Announcements
Training has a new number!
Our Training Team now has a dedicated RingCentral phone number to make it easier to get the help you need, when you need it. If you have a question or need support, just call 865-974-9666.
We’re available 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. When you call, whichever Training Team member is available will answer, so you can get a quicker response without tracking down a specific person.
FS Training Presents TECH WEEK
Tech Week is less than 2 weeks away! Get ready for a week of practical, hands-on sessions designed to help you work smarter, solve common technology challenges, and discover tips that make your day a little easier. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your Outlook skills, become more confident using your Radio, or learn how to get the most out of AI, there’s something for everyone.
If you have a University-issued laptop, we encourage you to bring it with you! Many of our sessions include hands-on demonstrations, and following along on your own device is the best way to practice what you learn.See email from Training for more information.
SAVE THE DATE: FS Summer Picnic July 15th at ANRB
Mark your calendars for the Facilities Services Summer Picnic on July 15th at the Agriculture and Natural Resources Building (ANRB) on the ag campus. This is the same location as last year with a very similar structure. We’ll have a BBQ lunch with games on the plaza. An official announcement with more details will go out this week.
Football Training Dates Announced
Go ahead and mark your calendars to attend one session of football training if you work to support game days. Please note the location change from the FSC to the SU for the first shift sessions.
Wednesday, August 26 Times/Locations
0830 – SU 362A/B
1000 – SU 362A/B
1400 – SU 362A/B
1700 – FSC 101/102
2200 – FSC 101/102
Thursday, August 27 Times/Locations
1030 – SU 362A/B
1400 – SU 362A/B
UPCOMING OIT NETWORK OUTAGE
The Office of Innovative Technologies will be performing network maintenance on Sunday, July 19, between 8:00 am and 10:00 AM ET. During this time, most core IT services will be interrupted, including
- Internet, wired, and wireless access and VPN services
- Websites and applications hosted by OIT, such as MyUTK, online directory, password management, OIT website, Volcard deposits, and several other applications
- Virtual and physical servers hosted in the OIT data centers
- SMTP and Listserv services
- Research clusters
Visit OIT’s website for additional information.
Building Services
Building Services Zone 7
What improved last week?
- We recently had training specialist Jacqueline Churchill train in our zone, and we learned more about how other supervisors in other zones train their employees on various cleaning tasks. Also, we toured the Compost Facility that week, and we learned more from supervisor Ella Dohrmann about where the compost material comes from, how it is made into compost, and where it is used on campus. We have cleaned up after water leaks, usually caused by leaking air conditioning units, in several buildings on campus. While continuing work on summer projects, we have orbited bathrooms, scrubbed and polished classroom floors, cleaned classroom desks and trash cans, dusted classrooms, and cleaned exterior glass.
What declined last week?
- Upward Bound and Vol 103 have ended, so there has been a decline in building traffic.
Where is attention needed this week?
- We continue to focus on summer-project floor work and window cleaning, and we are preparing for Kids U Camp in Art and Architecture and Humanities and Social Sciences this week, as well as the Volunteer Color Guard Clinic in Haslam Music Center.
What changes are happening this week?
- We plan to work on orbiting more bathrooms this week and getting our carpet machine up and running to clean classroom carpets.
Claxton/Bailey/Dabney Buehler
What was accomplished?
- Teams completed detailed cleaning and floor care across Dabney/Buehler, Claxton, and Bailey, including sweeping, dusting, and mopping staircases and entry areas. They deep-cleaned multiple rooms and labs, addressed carpet needs through spot cleaning and full carpet cleaning, and performed major floor care by stripping and waxing high-traffic lobby spaces. Crews also supported post-maintenance and post-repair cleanups by removing construction debris and sheetrock dust, restoring room setups, and completing work orders tied to maintenance activity. In addition, staff assisted with large cleanouts by removing high volumes of trash and recycling and staging extra containers to meet customer needs.
Why did it matter?
