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Ford's Focus
In the last issue it was up for debate whether spring had truly arrived. However, I think the weather this past weekend has proved spring has indeed sprung. I hope you all were able to spend some time enjoying it and are looking forward to more beautiful weather coming our way.
This is another packed issue of News & Views and there are a few things I'd like to point out. First, anonymous feedback regarding the employee survey is still welcome and appreciated. You can find the link in the next section below. There is also information regarding a revised format for the employee meetings. In addition, an exciting event put on by the Events Committee is coming up. Don't miss out on a chance to take in a Pirates baseball game! Locations for signups are included below.
Best,
Ford
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We Need Your Voice As mentioned in previous editions of News & Views, we are continuing the process of reviewing the results of the employee survey that was conducted in the fall. We have set up a webpage for your to provide anonymous feedback, express any concerns you have and ask questions. We need your voice to be successful in this endeavor to address the key issues identified by the survey.
The annual employee meetings are coming up and this year there will be some changes to the agenda and format. There will continue to be emphasis placed on the work unit QSAP effort, but the remainder of the meeting will be focused on the customer and employee survey results and any other concerns or issues employees would like to address. Some meetings may be rescheduled to accommodate these changes. We thank you for your patience and look forward to the dialogue during the meetings. |
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Welcomes
 Casey Inhoof accepted a position as a Custodial Worker in District 31. His first day was March 29. Hometown: Boalsburg, Pa.
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing
 Dave Roberts accepted a position as a Water Analyst. His first day was March 30. He transferred from Student Affairs.Hometown: Bellefonte, Pa.
Hobbies: Astronomy, skiing
 JP Sorah began working in the Power Plant as an Administrative Support Assistant on March 30. Hometown: Galion, Ohio
Hobbies: Photography, comic book collecting, travel
 Amanda Stover began a position as a Custodial Worker in District 31 on March 29. She transferred from Hospitality Services.Hometown: Spring Mills, Pa.
Hobbies: Scrapbooking, gardening
 Melissa Weber accepted a position as an Administrative Support Assistant. Her first day was March 30. Hometown: Imperial, Pa.
Hobbies: Design, photography, travel, meeting new people
**If your picture was not included, we would be glad to include it in a future edition. Please contact Susan Bedsworth to set up a time to have your photo taken.
Farewells
Ron Carlson, Maintenance Worker, Labor and Equipment, is retiring after 27 years with Penn State.
Norm Hooven, Lead Horticulture Worker, is retiring. His last day is April 21.
Nate Kelley, Sheetmetal Worker, is retiring on April 17 after 20 years with Penn State.
Chris Spotts, Groundskeeper Landscape, transferred to Intercollegiate Athletics. His last day was April 3.
Correction from the March 30 News & Views:
Lisa Brown accepted a position with Auxiliary & Business Services. It was listed as Housing and Food Services. Her last day was March 8.
Facility Coordinator Updates
Jan Grasser has been named the Facility Coordinator for the department of Undergraduate Education.
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Several improvements and enhancements are on the way to the current Timecard application. The new system, known as Abacus, will go live on Monday, April 27. The new system will offer additional functionality, including:
- A user friendly and expandable view for all devices, desktop and handheld.
- Multiple timecard templates can be created.
- Employees may retract submitted timecards.
- Supervisors may reject submitted timecards.
- Autocomplete was added to fields, including Task Number, Phase Code and Craft.
- Total Hours for the day are displayed on the timecard entry screen.
- Home screens were added for Supervisors and Employees.
A training manual is available and videos can be found on the OPP YouTube channel .
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| Abacus: Timecard Labor Entry
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| | Abacus: Timecard Absence Entry |
PD Code Conversion to NP Absence Types
PD Codes have been converted to the University NP (No Pay) absence types.
Non Absence ND Code Conversion to Phase Code The following ND codes have been eliminated and replaced with phase codes. For those eliminated ND codes listed in the conversion table below, you will need to now enter a task number and related phase code for the hours associated with that type of labor.
