Announcements
Football Work Orders – What You Need to Know
Work orders will be issued each week for support of home football games. Please make sure you have your labor/materials entered as soon as possible each week so we can close down each game for billing. If your team does not have a work order please let Susan Gibson or Tracy Walker know so one can be issued.
-Labor/Material Entries: Don’t forget to verify your labor/material entry to make sure it’s entered correctly. If there’s a zero in parenthesis, this indicates an estimated amount and will NOT be charged. Actual hours worked should be in parenthesis, as shown below
-Miscellaneous charges must have documentation attached (PO/Req or something showing where you got the cost you listed).
Requisitions & GL Account Codes
Since each department is now responsible for their own budget, GL coding on your requisitions will be very important for identifying charges on the ledger. Your GL code will change depending on what you are purchasing. Below is a quick reference list of the most commonly used GL/Acct codes. If you ever have questions on the appropriate code, please reach out to anyone on the A/P team for guidance.
Receivers Reminders
Please respond to receiving requests from the A/P team asap. DASH will NOT allow an invoice to be processed unless the PO has been received. If you believe the invoice doesn’t belong to you, still RESPOND, so we can find the appropriate person or contact the vendor.
**If you pick up items in Central Supply, you do not need to “receive” those items in DASH. Central Supply will receive those items and send to the A/P office for payment.
Introducing the UT Wellness: Know How, Know Now Challenge
The University of Tennessee is launching UT Wellness: Know How, Know Now, a new systemwide K@TE training series designed to equip faculty and staff with practical, life-saving skills. Beginning Aug. 31, employees can complete three self-paced trainings on mental health warning signs, opioid overdose response and suicide prevention. From Aug. 31 through Oct. 10, employees who complete all three trainings will earn a digital certificate and qualify for a systemwide prize drawing as part of the Know How, Know Now Challenge.
Fall Staff Picnic – September 8
Mark your calendars for the Fall Employee Picnic in Neyland Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 8. All Knoxville-area employees are invited to enjoy a meal between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and both the Stokely Media Center and the Peyton Manning Locker Room will be open for a behind-the-scenes look.
Compliance Training & Conflict of Interest
Don’t forget to log into K@TE to complete your compliance training before 10/31. DASH Conflict of Interest reporting is also live. You should’ve received an email with a direct link to help you navigate this process. If you have questions on either, reach out to FS Training.
Building Services
- No report received
Operations
Moving & Event Services
- No report received
Sustainability
What improved last week?
- Grow Lab: Fall volunteer shifts were scheduled in GivePulse, and Federal Work-Study schedules were confirmed.
- Compost: Reorganized and cleaned the break room, prepared desk space for the new Compost Logistics Coordinator arriving August 18, and continued bin cleaning and maintenance ahead of the first week of classes. Delivered 12 cubic yards of garden compost to the Organic Crops Unit. Increased compost education and outreach at the Hort, Hops, & Crops field day reached 15 people.
- Recycling: Recovered and marketed approximately 48,810 lbs. (24.4 tons) of recyclable material, including a full tractor-trailer load of cardboard, along with significant paper and plastic diversion. Increased collection capacity and frequency are helping manage move-in volumes.
What declined last week?
- Grow Lab: Weed control in the wood-chipped area and Pollinator Meadow declined.
- Compost: Rain required additional site maintenance to keep operations running smoothly.
- Recycling: Increased move-in cardboard volumes are creating additional pressure on collection capacity and contamination control.
Where is attention needed this week?
- Grow Lab: Weed-eat the wood-chipped area and remove invasive species in the Pollinator Meadow.
- Compost: Onboard and train new team members, adjust routes for the return to campus, and continue cleaning/replacing bins and standardizing bin labels.
- Recycling: Prioritize move-in cardboard recovery, monitor temporary 30- and 40-yard containers, maintain clean cardboard separation, and prepare infrastructure for football season.
What changes are happening this week?
- Finalizing Grow Lab student schedules and hiring/onboarding Federal Work-Study students.
- Welcoming the new Compost Logistics Coordinator and Academic Engagement Coordinator.
- Adjusting compost routes and operations for the academic-year schedule.
- Continuing preparation of recycling and waste containers and collection logistics for football season.
Key metrics:
- 48,810 lbs. (24.4 tons) of recyclable material recovered and marketed.
- 20.01 tons of organic material diverted through composting:
- Food waste: 11.4 tons
- Animal waste: 5.03 tons
- Landscaping waste: 3.58 tons
- 12 cubic yards of garden compost delivered to the Organic Crops Unit.
- 15 people engaged through compost education at Hort, Hops, & Crops.
Maintenance & Repair
Housing
What was accomplished?
- We had A/C problems at Traditions Restaurant last week. It is working this morning.
Athletics
What’s Improved?
- PMs on DASH are getting cleared up as well as work orders.
- A new chiller is being installed at Allan Jones.
- New LED’S are being installed at Regal Soccer.
What’s Declined?
- Nothing declined.
This Week’s Attention?
- Preparing the stadium for the Big Orange Flush!
- Preparing premium areas for events at Neyland.
- Daktronics and Volleyball are set up for exhibition games.
- Regal soccer season starts, preparing for games.
What Changes Are Happening This Week?
- No changes happening.
Dining
What’s Improved?
- Responded to all requests, emails, repaired several dish and pot washers, replaced Arena walk-in cooler compressor, repaired food processors, pulpers, grills, coffee and espresso machine issues, fryer issues, replaced all kinds of water and pressure hoses, sprayers, sinks and drain lines and pipes.
