February 11, 2004

By Mike Emery
Staff writer

To enhance its resources and better serve the University of Houston, the Division of Administration and Finance recently completed a reorganization of its resources and departments.

“Our goal is to build on existing strengths,” said John Rudley, vice president of administration and finance. “After taking a close look at our resources, we’ve redirected our energies to enhance the university’s operational efficiency. At the same time, we’ve been able to cut costs while bolstering our customer service efforts.”

The division has made numerous changes, including reorganizing the Department of Finance and adding the four positions to HR. The changes have resulted in a net savings of $131,026 in addition to new expanded services to the university and the division’s business offices.

The changes to the division and its departments are as follows:

Division of Administration and Finance

• The position of associate vice chancellor/associate vice president for administration has been reclassified to executive director of auxiliary services.
• The departments of procurement, auxiliary services, postal and printing services and the Cougar1 Card office will report to Jim McShan, associate vice president for finance.
• The departments of parking operations and environmental health and risk management are reporting to David Irvin, associate vice president for plant operations.
• The departments of parking enforcement, fire marshal and physical safety now report to Police Chief Bob Wilson, who heads the Division of Public Safety, formerly the UH Police Department (UHPD).
• The contracts administration department now reports to the legal affairs department.

Department of Finance

• The role and scope of the Office of Business Services has been revised so that its responsibilities are more centralized, enabling the creation of standardized business practices across the division.
• The business offices of the vice president for administration and finance, the associate vice chancellor/associate vice president for finance and the Office of Business Services have been consolidated to create a division business office.
• A new Finance/Payroll/Human Resources (HR) Customer Service Center has been created.

Department of Human Resources

Rudley commissioned a 14-person committee of faculty and staff to review the HR department and make recommendations for improvements. Based on its recommendations, the following actions are being taken:

• An executive director position is being added to incorporate technological enhancements to the major areas of employment, compensation and benefits management.
• Four positions will be added to establish a customer service center for HR.
• An HR central processing center is being created to increase productivity and eliminate the need to transfer documents between departments for processing.

Department of Public Safety

The UHPD reorganized into the Department of Public Safety (DPS). DPS will have two captains — one overseeing the department’s administrative side and one to oversee field operations.

• The former UHPD’s patrol division lieutenant will become field operations captain and oversee the Patrol Division, parking enforcement, fire marshal and physical safety specialist.
• Senior sergeant will fill position of patrol division lieutenant.

Plant Operations Department

• The finance and operations functions of the risk management and parking operations offices have been merged to improve accounting and campus services. The information technology functions of both these offices also have been consolidated.
• On-line Plant Operations services have been expanded, including the ability to
  submit work requests online. Future enhancements to the Web site will include submitting on-line requests for pick up of hazardous materials to the environmental health and risk management department and an on-line project tracking system within Facilities, Planning and Construction.
• This fall, parking matters such as permits, tickets and appeals will be handled
  online.
• Remote sites will be created to sell parking permits and offer parking information.
• A new team will be initiated to oversee minor construction projects.
• Elevator maintenance will be assumed for auxiliary facilities, which will be made possible by interdepartmental agreements between Plant Operations and the affected departments. The affected departments will be providing the funding for this service.
• Plant Operations will take over custodial duties for the Athletics/Alumni Center in an effort to save the Athletic Department money and provide better and more coordinated service to the university.