Comprised of Division features, accolades and achievements, as well as valuable "In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)" news you can use, each edition of the newsletter highlights key information and resources across the Division's departmental, operational and service unit areas. Subscribe to the A&F listserv.

Dear Colleagues:

In this month of gratitude, I want to express my thanks to every divisional employee for your outstanding efforts and accomplishments to support the University of Houston this year in our focus to becoming a top 50 public university. As I noted in the divisional Vision 2027 strategic plan, the services and processes within Administration and Finance are cornerstones that make this great university run. I am thankful each and every day for you and your efforts to make services and programs seamless to our community.

It is in this spirit of gratitude and connection that I extend an invitation to all divisional employees for the A&F holiday celebration, scheduled from 2-4 p.m. on December 7th . The A&F Holiday Planning Committee has prepared a festive holiday gathering with delicious holiday treats and an opportunity for all divisional employees to connect to celebrate the winter holidays together. I hope you will join us in the Student Center South Houston Room and Ballroom for what promises to be a great afternoon. Please make sure to let us know if you plan to attend by Friday, November 17, 2023.

I hope many of you attended the Faculty and Staff Homecoming Game and Tailgate celebration earlier this month. The event provided a great opportunity to socialize with fellow UH staff and faculty and enjoy the Homecoming festivities.

Also, in this month’s newsletter, there are helpful articles on holiday safety tips and best practices including, online shopping tips from UIT and safety recommendations for the winter holiday season from the University of Houston Police Department and Parking and Transportation. I hope that you find these tips and recommendations helpful both on campus and as you are out and about this holiday season.

Additional highlights in this month’s newsletter include: 

• A feature story and video on Facilities/Construction Management and their recent APPA Award for Excellence in Facilities Management.
• A recap of Human Resources' UH Day at the CORP 5K, in which UH employees participated in a 5k in Memorial Park.
• An article that includes safety tips from the Fire and Life Safety Department for Thanksgiving.
• Articles on recent awards for divisional employees, departments, programs, and services.

I am grateful for each divisional employee and the support you give daily to the UH community. I wish all of you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

A&F Rocking Reindeer Party Set for December 7

Save the date for Administration and Finance’s Rocking Reindeer Party scheduled for December 7 from 2 to 4 p.m., in the Student Center South Houston Room. The celebration allows A&F staff to enjoy the festive season among colleagues. Attendees can expect holiday treats, plus door prizes. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the winter holidays with fellow A&F colleagues.

Facilities/Construction Management Awarded APPA Award

Facilities/Construction Management has been awarded the APPA Award for Excellence in Facilities Management. The recognition marks the first time the department has been awarded the APPA Award and now gives the department national and international recognition for its outstanding achievements in facilities management. Read more about F/CM's win.

HR POWER UP Hosts UH DAY at the CORP 5K

Each October, the University of Houston participates in the Hess Houston Corp 5K in beautiful Memorial Park. Designed to promote fitness and wellness in the workplace, the fun run/walk event is also a great team building and employee engagement activity.

For this year’s UH Day at the Corp 5K, UH employees from across the campus joined Human Resources’ POWER UP Employee Wellness to get physically active and enjoy the park. Following their participation, UH members gathered in the Hospitality Village for food, fun and camaraderie – and even a surprise visit from UH alum, Mayor Turner. Read more about the HR's participation in the Hess Houston Corp 5K.

University IT Presents Systemwide Facilities Standards at EDUCAUSE Conference

Last year, University IT and colleagues from UH-Clear Lake, UH-Downtown, and UH-Victoria completed an ambitious project to establish uniform standards for IT facilities throughout the UH System. It was a colossal achievement — the four universities have 780 facilities in 11 categories.

In October, Rex Gillit, who led the project, and Shyamala Ramalingam represented UH and UIT when they presented a poster showcasing the project methodology, tools, techniques and the results at the prestigious international EDUCAUSE Conference 2023 in Chicago. The duo were scheduled for two 45-minute presentations, but the interest generated by their topic "Are Unified Standards Possible for IT Facilities Systemwide?" kept them engaged with CIOs and other IT professionals for more than two hours each time. Learn more about UIT’s presentation.

Campus Safety Helps Building Coordinators Get Prepared

Ginger Walker, Director of the Office of Emergency Management, gave a presentation to the building coordinators on the ways that OEM, UHPD, and UH Fire and Life Safety collaborate with building coordinators to create Building Emergency Response Plans. The intention of these plans is to lessen panic during emergencies by providing the general procedures that building occupants should follow.