What’s Declined?
- No noticeable decline observed last week accept that we lost one kitchen tech.
This Week’s Attention?
- Continue maintaining good work, resolve UT’s dining hot and cold side equipment and plumbing issues, requests, and needs.
What Changes Are Happening This Week?
- No changes at this point.
Zone 4
- No report received
Zone 5
- No report received
Zone 6
What was accomplished?
- Last week we dealt with issues from the flood at the Conference Center so we could reopen it this week.
What’s getting attention this week?
- This week we are trying to get filters changed and p.m. work done. While trying to get approval for roof repair repairs.
Zone 7
- No report received
Zone 8
What improved last week?
- We greatly reduced the amount of heat in our machine room at Plant Biotech with the help of Will Weaber from Breeding Insulation.
What declined last week?
- Our chill water temperatures continue to struggle at times on the Biotech and ANRB chillers. We have lost one of our heat exchangers at the IAMM building for our process chill water loop.
Where is attention needed this week?
- We will continue to work on our HVAC in most of our buildings and prioritize the comfort and care of our UT family.
What changes are happening this week?
- We will hopefully begin the process of trying to fill 2 positions on our One-Call team that have been vacant for some time.
Building HVAC
- No report received.
Building Electrical
- No report received.
Building Plumbing
What improved last week?
- We completed high-priority jobs.
What declined last week?
- Nothing has declined.
Where is attention needed this week?
- Strengthening staffing levels.
What changes are happening this week?
- No changes are happening this week.
Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Completed a critical outage at Neyland Stadium.
Lock & Key Services
- No report received.
Comm & Info
WOM & IT
What was implemented or improved last week?
- FS IT along with representatives for all shops have started meeting to improve building card access across FS
Calls for service last week:
- WOM processed 396 requests for service last week.
- FS IT processed 86 requests for service last week.
Training
What challenge can training help us solve?
- Are you planning your goals for the 4th quarter? What about for 2027? If you need help strategizing how to achieve the goals you’re establishing for your teams, please reach out to training so we can identify how we can assist in this process. Our goal is to help you achieve your goals!
What do employees need to know this week?
- Football training is this week! Get your sign ups in if you are or might be working football this year.
Utilities & Energy
A/C Utilities
- No report received.
Electrical – High Voltage Utilities
- No report received.
Plumbing Utilities
- No report received.
Steam Plant
- What improved last week?
- Continued work with contractors on new boiler installation. Replaced check valve for feed water pump. Test ran 2mw generator. Started replacing drain line for condensate polisher.
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Will work on cleanup and improvement projects around the plant. Will be meeting with boiler inspector to finalize yearly inspections.
- What changes are happening this week?
- Working on any issues that arise and working with contractors on the new boiler.
Building Automation Systems
- What improved last week?
- Neyland Stadium Control Dashboards
- What declined last week?
- Old Invensys systems.
- Conference Center
- Hodges Library Controls
- Bailey Temps
- Claxton AHU 106
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Prep for the football game this weekend
- Lab Air issues
- High forecasted temps and keeping rooms cool
- Monthly metering
- What changes are happening this week?
- HPER pool temps.
- Repairing lighting control issues across campus
- Triage issues found in HVAC systems
- Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Chiller Plant troubleshooting across campus
- Conference Center Flood Repairs
- Andy Holt Tower’s cooling issues
Electrical Control and Fire Alarms
- No report received.
Chemical Treatment
- No report received.
In-house Construction
- New projects received: 7
- New estimate requests received: 4
- Construction Projects of Note:
- Biosystems Engineering and Soil Sciences Building
- Raising/replacing concrete sidewalks at entrance and replacing tile inside
- UT IAMM Building room G025
- Covering the equipment pit, moving an a/c unit, electric work and other lab related utilities
- Biosystems Engineering and Soil Sciences Building
Safety
As students return to campus, we want to remind everyone of the importance of staying alert and adjusting our work practices as we continue to maintain and operate on campus.
During the summer, we have more space to move equipment, vehicles, and materials with fewer pedestrians around. That changes quickly when students return. Our campus is now much more active, with students, staff, faculty, visitors, and employees moving throughout the areas where we work.
We have already had some safety concerns involving materials and equipment being moved through areas occupied by students, creating potentially dangerous situations and increasing the risk of someone being injured. This is a good reminder that we need to be aware of our surroundings and recognize that the conditions we work in during the summer are very different once the academic year begins.
As we move around campus, please take the time to:
- Slow down and remain alert in congested areas.
- Watch for pedestrians, especially when operating vehicles or equipment.
- Plan movements of materials and equipment before entering busy areas.
- Use spotters when needed and maintain clear pedestrian pathways.
- Avoid distractions, including cell phone use, while driving or operating equipment.
- Be patient and allow pedestrians the time and space they need to move safely around our work activities.
- Utilize barricades and signage to clearly separate work areas from pedestrians and help direct foot traffic safely around the work area. Together, these safety measures help clearly communicate the hazards and reduce the likelihood that someone will enter the work area.
Our work does not stop because students are back, but the way we perform that work may need to change. We all share responsibility for maintaining a safe campus while continuing to provide the services needed to support our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Thank you for staying focused, looking out for one another, and helping ensure that everyone who comes to campus can move through it safely.
Facilities Services
Safety Department
fs.utk.edu * 865-974-9833