Business Affairs

The nation’s top educational facilities organization, APPA, recently presented its 2014 Award for Excellence in Facilities Management to UNC Charlotte at its meeting in San Diego, Calif. Phil Jones, associate vice chancellor, facilities management, accepted the honor on behalf of the University.

UNC Charlotte’s Police and Public Safety Department (PPS) has launched a new initiative to equip all campus officers with an iPad for use in the field. It is an effort to increase police proficiency through cost-effective measures.
“We are a research-based police department,” said Jeffrey Baker, UNC Charlotte chief of police.  “We continually strive to stay out in front by researching methods of policing that can help ensure that we are doing the best in providing a safe and secure environment.

The deadline for nominations  for the 2014 Governor’s Award for Excellence, created to express appreciation for outstanding achievements by state employees, has been extended to 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 22.  This award is the highest honor a state employee may receive for noteworthy service to state government and the people of North Carolina.

On Monday, Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill that will enable six UNC system campuses, including UNC Charlotte, to fund construction projects.
UNC Charlotte will issue bonds to finance $129 million to complete four non-appropriated capital improvements that University leaders have identified as critical to campus growth.
“While some schools are seeing their numbers decline, demand for UNC Charlotte is growing dramatically in parallel to the Charlotte region’s rapid population increase,” wrote Chancellor Philip L. Dubois in an op-ed published in the Charlotte Business Journal.

The N.C. Department of Labor recently bestowed its Silver Safety Achievement Award to the University for reducing injuries and providing a safe and healthy working, teaching and learning environment in 2013.
Darius Griffin, director of the Environmental Health & Safety Office, said the honor illustrates the campus community’s commitment to fostering a culture of safety at the University. “The leadership and dedication of UNC Charlotte employees has been essential in building and maintaining an awareness of safety on campus.”

Summer is under way, and the Office of Environmental Health & Safety reminds employees to be aware of heat-related illness.
According to officials, extremely hot weather can cause serious health effects, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which may lead to death. People who work outdoors in extreme heat are more likely to become dehydrated and are at increased risk to suffer heat-related illness.
Some tips to beat the heat include:

The International Parking Association has given 2014 Awards of Merit to the University’s CRI Deck I and the South Village Deck.
For its competition, the association fielded entries from Australia, Canada, Europe, South America and the United States.

The Human Resources Department is accepting applications for the 2014 edition of its award-winning “The Leadership Experience.”
This 56-hour program, held in seven sessions, is designed for University employees who lead/supervise individuals or teams. Earlier this year, the College and University Processional Association named “The Leadership Experience” its recipient of a national Award of Excellence for Human Resources Best Practices.

The learning and development team in UNC Charlotte’s Human Resources Department has received the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) 2014 Excellence in Human Resource Practices Award.
The team, comprised of Joanna Roop, employee learning and development manager, and learning and development specialists Kathy Hurst and Jules Keith-Le, is being honored for developing the Leadership Experience program.

Earlier this month, in conjunction with National Police Week, the University’s Police and Public Safety Department held a special ceremony to recognize departmental award recipients and individuals who received promotions.
Eric Cox was named Officer of the Year at the event, and Jennifer Behre was recognized as Dispatcher of the Year. Antoinette Rhodie received the Civilian Employee of the Year Award, and Officer Betty Anderson was presented the Community Engagement Award by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Mu Tau chapter.