- This work returned classrooms, labs, offices, and public areas to ready-to-use condition after repairs, maintenance, and cleanouts. It improved appearance and cleanliness in high-visibility spaces, reduced issues related to spills and fine dust, and supported healthier indoor environments. Floor care and sealing helped protect surfaces and extend the life of flooring and carpet. Cleanout support ensured materials were removed efficiently and spaces could be reoccupied or reset quickly.
Who benefited?
- Students, faculty, staff, and visitors using these buildings benefited from cleaner classrooms, labs, offices, stairwells, and common areas. Customers directly involved in maintenance work, water-leak repairs, renovations, and large cleanouts benefited from timely cleanup and the extra waste and recycling capacity provided. Building occupants overall benefited from improved readiness, safety, and presentation.
How did it happen?
- It happened through a combination of scheduled custodial services, specialized floor care (strip/wax and surface sealing), and responsive work-order support following maintenance and repairs. Teams used detailed cleaning methods to remove construction dust and debris, performed targeted stain treatment and carpet cleaning, and reset rooms after work was completed. During large cleanouts, crews coordinated removal of trash and recycling and provided additional bins to handle unusually high volumes.
Operations
Moving & Event Services
- No report received
Sustainability
- No report received.
Maintenance & Repair
Housing
What was accomplished?
- After the heavy rain. We have multiple roof leaks that we are working on.
Athletics
What’s Improved?
- At Volleyball the hvac worked well despite having camps.
- At Neyland most filters got changed and units were PM’ed.
- At Boathouse all the units were serviced and pm’ed.
- At Football facility all units had filter change and pm’ed
What’s Declined?
- Issues with hot water for Neyland Thompson but quickly resolved.
- Issues with A/C in arena dining but it was quickly resolved
This Week’s Attention?
- Tring to finish filters and pm’s in the rest of the zone.
- Work on work orders throughout the zone, along with pm’s
What Changes Are Happening This Week?
- No changes happening.
Dining
What’s Improved?
- At RTD – repaired pulper, pasta cooker, fryer 3-rd floor, waffle station cooler, gas grill in True Balance, ice machine, Nemco hot plate, undercounter dishwasher, working on POD walk-in freezer, repaired pizza oven, and Baxter oven in Bakery basement.
- At Stokely – Removed sneeze guards, cleaned ice makers, cleaned condenser coils at pizza, repaired leak.
- At Anderson – repaired Rational oven.
- At Student Union – Replaced walk-in freezer compressor in Catering, repaired bun toaster in CFA, cleaned evaporator coils, replaced wall outlets.
- At Mossman – repaired coffee maker.
What’s Declined?
- No noticeable decline observed.
This Week’s Attention?
- PM’s and equipment check.
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?
- Survived a major heat wave complete with chiller malfunctions. Thanks go out to our Heavy and light AC team. Glad to hear that Mr. Parsons is staying with us.
- With the high temps came issues at Senter Hall, Hoskins, Mossman, UTPD. Claxton, Bailey. And Winston Law.
Zone 7
- No report received
Zone 8
What improved last week?
- Our chilled water loop from Plant Biotech got cooler with our heavy equipment AC guys keeping our chillers running at a cooler temperature.
What declined last week?
- The JRTU HVAC project suffered another setback with the new chillers failing to the point where a temporary chiller was brought in for the next couple of months while the new chillers are repaired.
Where is attention needed this week?
- We will be fighting higher temperatures this week along with our energy conservation schedule to keep much of our occupied space comfortable.
What changes are happening this week?
- We will begin working with some new temporary employees to better keep track of our DASH workorders and make sure that all routing and billing is taken care of properly.
Building HVAC
What improved last week?
- SERF AHU-4.
What declined last week?
- nothing
Where is attention needed this week?
- SERF, Student Aquatics, Brenda Lawson, Arena, Stadium.
What changes are happening this week?
- Coil replacements, CHW coil repairs, split system installs, VRF system repairs, water leak repairs, and refrigerant system repairs.
Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- SERF AHU-4, Claxton AHU-104, Arena AHU-3.
Building Electrical
What improved last week?
- Serf new power feeds for labs and implementing a plan for Nielsen Physics Temp AC power.
What declined last week?
- Working on campus with standard pole lights that are out.
Where is attention needed this week?
