Every spring, as UMD bids farewell to 40,000 students, Facilities Management staff get ready to deploy across the campus for one of our busiest times: summer projects season. A quieter campus provides our team of professionals the space and time to renovate classrooms, upgrade utilities, and repair sidewalks and plazas with less disruption to student life, teaching and research.
However, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge a few critical areas in which FM worked behind the scenes to ensure a successful Commencement Week.
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The weekend prior to Commencement, the Building & Landscape Maintenance team executed an emergency road striping project on Campus Drive and Regents Drive. As a result, our roads were made safer for the thousands of faculty, staff, students, and families who attended graduation events.
On the day of Commencement, the campus suffered a major power outage on Electrical Feeder 9, which feeds (among other buildings) the Xfinity Center and the control room for the primary video board at SECU Stadium. The outage occurred around 3 p.m. and Commencement at the stadium was due to start at 7 p.m. Through the Herculean efforts of the Operations, Maintenance & Utilities team, the Customer Response Center and other FM professionals, power was restored to the video board before Commencement, and to the Xfinity Center, so that ceremonies could continue the next day. Special thanks to UMPD for providing escorts to get our people around campus.
These kinds of FM triumphs remind me of the U. S. Armed Services slogan, "The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer." Instead, FM should adopt the slogan, "FM does the impossible every day.”
Sincerely, Bob
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| Bargain Hunting at UMD's Terrapin Trader
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If you’re looking for an inexpensive option to furnish your apartment, home, or business, UMD’s surplus store, Terrapin Trader, has you covered. Terrapin Trader offers a huge stock of furniture, computers, athletic gear, and more -- all at amazingly low prices. Inventory changes frequently, and some items sell out faster than others. Drop in often to see what’s new!
More info including hours of operation on the Terrapin Trader webpage.
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| Are You Ready for Workday?
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The go-live date for Workday Human Capital Management and Finance is Friday, November 15. Training is now available to all faculty, staff, and student employees. Learn more.
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Spring Rituals: Color change for UMD’s Iconic “M”
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Twice each year, the iconic Maryland M undergoes a color change. In late April, just in time for Maryland Day, the Panola Yellow Pansies are removed to make room for the red-flowered, bronze-leaved begonias that will carry the M through the summer months. Then in September, the hardier pansies are brought back to weather the winter. View the photo gallery.
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| | Confused by FM's Many Acronyms?
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If you find yourself puzzling over an email that is loaded with acronyms and you're a little uncertain about what it all means, you're in luck. FM has just developed an online glossary of common acronyms and abbreviations used in the facilities industry and around the UMD campus. If you need a little help keeping your EOP separate from your EUI, check out this handy online resource.
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FM's 2024 Maryland Day tent drew crowds in spite of damp, chilly weather. Teams shared information about FM's services and held a raffle for six prize packages that highlighted a different aspect of FM. View the photo gallery.
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| NextGen Receives State Approval
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On May 15, UMD learned that the NextGen Energy Program received final approval to move forward. The University of Maryland and Maryland Energy Impact Partners (MEIP) secured partnership approvals from the University System of Maryland Board of Regents and the Board of Public Works and are now moving on to the financial close, which is expected to occur this summer. Read the full article.
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Catherine Roach just can't get enough of UMD. She completed undergrad and graduate studies here, and now strives to avoid the word "impossible" in her role as a Facilities Manager in OM&U. Read the full article.
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Steve Ramirez is out to impact the UMD campus for the better as Assistant Manager of Renovation Services in P&C. He also wouldn't mind changing your tastes in international cuisine — particularly when it comes to Pastelón, a Puerto Rican form of lasagna. Read the full article.
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| UMD Recognized as Maryland Bird Campus
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Earlier this spring, the University of Maryland Arboretum staff received notification that UMD has been recognized as a Bird Campus by the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership, joining just three other Maryland universities. This recognition is based on achieving goals aimed at bird conservation and raising awareness of the challenges that birds face in our region and around the world. Read the full article.
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| Updates to the FM Shines Program
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Check out this handy resource to keep you in the know regarding Facilities Management's new hires, staff moves, and departures. View the list for May.
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SHIFT: What's New and Next
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| Campus Race to Zero Waste
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In the annual college competition, UMD ranked second nationally, and was the top university in both Maryland and the Big 10 for the diversion of waste from landfills to more environmentally friendly disposal. Our percentage diverted: 56.825%. Read the full article.
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#ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
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Share your story ideas! People Power is a newsletter for and about FM staff, so let us know if you have suggestions for future editions. Send your ideas and info to fmcommunications@umd.edu.
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| Copyright © 2024 Facilities Management, University of Maryland, All rights reserved.
7401 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
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