Major DHFS Accomplishments Summary Since 1995
The period from 1995 forward saw Housing and Food staff members each work hundreds of extra hours toward providing the necessary programming and design elements for two new $52 million and $48 million residence halls. These are the centerpiece accomplishments for this period that also saw Housing and Food involved in over $75 million of capital projects along with several major new initiatives. An "Organizational Diversity" model was implemented and continues to evolve throughout every level and unit in the division. Everyone in the Division has been called upon to contribute to these efforts and has come through for the University.
Fifteen selected outstanding accomplishments include:
- Opened new freshman year initiative (FIG) floors.
- Implemented new Dine In Dollars and Bevo Bucks debit card.
- Averaged over 100% occupancy for every year since 1995.
- Developed and implemented new Jester City Limits, Jester Express and Kin's Market.
- Increased by 33,000 meals served in non traditional retail units.
- Implemented full paper products recycling program in all residence hall and apartments.
- Completed over 200 major projects with "in-house facility staff" increasing savings and saving time and logistics.
- Fully integrated a centralized accounts receivable.
- Implemented new zone maintenance shops for more efficient use of staff, equipment and facilities.
- Collaborated with Austin Community College toward the implementation of English as a Second Language program.
- $20 million spent on fire safety (so far) $5 million to complete.
- Retail Initiative brought new food service venues for students and revenue for DHFS.
- Reached an income level from summer conferences of $2.4 million a year.
- Implemented an organizational diversity plan which includes diverse staffing and required annual training hours and community/organizational requirements which impact each staff member's merit increase eligibility.
- A new centralized check-in/move-in process allows students a specific check-in time to complete administrative functions before they move in to the residence halls.
