Dear Colleagues,

The state budget passed by the 2016 General Assembly included funding for a 3% salary increase for faculty and staff effective November 10, 2016.  The allocation of these funds, however, was contingent upon the state meeting specific revenue thresholds for the 2015-16 fiscal year.  Although fiscal year revenue collections grew from the prior year, the growth was not sufficient to meet the financial benchmark required to move forward automatically with the planned salary increase.

The Governor and the General Assembly have made salary increases for state employees a top priority, so we now await their collective response to news of this shortfall.  Absent any additional action in the next few months, funding for employee salary increases will likely become part of the state budget process for amending the budget in the next regular session of the General Assembly (January 2017).

We will continue to monitor the situation and pass along any additional information as it becomes available to us.

Please let me or Rick Pearce, Vice President for Administration and Finance & CFO, know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Troy

Contract Activity

A sample of recent contract activity follows. Contact Procurement Services with any questions, ext. 1127.

• Requests for Proposals in process
  • Campus Janitorial Service
  • Swimsuits for Athletics
  • Orthopedic Services for Athletics
• Evaluations Underway
  • Online OneCard Services
• Recently Awarded
  • Drug Testing Services for Athletics
  • Brick Mason Services
  • Domain Reseller and Hosting Serivces
  • Building Alterations and Repair Services
  • Lamps for Resident Life
  • Microsoft SurfacePro Tablets
  • Architect and Engineering Term Contract (Intent to Award posted)
• Future Procurement
  • RFP for Mail and Copy Services

Signature Authority

As outlined in the Commonwealth of Virginia Purchasing Manual for Institutions of Higher Education and their Vendors: “Institutions must designate in writing those persons authorized to sign purchase orders and contracts. Dollar thresholds are established, as applicable, for each signatory authority. A copy of the written authorization must be on file in the Institution’s purchasing department.” A copy of those individuals with signature authority in excess of $5,000 may be found here.

Modulars

The modular unit in front of Westmoreland Hall, Annex A, has been purchased by King George Public Schools. Work is underway to deconstruct and remove the building. Removal is slated for completion prior to the start of Fall semester. Please be cautious around the area, as it is still a construction site. Annex B is targeted for surplus sale this summer.

UMW Book Club

The UMW Book Club will meet at noon on Wednesday, July 20, in the Bookstore to discuss Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy, a non-fiction book by Karen Abbott about four women who served as spies during the Civil War. The Book Club meets monthly and is open to all UMW employees as well as reitrees. Contact Margaret Mock in the Bookstore for more information, x1017.

New Harry Potter Book

Pre-order your copy of J.K. Rowling’s newest book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, due to be released on July 31. The University Bookstore will have copies on the release date at a special discounted price of $20.99 (retail price is $29.99). Be sure to reserve your copy by stopping by the Bookstore today. Call (540) 654-1017 with questions.

Tax Holiday

On August 5, 2016, the UMW Bookstore will observe the Virginia sales tax holiday on qualifying merchandise. The list of qualifying school supplies, clothing, and footwear can be found here.

While the tax holiday extends through the weekend, the UMW Bookstore will be closed on Saturday, Aug. 6, through Sunday, Aug. 7.

OER and NACAS

This past semester, the UMW Bookstore, in collaboration with other units on campus, unrolled a pilot Inclusive Digital Access Program. Kathy Sandor and DJ Garcia presented their findings at the UMW Open Education Resource Summit on May 13. Kudos to Professors Christine McBride and Julie Handley of the Psychology Department for taking on the pilot in two of their classes, and for Steve Greenlaw for hosting the Summit. Kathy and DJ also presented their findings at the NACAS (National Association of College Auxiliary Services) East Regional Conference in Burlington, Vermont.

Merchant Partner Changes

EagleOne now serves two Chipotle locations. Domino’s and Chick-Fil-A will no longer accept EagleOne. For a complete list of EagleOne merchants, please visit our website at: http://adminfinance.umw.edu/eagleone/eagleone-off-campus-2/

Free eAccounts App

Want to quickly check your EagleOne balance? The eAccounts mobile application is now available for free download on both Anroid and iPhones. This app enables you to deposit funds, check balances, and review your purchases right on your smartphone or mobile device.

Staff Changes

Robin Jones has accepted the position of Computerized Maintenance Monitoring System (CMMS) Administrator within Procurement Services/Central Stores.Congratulations, Robin!

Accepting the role of Parking Management Supervisor, we’d like to extend a warm welcome to Jean Elliot. If you have any questions, you can reach her at x1129.

Also joining the team is Michael Boylan as Community Service Officer.

Lot Closures

Woodard Lot will be closed through September due to roof repairs. Framar Lot will be closed through August 13. Thank you for your patience.

The students may be gone for the summer, but mail staff are ready to serve you for all your mailing needs.The UMW Post Office mails out with UPS and USPS, and will rate shop for you to determine the best way to ship your package.

The following message is from the Office of Parking Management: 

Greetings Campus Community: 

UMW will host new transfer students for Summer Orientation tomorrow, July 8.  This process is very important to help students and their families acclimate to the University community. Your support in creating a welcoming atmosphere for these campus guests is greatly appreciated.  Most activities will take place in University Center. 

Visitor parking for the event will be reserved in the Thornton and Pizza Hut lots (this is a change from the original plan to use GW Lot). 

NOTE:  All designated handicapped parking spaces are exempt and those spaces remain accessible. 

Contact Jean Elliott in Parking Management at 540-654-1129 if you have questions.

The following message is from the Office of Administration and Finance. 

Update on the two Annexes on campus  – King George County Public Schools is  beginning the process of relocating the annex next to GW Hall to a site in King George.  KGPS has been given a deadline of August 12 to complete the preparation and relocation of the structure.   Reclamation of the land area will begin after the annex has been removed. The fate of the annex on College Ave. is still undetermined.  Two localities have expressed interest in it but nothing has been finalized.  