- Completing Serf power drops and power for the new furnace.
What changes are happening this week?
- Dividing teams so we can have extra tech working on newer work orders.
Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Planning the power feeds for the Temp AC for Neilsen Physics.
Building Plumbing
What improved last week?
- We were able to complete a critical outage.
What declined last week?
- Insufficient staffing to complete jobs.
Where is attention needed this week?
- Fill vacant job positions.
What changes are happening this week?
- Posting job offerings to fill vacancies.
Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Stokley Hall.
Lock & Key Services
What improved last week?
- I meet with Mike Henderson at VOL card to collaborate on how we can assist in their efforts with repairs in housing.
What declined last week?
- Decline in work orders to 29 from 46 the previous week. This is due to the nature of the type of work that we are doing with some of our work orders being more labor intensive.
Where is attention needed this week?
- Follow up with Fire Captain Bill King to install keys in newly installed Knox Boxes on campus.
What changes are happening this week?
- Meeting with Allegion end user rep Mark Werner. We are developing a training around the AD400 lock used primarily in Housing with Vol card. This will allow us to repair known issues with these locks instead of replacing them saving housing upwards of $2000 a lock.
Comm & Info
WOM & IT
What was implemented or improved last week?
- Facilities Services IT has published the new IT Procurement and Approval Process SOP, effective July 1
Calls for service last week:
- WOM processed 238 requests for service last week.
- FS IT processed 111 requests for service last week.
What changes are happening or on-going this week?
- T-Storage to OneDrive migrations are planned for Design and FSShare next.
- FS IT has purchased upgrades for the KeyWatcher system and is coordinating with OIT and the Student Union for the installation upgrade in the coming weeks.
- BuildingLogix will incorporate Single Sign On (SSO) in the next few weeks.
- Essex is moving from a Windows VM to a Linux VM. FS IT is coordinating with the vendor for the database and application move.
Training
What did we learn last week?
- Clear communication is difficult. It takes intentionality and effort to deliver feedback in a meaningful manner. If you need help with this, we’ve got the right course for you.
What challenge can training help us solve?
- Want to expand your team’s leadership capabilities? Get with us to develop a leadership needs assessment so we can develop an individualized program for your team. This will help you establish your key performance indicators to help us track your employees’ successes as they relate to professional development.
What do employees need to know this week?
- Did you see the email from FS Training about Tech Week? If not, check you inbox and let us know which sessions you are interested in. We’ve got a couple guest speakers you’ll be interested in hearing from: Sam Ledford – How to take better photos on your phone; David Alcorn – the benefits offered to you as a staff member when you shop at VolTech!
What best practice should we share across teams?
- Do you have an onboarding practice you use for your new hires that you think others in the department should also use? If so, let us know! We’d love to help share the things that work well with everyone.
Utilities & Energy
A/C Utilities
- What improved last week?
- Repaired Pratt Pavilion chiller
- Repaired Hesler cooling tower 2B
- Hesler – chiller house clean up
- SMC – repair chillers
- Mossman – installed vane actuator on chiller no. 2
- Strong – installed new cooling tower motor
- What declined last week?
- ANRB – cooling tower gearbox failure
- Strong – chiller no.1 failed I/O board
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Strong – chiller repair
- Campus chiller plants and cooling towers
- Baseball – weight room AC unit installation
Electrical – High Voltage Utilities
- What improved last week?
- Replace old pole lights with new ones
- What declined last week?
- Repair p v c conduit at circle to refeed pole lights and park pull wire at p 3 at lake lake loudoun bluv
- Where is attention needed this week?
- lake loudoun bluv p 3
- What changes are happening this week?
- Pulling wire at 11 st parking garage termination and adding power for construction power at the new chemistry building
- Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Termination for the new chemistry building
Plumbing Utilities
- What improved last week?
- Everyone worked well together toward the common goal of completing steam maintenance on the vaults. Overall, a great week for everyone.
- What declined last week?
- Nothing has declined. Everyone worked hard and worked as a team, and we got it done.
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Continuing focus on steam maintenance. 6″ valve at the steam plant and get the steam back on campus.
- What changes are happening this week?
