Previously known as the University’s Physical Plant, Wittenberg’s newly renamed Office of Facilities Management, which oversees all the operations that keep the campus maintained and beautiful, has been hard at work providing quality planning, construction, cleanliness, and maintenance for facilities and grounds under its new director, Dan McDermitt, who joined the University in July 2021. Warehouse operations have also moved under the Facilities Management umbrella.
“We have been working diligently to upgrade our response and services, and we want to let people know what we are doing,” McDermitt said. “Facilities Management has made a concentrated effort the last few months to raise our level of service and to lower wait times for work orders. We truly hope that our campus customers are noticing a better service experience. We have added team members and placed individuals in new roles, so we are working through processes and hope to continue improvements.”
In less than a year, McDermitt and his team have reduced the number of work orders from 1,100 to the current 117. Recent projects completed by the team include:
- Building a gross anatomy lab and classroom in the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center;
- Adding new food prep items and equipment in The Steemer, part of the Health, Wellness, & Athletics Complex;
- Resurfacing the tennis courts;
- Installing the Wittenberg “W” logo in the drive near Recitation Hall, as well as new carpet in select Hollenbeck Hall offices, and new steps and handrails in the Benjamin Prince House;
- Upgrading the lighting, ceiling, dock, and floor coverings in the Krieg Hall keyboard room, with additional work to be completed;
- Refinishing the University’s ADA-compliant ramps in both Krieg Hall and the Matthies House;
- Installing new hallway flooring in the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center, new steps and porch floor at the Bayley Alumni House, and new steps at the Benham-Pence Student Center;
- Working on Faculty Court and with the new Lightboard Studio in Thomas Library.
Other projects that are upcoming or still in progress include painting and upgrading the Kissing Bridge, upgrading the Facilities Management location at 225 N. Fountain Ave., remodeling 619 Woodlawn Avenue, and several restrooms; replacing windows; and upgrading the air conditioning in several student home in what campus affectionately calls the Witten’Burbs. The team is also facilitating the move of Wittenberg’s Information Technology Department from Synod Hall to the Thomas Library.
Additional investments in personnel have also occurred. At present, staff members include carpenters Deron Tagg (foreman), Bryan Boggs, and Tom Paulsen; painters Kade Lowe, and Eric Laughrey; general maintenance Tim Clark; electricians Johnny Cain (foreman), Scott Gannon, Ron Reynolds, Jeff Schrader, and David Smith; grounds Doug Knisley (foreman), Shawn DeWitt, Ron Jordan, Braeden Snider, and Graham Wadds; and HVAC Joe Reid (foreman), Cody Baughman, and Thomas Lopez. Angie Kettler is now the new assistant director of facilities management, and Chelsea Weber serves as the office’s administrative assistant.
In an effort to make Facilities Management more accessible to students, faculty and staff, the earlier mentioned new work order system launched on Feb. 14, 2022.
“This new system is online for everyone to use and should allow for us to obtain information in a more timely manner,” he said. “We will be monitoring the system closely and ask that all work requests be entered into the system. Facilities Management will also be receiving our own calls during the day, so that we can more directly service the campus. This system streamlines work orders from request and goes directly to our maintenance technicians’ tablets. Our highly responsive team will be able to operate with greater efficiency and provide tracking for the requester.”
To submit a request, log into MyWitt, click on the campus applications tab, select Wittenberg Facilities – Work Order Request, and then either use the icons to receive answers to common issues or submit a work order by following the prompts.
For questions or assistance submitting a work order into the new system, or to share general comments or concerns, please email FacilitiesManagement@Wittenberg.edu or call 937-327-7316 during daytime hours. Calls during off-hours will roll over to Wittenberg Dispatch.
