University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 34, June 12

             Employees recognized for housing suggestions
     
     Housing staff who carry out specific tasks and do the
hands-on work often have innovative ideas about how to make
improvements and how day-to-day operations can run more
smoothly and efficiently.
     To tap on this valuable resource, Barbara Graham,
housing and conference facilities, initiated the Housing and
Conference Facilities Suggestion Program in January to
encourage input from staff members.
     Employees are encouraged to submit suggestions, which
are  evaluated by a committee consisting of Graham, Judy
David, John Garwood, Carroll Shmitt, Mark Talmo and Trish
Whittington.
     A flow chart follows the route of every suggestion from
submission to acceptance and implementation or refusal.
Throughout the process, the person who submitted the
original idea is kept informed.
     The program has been well received, according to
Graham, with 47 suggestions submitted thus far. Of these, 11
have been carried out. The employees and their approved and
implemented suggestions include:
     Ken Hoffman: Establish a four year re-lamping program
in all residence halls. This is the average life of
fluorescent tubes, and if the replacement is done all at
once, it saves staff time, assists with the recycling effort
of fluorescent tubes and provides improved  service to
students;
     Sookie Borsos: Install a post-and-chain or Princeton
fence on a grass border between Gilbert B and C residence
halls. This creates a natural flow of traffic, adding only a
few extra steps, eliminates mud in the building and improves
the appearance of the landscaping;
     Gloria Spratt: Increase efficiency by giving both group
leaders on the East Campus a communication radio;
     Stephanie Allen: Publish more personal items in the
division's quarterly newsletter, IN-HOUSE, to increase
reader interest; .
     Pat Peterson: Change the screws in shower lights in
residence halls so they match and repairs can be made by
using one tool;
     Bertha Gaines: Provide an additional vehicle for
transporting  weekend staff and custodial supplies
throughout campus;
     Will Rothwell: Install ashtrays on the Christiana
Commons patio areas where students smoke while waiting for
the bus so there is less litter on the ground;
     Ken Grimes: Create a center on the Wilmington Campus
where the set-up crew reports when they have finished a job,
so that they do not have to be tracked down to learn their
next assignment;
     Anna Conkey: Create ventilation by unlocking the
Dickinson hallway windows on the upper floors;
     Sheila Chandler: Inform custodial technicians by 4:30
p.m. on Thursday if they will receive requested weekend
overtime; and
     David Guhl: Provide opportunities for the skilled
trades staff to talk to architects and engineers during
project planning and pre-construction.
     The employees were recognized at a luncheon May 28 at
the Blue and Gold Club.