement, willing and ready to assist when and where needed, always with a positive attitude.

Safety

Safety means being able to perform your task and duties safely.

Safety is a focused activity involving conscience when making decisions regarding our action in all activities. We consciously think in advance and consider the best safety practices before going forward with an activity in our work or life focusing on understanding the dangers, risk, hazards, involved in any/all activities and actively reducing, avoiding, and eliminating things/situations /elements that pose a threat to me, you, or others.

Safety is making an individual commitment to be safe and work safely so that our efforts contribute to a safe workplace and the environment around us. In doing so, we encourages safety for everyone.

Being safe is not just for my benefit, but for everyone’s benefit.

Safety is as important to a job as are the tools I use.

Safety is understanding and knowing the risk and being properly educated to manage and reduce the risk.

Safety is something that both the employees and supervisors are responsible for. If an employee points out a safety issue the supervisor should act on it by fixing it.

Safety defines, acknowledges, involves, and recognizes your contribution to the work environment.

Safety is a mindset; you don’t just act on safety, you live safety.

Safety is not just for work, it’s for home and every place else in my life.

Safety at work means not taking chances when it comes to my health and well-being or the health and well-being of those around me. Everyone can be safe if they make the effort.

It’s more important to do your work safely than it is to do it quickly. There should be no cutting corners when it comes to being safe.

Safety means following all the policies and procedures that have been set up to ensure my health and welfare.

Org Charts of the Divisions of Facilities & Services

Office of Executive Director

Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director: Jeff Angiel

The Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director leads all physical plant, operational, and essential services in support of the research, teaching, and public engagement activities of the University of Illinois.

Customer Relations & Communications
Associate Director: Malikah Gordon
Departmental Areas:
Communications
Customer Relations
Service Office

Customer Relations & Communications (CRC) is the liaison between the campus community and all divisions within F&S. CRC is responsible for all internal and external communications, media relations, and customer relationship management. The Service Office serves as the initial point-of-contact for all maintenance and construction activities, as well as the “call center” for F&S that handles more than 180 work requests, 10 outage requests, and 15 locates each day.

Human Resources, Diversity & Strategy
Director: 
Eric Smith
Departmental Areas:
Employee Relations/Human Resources
Inclusion & Organizational Development
Payroll

Human Resources, Diversity, & Strategy provides HR, Employee Relations, Training, and Payroll services to all the units within F&S. This is accomplished by interpreting university policies and procedures, developing internal processes to ensure compliance, and exercising sound judgement to position the department to recruit and retain a diverse and qualified workforce.

Sustainability
Associate Director: Morgan B. White

The Associate Director helps incorporate sustainable practices into programs and operations, working with the university, student groups, and the community to meet target goals set forth by the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP).

Building Maintenance & Grounds
Director: 
Steve Bainbridge (interim)
Departments:
Building Maintenance
Grounds

The Building Maintenance & Grounds division is charged with maintaining the physical assets of the campus. General repairs to buildings and preventive maintenance of systems and equipment are the responsibility of Building Maintenance. To keep the outdoor spaces looking their best, Grounds trims hedges, fills flowerbeds and planters, mows grass, prunes trees, empties exterior trash containers, and coordinates and executes landscaping projects.  

Capital Programs

Director: Mohamed Sultan
Departments:
Contracts Administration
Division of Responsibility Coordination
Project Management
Project Planning
Transportation Demand Management

The Capital Programs division provides administration of capital improvement projects on the Urbana campus in support of the strategic objectives of the academic enterprise. They engage all stakeholders in the project delivery process, including campus units and administration, faculty, staff, students, and surrounding communities that may be affected and work in close association with the University Office of Capital Programs and Real Estate Services. The Capital Project Planning department focuses on planning and managing campus assets as outlined in the Campus Master Plan. Planners assist campus units with developing solutions for their facilities to meet their programmatic needs, secure appropriate campus and university approvals and employ all professional consultants for design of resulting capital projects. The Capital Project Management Department directs the design, procurement, and construction of large capital projects, including new construction, major renovations and essential campus infrastructure. The university is a leader in sustainable building design updating its requirements to LEED® Gold certification for all new construction and major renovations more than $5M. The Division of Responsibility coordinator creates DoRs for new buildings, reviews and updates DoRs for existing buildings, and ensures the DoR guidelines are consistent and fairly applied across campus. Construction Services provides oversight and delivery for projects ranging from the installation of a new room sign to the remodeling of a laboratory. Transportation Demand Management works with regional transportation planning partners to coordinate the networks for all forms of campus travel, including walking, bicycling, transit, and vehicles.

Engineering & Construction Services
Director: Jim Sims
Departments:
Code Compliance & Fire Safety
Construction Services
Engineering Services 
Facilities Information Resources

The Engineering Design and Quality Assurance departments provide analysis, commissioning and inspection, design, and review services. Facilities Information Resources maintains all documentation for buildings and infrastructure, the space database, and the geographic information system. Campus Code Compliance & Fire Safety is responsible for code compliance, fire, and life safety programs for the campus. Three delivery options are available to meet the campus demand for non-capital construction: Contractor Services, F&S Crafts & Trades, and Job Order Contracting.

Safety & Compliance
Director: Jeremy Neighbors
Departments:
Environmental Compliance
Occupational Safety & Health

The Safety & Compliance division assists campus units in fulfilling their responsibility to protect the environment and provide a safe and healthy place of employment and learning. The Occupational Safety & Health Department and the Environmental Compliance Department provide consulting and training resources, develop new programs, and oversee occupational safety and environmental management programs and policies for the campus community.

Shared Administrative Services
Director:
 Jenny Watkins
Departments:
Accounts Payable
Financial Operations
Information Technology Services
Purchasing
Stores & Receiving

The Shared Administrative Services Division supports all F&S business units by controlling costs and improving service delivery. The division develops business processes and procedures, provides timely and accurate reporting on management information, processes all user requests and provides our customers with quality products, competitive pricing, and timely pick-up and delivery services.

Transportation & Building Services
Director: Pete Varney
Departments:
Building Services
Transportation
Zero Waste

Building Services provides custodial services to campus general fund facilities. Transportation & Automotive Services consists of the Garage, Car Pool, and drivers. The Car Pool provides university vehicle rental and fleet management services. Staff also assist with repair university vehicles, equipment, or heavy machinery. Drivers are available to provide transportation for specific campus events and requests. UI Ride shuttle service to Chicago is also managed by the division.

Utilities & Energy Services

Director: Robert Roman
Departments:
Business Operations
Energy Conservation & Retrocommissioning
Energy Management System Controls
Energy Performance Contracting
Utilities Distribution
Utilities Production

The Utilities & Energy Services division manages and maintains campus utility production and distribution systems, including Abbott Power Plant, engages in a variety of energy conservation initiatives, responds to hot/cold customer complaints, and oversees utility rate setting and billing. The division provides environmentally compliant, reliable, and cost effective energy and other utilities to support the campus’ research and education efforts.

LEED® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Building Emergency Action Plan (BEAP)

Emergencies and disasters that can impact the operations of Facilities & Services can happen at any moment.

It is the intent of the Building Emergency Action Plan (BEAP) to assist all F&S employees to the greatest extent possible in planning and responding to most conceivable emergencies within F&S buildings. A BEAP is a document that supplies guidance on emergency responses for a particular building. The plans are designed to comply with OSHA general industry standard 1910.38.

Remember, to some extent all personnel have a role in emergency responses and should be generally familiar with the BEAP for their building. Certain employees will have specific tasks as assigned by the Emergency Management Team.

BEAP Toolbox Talk

BEAP Files (PDFs)