Building Emergency Response Plans include specific information about where to shelter-in-place, how to evacuate, campus safety resources, and general guidelines for dealing with emergencies. The Building Emergency Response Plan can be downloaded as a template that can be tailored to specific buildings with ease. OEM is prepared to assist each building coordinator to create a Building Emergency Response Plan and maintain a regular review schedule.

If you would like OEM to assist you with a Building Emergency Response plan, please contact Maia Solomon, Emergency Management Specialist, at misolomo@uh.edu.

HR’s Talent Development Team offers DISC Workshops to Students

The Human Resources Talent Development team has been going above and beyond this fall semester by helping UH students get a head start on their interpersonal communication skills.

Senior Talent Development Specialist Vivian LoDuca has offered one-hour DISC workshops to Student Ambassadors every semester since the spring of 2022. During these meetings, students learn about their communication styles and how to tailor them to communicate more effectively.

HR Director of Talent Acquisition and Development Presents at NSM Bootcamps

Dr. Nikki Duncan, Director of Talent Acquisition and Development in Human Resources, presented at the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Bootcamp. The NSM Bootcamp prepares UH NSM students to get their first internship.

The boot camp equips the students to create a winning resume, cover letter, elevator pitch, and an updated LinkedIn profile. This is the third year that Talent Acquisition has been instrumental in preparing our students at the NSM Bootcamp. HR thanks Dawnelle Prince, Sr. Career Development Specialist, for inviting them to attend and coordinate the event.

EHS Observes International Biosafety and Biosecurity Month Through Campus Outreach

The Environmental Health Services department observed the American Biological Safety Association’s (ABSA) International Biosafety and Biosecurity Month in October, using it to focus on several topics relating to biosafety on campus. EHS held tabling events at various campus locations, including the UH Sugar Land campus, drawing over 154 faculty, staff, and students.

The tabling events featured EHS biosafety professionals Steven Burns, Teju Gbosi, Daniela Cobas Sapp, and Shawn Young, giving insights into safe laboratory practices, laboratory safety audit procedures, and laboratory emergency response.

Participants were also reminded to ensure all laboratory personnel completed mandatory EHS safety training, thereby emphasizing the university’s commitment to maintaining high biosafety and biosecurity standards. EHS remains committed to safety while focusing on expanding awareness and enhancing biological safety measures throughout the campus community.

Faculty and Staff Tailgate Brings Large Crowd to UH Football Homecoming Game

University of Houston Faculty and Staff descended upon TDECU Stadium for the UH Football Homecoming game in strong numbers, with 354 attendees. The large contingent of faculty and staff partied before the game at the tailgate celebration, where they feasted on hamburgers, hot dogs, and other tailgate eats while visiting and sharing smiles with fellow UH employees. Relive the tailgate by viewing photos from the tailgate.

Finance Team Participates in Homecoming Spirit Bell Competition

The Finance department joined in on the homecoming festivities this year by competing in the university's annual Homecoming Spirit Bell Competition. The contest awards the faculty and staff who show the most Cougar spirit by decorating their offices during Homecoming Week. For 2023, the theme of the competitions was "Dream Big, Win Big." Check out Finance's submissions to the competition on Campus Snapshots.

UHPD Welcomes the Campus Community to Walk in the Dark

The University of Houston Police Department held their annual Walk in the Dark event in November. The department welcomed members of the campus community including faculty, staff, and students to walk the university and find areas that may benefit from increased lighting. This year’s walk also included 21 members from the Student Government Association.

UHPD Crime Prevention Officer Felipe Gutierrez said the walk was beneficial as 24 lights were reported out, while the crosswalks on Martin Luther King Jr. and the fountains in front of E. Cullen were highlighted as areas that need more lighting. Additionally, the students on the walk pointed out that they’d like to see more lights on the exterior of buildings and add lights to the crosswalks that could make it easier for drivers to see pedestrians. See some of the photos from this year's Walk in the Dark.

Cougar Cudos

To nominate a fellow staff member, fill out the Cougar Cudos Nomination Form.

UH Wins Best Integration at 2023 Appademy Awards for Bikeep Integration

UH received a 2023 Appademy Award for Best Integration for the Bikeep Smart Bike Parking system that Parking & Transportation and UIT helped implement. The Appademy Awards recognize universities and colleges for outstanding digital experiences in their campus mobile apps.

