University to realign Facilities and University Services operations

Princeton University's Office of the Executive Vice President has developed an organizational plan to realign responsibilities within the Facilities Organization and University Services to strengthen the institution's capacity to manage its facilities and provide critical services to members of the campus community.

Under the plan, Facilities will focus on stewarding Princeton's grounds and buildings, and University Services will focus on provision of services, with each organization led by a vice president who will serve as a member of the president's cabinet. Both positions will report to Executive Vice President Mark Burstein.

The vice president for facilities will continue to lead departments and offices responsible for planning, operating and maintaining the University's physical space, while some of the service-based operations, such as Dining Services, Conference and Event Services, and Housing and Real Estate Services, that previously operated within the Facilities Organization, will report to a newly created position of vice president for university services.

The realignment plan was prompted by an assessment of the growth of both Facilities and University Services performed by the Office of the Executive Vice President. The assessment found that the expansion of the campus over the past 10 years — coupled with combining the real estate functions (.pdf) and management of the University's Forrestal Campus into the Facilities Organization — has significantly increased the scope of the work of Facilities. At the same time, University Services also has grown since its founding nine years ago and now includes service units that previously reported to various offices across Princeton's administration.

To streamline operations that provide daily services to faculty, students and staff, the vice president for university services will supervise the offices of Conference and Event Services; Contract Management and Trademark Licensing; Dining Services; Frist Campus Center; Housing and Real Estate Services; Print and Mail Services; Richardson Auditorium; Transportation and Parking; University Scheduling; and Business, Marketing and Communications for University Services, including TigerCard and University Ticketing.

Michael McKay, who has served since 2003 as vice president for facilities, will continue to serve in his position, and will supervise the offices of the University Architect; Building Services; Design and Construction; Engineering; Facilities Finance and Administrative Services; Grounds and Building Maintenance; Life Safety and Security; Organizational Development and Planning, as well as Picus Associates, which manages the Forrestal Center for the University; Real Estate Development; and Sustainability.

An internal search for the University Services vice president will begin immediately, with the goal of presenting the candidate to the Board of Trustees well in advance of completing the reorganization by July 1, 2012.