Category: What’s New @ UMW

The following is a message from University of Mary Washington President Richard V. Hurley:

As all of you know, on Dec. 14, after most students had departed campus for winter break, Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, experienced an unimaginable tragedy. This event has had a profound impact, not only on those families directly affected, but upon our entire nation.

On the first day of classes for the Spring semester, exactly one month after the Newtown tragedy, the UMW community would like to acknowledge and honor those children and educators who lost their lives. We also extend condolences to our students and faculty and staff who have ties to Connecticut. Accordingly, a Connecticut state flag will be flown from Lee Hall throughout the first week of the semester.

At any point during the first week of classes,  I encourage members of our campus to turn their thoughts to the Sandy Hook victims and to pause at Lee Hall for a moment of personal reflection.

The S.A.C.’s “Holiday Help for the Homeless” drive went extremely well.  The donations were extraordinary – we completely filled the UMW van from floor to ceiling, including every nook and cranny.  The donations were turned over to social service staff on Wednesday, Dec.19, and were received with a lot of relief and emotion.  I was told repeatedly that these items, which included almost a dozen crockpots and many food and hygiene items, will absolutely benefit our area’s needy.  The UMW employees really came through, once again, with the items that the organizations suggested.

I’m again amazed at the unending generosity of our UMW staff.

—  Priscilla Sullivan, activities chair of the S.A.C.

Congratulations to Greg Render of the UMW Post Office who has been selected as the Excellent Eagle Employee for the month of January.

Here is what one of his co-workers said about him:

“Greg is amazing.  He is kind, efficient, generous.  He has an outstanding attitude, goes the extra mile, and spreads joy.  I would love to see him recognized in some substantial way!”

To nominate someone who you believe is an Excellent Eagle Employee, send an email to Priscilla Sullivan (psulliva@umw.edu) with Excellent Eagle Employee in the subject line.  In your email, be sure to list the person’s name, department, work location (with the most convenient parking lot), and of course, the reason why you believe they should be recognized.  Please spread the word to other employees about this wonderful opportunity to recognize a co-worker(s).

Thank you so much for making this year’s CVC at UMW such a success…apparently we truly are the ‘small school with a big heart’!  Of the over 160 agencies of the Commonwealth that participated in the CVC, UMW ranks 23rd in total giving.  And later this winter UMW will receive the Shining Star Award at the CVC recognition ceremonies.  This award is given to those agencies that surpass the previous year’s overall contributions.  None of this  would have happened without the commitment of our UMW CVC Ambassadors and your generosity.  We will have final numbers in January, but I am happy to report that our overall giving is up this year by 145.1 percent!  And it’s not too late to contribute.

Tuesday, Jan. 15 is the last day to collect paper pledges and submit to the processing center by January 18.

Every single gift, not matter the size, counts and makes a difference. Again, thank you all, so very much.

For more information, contact Lori Izykowski.

For the past two months our weekly tips have included features on coffee, lighting, junk mail, kitchenware, green meetings, and more.  The goal of this series is to educate employees about ways to improve sustainability in the workplace.  But this week we’re asking YOU to do something to educate other employees.  If you’re reading this article and consider yourself a conscientious individual who is concerned about having a greener office, we’re challenging you to step up to the plate and form a Green Team in your office!

What is a Green Team you ask?  Well, since you asked, a Green Team is a groups of staff members from an office/department that meet regularly to educate themselves and their coworkers about sustainability.  The goal of a Green Team is to ultimately come up with ways to improve office practices when it comes to sustainability. You’re not being asked to recreate the wheel;  although the more ambitious, the better! Simply organizing a small group of 2-3 people to meet every month and discuss sustainability in your office would be a great start.  So after you’ve drafted some like-minded individuals to put together a Green Team for your office, here are some ideas to help you get started:

• Meet every month to discuss observations you have made about office behaviors (items not being recycled, lights being left on, excessive paper towels being used in the kitchen, etc.)

• Take the time during full staff meetings to bring up your observations to other co-workers and get them to make a commitment to change harmful/wasteful behaviors

• Establish goals for your office; start with small goals to build momentum (e.g. getting everyone on board with shutting off their computer monitors when leaving their offices for lunch or especially for the day)

• Use signs to educate colleagues about sustainability issues (“Don’t forget to turn off the lights!” posted near the light switch in the kitchen or in the copy room)

• Post articles about sustainability in a general area space in your office where co-workers can see it, or send emails containing links to articles on sustainability for your co-workers to read (remember to do this in moderation).  Who knows, maybe someone missed this week’s “Office Sustainability Tip of the Week” in EagleEye.  As a member of your office’s Green Team, you can share it with your co-workers in case they may have missed it.

• Form an informal “Green Orientation” program where you teach new employees about ways to go green in your office when they first start

Now that you have read this article and gotten some ideas, there is no time to waste (pun intended) — start a Green Team in your office now!  If you have any suggestions for things we can all do differently each day to create more sustainable office environments, please feel free to leave a comment or email me the idea to be featured in a future Tip of the Week.

The PCS Action Group members for the “Office Sustainability Tip of the Week” are Kevin Caffrey, Elizabeth Sanders, Robert Louzek, and Dre Anthes.

Last week’s tip: Social Sustainability