- Continue working on Steam tasks, staying hydrated, and preparing for the upcoming week.
- Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Replacement of one of the restroom trailer toilets that was broken during its recent deployment. Investigated potential leaks at the auxiliary building several times throughout the week. Finished cleaning up at Hess Hall. Investigated high water usage at Min Kao. Checked on the 4th floor restroom at Hodges Library.
Steam Plant
- What improved last week?
- Continued work with contractors on new boiler installation. Worked with Solar on turbine issues. Repaired check valve for brine draws for water softeners. Cleaned and replaced condensate strainer. Repaired leak on check valve on steam header
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Will work on cleanup and improvement projects around the plant. Working on steam trap for condensate return
- 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?
- TBA Discharge air temps lowered.
- Graphics alterations and programming issues at Carousel Theater.
- New Programming for Facilities Services BAS.
- What declined last week?
- Old Invensys systems.
- Pheonix control valves at Plant Bio.
- Heating water systems across campus
- Mossman Labs
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Monitor heating water systems across campus
- Closing work orders from previous FY
- What changes are happening this week?
- Hesler Phoenix valve issues are being addressed
- Mossman Lab heating issues
- Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Adjusted Outside air dampers to reduce Co2 during events at TBA.
- Heating water systems
- Vivarium heating post steam outage
Electrical Control and Fire Alarms
- What improved last week?
- Completing Deficiencies to get fire panels up to code
- What declined last week?
- Several batteries in fire panels
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Assisting contractors with fire alarms and sprinkler testing
- Continue working on leak detection at IAMM
- What changes are happening this week?
- Normal repairs and disables
- Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Correcting deficiencies at multiple buildings
Chemical Treatment
- What improved last week?
- Housing Closed Loop system health, equipment installs for TBA, SERF
- What declined last week?
- Not declined more than it already is, but Nursing loop is being opened to Claxton chilled loop
- Where is attention needed this week?
- Chill water closed loops for TBA, Claxton, and SERF
- What changes are happening this week?
- Ability to feed chemicals into buildings that need it. As well as extra makeup water capacity in Claxton loop to prevent “drying” out the system. JARTU cooling tower monitoring/feeding install
- Any critical repairs or outages that were addressed?
- Claxton
In-house Construction
- New projects received: 9
- New estimate requests received: 10
- Construction Projects of Note:
- McCord Hall room 113
- § Providing electricity and other utilities for the connection of an autoclave and growth chambers
- Ferris Hall room 213A
- Renovating this room to be a computer classroom for 20 students
- McCord Hall room 113
Safety
Risk Management Report:
This report provides a summary of the number of incidents, accidents, and safety-related reports received during the month of June. The purpose of this report is to maintain awareness of workplace safety activity and encourage continued reporting of incidents, hazards, and safety concerns.
June Incident Summary:
- Injury Reports: 5
- Auto Accident Reports: 4
- Near Misses: 1
- Safety Concerns: 2
- Safety Suggestions: 0
The information included reflects all reports submitted and documented during the month of June. Employee reporting of injuries, near misses, safety concerns, and suggestions plays an important role in identifying hazards and supporting a safe work environment.
Where is attention needed this month:
- Units are encouraged to continue to stay ready for summer heat through maintaining supplies of water and electrolytes for crews.
- Take a few minutes to do a little housekeeping in your workspaces. Ensure chemicals are labeled and stored properly, trip hazards are addressed, machine guarding is in place, PPE is available and in good condition.
What Changes are happening this month?
Coming This Month: FS Safety Near Miss Program
This month, FS Safety will be launching a Near Miss Program that provides employees with a simple and confidential way to report safety concerns and workplace hazards.
Employees may submit reports anonymously, helping us identify and correct potential issues before they result in an injury or incident.
We encourage employees to first bring safety concerns to their supervisor so they have the opportunity to resolve the issue promptly. If additional assistance is needed, or if a concern has not been addressed, FS Safety is always available to provide support and help ensure the hazard is corrected.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility. By reporting hazards and near misses, we can work together to create a safer workplace for everyone.
FS Safety [email protected]
865-974-9833