Summary of Quick Wins, Quick Fixes during the first year
Many of the issues that go unresolved year after year in an organization are not that hard to fix. They fall under the category of “This is so simple and obvious, why hasn’t somebody fixed this yet?”
In Chancellor Thomas Harden’s first convocation address to faculty and staff shortly after his arrival in Green Bay, he invited suggestions. The Chancellor’s Cabinet sifted through those possibilities and settled on more than a dozen small but doable, desirable and no-cost/low-cost “Quick Fixes.” They are as follows:
- Clarify polices on academic use of Weidner Center — The University is committed to encouraging more student and faculty use of the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts, which relies on uniform application of per-use fees (no exceptions) to help cover actual operating expenses. That policy does not change; the “Quick Fix” involves increasing a University academic fund to underwrite additional use by academic units;
- Ticket perk from Phoenix Athletics — In a gesture toward co-workers sharing the burden of state-mandated furloughs and salary reductions, the Green Bay Athletics Department is offering UW-Green Bay faculty and staff complimentary basketball tickets around two of the University’s furlough days;
- Improved handicapped parking near Cofrin Library — Additional and more convenient handicapped parking spaces were created near the Circle Entrance to the Cofrin Library. Paving was widened to accommodate those who use wheelchairs or have other mobility issues, and a second access ramp was cut into the curb;
- Spruced-up landscaping around the central campus — In response to requests from employees and others who enjoy the campus landscape on a daily basis, Facilities Management re-prioritized and accelerated existing plans to freshen up high-visibility plantings.
- Flexible work hours, and telecommuting — The University finalized new policies and clarified existing practices with regard to employment work hours and telecommuting. Chancellor Harden took a clear stand in encouraging supervisors and managers to explore such options on a select, case-by-case basis if the arrangement makes sense for both institution and employee;
- Encourage internal applicants for vacant positions — The Chancellor addressed the sense among some employees that the University, historically, has not done enough to “promote from within.” If there has been any impediment to that, he said, we need to make sure that the internal candidates are not just encouraged, but provided opportunities to develop a skill set for the ability to apply for and be successful in these positions.
In summary, Harden said, he was impressed by the response to the original call for employee suggestions, and he is considering extending this from a “first-year, new chancellor’s initiative” to an ongoing program. “The sense of involvement and ownership across the University is strong. People care, and they have good ideas,” Harden said. “To be honest, many of the suggestions were things that were already under consideration or in the early stages of implementation. My general sense is that in many ways it’s a very well-run enterprise, but there is always room for improvement.”
The Chancellor announced 20 more “Quick Fix” implementations in August 2010 at the annual Faculty/Staff Convocation opening the new school year.
...Chancelllor Harden said, he was impressed by the response to the original call for employee suggestions, and he is considering extending this from a “first-year, new chancellor’s initiative” to an ongoing program...
