Pete Strazdas, Associate Vice President for Facilities Management, addressed the condition of Western Michigan University’s classrooms at Thursday’s faculty senate meeting.
Strazdas said that Facilities Management had students audit classrooms across campus over the summer to see what was working and what could be improved. The assessments use a rating scale that allow for consistent results.
“What better critics than students?” Strazdas asked.
The students looked at the classroom’s seating, ceiling, windows, walls, doors and more.
There are 25 buildings on campus with 546 assignable classrooms. Of those classrooms, 381 were rated with a satisfactory rating, which rose from 305 last year.
“[Classroom] conditions through the eyes of students have gone up,” Strazdas said.
The students thought the boards in classrooms are in the best condition, while lighting and doors need the most improvement.
The ratings also showed the best and worst buildings on campus. The three highest rated buildings are Ellsworth, Schneider, and Knauss; the three lowest are McCracken, Sangren, and the Activity Therapy Building, which houses the ROTC on Stadium Drive.
“We’re going to be focusing on [the buildings with the lowest ratings] this winter and spring semester,” Strazdas said.
Some of the things Facilities Management hopes to improve are the paint and drapery in classrooms, Strazdas said. The data also helps them decide where improvements in classrooms can be made with the limited resources available.
Another improvement to classrooms across campus is the elimination of fixating and tablet armchairs, Strazdas said. Newer classrooms have already eliminated them.
Strazdas said that faculty want flexibility to move chairs and tables around.
In addition, the Classrooms First Initiative was started to help improve the quality of classrooms across WMU’s campus.
Through this initiative, faculty and staff are able to call Bronco Fixit to report problems in a classroom and receive immediate response.
“We have a guarantee that we will get there,” Strazdas said.
Bronco Fix-It receives 45,000 calls for service requests per year. The best way to report a problem on campus is to use the service request web system online. It is very efficient and works faster than the phone, Strazdas said.
“Sometimes parts need to be ordered, but we will get there.”
If there’s an emergency, call Bronco Fix-It as soon as possible, Strazdas said.
Otherwise, the Web site is the best way to contact them.
“We want to work hard to get things done,” Strazdas said.
To contact Bronco Fix-It, go to www.fm.wmich.edu/fixit or call (269) 387-8536.