The Best Integration award goes to the university or campus that uses a custom integration on its university mobile app that integrates with an external system or web service to deliver a unique or improved experience.

Dr. Emily Messa Recognized at NACAS C3X with Distinguished Service Award

UH System Associate Vice Chancellor and Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Emily Messa was honored at the 2023 NACAS C3X Conference with the Robert F Newton Award for Distinguished Service. The commendation is the most prestigious award recognizing an individual who has displayed extraordinary and outstanding service to NACAS and to the profession. Congrats, Emily!

Evan Broadbent Receives Professional Continuity Practitioner Certification from FEMA

Evan Broadbent, Emergency Management Specialist in the Office of Emergency Management, participated in the Continuity Excellence Series provided by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). As a result, Evan has earned his Level 1, Professional Continuity Practitioner Certification. Broadbent has been able to incorporate his Continuity Practitioner skills to bring the UH Continuity Program to the next level.

“Continuity, to both me and the university is not merely a concept. It embodies the enduring commitment to knowledge, growth, community, and the limitless potential for the University of Houston,” said Broadbent.

 Congratulations, Evan!

UHPD Officer Jeremy Johnston Honored by the City of Houston 

University of Houston Police Department Officer Jeremy Johnston was recognized in November by the City of Houston for his outstanding support and facilitation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Emergency Response Team Training (CERT) at the University of Houston. UHPD is honored to have Johnston be a part of its department and congratulate him on his recognition.

Safety Recommendations for the Winter Holiday Season

The holiday season is just around the corner, and while we look forward to family festivities, decadent season eats, and gifts, it's also essential to prioritize safety. The University of Houston Police Department and Parking and Transportation offer four best-practice recommendations so you can be an on-campus producer of campus safety and security. Read the safety recommendations to learn more.

Online Holiday Shopping Tips from UIT

The significant online shopping that happens over the holiday season provides the optimal environment for cybercriminals to exploit unsuspecting online shoppers. Fortunately, many cyber threats are avoidable when you develop habits to protect your personal information and keep your devices safe and secure when shopping online. Read the holiday shopping tips from UIT.

Fire & Life Safety Presents: Thanksgiving Fire and Safety Tips

For most, the kitchen is the heart of the home, especially during the holidays. From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, everyone enjoys being part of the preparations. Keeping fire safety top of mind in the kitchen during this joyous but hectic time is important, especially when there’s a lot of activity and people at home.

As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, remember that by following a few simple safety tips, you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safe from fire. Read the safety tips from Fire & Life Safety to learn more.

Tips to Protect Scooters, Carts, and Motorized Bicycles on Campus

Many departments and campus community members use scooters, motorized bicycles, and scooters to navigate the UH campus. To help the campus community protect and secure their motorized transportation, the University of Houston Police Department has prepared some easy-to-follow tips. Read the UHPD tips to learn more.

UH Occupational Health Services Now Offering CPR Training Courses

The University of Houston Occupational Health Services department is now offering American Heart Association (AHA) Heart Saver CPR/AED Training courses for all UH employees. The FREE training opportunity is available to all UH faculty and staff. To enlist in an upcoming course, please visit the course enrollment page, then select AHA Heart Saver - CPR Training to enroll in our next course. (Note: UH VPN required when accessing from a non-secure UH Network). This course is a popular one, so secure your spot today.

Cougar Cupboard Seeks Donations for Campus Food Assistant Program

The holidays are a time for giving, so why not give back to those around you? University of Houston Dining Services reminds you to donate items to Cougar Cupboard, the campus food assistance program.

The program aims to bring some cheer to enrolled undergraduate and graduate students remaining on campus during the holidays by providing them access to additional food, toiletries, and school supplies. Donations can be dropped off at Cougar Village Market or Student Center Market until November 30. Learn more about Cougar Cupboard.

Finals Mania Set for December 4

The Office of Administration and University Libraries present Finals Mania on December 4 from 5-8 p.m. in the M.D. Anderson Library. The event will provide students with much-needed food fuel for their final exams. Attendees can expect breakfast tacos, coffee, juice, and other beverages. Faculty and staff are encouraged to volunteer for this event. Please complete the form to volunteer as an individual.

November is American Diabetes Month

A reminder from UH Occupational Health Services: November is American Diabetes Month. According to the CDC, more than 133 million Americans are living with diabetes (37.3 million) or prediabetes (96 million), and 1 in 5 do not know they have it. With early detection and awareness, you can take steps to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Visit Diabetes Basics to learn more about prevention, risk factors, and symptoms.