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Master Class
Dr. Gita Talmage wrote to OPP to thank Gene Kurtz for his pump class for ME 402. "Gene, your class today was really a master class in how one should teach. The students saw so much, and more importantly learned so much that is not to be found in any textbook but comes from years of experience. This is a very quiet class, but they really take a great deal in as I see from their write-ups of each on-site class.
"It is experts like you who make students into good engineers, ones who know to question designs and who think about operations and maintenance. Thank you so very much!" Thanks, Gene!
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Healthy, non-smoking men and women are needed for a research study examining the effects of soy protein on cardiovascular disease risk factors. We are seeking participants 35-60 years of age with a BMI of 18-35 ( check your BMI). Subjects must be healthy and not taking medications for high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, or inflammatory conditions.
Participants will be provided with 2 doses of soy protein powder and placebo for six weeks each with several breaks between test periods (total time for study is 22 weeks). At the completion of the study, participants will receive lab results and compensation of $150.
If you are interested in learning more about the study, please call toll free 1-866-PSU-DIET (1-866-778-3438) or email psudiet@gmail.com, mention the Soy Study and leave your name and a contact number. This study is being conducted by Dr. Kris-Etherton, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition, at Penn State.
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Each edition we'll have a photograph of an item found in the attic. We hope you'll have fun guessing what it is. We'll include the answer in the next edition. Send your guesses to newsviews@psu.edu.
The item in the March 30 issue of News & Views was a sprinkler water flow switch. Congratulations to Mike Bryer and Brian Lyle for their correct guesses!
Check out this month's item below.
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| | Bonus points if you can tell us what it's used for in addition to what it is. |
Happy Guessing!
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An OPP Events Committee, composed of various volunteers from throughout the Office of Physical Plant, was recently formed. The mission of the OPP Events Committee is to cultivate, support and strengthen our work life and by doing so foster a more hospitable and engaging environment. Our goal is to build a stronger community throughout the organization and to give back to the community in which we live.
Events Committee Members:
Saturday, June 13, 2015 Depart OPP: 11 a.m. Game time: 4:05 p.m. Cost: $60/person (includes bus transportation, admission and post-game concert) Register at one of the following locations by April 29! 148E/151: Buildings and Grounds - Phumara and Janel 126: Work Control Center - Rebecca and Janice 168: ITS - Lori Jennings 200: AVP - Jeanne Higgins Engineering: Angie Duckett Design & Construction: Brett Traino
Other Plans for 2015:
- Habitat for Humanity project
- Food Bank
- OPP Intramural softball team
- Open House night at OPP
- Kick-off Tailgate
- OPP Cookbook
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Town Hall Meeting on Penn State Values You are invited to attend a Town Hall on the recently proposed Penn State Values. Both F&B and OPP leadership strongly encourage everyone to attend a session to learn more about the recently proposed values and to have the opportunity to be engaged in discussion about them.
Release time will be provided for any employee who wishes to attend. Please ensure your supervisor knows when you are planning to attend. We are hoping for a big OPP turnout at Friday's session.
Date: Friday, April 17, 2015 Time: 8-9 a.m. Location: Lewis Katz Building Auditorium
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Each edition of News & Views will include an interesting Penn State factoid. Some will be about OPP, while others will be about different parts of the University. Know an interesting tidbit? Send it to newsviews@psu.edu. As long as we can verify its authenticity, we will share it.
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!
 The Penn State Creamery produces more than 100 ice cream flavors, 10 frozen yogurt flavors and 6 sherbet flavors. The most popular flavor is vanilla and the least popular flavor, which has been discontinued, was carrot cake. |
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What should you do if you have an underground storage tank older than 20 years?
- Consider removing it. Despite better construction, all tanks need to be replaced when they get old.
- Penn State has had 239 underground tanks removed and 64 of them had some environmental contamination due to fuel leakage. The average age of the tank was 23 years.
What should you do if you find evidence of fuel in the soil once tank is removed?
- Report it to the DEP.
