Highlights

If 2001 is remembered as a year of challenges, the University of Houston will be remembered for rising equally to meet them. Tropical Storm Allison swept through Houston and left the city and the university nearly devastated. Because of its central role in the university’s normal operations, the Administration and Finance Division bore most of the responsibility for repairing damage, restoring operations and maintaining the university’s safety and security. Because of the talent, energy and imagination of its staff, A&F was effectively able to integrate emergency procedures with daily operations and long-term planning to have the campus back to school quickly with minimal disruption to the university’s mission.

Over 90 of the university’s buildings were damaged and much of the university’s population had to be relocated. The resources used in creating alternative space were equivalent to completing three major construction projects concurrently. Nearly a quarter of the university’s roofs needed immediate repair, the underground infrastructure had to be completely replaced, and major reconstruction began in several buildings.

While maintaining emergency operations, A&F successfully implemented the PeopleSoft Finance and Payroll System. The Training Post, a web-based application for employees, was launched to meet state and federal requirements for instruction concerning a variety of topics. We completed several critical parking lot restructuring projects, adding 476 spaces; plus, we added a fleet of newer, cleaner shuttle busses. We were able to complete the design phase and begin work on the 250,000 square foot Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, and simultaneously began construction of the Center for Disabled Students while we finished construction of the new John O’Quinn Law Library entrance. The university also strengthened its financial position with an increased unrestricted fund balance of 12 percent over the previous year.

A&F successfully met the enormous challenges of 2001. A visitor to the campus today would never know that so recently, what took 75 years to build was nearly destroyed. The good work of the University of Houston continues, and A&F takes great pride in not only supporting that continuity, but also in setting the framework for future growth and success. In time…

Additional highlights:

• Implemented the PeopleSoft Finance and Payroll/HR Systems on September 1st.
• Launched an interactive website where students can view their account balance, make payments, modify account information and other features directly through the web.
• Completed several critical parking lot construction projects which added 476 additional parking spaces.
• Selected a new shuttle bus service which has provided newer, cleaner buses and improved services for the UH campus.
• Prepared and implemented a University Emergency Management Plan.
  Restructured the New Employee Orientation.
• Implemented The Training Post, a web-based computer training program designed to comply with federal and state training requirements.
• Enhanced the University's UH Police Department Bicycle Patrol Program by increasing the number of certified police officers to 6.
• Participated (Two Command Officers and One Supervising Officer) in the Olympic Public Safety Command as security staff for the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
• Coordinated all storm recovery efforts from Tropical Storm Allison on the 90 buildings receiving damage.
• Completed design of the addition and renovation of the M. D. Anderson Library.
• Finished design and began construction of the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center and a new Center for Students with disAbilities.
• Programmed and began design for a new Student Services classroom building at UH-Clear Lake.
• Completed Master Plans for UH-Clear Lake and UH-Downtown and began a new Master Plan for UH-Victoria.
  

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