Please be cautious as you walk past the area where the annex is being prepared for its move.  This is no different than any other construction site containing numerous hazards.  Please do not breach the fence or enter the area.   

Thank you. 

Richard R. Pearce

Vice President for Administration and Finance

University of Mary Washington

If you have any questions about the leave share program, please contact Denise Frye at dfrye2@umw.edu 

Dear Colleagues 

Several university employees  have requested leave share donations due to the documented illness of a family member.  Your consideration is appreciated.  Classified employees may donate only annual leave in eight (8) hour increments (ex., 8,16,32… hours).  A/P faculty may donate annual and sick leave in increments of days  ( 1,2,3 …days).   

To Donate Leave:

Please fill out the attached form to authorize our Payroll Office to withdraw leave from your leave balance(s).  Forms should be forwarded to Office of Human Resources at dfrye2@umw.edu for processing.  In the interest of privacy, names of recipients are not shared.  Leave is given to recipient(s) on an as needed basis per pay period in leave without pay (LWOP) status.  

Thank You

Dear Friends,

As I prepare to retire from UMW, I write to say farewell and to thank you for support, kindness, and encouragement over the years.  When I arrived here sixteen years ago, I instantly knew that Mary Washington is a very special community—and my affection for this place has only continued to grow stronger.  The opportunity to serve as president for the past six years has been the single greatest honor of my life.  I am truly grateful to have had this opportunity.

When the Board of Visitors appointed me president in 2010, the University was in the midst of a period of sweeping change and leadership turmoil.  Following two abrupt presidential turnovers, my most pressing tasks were to restore stability and refocus our collective efforts in moving the institution forward.  Working with a talented leadership team, an amazingly gifted faculty, and a highly committed staff, I have given my best efforts to try and accomplish those tasks.  The overarching goal has been to move Mary Washington to the ranks of the nation’s very best public liberal arts and sciences universities.

As I look back over the last six years, I believe that together we have achieved much.  While there have been some difficult times and disappointments along the way, I hope that, on balance, UMW is in a better place.  And, as I reflect, here are just some of the areas in which we have made progress:

• Accessibility—I have tried to be a visible and approachable presence on campus, attending many events, being out-and-about at UMW and in the community, actively participating in the intellectual and cultural life of the University, and opening the president’s home frequently to students, faculty, staff, and community.

• Faculty and Staff Engagement—formation of bodies such as the Budget Advisory Committee, the President’s Council on Sustainability, the President’s Technology Advisory Committee, the Leadership Council, and the Staff Advisory Council has provided formal venues for greater faculty and staff input.  Faculty and staff have also been engaged in Strategic Resource Allocation and we have conducted University-wide surveys to gauge opinions and determine perceptions of institutional strengths and opportunities for improvement.

• Student Experience—we have worked hard to enhance the quality of student life at UMW, to support and honor diversity, and grapple with critical issues such as sexual assault and misconduct, campus safety, and mental health concerns.

• Visibility and Student Recruitment—we have made major strides in developing a coherent brand identity for UMW and upgrading and enhancing our structures for recruiting and enrolling quality students.  Investments in admissions and financial aid include development of a sophisticated customer relations management (CRM) system and building comprehensive, data-driven student recruitment and financial aid awarding methodologies.

• Alumni Connections—the UMW alumni network has been strengthened, energized and engaged.  It has been a pleasure to meet so many hundreds of enthusiastic alumni at gatherings across the county and here on campus and through them I have been continually reminded of the special and lasting relationships with faculty and fellow students that are forged here.

• Fundraising—private support is increasingly essential for achieving excellence. I am particularly proud that we have achieved our goal in the $50 million “Mary Washington First” campaign.  Funds have been raised to create dozens of new scholarships and provide support for other key initiatives.  I am grateful to all of the donors that have contributed to this effort.

• Regional Engagement—ties to the community have been strengthened through formation of the Center for Economic Development, partnership with the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, the Transformation 20/20 economic development planning initiative, continuation of the work of the Town and Gown Committee, and regular engagement with various regional agencies and government officials.

• Facilities—we have worked to preserve the beauty of UMW’s physical campuses while achieving educational and program enhancements through capital projects that include renovations and/or expansions to Monroe, Lee, Woodard, and Mercer Halls and the Randolph-Mason Complex; upgrading of several athletic and recreational Fields; construction of the Dahlgren Campus, the William M. Anderson Center, the Hurley Convergence Center, and the University Center.  In partnership with the UMW Foundation, we have added key residential space for students and contributed to the economic vitality of the region through the development of Eagle Village.

• Government Relations—we have worked to forge strong positive relationships with key state legislators, executive branch officials, and executive staff to achieve institutional objectives.

• Strategic Plan Implementation and Development—we achieved or set in motion most of the objectives of the 2009-2014 Strategic Plan and developed the Mary Washington 2020 plan.

• Throughout my career in higher education, and certainly as your president, I have tried to consistently live my values of honesty, candor, hard work, humility, and respect for others.  I have had much joy along the way and have always tried to maintain a healthy sense of humor.  I hope that this will be my legacy.

But I am aware that any success I may have had is directly attributable to those who make up this special community—for this university to advance, it truly takes a village.  I again want to thank all of the extraordinary people who form our Mary Washington village.  You are its heart and soul and you make this place great.

I leave knowing that the University of Mary Washington is in good hands and is poised for even greater days to come.  Your new president, Troy Paino, will be an outstanding leader and I urge each of you to give him the same kind of support and encouragement you have given me.  Working together with President Paino, you will have a bright and exciting future ahead!

Thank you again and warmest best wishes.

Rick