- Depending on the extent of the release, this can be costly. However, there is some funding assistance available to help with the expense of a cleanup for a leaking underground tank.
- The DEP has an optional process you can go through to obtain release from the liability of the leak after your perform the cleanup. This can be helpful for a future home sale.
Are aboveground tanks located indoors also problematic?
- Even a tank that looks good despite its age may have problems. The inside can become pitted due to water in the fuel or air that is sucked into the tank through a vent. The water forms a sludge and rusts the tank from the inside out.
- You may be alerted by a small leak or a catastrophic failure.
What about aboveground tanks located outside?
- The extreme temperature variation can increase the amount of water that gets into the tank. Similar to indoor tanks, they can rust from the inside out.
- Fuel releases from aboveground tanks must also be reported to the DEP.
What should I do if I need to replace an aboveground tank outdoors or an underground tank?
- Consider a double-walled tank. It provides an extra level of protection.
- Four aboveground outdoor tanks at Penn State have failed, but the double-wall prevented a disaster.
Questions regarding tanks can be directed to Lysa Holland via email or phone (814-865-6391). |
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Dedicated to Diversity
May 5, 2014
2-4 p.m.
431 James M. Elliott Building
Unable to attend this session or looking for individual sessions for your unit? Please contact Charleon Jeffries (cxj164@psu.edu) or the Affirmative Action Office (814-863-0471) to discuss other programming opportunities. |
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We Are!
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In each edition, we are including information and links to retirement information found both on the web and from Penn State's Office of Human Resources. Remember, regardless of your age it's always important to plan ahead for retirement.
Will I still have health care after I retire?
According to the Office of Human Resources there are two possibilities that depend on when you were hired at the University. If you were hired prior to Jan. 1, 2010, you are eligible for continuation of healthcare benefits after retirement under the provisions of HR54.
However, full-time faculty and staff hired after Jan. 1, 2010 are enrolled in a Health Care Savings Plan in which the University makes a monthly contribution to a savings plan that you can use upon retirement to purchase health insurance and pay for other medical expenses for you and your eligible dependents.
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Have something to sell? Let us know! E-mail Susan Bedsworth with your item(s), details, contact information
 and photos. We will include it in the next edition of News & Views.
And don't forget about OPP's Yammer Group "Up for Grabs." Just sign in with your University ID and password to post your item.
Headboard for Sale Size: King Style: Sleigh Condition: New Color: Cherry mahogany veneer wood with a cherry finish Dimensions: 53" by 78.75" Includes: Headboard, sideboard and hardware to attach to rails (footboard and rails not included) Price: $100
Lion Surplus
Lion Surplus handles the removal of University-owned equipment in environmentally responsible ways, such as sales, bids and auctions. Their store, located at the corner of Services Rd. and Big Hollow Rd., is open to students, faculty, staff and the public. The inventory changes daily, but the store routinely has gently used furniture, computers and other electronics, scientific equipment, and much more.
Athletic Apparel Sale at Pegula Ice Arena  Saturday, April 18, 2015 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Game-worn and team-issued items will be available from baseball, men's and women's basketball, cross country/track & field, field hockey, football, men's and women's gymnastics, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, softball and men's and women's tennis.
Enter through Gate A. Cash and credit cards will be accepted.
 Computer AuctionThursday, April 23, 2015 Preview from 3:30 - 5 p.m. Auction at 5 p.m.
 Spring Auction Thursday, April 30, 2015 9 a.m. until last items are sold. Vehicles will be auctioned at 12 p.m. with bicycles following at 1 p.m. Preview day is set for Wednesday, April 29.
 Electronics Recycling Day Friday, May 8, 2015 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Accepting PCs, monitors, hard drives, keyboards, mice, TVs, peripherals, printers, circuit boards, laptops, dvd players, electronic typewriters, fax machines, cell phones, modems, pagers, PDAs, VCRs and word processors.
Follow Lion Surplus on Facebook to keep up to date on inventory and special events.
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Contact Us
If you have any comments or suggestions for News & Views, contact Susan Bedsworth by e-mail or at 863-9620.
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